Speakers at the 1955 annual South Dakota Farmers Union convention. President Paul Opsahl introduces M. W. Thatcher, General Manager of the Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association (G.T.A.) and President of the National Federation of Grain Cooperatives speaks about farm parity, flexible price theory, support prices for commodities, and agricultural legislation.

Woman speaking at the 1956 South Dakota Farmers Union convention about labor unions and the functions of C.O.P.E. (?) , a nonpartisan organization. She talks about voter registration, their educational program, bringing into the union, and other aspects of the organization.

Director of the International Relations of the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C., George Brown, speaks at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention about the Hungaria and the Near East, and communism.

Shirley Green speaking at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention about agricultural prices and parity.

York Langton, Regional Chairman of United Nations Association in Minneapolis, Minnesota, speaks at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention about the Suez Canal, the United Nations, and Atoms for Peace, a speech delivered by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower to the U.N. General Assembly in New York City in 1953.

Roland Olson, communications director, reporting on the 1958 South Dakota Farmers Convention Junior Program and banquet. Berdyne Halse education director reports on the banquet and the Torchbearer award ceremony. Vincent Plenchard, member of Junior Advisory Board talks about the Junior Advisory Council.

South Dakota Farmers Union 1963 convention speakers. Arlo Swanson, state Director of the Farmers Home Administration giving a report of agricultural agencies in South Dakota including insurance, farm education, and water conservation. Judd Hudson speaks about rural area development. Robert A. Kudrna talks about Farmers Union insurance and how it has grown over the years.

South Dakota Farmers Union 1963 convention speakers. Clyde Roe, general manager of Great Plains Supply Co. in St. Paul, Minnesota, Les Gravelle, manager of the Farmers' Union Livestock Commission, Dail Gibson, manager of South Dakota R.E.A., George Bickel, assistant to the president of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.

South Dakota Farmers Union 1963 convention speakers. Flossy Nikkel, Youth Activities Director of the National Farmers Union, speaks about problems faced by rural youth and talks about legislation that will help rural communities offer more job opportunities to the youth to entice them to stay rather than move to cities. Lloyd A. Ernst talks about the importance and history of South Dakota cooperatives.

South Dakota Farmers Union 1963 convention speaker. Ken Holum, Assistant Secretary of Interior for Power and Water, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C., speaks about the growing importance of education and citizenship, fair economics and wages, taking care of the elderly, and civil rights. He talks about the increase in water and power needs and talks about the Missouri River Basin Project and its financial troubles, including an arrangement with Basin Electric.

John Baker speaks at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention about how the family farm leads to world peace. He speaks about commodity programs, consumer and export programs, and community programs. Senator George McGovern speaks about the upcoming presidential election. Thomas H. Steichen speaks about farmer cooperatives.

Political panel at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention featuring candidates for Governor and Congressmen. Nils Boe, Republican candidate for Governor, discusses taxation. John Lindley, Democratic candidate for Governor, discusses 25% aid to schools. Ben Reifel, Republican candidate for Congress discusses farm legislation in Congress and the future of the livestock industry. George May, Democratic candidate for Congress discusses improving farm programs to maintain farm income. Byron Brown, Democratic candidate for Congress discusses the rural community development aspect of the food and agricultural program. The candidates' introductory remarks are followed by a question and answer session.

South Dakota Farmers Union annual convention speakers. Robert Chamberlain from Hecla, South Dakota, minority leader in the South Dakota House of Representatives, acting as substitute speaker for Senator George McGovern speaks about the Farm Bill, the history of agriculture in the U.S., and agricultural legislation. Alec Olson, Congressman from Minnesota and member of the Rural Development Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee speaks about the Johnson Administration, legislation, drought, and reads a statement about the Omnibus Farm Bill from the October 8 Congressional Record. National Farmers Union President James G. Patton speaks about U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Senator McGovern, the Pick-Sloan Program, the Taft-Hartley Act, the Farm Bill, parity, family farms, Food Stamps, rural poverty, inflated value of land, the New Deal, community development, corporate farms, cooperatives, and commodity groups.

Tony Dechant, President of the National Farmers Union, speaks at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention about the farm bill. The Farmers Union opposes the farm bill as it would reduce farm income. He ends by asking the South Dakota Farmers Union members to elect congressmen who will be ready to present bills in Congress which favor farmers.

