Winter Rendezvous with ag, rural development leaders planned

from Montana Farmers Union

BILLINGS — The new Winter Rendezvous, sponsored by Montana Farmers Union, provides an open forum to share and ask questions of leaders in agriculture and rural development.

The free, public event will run 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.

MFU President Walter Schweitzer said the event is scheduled to optimize producers’ time as they travel to Billings for the MATE. A complimentary meal will be served to attendees as they learn about processing and funding opportunities.

“We have an opportunity right now with country of origin labeling, right to repair, and USDA grant funds available to both rural communities and producers that haven’t been available in a long time. Montana Farmers Union strives to inform the farmers and ranchers in coordinated events like the Winter Rendezvous to ensure maximum information gets shared with minimum time taken away from the farm or ranch,” Schweitzer said.

One of the event highlights is an update on the Montana Premium Processing Co-op, which is in the final stages of getting up and running.

“Montana is severely limited in our capacity to slaughter our livestock in state. Even more so for an operation requiring USDA certification to retail. The Montana Premium Processing Co-op was built from the ground up for Montana ranchers looking to get the absolute most value from their animals. The co-op is member owned and member controlled. No private entity controls hook space, quality control, or prices. The membership elects a revolving board of directors and they make the decisions,” MFU Chief of Staff Matt Rains said.

Rains added he looks forward to answering producer questions about the co-op and how it can positively impact their operations at the Winter Rendezvous.

Other event highlights include:

• Presentation by Kathleen Williams, USDA state director of Rural Development.

• USDA funding opportunities available to producers.

• Livestock market reform.

“Montanans can always use local events to learn about valuable opportunities available to them. MFU tries to bring in great speakers like Director Williams at Rural Development to share grant and loan options. It’s one thing to read a few lines, but having a question-and-answer session allows ranchers to get ahead more directly,” Rains said.

Reservations for the Rendezvous are appreciated but not required. For more information, people can go to https://montanafarmersunion.com/event/winter-rendezvous .

Montana Farmers Union has worked more than 100 years for family farms, ranches and rural communities. MFU supports its members through, strong education programs for both youth and adults; by advocating member-driven policies and legislation at the state and federal level; and cooperation through producer-owned co-ops. For more information, people can visit http://montanafarmersunion.com .