Nebraska Farmers Union 112th Annual State Convention Election & Awards Completed

LINCOLN (December 9, 2025) – Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) held its 112th annual state convention in Norfolk at the Divots Conference Center and Norfolk Lodge & Suites.   The convention theme was: “In Good Times and Bad, You Can Count on Nebraska Farmers Union.”  NeFU delegates re-elected its state president for the next two years, two NeFU Board of Directors, 3 delegates and 3 alternates to the 2025 National Farmers Union convention, and three members of the NeFU Foundation Board of Directors. The members and guests also heard reports on the year’s activities for the farm organization, its Foundation, and its political action committee as well as educational presentations.     

NeFU Election Results:   

Delegates elected John Hansen from Newman Grove to his 19th two-year term as their state president without opposition. Hansen’s 36 years at the helm as president started in 1990. He is the longest serving NeFU President, and National Farmers Union Board of Director.

Delegates elected two NeFU Board of Directors: Darrel Buschkoetter of Lawrence was re-elected District 3

Director and Art Tanderup of Neligh was re-elected District 7 Director, both to three-year terms and without opposition.  

Three delegates from the membership were elected as delegates to the 124rd National Farmers Union convention that will be held March 7-9, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Keith Dittrich from Tilden, Bill Armbrust from Elkhorn, and Marcia Regier from Beatrice were elected to represent NeFU as delegates.  Ben Steffen of Humboldt, Stephanie Finklea of Omaha, and Don Andrews of Lincoln were elected first, second and third alternates. 

There were three selections made to the NeFU Foundation Board of Directors. Gayland Regier of Beatrice was re-elected by the membership to a one-year term, Al Davis of Hyannis by the NeFU Board of Directors for a one-year term, and John Hansen as the NeFU State President to a two-year term.    

President’s Award Winner: 

The President’s Award is NeFU’s highest award, and is presented to individuals who provide outstanding service and leadership to family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities at the state or national levels. 

This year’s President’s Award winner was Jeff Downing of Ashland who is stepping down as General Manager of the Midwest Agency LLP where he has served with distinction since 2013.  Under Jeff’s leadership, the agency has steadily grown and expanded its service area and agent force.  Jeff has served on the NeFU Foundation Board of Directors and strengthened the positive working relationship between NeFU and the Farmers Union Midwest Agency. NeFU President Hansen said, “Jeff’s warm, friendly, patient, and professional way of working with people and solving problems has been a real asset for our insurance operation and general farm organization. He genuinely cares about the people he leads and serves. He has left us in a far better position than when he found us.”  

NeFU delegates set policy.  NeFU Policy Chair Vern Jantzen led NeFU delegates through both NeFU Policy Day December 4th and at Convention as they adopted the 2025-2026 NeFU policy.