Political panels at the South Dakota Farmers Union annual convention includes candidates for South Dakota Governor and the U.S. House of Representatives. Frank Denholm, Dexter Gunderson, James Abourezk, and Richard Kneip debate various issues including inflation, the judicial and law enforcement system, Fred Brady's Citizenship Training Camp for youth, criminal justice reform, and due process. They also speak on the importance of agriculture to South Dakota's economy, federal tax sharing, tax reform, farm foreclosures, and House Bill 548. Senator McGovern's Legislative Director, John Holum, who previously was the editor of the South Dakota Farmers Union publication, is acting as substitute speaker for George McGovern. He reads a letter from Senator McGovern and delivers McGovern's speech which includes remarks about the new farm bill, agricultural surpluses, farm programs of the 1960's, parity, Nixon/Agnew Administration, price supports, Secretary of Agriculture, farm economy, rural to urban migration, and pollution.

Political panel at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention featuring candidates for U.S. Congress. Dexter Gunderson discusses the future of the family farm in South Dakota. Frank Denholm says he feels there is a farm depression going on and he discusses farm families. James Abourezk discusses the increase in population in urban areas as people who wish to live on farms are forced out. He states that he wants to secure a spot on the Congressional Agriculture Committee, if elected.

Political panel at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention featuring candidates for South Dakota governor. Governor Frank Farrar discusses the Governor's Policy Conferences on Agriculture, used to develop a united policy to meet the needs of farmers and ranchers. He also discusses a state water plan, the farm bill and rural development programs. Challenger Richard Kneip discusses tax reform and the need for a tax program that is good for all South Dakotans.

Tony Dechant, President of the Farmers Union speaks about profit margins for farmers, farm production expenses, parity, the Capper-Volstead Act of 1922, cooperatives, G.T.A., Central Exchange Marketing, Farmers Union insurance, commodity future prices, and the future of agriculture. Ben Radcliffe gives the annual report of the South Dakota Farmers Union State President and speaks about the annual convention in Houston next month, membership, the youth program, upcoming Farmer/Worker Conference, organized labor, and S.D. tax reform. He states that the South Dakota Farmers Union will take the South Dakota property tax to court, asking that it be declared unconstitutional as a main source of revenue for education in South Dakota. State secretary Lee Swenson gives the financial report for the fiscal year just ended.

Drought panel at the 1976 South Dakota Farmers Union convention in Huron, South Dakota. Panelists discussed the drought in South Dakota and federal farm policies. Panelists were Senator James Abourezk, Owen Donley, staff assistant to Senator George McGovern, George Brandsma, state Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Maurice McLinn, state Farmers Home Administration, and Jim Eichstadt, South Dakota Farmers Union Young Farmer Activities Director. Lt. Governor Harvey Wollman was the moderator.

Senator George McGovern speaks at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention via telephone. McGovern talks about his plans for the Department of Agriculture if he becomes President. McGovern also speaks about the Vietnam War.

South Dakota Farmers Union 1972 convention speakers. The first speaker discussing conglomerate control of agriculture and the Russian wheat deal. Ed Smith, vice president of the National Farmers Union and President of the North Dakota Farmers Union, speaks about keeping members on task and the difficulties of finding a farm program that works. Smith talks about importance of the Farmers' Union standing up on controversial issues.

National Farmers Union Insurance Vice President Ray Hawkins speaks at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention in Huron, South Dakota about a special no-fault insurance program. National Farmers Union Director of Public Affairs Victor Ray gives an address on the 10 myths being used to reduce farmers and working people to second class citizenship and to divert them from their own best interests. Herrick Roth, President of the Colorado Labor Council speaks on how the words used by President Nixon have made farmers and other laborers wary of each other.

B.J. Malusky speaking about the progress for cooperative marketing of grain and farm supplies. He talks about changes with G.T.A. bylaws and delegates, and also mentions the merger of National Federation of Grain Cooperatives and the National Council of Cooperatives. Malusky speaks of changes in production and marketing in the grain industry and that G.T.A. ordered a major study on the future of grain marketing. Governor William L. Guy from North Dakota gives the closing speech. Guy talks about the Nixon administration's freeze on raw agricultural goods prices. He also speaks about the rural-urban imbalance and its effects.

James Abdnor, Congressman from South Dakota, speaks at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention about the energy crisis and the need to conserve energy. Cy Carpenter, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, speaks about changes in Farmers Union. He cites numerous mistakes made in agriculture and thinks the farm bill is a step in the right direction.

< Congressman Frank Denholm speaks at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention about problems that exist in the upper Midwest states. He states that the biggest crisis we face today is transportation. Farmers can't get transportation for their commodities and need more boxcars and warehouses. Better marketing is needed. We need to be more efficient. Limited talk on the Denholm farm program. A question and answer session follows. Another speaker talks about working to get young farmers involved in Farmers Union. The annual financial report for the South Dakota Farmers Union is given.

