This week in Iowa organizing…
In case you missed the big news late last week, several Farm Bureau subsidiaries are being sued by two former employees for covering up fraudulent activities and neglecting to report them to state regulators.
This behavior, if true, seems to be just another page in the Farm Bureau playbook. It’s what we've seen for decades at the statehouse. The Iowa Farm Bureau is the mouthpiece for Corporate Ag and helped pave the way for the factory farm model of livestock production that drives family farmers out of business.
Perhaps even more interesting, the Iowa Farm Bureau is the majority owner of the financial service entities named in the lawsuit. That's why it's not a good look for Iowa's elected officials who took campaign contributions from the Iowa Farm Bureau PAC. And it's why we're calling on those elected officials to give the money back - add your name here if you haven't already.
Right is right, and wrong is wrong. Iowans shouldn’t have to wonder who their elected officials are working for – their constituents or a big money special interest whose reputation has been severely tarnished by this news.
In other news, we kick off our yearend fundraising campaign next week, more on that below along with other ways to take action!
Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director
Take action
FUNdraising time - we start next week!
Next week, Dec. 1- 5 is our week-long, power building party! It's our biggest team fundraiser and membership drive of the year. And it's critical to growing CCI Action's membership and dollar power to raise funds to do the work on public education, clean water, CO2 pipelines, and more.
In addition to our SOUPer phone banks all week that help us connect with members and raise funds for the work (and we have soup and snacks), this year we're excited to share three unique "fun"draisers that members are adding to the mix:
Thank you so much to all the people who have contributed already to help us reach our goal of $65K in 5 days!
Donate today - it'll be DOUBLED!
Dec. 9: Pre-legislative session dig-in
The 2025 state legislative session was a whirlwind of activity, with mixed results on policy that impact the people and places we love. However, a key defining victory of last session was Iowans coming together to defeat Bayer's "Cancer Gag Act."
We want to go into 2026 committed and ready to defeat Bayer again, and discuss other priorities we'll be lifting up like restoring funding for water quality monitoring sensors, increasing funding for local conservation practices, and funding to map our aquifers.
On December 9 at 6 PM we'll be joined by Iowa Farmers Union Executive Director Matt Russell. He'll help us differentiate between Big Ag and farmers that are trapped in the system and how federal cuts are impacting conservation practices in Iowa. RSVP to join us on Dec. 9 here!
Dec. 15: Public School Strong orientation
Thank you to all of you who have signed our petition urging our local school boards to pass resolutions calling on the legislature to fully fund our public schools and to phase out private school vouchers that funnel public money to private schools.
We want to go into 2026 with even more folks prepared to defend and strengthen our public schools. That's why we invite you to join other Iowans to our last Public School Strong (PSS) orientation of the year on Mon, Dec 15 at 7 pm on zoom.
At this meeting folks will learn more about what’s behind the attacks on public education, the purpose and goals of Public School Strong, and receive a free PSS t-shirt! RSVP here.
Tell Rep. Hinson - NO pesticide immunity
Now that the government shutdown has ended, the federal version of Bayer's Cancer Gag Act- hidden within the language of the House Interior appropriations bill- could be voted on soon. Please take a few minutes to let Appropriations Committee member Rep. Ashley Hinson to vote NO on allowing pesticide manufacturers immunity in the appropriations bill.
Rep. Hinson’s DC office: (202) 225-2911
What We're Reading
These are a few links that are informing our work - we've shared them so that you can read, too!
Jones believes facts can beat 'cropaganda' [Cedar Rapids Gazette]
Seen better and know better [Working Class Storytelling]
Chicagoans grill AT&T for facilitating ICE terror [The American Prospect]
LCFS: bigger factory farms, more pollution, nationwide [Food & Water Watch]
How community organizing can stop authoritarianism and advance justice [Nonprofit Quarterly]