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
Producers should coordinate immediately with their CPA and legal counsel to ensure their corporate structures and operational realities are perfectly aligned before the September deadline.
Farm Bureau economist John Newton says farm income has declined every quarter for three years.
Rising payroll expenses continue to pressure small businesses across rural America.
The family-owned dairy has earned recognition for its contributions to the Registered Holstein breed.

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:

Ethanol, sorghum, dairy, and cotton provide additional export support as major commodity trade markets remain uneven.
Consumers are watching affordability, but projected beef demand remains strong enough to sustain market attention.
Cover crops may improve soil and reduce input needs over time, but producers should budget carefully before expanding acreage.
Higher ocean freight rates continue adding pressure to U.S. wheat exports despite stronger demand projections.
The report highlighted the role rural development programs play in supporting housing, infrastructure and essential services.
Limited supplies of lean beef continue driving import demand despite historically strong cattle prices.