Great Falls, MT (Western Ag Network) November 30th, 2023 — The Western Ag Network’s Lane Nordlund is reporting from the 68th Montana Grain Growers Convention in Great Falls, Montana this week.

“During this years event, farmer leaders from the nation’s top agriculture organizations are in attendance,” said Nordlund.

Lane talked with the President of the National Association of Wheat Growers, Brent Cheyne. When asked about how to ensure a future for family farmers, Cheyne said to get involved.

“Get involved, and stay involved,” said Cheyne. “The common misconceptions when you go to Helena or Washington, D.C. or Salem is that you’ll hit a deaf ear. There are many of them that are willing to hear what we have to say. The bigger level of involvement that we can bring to the hill, the better the results are going to be.”

Cheyne says that he’s passionate about getting the younger generation involved.

“I’m very passionate about getting the younger generation involved, because, as I hit the twilight of my career, I’m fortunate that I have a next generation already taking over for me. For those that are the next generation getting involved, your future is in your hands. I would ask the next generation to lead by example. People like me need to become institutional knowledge, but the next generation, it’s time for them to pick up the torch and be the voice of the industry starting today.”

You can hear the Western Ag Network’s Daybreak Ag Report every morning at 6:20AM on 98.3 KERM FM.