Ron Johnson today launched Farmers for RonJon, a statewide coalition that includes endorsements from Wisconsin’s major farm and agriculture groups, as well as more than 500 family farms, small business owners, and workers in the agriculture industry who are helping to mobilize the best-in-the-nation ground game Ron and Wisconsin Republicans have built. Ron made the announcement at a local dairy farm in La Crosse.
“I grew up working on a farm and helped build a company from the ground up, so I know firsthand how hard Wisconsin’s farmers and others in our agriculture industry are working to grow our economy, create jobs, and feed our families,” Ron Johnson said. “That’s why I’m working to get Washington out of their way and why I’m proud to have Wisconsin agriculture helping to mobilize our grassroots army in November.”
The coalition includes a leadership team of 12, who will head up the coalition’s efforts to advise Ron on issues affecting agriculture in Wisconsin. Ron has fought to help the agriculture industry grow and create jobs by battling burdensome regulations – like Senator Feingold’s EPA water rule – pushing to fix our broken immigration system to provide a good guest worker program, and working to open new markets to Wisconsin agriculture.
The coalition will also help mobilize other leaders in the agriculture industry to join the best-in-the-nation ground game built by Ron and Wisconsin Republicans. The below groups offered statements as part of their endorsement following the event at the Steve & Sally Miller Farm in La Crosse:
Paul Zimmerman, executive director of governmental relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, said: “Senator Johnson has been a strong supporter of Wisconsin agriculture in our nation’s Capitol. Senator Johnson understands the importance of agriculture to Wisconsin’s economy. Farmers appreciate his efforts to open new markets, curb over-reaching federal regulations, and remove the wolf from the endangered species list.”
Cody Heller, board member of the Dairy Business Association, said: “As a dairy farmer I highly value the senator’s background as a businessman. This is a real asset in his role as a policy maker. He understands the impact overregulation can have on businesses like our farms. He has been a consistent voice in ensuring that government works with businesses, not against them.”
Austin Arndt, president of the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, said: “Ron Johnson understands the significance of agriculture to Wisconsin and the critical role the beef industry plays in our state’s economy. The Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association knows it has a champion and true friend in Ron Johnson, and is committed to helping him continue to fight for Wisconsin in the United States Senate.”
Bill Gnatzig, president of the Wisconsin Pork Association, said: “We appreciate Ron Johnson’s support for agriculture across Wisconsin, and specifically the pork industry. He has been a tremendous advocate for the agriculture community, and we look forward to working to make sure he is re-elected in November.”