There's no better way to make your case...then to discuss the issue face to face.

During the National Farmers Union Fly-In producers have the opportunity to get up close and personal with both the House and the Senate.

Sarah Gustin follows one North Dakota team going door to door in DC.

These people could be making phone calls, sending e-mails, writing letters, but instead they're walking the halls of Washington D.C bringing North Dakota ag issues to our nation's capitol

(Roger Zetocha / Stirum Farmer) "YOU'RE NOT WASTING YOUR TIME BY BEING OUT HERE. SOMETIMES YOU KINDA THINK YOU ARE WALKING AGANIST THE POST, BUT MOST TIMES YOU WALK AWAY WITH THE SENSE THAT IT'S WORTH IT." (Byron Dorgan / Senator (D) "THIS DOES REALLY MATTER THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS THAT POWL THE HALLWAYS OF UNITED STATES CONGRESS EVERYDAY, BUT MANY OF THEM ARE PAID BY INTEREST TO DO THAT. THESE ARE FAMILY FARMES WHO COME HERE TO WASHINGTON DC TO SAY HERE IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN OUR LIVES." North Dakota members are taking turns telling their story

Grain prices, food safety, the dairy crisis...even health care are topics up for discussion

It's rare to speak with an actual senator or represenative

Today's visits are helping congressional aides sitting in an office in Washington DC understand what's happening in rural America

(Jane Opdahl / NDFU Member) "I FELT IT WENT VERY WELL. HE AS VERY RECEPTIVE TO WHAT WE HAD TO SAY. HE ACTUALLY KNEW THE DAIRY INDUSTRY A LITTLE BIT SO HE COULD RELATE TO WHAT WE WERE SAYING. For some it's the first time to tell their story

(Jane Opdahl / NDFU Member) "IT WAS EASIER WHEN I HAD A PERSONAL STORY WITH SOME PASSION TO SHARE

(Thor Sand / Ellendale Rancher) "I JUST TELL THEM HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE ISSUES, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO LISTENING TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY AND THEY SEEM GENULITY CONCERNED AND THAT THEY ARE TAKING IT IN." For others it's their 8th, maybe 10th time around capitol hill

(Roger Zetocha / Stirum Farmer) "I THINK WHEN THEY HEAR NATIONAL FARMERS UNION IS COMING TO TOWN, THEY THINK, WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY." The number of fly-ins on your belt doesn't matter

What matters is they're taking the time to make sure the concerns of North Dakota are being heard on capitol hill come voting time

(Byron Dorgan / (D) "I HEAR IT WHEN I GO TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE TO VOTE, PEOPLE COME AND SAY WELL, WE HAD SOME NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS IN OUR OFFICES TODAY TALKING ABOUT THIS. I THINK THAT IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT WAY TO COMMUNICATE." watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list