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Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is a grassroots family farm and ranch organization.

10/16/2026

Next, we would like to highlight our candidate for District V. Meet Evanne Caviness!

Evanne Caviness is a proud rancher, agricultural conservation leader, and mother of 6th-generation Coloradoans who has been immersed in agriculture in the Southwestern U.S. since childhood. She works as the Division Director of Conservation Services for the Colorado Department of Agriculture while managing Caviness Farms–her cow/calf and hay operation located in Bayfield, CO alongside her husband Tyson and their three children.

Having established her operation without intergenerational access to land or capital, she is committed to improving the landscape for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Evanne is passionate about farmland preservation policy; she believes working lands and thriving farms and ranches are essential for the long-term economic and environmental prosperity of Colorado and the West.

Evanne holds numerous leadership roles on nonprofit boards and government councils across Colorado and the Western United States.

10/15/2026

Our third Vice President candidate is Bill Thompson!

Bill Thompson has spent a big part of his career working on behalf of family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. He farmed and ranched in Quay County, New Mexico, where he raised dryland wheat and operated a cow/calf operation. He also served as president of the Quay County Chapter and founded the young farmer organization Agri-Quay.

Bill began his career with Rocky Mountain Farmers Union as Director of Organization in 1987 and later became Assistant to the President by 1993. During the Farm Crisis of the 80’s, he co-founded the New Mexico Farm Crisis Hotline. That work included building partnerships with Farm Aid, the Center for Rural Affairs, and the Council of Churches. Later, he helped write a Family Farm ballot initiative opposing corporate farming and led an effort that allowed Colorado women to use WIC certificates at farmers markets.

Bill co-developed the tri-state Kellogg-funded Challenges and Choices rural development project and directed it for three years from 1994 to 1998.

One of Bill’s proudest accomplishments is the development of the RMFU Fellows Program and serving as its first director. He is running for RMFU Vice President to continue serving family agriculture and strengthening Farmers Union.

10/14/2026

Our second Vice President candidate is Ben Rainbolt!

Ben and his wife, Pam, own a 30-acre farm in Weld County, where they have raised corn, Sudan grass, h**p, sugar beets, and onions. Ben grew up on a diversified farm and ranch near Burlington.

After completing his education at NJC and CSU, Ben began a career in education. He served nearly 20 years as an agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor, with 83% of his students going on to careers in agriculture. He later served as a high school principal, helping increase the school’s graduation rate to more than 90%.

After retiring from education, Ben joined Rocky Mountain Farmers Union as Co-op Center Director and Foundation Director. After three years in those roles, he was named Executive Director/CEO. During his tenure, he oversaw the restructuring of all three organizations and helped strengthen RMFU’s financial position.

Ben would like to serve as Vice President on the Board of Directors to help position RMFU for its next 100 years. His priorities include strengthening the role of the Board, maintaining financial stability through FUSA, improving access to land and water for the next generation of farmers, and supporting member recruitment and leadership development.

🌱 Whether you're just starting an agricultural business or have been at it for years, understanding your finances is key...
10/13/2026

🌱 Whether you're just starting an agricultural business or have been at it for years, understanding your finances is key to success!

Join RMFU's Big Horn Mountain Chapter for Finance for Ag Businesses 101, where local CPA Angela Jones will share practical advice on business structures and financial strategies to help your operation thrive.

📅 October 17 | 2–4 PM
📍 Papa Joe’s Produce | Sheridan, WY

Light snacks and beverages provided. Don't forget to RSVP by going to our events page and selecting this event listing!

10/13/2026

Introducing our 2026 RMFU Board Candidates!

First up, we're highlighting our candidates for Vice President. Meet Nick Perchess!

Nick Perchess is a first-generation farmer and owner-operator of Pastures of Liberty at Nola Naturals Farms. Since 2014, she has built her business from scratch. Her days start early and end late tending to a regenerative, 30-head, pasture-only dairy herd and meat business. Along the way, she has learned the ins and outs of milking cows, raising pasture-finished meats, navigating unpredictable weather, and working with the land, not against it.

