Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish says rising costs and a desire for cooperation were important factors in the 2026 election. With new lawmakers heading to St. Paul, agricultural organizations will need to establish connections and communicate farmers’ priorities. “It’s gonna be a lot of education and a lot of rebuilding relationships,” Wertish said. “We gotta build that relationship with our elected officials.” Wertish says working across party lines will remain a priority for Minnesota Farmers Union. “It’ll be a lot of work for all of us, not only Farmers Union, but everybody, to do that,” Wertish said. “We gotta try and help them do their job.”
