Friday, January 16, 2009
Leadership
NFU President Tom Buis has been a top advocate for family farms and rural America on Capitol Hill for nearly two decades. Before coming to Washington in 1987, Buis farmed in central Indiana and still owns an Indiana farm. Most recently, Buis served as NFU’s Vice President of Government Relations in the organization’s Washington, D.C. office. Read Tom’s Bio.
NFU Vice President Claudia Svarstad was elected NFU Vice President March 4, 2008. Svarstad has previously served as President and CEO of Farmers Union Insurances, where she worked for 33 
years in marketing and underwriting roles. Svarstad has also represented NFU on the board of Alliance to End Hunger since 2005. Read Claudia’s Bio.
NFU’s Board of Directors consists of the president of each
state/regional organization, President Tom Buis and Vice President Claudia Svarstad. 
Alaska - Robert Wells
Arkansas - David Coker
California - Joaquin Contente
Idaho - Gary Turner
Illinois - Bryan Sharp
Indiana - James Benham
Iowa - Chris Petersen
Kansas - Donn Teske
Michigan - Marilynn Momber
Minnesota - Doug Peterson
Missouri - Russ Kremer
Montana - Alan Merrill
Nebraska - John K. Hansen
New England - Jeff LaFleur
North Dakota - Robert Carlson
Ohio - Roger Wise
Oklahoma - Ray Wulf
Oregon - Dan Joyce
Pennsylvania - Larry Breech
Rocky Mountain - Kent Peppler
(Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming)
South Dakota - Doug Sombke
Texas - Wes Sims
Utah - Arthur L. Douglas
Washington - Jim Davis
Wisconsin - Sue Beitlich
