The National Farmers Union (NFU) was organized in 19O2 at Point, Texas, to be a non-partisan body representing the interests of farmers in America. The organization worked to provide cooperative grain elevator facilities, relief to drought victims, price protection, farm coops, insurance services, lobbying, and educational programs for members. In 1926 NFU took over the properties of the Equity Cooperative Exchange, a terminal marketing coop founded in 1911 and managed by M.W. Thatcher. From this beginning the Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association (FUGTA), with main offices in St. Paul, Minnesota, grew to be one of the largest marketing cooperatives in the world, at one time handling ten percent of all wheat produced in the United States.

In 1938 the National Farmers Union insurance program became licensed in Montana. Harold M. Brown, who was serving as secretary-treasurer of the Montana Farmers Union, became the first state agent for the NFU insurance program. In August 1943 Brown began working as a field agent for FUGTA based in Great Falls, Montana, arranging grain accounts, hiring managers for elevators, setting up coops, etc. During his travels Brown also participated in the Patrons' Annual Meetings (PAMs) held by the various boards operating the elevators and coops. Brown was also active lobbying on issues of importance to grain producers such as the wheat referendum, taxes, freight rates, warehouse fees, boxcar shortages, etc.