Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, the Western Caucus Foundation hosted a Field Tour and Policy Forum in Boise, Idaho, with five Congressional Western Caucus Members, two Senate Western Caucus Members, congressional staff, and stakeholders in attendance. Congressional Western Caucus Members attending included Western Caucus Executive Vice Chair Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Vice Chair Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Reps. Mike Simpson (ID-02), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), and Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and in total, over 100 attendees participated.

Western Caucus Members, staff, and stakeholders heard from agricultural experts on the importance of a Farm Bill and challenges to American agriculture.

Panelists included the President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, Zippy Duvall, CEO of the National Potato Council, Kam Quarles, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, Gregg Doud, and Policy Division Chair of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Kim Brackett.

After the panel, field tour participants attended the Birds of Prey Show presented by the Peregrine Fund to learn about the importance of conservation efforts to help recover endangered species.

Later in the day, Rep. Simpson moderated a panel discussion with former Secretaries of the Department of the Interior (DOI), David Bernhardt and Dirk Kempthorne, on improving the permitting processes at DOI and importance of reforming the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The group visited a potato processing plant that was led by the J.R. Simplot Company. Attendees learned about plant operations and the potato-to-french fry process.

To wrap up the day, field tour participants heard from the Governor of Idaho, Brad Little (R-ID), and Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) on the issues facing Idaho and the future of agriculture and wildfires in the state.

Beginning the second day of the field tour, the group toured the National Interagency Fire Center and learned about wildland fire fighting operations.

To cap off the tour, Executive Vice Chair LaMalfa moderated a panel discussion on wildfire issues including active management and the role grazing plays in reducing wildfires. The need to pass the Farm Bill was also discussed.