Edler

STATE CENTER — Jeff Edler received what he called a “great honor.”

The state senator from State Center, who is running for re-election in Senate District 36, which includes Marshall County, was recognized by the Iowa Farm Bureau’s Political Action Committee as a “Friend of Agriculture” on Sept. 17.

“I take a very large take in representing our industry, and want to be a voice for the agriculture industry in Des Moines,” Edler said.

The Friend of Agriculture honor is awarded to candidates who support issues that impact the agricultural industry in Iowa, said Erik Oberbroeckling, the IFB PAC Chair, in a statement.

“Candidates earn the Friend of Agriculture designation by supporting issues that directly impact Iowa’s agricultural economy,” Oberbroeckling said. “With one in every five Iowans employed in agriculture and ag-related industries, it is essential to have strong advocates for agriculture representing Iowa.”

Edler said this is the culmination of a long-standing relationship with the Farm Bureau, which goes all the way back to when Edler first got his driver’s license. A farmer in the State Center area who was in the midst of a day of harvesting Wednesday afternoon, he said it was important to make clear his support of the industry.

“It’s been a lifelong relationship, really,” Edler said. “We’ve worked on different issues as members of the Farm Bureau with policy issues, and when I went to the State Senate that relationship continued to build and strengthen.”

The Iowa Farm Bureau has more than 159,000 families who are members, and many in the rural areas of Marshall County.

Edler said it was key for members of the Bureau and those who work in the industry to continue using a grassroots approach to making policy.

This distinction by the IFBF PAC is essentially an endorsement of the candidate, something the organization did similarly with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Sept. 9 ahead of her upcoming election against Democratic candidate Theresa Greenfield. This has also been done in the other Congressional races at state and national levels by the committee.

Edler said he was humbled to receive the designation and said it was a token for the hard work done to represent the farming industry in the state legislature.

“As a farmer myself, I know the issues agriculture faces and the challenges that occur each and every day,” Edler said. “Agriculture is a demanding industry, and one crucial to our state and its economy. I am proud to fight for farmers and support policies that will help make their job a little easier.”

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Contact Noah Folding at 641-753-6611 or nrohlfing@timesrepublican.com.