ATLANTA, Ga. – While residents of New Hampshire were casting ballots Jan. 27 in their highly publicized presidential primary election, another facet of the American democratic process quietly played out hundreds of kilometres to the south.
U.S. wheat growers attending their annual conference were bidding to buy everything from farm inputs and shotguns to bottles of wine and paintings.
The auction is designed to raise money for WheatPAC, the industry’s political action committee.
WheatPAC will donate money from the auction to the campaigns of wheat-friendly candidates in November’s congressional elections.
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After the election is over, it will make sure those and other members of the Senate and House of Representatives pay attention to issues close to the wheat growers’ hearts, in areas like farm policy, foreign trade, environment and research.
“We take every opportunity to try to influence them to our benefit,” said Joseph Westhoff, a wheat grower from Wiggins, Colorado.
“I guess it’s a couple of those dirty words – special interest group and lobbying,” he said with a laugh. “But they’re all part of how the system works and if you don’t do it, you’ll get left behind.”
Attached to Westhoff’s conference nametag is a white ribbon identifying him as a “WheatPAC contributor.”
Mike Bouris, who grows wheat in southern California, also sported a white ribbon on his tag.
Having made a few WheatPAC-financed trips to Washington to lobby the state’s senators and members of congress, he’s convinced his investment in WheatPAC pays dividends.
“They pay attention to us,” he said.
“As far as how important our industry is, I don’t think we have enough influence. But as far as the size we are, we have more influence that you’d expect.”
WheatPAC, run by the National Association of Wheat Growers, collects an annual war chest of between $60,000 and $100,000. The campaign donations are usually divided up among about 50 congressional candidates, with PAC rules limiting donations to $2,000. Both Democrats and Republicans receive funding.
Daren Coppock, NAWG’s chief executive officer, said decisions about which candidates receive money are “unscientific,” but the funds go to elected members with positive voting records and a demonstrated willingness to listen to and understand the needs of wheat growers.
He added there are never specific conditions attached to WheatPAC support.
Colorado wheat grower Westhoff said WheatPAC provides the industry and individual farmers like himself a chance to get the ear of their elected representatives.
“You have to try to positively affect the outcome by working within the system as it is,” he said.
But wheat grower officials say it takes more than donations to gain influence with elected officials. Probably the most important factor is credibility.
“When we provide information to Congress, we are very careful that it’s right,” said Coppock.
“I think we’ve built up a reputation of credibility and that’s probably our biggest tool.”
