WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Aug. 22, 2012 - The Iowa Farm Bureau Political Action Committee (PAC), guided by statewide grassroots input from 98 Iowa counties, has made their 'Friend of Agriculture' designations for the 2012 elections. Candidates seeking national offices this fall have been selected by the state's largest grassroots farm organization based on their support of Farm Bureau policy, voting record and support for Iowa's rural communities.
"Actions matter," said Dallas County farmer and IFBF PAC Chair, Rod Collins. "Our PAC carefully evaluates the candidates' track records to determine who has demonstrated support for our farmers and issues that directly impact their families, businesses and communities. It's a process that emphasizes Farm Bureau policies over partisan politics. The fact that 98 counties participated in the process shows our members are committed and focused on strengthening agriculture and rural Iowa."
Long-time Congressmen Steve King and Tom Latham were designated Friends of Agriculture in newly-drawn U.S. House Districts 4 and 3, respectively. Newcomer Ben Lange from Quasequeton, Iowa, was designated for U. S. House District 1.
The grassroots effort to designate Friends of Agriculture is guided by members and begins in July when county committees start evaluating candidates. The nine-member, bipartisan PAC committee reviews evaluations and questionnaires, while also considering candidates' positions on issues of importance to members, leadership on Farm Bureau priorities and past voting records.
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About Iowa Farm Bureau
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to helping farm families prosper and improve their quality of life. More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve economic growth, educational improvement, and environmental quality in their communities. For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the online media center at www.iowafarmbureau.com.
