Colorado Farm Bureau's Political Education Program works to involve members in the political and election process. While urban voters in Colorado outnumber rural voters, rural voters have historically had a higher turnout and can make a significant impact in local, state and federal races and ballot issues.
Agriculture's stake in election-day results continues to grow. Elected officials vote on hundreds, even thousands, of issues during their term that impact the daily operation of farms and ranches in Colorado. It is imperative that agricultural producers and those who support agriculture make their voice heard at the polls. If candidates who support Colorado's farmers and ranchers are not elected, agricultural organizations, such as Colorado Farm Bureau, will have a much more difficult time rallying support for the pro-agricultural measures and securing allies to defeat bills that have a negative impact on ag.
County Farm Bureaus play a critical role in educating candidates at the local, state and federal levels. During election years, county Farm Bureaus throughout Colorado host candidate forums to allow Farm Bureau members the opportunity to meet incumbents, as well as challengers, and discuss the issues that are important to Colorado Farm Bureau. If you are not already involved with your county Farm Bureau's election-year activities, contact your county president to find out how to become involved!
There are three important elements to the Political Education Program:
Issues facing agriculture are not always simple, straight-forward issues. Our issues do not always fit neatly into a 30-second sound bite that may run on the evening news. For this reason, it is imperative that voters throughout the state, remain informed on issues ranging from public lands management to water quality. The Colorado Farm Bureau Political Education Program works year-round to keep member voters informed on issues that could surface as election issues.
At the end of each legislative session, Colorado Farm Bureau publishes a scorecard in the Colorado Farm Bureau News. The scorecard shows the vote on priority issues for all 35 senators and 65 representatives. The voting record from this scorecard is a significant factor in determining the recipients of the "Friend of Farm Bureau" Award, which is awarded at the end of each General Assembly (1st and 2nd sessions). For copies of recent voting records: www.projectvotesmart.org.
Over the past 15 years, agriculture has increasingly been targeted by ballot initiatives. While agriculture was able to work with other groups to defeat devastating amendments in 2000 (urban growth boundaries and San Luis Valley water issues), agriculture has lost ground due to ballot initiatives that severely impacted our ability to protect livestock from predators and operate hog farms without unnecessary regulations.
The Colorado Farm Bureau Political Education Program has been increasingly successful at surfacing candidates to run for office at the local, state and federal office. Numerous voting members have been elected as county commissioners, assessors and city council members. In the last 10 years, more than a dozen Farm Bureau members have been elected to the state legislature.
Periodically, Colorado Farm Bureau assists members who are interested in running for a public office by hosting candidate training sessions, where members can receive valuable information on campaign organization, fundraising and message development.
No matter how much money a candidate raises, what matters in the end is whether or not his or her supporters went to the polls to cast a vote. Getting Farm Bureau members to the polls to vote for candidates who support agriculture is, perhaps, one of the most critical elements to the Colorado Farm Bureau Political Education Program.
The Get-Out-The-Farm-Bureau-Vote puts our own mark on efforts used by every campaign across the county. Just as political parties work to get their registered voters to the polls, so too does Farm Bureau work to get voting and associate members to the polls to support pro-ag issues and candidates.
The Political Education Program works to identify Farm Bureau members who are not registered to vote and help them register. For those members who are already registered to vote, county Farm Bureaus work to remind registered voters to go the polls - in some cases, county volunteer leaders coordinate rides to the polls for elderly or disabled Farm Bureau members.
For more information on Colorado election law: www.sos.state.co.us
To register to vote: https://ssl.capwiz.com/congressorg/nvra/
Individual county Farm Bureau criteria for candidate endorsements vary by county. If candidates are seeking an endorsement by a county Farm Bureau, they should contact the county Farm Bureau president directly to find out more information.
As determined by the Colorado Farm Bureau Board of Directors, Colorado Farm Bureau does not endorse candidates for public office at the local, state or federal level. Colorado Farm Bureau also does not have a political action committee to contribute to races at the local, state or federal level. Colorado Farm Bureau does take positions on ballot initiatives that impact agriculture.
For more information contact Garin Bray, Director, State Affairs at 303-749-7502