JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- The North Dakota Farmers Union unveiled its newly remodeled office July 19, a project that cost roughly $5 million, according to President Robert Carlson.
The building is headquarters both to the Farmers Union organization, but also to Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Co. and associated entities.
About five years ago, Farmers Union officials had discussed moving the headquarters to Bismarck, N.D., but that idea was scrapped when members failed to support it sufficiently. Construction started in early 2009 and recently was completed.
Carlson noted that the building that initially was constructed in 1976 is entirely different inside after the remodel.
Facility features
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Among the features of the building:
- An ability to communicate real-time with audio and video with the entire world. The equipment is designed to facilitate television interviews with media in Bismarck and Fargo, N.D., among other things, though
- Conference center - seats 400 people at tables and 600 without tables. It can be divided into five soundproof segments and offers state-of-the-art communications equipment. The site has wireless internet and 7,019 square feet. The room will host a precision agriculture conference in January, but will not be large enough for the group's annual meetings.
- The NDFU board room holds up to 15 people and features a large flat screen display for presentations, and wireless internet .
- The building is heated and cooled through ground source geothermal systems. Heat pumps are centralized to increase system efficiency, decrease energy costs and lower maintenance costs. Outside air is sent through a dedicated energy recovery unit to decrease energy costs and increase comfort.
"Another big step," said Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union, addressing the event via Skype, from a hotel room in Denver.
Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., was expecting to address the event, but had to bow out to attend a meeting on the budget crisis in Washington.
In his stead, Jim Miller, former under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and now an agricultural policy staffer for Conrad for the second time, spoke in his boss' stead, alluding to the strong partnership "throughout the decades" between Conrad and the NDFU. He called the new offices an asset for the organization and truly an asset for the city of Jamestown.
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The entity also includes the Farmers Union Service Association, which recruits, trains and hires local Farmers Union Insurance agents, as well as the National Farmers Union Insurance Claims office.
