Presidential Views
I’m writing this President’s Message on the last day of September, which happens to also be the last day of our fiscal year. I will touch on that later in my message. The recent threat of a government shutdown was kicked down the road 45 days, but concern continues in the country. I am proud that National Farmers functions a whole lot better than our federal government.
This is hard for me to watch, while I know our producers and staff continue to work hard and put in whatever time it takes to get the job done—our government officials wallow in drama and dysfunction while continuing to get paid for it. Our nation’s farmers and ranchers are grossly underpaid, yet continue to try and feed the world. Where is the justice?
On a much lighter note, I attended the Ohio National Farmers state meeting and it was excellent. A huge thank you to everyone responsible for such a great meeting as well as the warm hospitality extended to all attendees. The Ohio delegation is among the very best people I have had the privilege of knowing. From Ohio’s producers to our staff, Ohio always delivers a great program and turnout, and I am proud of you.
I mentioned we came to the end of our fiscal year on September 30. We do not have all the September financial information yet, but preliminary numbers place our gross sales at about $970 million, which is about $70 million dollars ahead of last year. We continue to see solid growth in dairy and livestock, and recently our grain department has been made aware of some new opportunities as well.
As agriculture continues to evolve with consolidation and mergers, producer groups and smaller Co-ops are reaching out to National Farmers for help. With the combination of our dedicated staff and producers, as well as our excellent financial position, I believe our future has never been brighter.
In closing, there is a great deal of information on your organization’s by-law changes and the make-up of our board of directors on this page, so please read them carefully. Until next time, stay safe, have happy holidays and may God bless you and your family.
