established in the late 1800s, is the oldest national agricultural organization in the nation.

Today, Granges are established in 3,600 communities in 37 states. Its 300,000 members

provide support to rural areas and agriculture on a wide variety of issues, including

economic development, family, and legislation designed to assure a strong and viable

rural America (NGOPH, 2004).

 The Grange is a grassroots organization that provides its' members a voice on the

local, state and national level. Major objectives of the Grange support stewardship of

America's natural resources, promotion of worldwide free trade, a combination of local

and federal support of rural medical, communications, and road systems, and elimination

of direct government farm programs (NGOPH, 2004).

 The NFU is a general farm organization with a membership of nearly 250,000

farm and ranch families across the country. It is a federation that represents farmers and

ranchers in all states and the presidents of the 24 state and regional farmers union

organizations serve as its board of directors (Price, 2003).

 The NFU was founded in 1902 due to a need identified by a group of farmers to

join together to fight a common cause. Today, according the president of the NFU, Dave

Frederickson, the NFU's education, cooperation, and legislative programs all revolve

around member needs. This organization also provides a voice for family agriculture and

rural America. Its primary goal has been to sustain and strengthen family farm and ranch

agriculture, which it does through a grassroots structure with policy positions begun at

the local level (Price, 2003).

 In addition to the AFBF, the Grange, and the NFU, there is one other national

farm organization. The National Farmers' Organization (NFO) was formed in 1955. It