As vice president of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Nick is running for reelection because she believes strong, honest representation matters for producers. Each day, she balances running a family farm, raising two teenagers, and leading a grower-focused wholesale business that works with more than 100 farms.
When she is not in the barn, Nick attends meetings, roundtables, and community gatherings—from county fairgrounds to the state and national capitals—making sure Colorado producers have a seat and a say. Her experience ranges from organizing grassroots campaigns and serving on food-system committees to building sustainable outcomes in fields and communities.

Nick’s perspective comes from the daily realities of keeping animals healthy, managing unpredictable markets, and finding ways to sustain agriculture while honoring its legacy. She understands what it takes to keep a farm running because she lives it every day.

County convention season is underway! We've enjoyed great conversations, connecting with members, and taking care of imp...
10/12/2026

County convention season is underway! We've enjoyed great conversations, connecting with members, and taking care of important chapter business at conventions across our region.

Here are a few photos from recent gatherings in Denver, the San Luis Valley, and Four Corners!

There's still time to get involved! Check out our remaining county conventions this month and join us for good conversations, chapter updates, and a chance to connect with fellow Farmers Union members.

🌾 We hope to see you there!

10/08/2026

👧🧸 Planning to bring the kids to RMFU’s Annual Convention? We’ve got you covered!

In this video, Education Director Bri Sorensen shares more about the childcare opportunities available during the 2026 RMFU Annual Convention.

Childcare will be available for children 1 year old and older, based on demand. If you need childcare, please indicate it on your convention registration form, and an RMFU staff member will follow up with you.

📅 Important: Childcare requests must be submitted by October 31. If no requests are received by the deadline, childcare will not be offered.

🎟️ Register for Convention today and indicate your childcare needs:
rmfu.org/2026-convention-registration/

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to Convention! 🌾

🍂🌾 More October RMFU County Conventions Are Coming Up! 🌾🍂October is full of opportunities to connect with fellow farmers...
10/07/2026

🍂🌾 More October RMFU County Conventions Are Coming Up! 🌾🍂

October is full of opportunities to connect with fellow farmers, ranchers, and Farmers Union members across Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Join us for conversations about local priorities, agricultural policy, chapter business, and more. Each county convention is an opportunity to connect with your local farmers union community and help shape the work ahead.

📅 New convention dates have been added! For more information and to RSVP, visit our Events page here: https://rmfu.org/upcoming-events/

👉 Find a convention near you and make plans to join us this month!

🌱 Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Northern Colorado FoodShed Project’s Farm Accelerator!Join the RMFU colleg...
10/07/2026

🌱 Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Northern Colorado FoodShed Project’s Farm Accelerator!

Join the RMFU collegiate chapter on October 15 from 4–6 p.m. at Flores del Sol Natural Area in Fort Collins to explore local vegetable farms and learn more about how the Farm Accelerator supports beginning farmers with access to land, tools, mentorship and community.

We’ll also check out the Familiar Foods mobile farmers market and enjoy an afternoon of learning, connecting and seeing what’s growing in Northern Colorado!

📍 Flores del Sol Natural Area
8101 S Timberline Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80528

👉 Click link to register: https://rmfu.org/event/csu-rmfu-tour-with-noco-foodshed-project/

🌱 What does long-term agricultural land access look like in practice?Join the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Co-op Develop...
10/06/2026

🌱 What does long-term agricultural land access look like in practice?

Join the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union Co-op Development Center for our Long-Term Land Access Webinar on Tuesday, November 10. Hear from national-level experts as they share real-world cases, lessons learned and innovative solutions for creating more secure, long-term access to agricultural land.

📅 Tuesday, November 10
🕐 11:30 a.m. MST | 12:30 p.m. CST | 1:30 p.m. EST
💻 Join via Zoom: https://rmfu.org/co-opevent-LTLA/

Meet our featured speakers and learn more about the work they’re doing to support the future of agricultural land access! We hope you’ll join us alongside our event partners, The Farmers Land Trust and New Entry Sustainable Farming Project, for a conversation exploring the challenges and opportunities surrounding long-term agricultural land access.

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7900 E. Union Avenue , Suite 200
Denver, CO
80237

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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