Congress members, governor expected to attend

By Mark Fischenich

GILFILLAN — It’s not an election year, but Farmfest will have an impressive line-up of politicians nonetheless for the three-day agricultural exposition starting Aug. 4.

There’s a likely Republican presidential candidate, the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and two other ag committee members from the House and Senate. Recruiting those key political figures is helped by the fact that they’re all from Minnesota, including House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, whose district includes the rural Morgan farm site which hosts Farmfest.

“It’s kind of handy when the chair of the Agriculture Committee represents the district where Farmfest is held,” said Kent Thiesse of Lake Crystal, who coordinates the policy forums at Farmfest each year.

The likely presidential candidate is Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a regular participant at the annual event since his first run for governor in 2002. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Tim Walz of Mankato are the ag committee members.

“Some really key people (for agriculture),” Thiesse said.

And because it’s an off-year politically, the forums will allow more time for southern Minnesotans to ask questions of the lawmakers, governor and other forum participants.

“There’s a lot of chance for audience interaction — probably more-so than the (campaign) forums,” Thiesse said.

The members of Congress will be the primary draw on the opening day forum on Aug. 4. Entitled “Beyond the New Farm Bill — Shaping the Future of Rural America”, the forum begins at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 4.

And the ag committee members will be joined by Minnesota’s newest elected official — Sen. Al Franken. Earlier this summer, Farmfest organizers were wondering if Minnesota would have a second senator to invite as the protracted U.S. Senate race dragged on into July, Thiesse said. But Franken has committed to being there, assuming the Senate completes its summer work on schedule.

The afternoon forum on Aug. 4 is “Climate Change — Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture.” The 1:15 p.m. forum features National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson, along with a meteorologist, a carbon-trading specialist and representatives of Agribank, the Farm Bureau and the Minnesota Corn Growers.

At 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 5, Tom Scott of Informa Economics will release results of a poll commissioned by the University of Minnesota addressing the status of agriculture in Minnesota and anticipated future trends. A panel discussion on the topic will include state Ag Commissioner Gene Hugoson, Rural Policy Center Director Brad Finstad, state Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap, and state Farmers Union President Doug Peterson.

The afternoon session at 1:15 on Aug. 5 is focused on the struggling livestock industry in the state and maintaining its status as a cornerstone of Minnesota’s economy.

The final forum, featuring Gov. Tim Pawlenty, is at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 6 and is entitled “Making Minnesota Strong for the Next Decade and Beyond.”

While it’s not an election year, Thiesse expects Farmfest attendees to run into some campaigning by several of the numerous politicians who are running — or considering runs — to replace Pawlenty as governor.

Farmfest is held at the Gilfillan Estate on Highway 67 between Morgan and Redwood Falls.