National Farmers Convene ’24 set for March 12 and 13 in Coralville, Iowa
(CORALVILLE, Iowa) March 18, 2024—At National Farmers Convene ’24 last week, officer and board election results from mail-in ballots were announced to members. Paul Olson, Taylor, Wisconsin was re-elected as president, and Jim Hayes, a dairy farmer from Columbus, Wisconsin was elected vice president.
Olson, the sixth president to lead National Farmers, is a third-generation farmer from Taylor, Wis. Elected President and Chairman of the Board in 2000, Olson’s future goals for the organization include expansion of current commodity marketing programs and a focus on forging new partnerships with other agricultural associations.
Olson joined National Farmers in 1969, when he was only a senior in high school. He has served in offices at the county, district and state level, including county president, state board of directors, Taylor Marketing Center president, Taylor NFO Dairy Reload and Wisconsin NFO Dairy Committee member. He was elected to serve on the National Board of Directors in 1994 until 1996 when he became vice-president of the organization.
Hayes operates a 100-cow organic dairy operation with his son Andrew, who is a third-generation member. Jim Hayes and his wife, Dawn are second-generation National Farmers members, and his parents became members in 1961.
Hayes has been a national director since 2017, and is the current chairman of the national dairy committee. He is also involved on Wisconsin’s state National Farmers Board. His youngest daughter, Abbygail works as a field rep for the organization.
National Farmers 2024 national convention is sponsored by Cross Law Firm, ASA, Organic Valley and RSM. National Farmers appreciates its partners in agribusiness.
National Farmers markets milk, livestock and crops for thousands of American agricultural producers. We offer six decades of experience representing farmers and ranchers. We help producers market together by grouping production from many ag operations increasing each farmer’s ability to compete in the marketplace. National Farmers’ experienced marketing professionals negotiate on conventional and certified organic farmers’ behalf in cash and contract sales, establishing commodity sales terms with the farmers’ interests in mind.