Senator George McGovern speaking at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention about how the farming community has had problems making a profit and meeting the demands of the growing population. He discusses what steps in policy change that need to be taken in order to keep the family farm alive.

Ben Radcliffe at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention talks about how the disappearances of railroads is a large issue in moving produce. He also discusses farming legislation that needs to be passed in order to save the family farm. Tony Dechant talks about farming legislation and bills that need to be passed in order to strengthen the farmers and make sure they can make the profit they need to keep going.

Speaker at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention talking about the agricultural depression and the importance of co-ops. He continues to talk about farmers gaining more political influence as well as cooperatives and farming organizations working with those overseas in order to get the fuel and energy that farmers need. James McHale, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary, talks about how he has been trying to revitalize the rural parts and farms in Pennsylvania. He also discusses the importance of co-ops and what steps need to be taken to restore the confidence in the government.

Senator Dick Clark of Iowa talks at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention about how effective George McGovern has been in Washington D.C. on the Agricultural committee. He also talks about the value of the family farm and the importance of American agriculture both nationally and internationally.

South Dakota Farmers Union political panel including Governor Richard Kneip, John Olson, Congressman Frank Denholm, Larry Pressler, Jack Weiland, Senator George McGovern, and Leo Thorsness..

Darrel Hodne, Delwin Bratland, and LaVern Aisenbrey participate in a Young Farmer Panel discussion at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention. They discuss the influence of the farming industry, the importance of farmer representatives in Washington D.C., and how the open market has changed due to large corporations and inflation. They also discuss the difficulty of starting a small family farm by young farmers and how the Farmers Union assists young farmers in their ability to compete against the larger corporations. Concern is expressed about urban development encroaching on important Darrel Hodne, Delwin Bratland, and LaVern Aisenbrey participate in a Young Farmer Panel discussion at the South Dakota Farmers Union convention. They discuss the influence of the farming industry, the importance of farmer representatives in Washington D.C., and how the open market has changed due to large corporations and inflation. They also discuss the difficulty of starting a small family farm by young farmers and how the Farmers Union assists young farmers in their ability to compete against the larger corporations. Concern is expressed about urban development encroaching on important farmland and a lack of respect for nature that needs to be addressed by a land use policy. and a lack of respect for nature that needs to be addressed by a land use policy.

Bob Duxbury, South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture, speaks about the importance of agriculture to the prosperity of South Dakota, family farms, cooperatives, marketing, agricultural exports, the world food supply, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Jerry Tvedt, president of Cenex, reads quotations from U.S. President Ford's speech at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. Tvedt speaks about the role of agriculture internationally, world peace, balance of trade, oil imports, and grain sales to Russia. B. J. Malusky, a speaker representing the Grain Terminal Association (GTA), talks about grain marketing, government embargos, the 1974 drought and flood, lower livestock prices, winter storms, livestock losses, rendering services, Capper-Volstead Act, price setting, and anti-trust legislation.

Homer Ayres, Tony Dechant, and Bill Walker speak about the California anti-trust lawsuit when ranchers won a $32 million judgment against the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company in 1927. Other topics were price fixing, 'Beef-in,' and a Federal Trade Commission (F.T.C.) investigation suggested by Farmers Union President Johnson. A different man who represents the National Farmers Union speaks about energy policy and food policy, world food shortage, embargo on sales to Russia, grain marketing, and world trade. The last speaker is a man who talks about agricultural policy, Alliance for Food, the embargo by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz, national food reserve, Food Stamp Program, and a national food policy.

Speakers at the 1976 South Dakota Farmers Union convention. Includes remarks by former president Paul Opsahl, Senator James Abourezk, Bob Smith, and Owen Donley. Topics include the beginnings of the Farmers Union, the U.S embargo on foreign grain sales, and farm policy.

Drought panel at the 1976 South Dakota Farmers Union convention in Huron, South Dakota. Panelists discussed the drought in South Dakota and federal farm policies. Panelists were Senator James Abourezk, Owen Donley, staff assistant to Senator George McGovern, George Brandsma, state Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Maurice McLinn, state Farmers Home Administration, and Jim Eichstadt, South Dakota Farmers Union Young Farmer Activities Director. Lt. Governor Harvey Wollman was the moderator.

Eight 20-second radio advertisements promoting the 1982 Co-op month for the South Dakota Farmers Union.

Agriculture in Review news program of current interest to South Dakota farmers and ranchers presented by the South Dakota Farmers Union. Allan Burke discusses the federal governments energy office, stating that the oil industry is represented but ordinary farmers and citizens are not.