By Lura Roti
Family farmers and ranchers re-elected Aberdeen farmer, Jeff Kippley, to serve as the National Farmers Union Vice President today, March 8, 2026, during its national convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“As a fourth-generation farmer, it is an honor to represent and fight for policy on behalf of family farmers and ranchers across the nation,” Kippley said. “Whether you are a cattle rancher in South Dakota, cotton farmer in Texas or a blueberry farmer in Michigan, we all face similar challenges. And we need to work together for policy to support a better tomorrow.”
Getting a Farm Bill passed that will work for family farmers and ranchers is a top priority for Kippley. “We’d like to see the Farm Bill re-imagined to improve the safety net,” said Kippley, as he begins his third term serving as National Farmers Union Vice President. “What we have been doing for the last 30 years is not working. We need to get this done because we are seeing family farms and ranches disappear at an extreme rate.”
In addition to strong farm policy at the federal level, Kippley advocates for family farmers and ranchers to get involved in state and local policy. “Engagement is a focus,” Kippley said. “U.S. farmers are underrepresented at all levels of government. I encourage Farmers Union members to become involved in democracy across the U.S. Whether this is serving on your local co-op board, county commission, city council or running for your state legislature. We need the people who are actually boots on the ground to be in the meetings where the decisions are taking place.”
Kippley also serves as Vice President of South Dakota Farmers Union, the state’s largest agriculture organization. He and his wife, Rachel, have four children and raise crops and cattle. In addition to farming, Kippley operates a tax preparation business with his dad, John and sister, Michelle Olson.