Most of the staff on Capitol Hill didn’t come from a farm. So “start that relationship now,” said Tom Donnelly, senior director of advocacy and grassroots program development at the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Last week in Washington, D.C., Donnelly encouraged 86 Michigan Farm Bureau members participating in the organization’s annual Washington Legislative Seminar (WLS) to share their stories, build relationships, and be a local resource for their congressional leaders while on Capitol Hill.
“In their eyes, you will become a local expert,” Donnelly said. “Don’t make this Hill visit a one-and-done.”
According to Donnelly, legislators want that Farm Bureau story; they want your farm bill story. Use real-world examples to show how an issue — like labor — is affecting you, said Donnelly, and don’t forget to make that ask.
That ask could be as simple as inviting a legislator to your farm or for a politician to consider signing/co-sponsoring legislation. One example used was HR 7046, the Supporting Farm Operations Act, which would pause the Adverse Effect Wage Rate for H-2A migrant farm workers at the 2023 rate through the end of 2026.
“When you start that relationship, and you start building the rapport, and you follow up after these meetings today, you become, in their eyes, a local expert on labor, a local expert on WOTUS, a local expert on the Farm Bill,” Donnelly said.
“Most of the staff on Capitol Hill did not come from a farm. You are going to provide them with that expertise on how a policy impacts your business.”
Every year, dozens of Michigan Farm Bureau members — as chosen by their county Farm Bureaus — gather in D.C. for WLS to discuss policy, issues, and regulations with lawmakers and regulators. Issues this year include the farm bill, tax reform and agricultural workforce.
The face-to-face conversation between members and legislators is critically important to the organization, said Ben LaCross, president of Michigan Farm Bureau.
“It allows our members to come to Washington, D.C., meet their members of Congress, and talk to them about the federal issues that impact our farms locally,” he said. “It's great to see farmers engaging with our legislators on these important topics like the Farm Bill, agricultural workforce and taxation.”