Sanders Campaign Press Release - Over 30 Farmers and Rural Activists Across Iowa Endorse Bernie Sanders

Endorsements Announced Ahead of Sanders Events with Farmers and Rural Leaders on Thursday, Friday and Saturday

DES MOINES -- A group of 38 Iowa farmers and rural activists on Thursday endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. The endorsements come as Sanders is set to speak tonight at the Organic Farmers Association and Iowa Organic Association Forum in Story City, the Iowa Farmers Union Presidential Forum on Friday in Grinnell and his Farmer and Rural Economy Town Hall in Iowa Falls on Saturday.

"Rural agriculture is the victim of corporations at both ends of the spectrum," Delaware County farmer Randy Marquardt said. "After 49 years I am considering an exit, not due to health or wanting to retire but rather a desire to do something whereby I can actually make a living. I know Bernie Sanders will fight for families like mine, because he always has."

"Our grassroots movement is earning the support of rural Iowans because we are the only campaign with the vision, courage, and the people power required to save small-town America from corporate greed," Bernie 2020 Iowa State Director Misty Rebik said. "These Iowans are tired of watching corporations swallowing up their farms and local economies. They understand that Bernie Sanders is the candidate they can trust to take on these predatory monopolies, and win."

Sen. Sanders' Revitalizing Rural America plan and his Green New Deal would boost rural economies, mitigate water pollution and promote sustainable farming practices across the country. Sanders will also use antitrust authority to combat abusive corporate monopolies strangling family farms.

The endorsing farmers and rural activists include:

Barney Bahrenfuse, Livestock Producer & Local Food Advocate, Jasper County
James Berge, Farmer & Rural Activist, Worth County
Michael Glenn Breitbach, Organic Farmer, Grocer, & Musician, Dubuque County
James Bird, Small Business Owner & Environmental Activist, Wright County
Brenda Brink, Clean Water & Rural Activist, Story County
Ash Bruxvoort, WFAN Member and Innkeeper, Linn County
April Burch, Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner, Boone County
Suzanne Castello, Livestock Producer & Local Food Advocate, Jasper County
Susan Cerato, Family Farmer, Appanoose County
Emily Coll, Beginning Farmer & IFU Board Treasurer, Boone County
Jeff Cox, Co-editor of the Prairie Progressive, Johnson County
Kim Davis, County Democratic Chair & Rural Activist, Washington County
Thomas Fiegen, Former State Senator, Farm Bankruptcy Lawyer, Cedar County
Meghan Filbert, Practical Farmer & Educator, Story County
Jan Flora, Retired ISU Professor & Sustainable Ag Activist, Story County
Larry Ginter, Retired Farmer & Community Activist, Marshall County
Dale Grimmius, Livestock & Grain Farmer, Grundy County
Gary Hoskey, Family Farmer, Tama County
James Isley, Farmer & Rural Activist, Warren County
Daniel Josephson, Family Farmer, Buena Vista County
Barb Kalbach, Family Farmer and Nurse, Adair County
Daniel Kelly, Farmer & Computer Programmer, Union County
Patti Kelly, Farmer & NNU Member, Union County
Joe Lynch, Organic Farmer, Story County
Randy Marquardt, Family Farmer, Delaware County
Chuck Mohns, Retired Farmer, Carroll & Crawford Counties
George Naylor, Organic Farmer & Rural Activist, Greene County
Patti Naylor, Organic Farmer & Rural Activist, Greene County
Rosie Partridge, Small Business Owner & Conservation Activist, Sac County
Chris Petersen, Family Farmer & IFU Board Member, Cerro Gordo County
Faith Reeves, Farm Manager & Local Food Advocate, Jefferson County
Emma Schmit, Food and Water Watch Organizer, Calhoun County
Nick Schutt, Independent Farmer, Hardin County
Francis Thicke, Organic Dairy Farmer & Soil Scientist, Jefferson County
Bradley Tronchetti, Farmer & Rural Activist, Greene County
Jonathan Wilder, Farmer & Rural Activist, Cerro Gordo County
Don Wirth, Archaeologist & Sustainability Specialist, Boone County
Ethan Vorhes, Farmer, Chickasaw County