Adult Education

Farmers Union Enterprises Leadership Program – FUEL Applications are now OPEN

This application will close May 1st at 11:59 p.m. Submitting an application does not guarantee nor constitute selection in the FUEL program. Applicants that are accepted will be notified by end of May of their selection.

Farmers Union Enterprises Leadership Program

What is FUEL? The Farmers Union Enterprises Leadership (FUEL) Program is a Farmers Union Enterprises (FUE) and Farmers Union Industries (FUI) sponsored program to help cultivate and build Farmers Union Leaders from the FUE states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Farmers Unions. Each FUE state can send up to 2 participants for a maximum of 10 members in each cohort.

Program travel and details: The program currently consists of three collaborative training sessions over the span of one year. The 2026 summer training is hosted in and by Minnesota Farmers Union (July/mid-Summer 2026 will likely be the dates for this stop). The second training is the National Farmers Union Legislative D.C. Fly-In (typically the first weekend following Labor Day). At the Fly-in, all the skills of leadership and advocacy are put to the test, lobbying members of Congress and agencies on our NFU D.C. Fly-in Priorities. Finally, the program concludes at the National Farmers Union Convention which will be March 7-9, 2027 – San Antonio, TX

Topics: The program currently covers the following topics/skills: How to chair and run effective meetings; What/who is Farmers Union Industries and Farmers Union Enterprises; Understanding your and others’ personalities to build and lead effective teams; The basic ins and outs of Parliamentary Procedure/Robert’s Rules; Lobbying tactics and understanding Farmers Union Policy Priorities; Effective story telling/writing and advocacy skill building; Public speaking about Farmers Union issues/priorities/family farm story; Building/Organizing Community Power; An assortment of farm and agricultural education tours; How to have difficult conversations; How cooperatives are developed. These topics are subject to change slightly per the host state’s planning.

Benefits: FUEL participants have gone on to be Farmers Union State Presidents, work for State Farmers Union divisions, elected as National Farmers Union leaders, serve as elected officials in communities across the country, and become more engaged in building stronger communities when it comes to agricultural education and advocacy on the issues impacting family farmers and ranchers.

FUEL Participants have gone on to be Farmers Union State Presidents, National Farmers Union Leaders, elected officials in communities across the country, and become more engaged in building strong and engaged communities when it comes to agricultural education and advocacy on the issues impacting family farmers and ranchers.

This program is at no expense to you, with Farmers Union Enterprises covering the full cost of the program, including travel, transportation, lodging, food, and any necessary registrations costs.

Requirements to be considered: A current MFU member in good standing with a commitment to attend all three in-person program sessions. Participants also will provide quotes/short articles reporting on your experience to the MFU Communications team for MFU publications. Other requirements are: A natural curiosity and desire to build on leadership skills to benefit your Farmers Union state organization and your community; and timely communication with MFU coordinating staff.

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National Farmers Union Women’s Conference 2026

The 2026 National Women’s Conference takes place on June 1-3 in Washington D.C. Celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer.

Join National Farmers Union and Montana Farmers Union in Washington D.C.!

This conference will have something for everyone: from topics in farm business management to mental well-being in agriculture to cooperatives, we’ll explore an array of agricultural topics and hear from some inspiring Farmers Union members about their individual journeys in leadership. When a detailed schedule becomes available, we will share more information and update this application. Montana Farmers Union (MFU) is making a call for current MFU members who would be interested in attending, to apply. Montana Farmers Union covers the cost of registration, travel, lodging, and food of selected applicants. Click the application link to learn more about the pre-requisite to be considered. Apply today! Application deadline is April 8.

NFU Advocacy Training

Join us on April 21 & 22 in Washington, DC!

NFU’s Advocacy Training is a free program intended help you build a solid foundation on how best to be an advocate. Through speaker sessions and engaging activities, you will assemble resources about leadership, storytelling, civic engagement, and public speaking.

Digital applications must be submitted through the “Apply Now” button on the page linked here by 11:59 pm ET on April 1, 2026. Please note that a current resume, no longer than one page, should be uploaded in the designated field on the final page of this webform prior to submission.

Beginning Farmers & Ranchers

Beginning farmers and ranchers represent the future of agriculture, ensuring the continuation of food production by bringing new perspectives and energy to the industry, while also providing a path for the renewal of family farms and ranches across generations; their success is crucial for maintaining a stable food supply and a thriving rural economy.