NFU Delegates Reelect Larew, Kippley to Leadership Posts

Leadership continuity signals a steady focus on family farm advocacy.

A female pig farmer with dirty boots is photographed from the waist up, straddling a pig pen fence, with a white bucket of slop on the ground beside her, sitting on a bed of hay. A little girl is standing on the other side of the white bucket.

FarmHER Jen Welch (Season 1, Episode 2)

FarmHER, Inc.

NEW ORLEANS, La. (RFD NEWS) — Delegates to the National Farmers Union’s 124th Anniversary Convention here unanimously reelected Rob Larew as president and Jeff Kippley as vice president, extending both leaders’ terms for another two years.

Larew, who farms in West Virginia, begins his fourth term leading NFU after focusing the organization on member engagement and policy advocacy during his tenure. His leadership has included expanding outreach to younger producers and advancing the Fairness for Farmers campaign to address consolidation concerns across agriculture.

Kippley, a South Dakota producer who raises cattle, corn, and soybeans, enters his third term as vice president while continuing to operate a tax business serving family farms in his region.

For producers, leadership continuity signals a continued emphasis on family farm policy priorities, including competition, market access, and rural advocacy, as federal farm policy discussions intensify.

Looking ahead, NFU leadership is expected to remain active in Washington as lawmakers continue work on farm policy, trade issues, and input cost pressures facing producers nationwide.

Related Stories
Tennessee Rep. John Rose joined us to pay tribute to his friend and colleague, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a true Champion of Rural America.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins today released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
FarmHER Nikki Boxler, aka The Maple Farmer, blends tradition with innovation, tapping into a bold new future for maple syrup.
Trade uncertainty—especially regarding soybeans—continues to weigh on future outlooks, even as farm finances and land values remain resilient.
Roger McEowen with the Washburn University School of Law joined us to provide legal insight and context on these issues facing agriculture. Today, he discusses pesticide litigation.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Stronger sorghum genetics could enhance the resilience of bioenergy crops and broaden production options for growers in harsher climates.
Rising beef supplies and lower cattle prices, weaker hog markets, and softening dairy prices will shape producer margins heading into 2026.
Canadian tariffs would raise costs for potash, ammonia, and UAN, increasing spring fertilizer risk.
A permanent national E15 standard would boost corn demand, lower fuel costs, and provide a stable path for U.S. energy security.
Outdated reporting thresholds reduce cash-market visibility and increase the urgency of comprehensive Mandatory Price Reporting reform.
Rural employers are slightly more optimistic, but labor shortages and renewed price pressures continue to limit growth across farm country according to a