Larew and Kippley re-elected as NFU president and vice president

Delegates to National Famers Union’s 124th Anniversary Convention recently cast their ballots to unanimously re-elect Rob Larew and Jeff Kippley as the organization’s president and vice president, respectively. Each will serve another two-year term.

“I am honored to have been given the full faith and confidence of the Farmers Union membership to continue fighting for family agriculture every day,” said Larew. “America’s family farmers and ranchers are the cornerstone of our country, and NFU is the strongest, most dedicated national organization fighting for them.”

During his three terms as NFU President, Larew has led an organizational focus on member engagement, particularly among the next generation of Farmers Union members. His efforts have strengthened Farmers Union’s role as an advocate for family farming now and in the years to come. He also spearheaded the development and launch of NFU’s Fairness for Farmers campaign, which continues to elevate national awareness about the harmful impacts of corporate consolidation in agriculture on farmers and consumers alike.

Before his time as president, Larew worked in Congress and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and served for four years as the NFU’s senior vice president of Public Policy and Communications, from 2016 to 2020. Larew and his family still operate their farm in Greenville, W.V.

“Being trusted by our family farmers and ranchers to advocate for them in Washington and across the country is one of the greatest honors of my career,” said Kippley. “We have important work ahead, and I look forward to partnering with President Larew once again to get it done.”

Kippley, of Aberdeen, S.D., begins his third term as NFU vice president. Kippley and his family raise cattle, corn and soybeans and operate a tax business serving family farmers in their community.

Greenwood to take helm at Colorado FFA Foundation

The Colorado FFA Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of Katie Greenwood as its new executive director, beginning July 1 upon John Stahley’s retirement. Greenwood brings 17 years of experience as an agriculture teacher and FFA adviser to this role. For the past year, she has served as Local Teacher Success Program regional director for the FFA Foundation.

“As chair of the FFA Foundation, I am pleased to welcome Katie Greenwood as our new executive director,” said Board Chairman Dale McCall. “Katie’s outstanding record as an agricultural education teacher and FFA adviser for over 17 years has equipped her to grow the foundation to support the agricultural education programs and the over 9,600 FFA members statewide.”

Greenwood grew up in Kersey, Colo., where she was actively involved in showing horses and lambs. She was a dedicated member of the Platte Valley FFA and eventually became a Colorado State FFA Officer after graduating. Following her year of service as a state officer, she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Colorado State University. Katie began her career as an agricultural education teacher and FFA adviser by working as a student teacher in Wray, which eventually led to her long-standing teaching career in Cedaredge, Colo.

Greenwood will guide the philanthropic mission of the foundation, which seeks resources — human, financial, and in-kind — to support agricultural education in Colorado, including students (FFA, CSU Ag Ed), teachers (CVATA) and alumni. She will also oversee the development of two property acquisitions, the Kobilan Ranch near Calhan and the Lewis Farm, Berthoud, into educational opportunities to serve ag education students and educate the public about Colorado agriculture.