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
The USDA’s February WASDE report looms as the CME Ag Economy Barometer shows declining farmer confidence, and more ag industry groups calling for swift policy action.
Congressman Pete Stauber explains why the repeal of a Biden-era mining ban is good not only for his home state of Minnesota – it’s good for America.
Dr. Peter Beetham, interim CEO of Cibus, joined us to discuss the status of EU gene-editing deregulation and its potential implications for agriculture.
Danny Munch of the American Farm Bureau joined us to discuss USDA’s latest farm income forecast, revisions to prior estimates, and what the updated data means for farmers heading into 2026.
Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who sits on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, spoke exclusively with RFD NEWS about what Congress is doing to address screwworm concerns, including funding for a sterile fly production facility in Mexico.
HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy calls on cattle producers to retain breeding cows while Ivomec receives emergency authorization to prevent New World screwworm.

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:

Strong export demand supports feed grain prices, but drought risk and seasonal patterns favor disciplined early-year marketing.
Corn export strength remains a key demand anchor, while China’s continued involvement in soybeans and sorghum bears close watching for price direction.
Preserving equity through active risk management remains critical in a volatile, supply-driven market.
Weather, Tight Supplies, and Planning Shape Farm Decisions
Bigger cows must wean proportionally heavier calves to justify higher ownership costs.
Improving consumer confidence supports baseline food and fuel demand, but cautious spending limits upside potential for ag markets in 2026.