Former Ag Commissioner Sarah Vogel Endorses Vern Thompson
For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Former Ag Commissioner Vogel Endorses Thompson and Highlights Need for Ag Credit Counseling and Mediating.
BISMARCK, N.D. - Vern Thompson, Candidate for Ag Commissioner, and former Ag Commissioner Sarah Vogel held a press conference after the two attended the Industrial Commission meeting on September 22 at the Capitol in Bismarck. During the press conference, Vogel endorsed Thompson to be the next North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner.
The Ag Commissioner sits on the Industrial Commission with the Governor and Attorney General. Thompson recapped the Industrial Commission meeting by saying, "In three hours not one mention of the farm crisis here in North Dakota... Farmers and ranchers and consumers are suffering with high diesel fuel and food costs."
Thompson noted that farmer suicides are up. (Source:https://kfgo.com/2026/05/26/rural-men-face-rising-suicide-risk-as-north-dakota-pushes-community-based-prevention/)
He made the case that this "train wreck" was something that should have been predicted, that it will get worse, and the state must have a plan for how to help families through this.
Of particular concern to Thompson during this time of crisis is that the ND Department of Ag currently has only one ag credit counselor. There is apparently not anyone currently working in the mediator role as that job position is missing from the department website.
A former person understood to be in a mediator and counseling role left to a different agency in June.
Sarah Vogel explained that during the '80s farm crisis, Republican Kent Jones started the credit counselor program to help farms develop plans to stay in business and that during her time as Ag Commissioner she expanded that and hired 80 counselors to keep up with the work across the state to save farms, prevent suicides, and keep businesses in small towns alive.
"We need an urgent reaction just like that today....because in many ways the crisis today is worse because there are fewer farmers today." - Sarah Vogel
Thompson took questions, including what can we do about the farm crisis.
"First you have to go out and meet the people in crisis. That's not being done. Second, you need to train people to advocate and promote the programs." He suggested a collaborative approach between clergy, farm organizations, and the Department of Ag to work together to get resources out there and help farmers experiencing immense stress.
Vogel noted that Farmers Legal Action Group would train people for free, but they haven't gotten the call from the ND Department of Ag.
When asked about specific stressors, Thompson named the uncertainties producers are facing from tariffs and now imported foreign beef.
"We need someone standing up and advocating on behalf of the farmers and the ranchers. I don't see anyone else doing that"- Vern Thompson
