Kara O’Connor serves as the Government Relations Director for Wisconsin Farmers Union, advocating for policies that promote a strong farm safety net, healthy food, responsible soil and water conservation, and vibrant rural communities.  Kara has a special passion for speaking out against consolidation and mega-mergers in the food and agricultural industries.   In keeping with the policy priorities identified by WFU members, she has focused attention in recent years on the issues of nonpartisan redistricting and campaign finance reform.  She is also an advocate for expanding high-speed internet to rural areas, and served on the UW Extension Broadband Adoption and Utilization Advisory Council in 2015-2016. In 2016 she initiated the Wisconsin Farmers Union Dairy Survey, which reached out to every dairy farmer in the state to hear directly from them about their challenges and hopes for their industry.

Kara completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska, and received her law degree from the University of Minnesota.  Kara currently serves on the Board of Community Shares of Wisconsin and lives in Madison, WI with her husband Ryan and daughter Sophia.