Washington, D.C. - The National Farmers Union (NFU) honored Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today with the 2016 Golden Triangle Award, the organization's highest legislative honor. The annual award is presented to members of Congress who have demonstrated leadership and support policies that benefit America's family farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and rural communities.

"Colorado's farmers and ranchers and our $40 billion agriculture industry help drive our state's economy," Bennet said. "Their input was invaluable as we tackled the Farm Bill, which we passed in 2014 and continues to provide more certainty for our producers, and rural communities. Listening directly to Colorado farmers will help us ensure that they have the resources needed to continue to provide food and fuel to Colorado and America."

This is Bennet's seventh Golden Triangle award. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Bennet helped craft the Farm Bill with the help of Coloradans across the state. He was also selected to serve on the conference committee convened to work out the differences between the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the bill. Bennet helped ensure that Colorado priorities were in the final version of the Farm Bill, including a strengthened crop insurance program, improved conservation easements, reauthorization of the livestock disaster program, important forestry measures for reducing the risk of wildfires, and the continuation of Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for Colorado counties.

The Golden Triangle Award is based on NFU's symbol - a triangle with "legislation" and "cooperation" forming the sides and "education" the base. The Golden Triangle Awards have been presented every year since 1988.