Ruth Simpson grew up in a farming family in west central Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Minnesota-Morris with a B.A. in Political Science and Speech Communication (B.A., 1981); and from the University of South Dakota with a law degree (J.D., 1984).
In the late 1980s, Simpson acted as an organizer with Minnesota Citizens’ Organizations Acting Together (now known as Minnesota Citizens Organized ACting Together (COACT)), and focused on the use of bovine somatotropin (bST) (or recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), as its commercially produced version is known), which was introduced as a technique to boost milk production in dairy cattle. Minnesota COACT and other activist organizations questioned the safety of rBGH, and were concerned that increased milk production due to use of rBGH would lead to lower milk prices and further loss of small and moderate sized family farms. At the very least, if rBGH was used, then labeling it as such would enable consumers to make their own choices. The rBGH issue also raised questions about who would actually benefit from its use: the pharmaceutical companies that produced it (including Monsanto, American Cyanamid, Eli Lilly, and Upjohn), larger dairy operations, or end consumers.
Along with concern regarding the dairy checkoff/promotion program, the rBGH issue also led to the formation of the non-profit farmer advocacy organization, Family Farm Defenders (FFD). Simpson was one of the founding members of FFD in 1994, and continues to serve on its board. She also serves on the board of Research, Education, Action and Policy on Food Group (REAP) and is chair of the Dane County Food Council. Since 1994, she has served as Research Director at the Wisconsin Association for Justice, an organization of trial lawyers.
