Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

 

The programs of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU) have supported the successful operation of family farms and ranches for over a century. The first Colorado local chapter of the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America was created near Green Mountain Falls on May 17, 1907, followed that year by several additional Colorado local chapters. Organized in 1908 as the Colorado Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union (CFU), the association changed its name to the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union in 1942 to include members in neighboring states. The items of the Records of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union provide insights into the economic, political, technological and environmental issues confronting family farms in Colorado and adjacent states. This archival collection offers a rich variety of historic documents, such as meeting minutes, charters, correspondence, convention records, publications and newsletters. Other materials in the collection include photographs, phonograph records, audio cassettes and videotapes documenting RMFU activities. For more information about the collection, see https://lib2.colostate.edu/archives/findingaids/agriculture/armf.html.

Collections in this community

Recent Submissions

  • Paul Swisher 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    Portrait of Paul Swisher, former Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of Colorado.

  • Roy Romer 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    Portrait of Roy Romer who served the state of Colorado in several capacities, including that of Commissioner of Agriculture and Governor.

  • Clinton Jeffers, 1970 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:1970
    Portrait of Clinton Jeffers, former Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of Colorado.

  • John Orcutt, 1967 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:1967
    Portrait of John Orcutt, former Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of Colorado.

  • RMFU members meeting with President Jimmy Carter 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:1977-04-01
    Rocky Mountain Farmers Union members meet with President Jimmy Carter, Vice President Walter Mondale, and Senator Floyd Haskell to urge administrative support for farm legislation

  • President John F. Kennedy and James G. Patton 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:1963-09
    President John F. Kennedy speaking with James G. Patton after appointing Patton to head the worldwide Freedom from Hunger campaign.

  • Edwin Johnson and RMFU president Charles Hanavan 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:1969?
    Edwin Johnson, left, holding the plaque he received from Rocky Mountain Farmers Union president Charles Hanavan, right. Edwin C. ("Big Ed") Johnson, former U.S. senator and twice governor of Colorado, was honored by the ...

  • National Farmers Union president, James G. Patton, 1964 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:1964
    Poster advertising a speech by National Farmers Union President James G. Patton at the Weld County Farmers Union banquet in Greeley, Colorado, held November 10, 1964.

  • Group photograph, 22nd annual convention, 1929 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:1929-01-17
    The twenty-second annual convention of the Farmers' Educational and Cooperative Union of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, January 17, 1929. A group of people are shown standing on steps outside of a building. Panorama by Mile ...

  • Hauling a load of Western Slope peaches, 1985 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:1985
    Workers hauling a load of peaches harvested from the Western Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, 1985.

  • Visit to a goat farm 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    Rocky Mountain Farmers Union field trip visit to a goat farm, undated.

  • Texas longhorn at WestFest Ag Fair 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    Texas longhorn on display at the WestFest Ag Fair, Vail, Colorado. A sign attached to a pen has, "The Texas longhorn, living legend of the American West," undated.

  • Sheep in a field 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    Flock of sheep in a field with an old barn in the background, undated.

  • Colorado local chapters from the National Farmers Union records 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    List of first Colorado local chapters organized. Includes names of local chapters, dates of organization, dates of charter, organizers, secretaries, and charter members. Copied from old records of the National Farmers Union.

  • Standing in a field 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    Rudy Rutar, RFMU board member from Torrington, Wyoming, pictured standing in a field.

  • Paul New and Jan Kochis at RMFU office in Aurora, Colorado 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:1990?-1999?
    Pictured are Jan Kochis, sitting at President Dave Carter's desk, and Paul New at the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union office on Bethany Street in Aurora, Colorado, 1990s.

  • National Farmers Union convention attendees 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    Photograph taken by Dave Carter at National Farmers Union convention. Left to right are Holly Hansen, Wilma Collins, Jim Hoganson, Donna Roberts, and Jacque Ekberg.

  • Insurance agent and representative, Akron, Colorado 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    Insurance agent Alan Baer and his customer service representative posed in front of a building under a sign with, "National Farmers Union Insurance Companies," Akron, Colorado.

  • Tractor rusting on a hillside, circa 2001 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:2001?
    Rusty old tractor near a tree on a hillside, circa 2001.

  • Youth camp at Bailey, Colorado 

    Contributor:Unknown
    Date:undated
    Youth camp participants at Bailey, Colorado, depicted left to right: Andrea Clark, education director, Leland Swenson, Michelle Schumacher of Peetz, Colorado, and Kurtis Millage of Holyoke, Colorado.

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