Showing posts with label Farmfest MN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Farmfest MN. Show all posts

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Three video clips from Wednesday's governor candidate forum at Farmfest

I'll be adding more on Friday - right now I'm labeling the ones that I've uploaded.

You can view them at the Herman-Hoffman Tribune website's videos page.

http://www.hermanhoffmantribune.com

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Part of the governor candidate debate below - more will be uploaded over the next day



I've got all my photos from Farmfest uploaded to the Herman-Hoffman Tribune's online Dotphoto gallery. Look under "2010 Rural Minnesota events" and you will find two Farmfest photo albums, one from the governor candidate debate and another including general pictures from the farm show.

Click here to follow through to the photo gallery:
www.hermanhoffmantribune.com

This about says it all (seen on the back of a T-shirt at Farmfest today)













Later tonight I'll be adding more photos and commentary from the events today at Farmfest.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Off to Farmfest in the morning - I plan to arrive at 8am for the Farm Bureau pancake feed

Farmfest will be in its second day for 2010 tomorrow. I'll be there all day. It should be fun. Look for blogging and Facebook updates on Wednesday night and Thursday.

From Glenwood, it's roughly a 100-mile drive to rural Morgan, Minnesota (south of Redwood Falls on Highway 67).

Here's the website for the Farmfest show: http://www.farmshows.com/ffst/index.po

Congressional candidates to debate at Farmfest - including Lee Byberg and Collin Peterson of the 7th District

Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Walz and Republican Randy Demmer face off before an audience of farmers on Tuesday.

The two participate in a forum at Farmfest near Redwood Falls with candidates from three other congressional districts.

The 1st District candidates from southern Minnesota are Walz, Demmer and Independence Party candidate Steven Wilson. Walz is running for a third term.

Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson will be there, too. So will 7th District Republican challengers Lee Byberg and Alan Roebke and Independence Party candidate Glen Menze. Peterson heads the House Agriculture Committee and is seeking an 11th term representing western Minnesota.

Republican Reps. Michele Bachmann and John Kline won't attend, but two of their election rivals will. Democrats Tarryl Clark and Shelley Madore are participating.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Yeah, I'm pumped for this event - the 29th annual Farmfest begins tomorrow south of Redwood Falls

The 29th annual Farmfest is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on the Gilfillan Estate, 7 miles southeast of Redwood Falls.

A congressional candidate forum takes place beginning at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday under the forum tent. Confirmed participats include U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and his opponent in the 7th District, Republican Lee Byberg of Willmar; U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and Republican Randy Demmer and Independent Steven Wilson, his challengers in the 1st District. Also participating are Democratic challenger Tarryl Clark, who faces U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. in 6th District, and Democrat Dan Powers, who faces U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Minn. in the 2nd District race.

Noticeably absent is Michele Bachmann.

The U.S. House candidates will be quizzed on a variety of issues affecting agriculture and rural communities.

All five of the major candidates for governor have confirmed they will be a part of the candidate forum at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday under the forum tent, an event that I will be attending, photographing, and videotaping. This includes Republican Tom Emmer, Independent candidates Tom Horner and Rob Hahn, and DFL candidates Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be the keynote speaker at the Forum Tent at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. There will also be a panel discussion on what the next governor needs to know about rural Minnesota at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Panel members include state Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson; King Banaian, economics professor at St. Cloud State; Jim Miller, executive director of the League of Minnesota Cities; and Lee Warne, executive director of the state Rural Education Association.

Farmfest will also include many forums on a wide range of ag-related topics including understanding carbon credits, the future of the livestock industry, weather and commodity outlooks and strategies for agricultural education.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. Admission is $10 for adults and free for youth under age 18. Parking is free.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Candidate forums highlight Farmfest next week near Redwood Falls

Note: I will be attending 1 or 2 days of Farmfest - for sure Wednesday (governor candiate forum) and possibly Tuesday (Congressional candidate forum).

Candidate Forums have been a feature at FARMFEST in every even numbered year for two decades, and 2010 will be no exception, according to Kent Thiesse, FARMFEST Forum Coordinator. Thiesse said that FARMFEST has hosted Candidate Forums for every statewide race for Governor and U.S. Senate since 1990, as well as holding a Congressional Candidate Forum every two years for potential Congressional Candidates in Minnesota Districts that have a major emphasis on the agriculture industry, and a significant rural population.

The focus of past Candidate Forums has been on agriculture and rural issues, and that emphasis will continue again in 2010. Thiesse points out that many Forums during the length of the campaign season cover the vast breadth of issues facing candidates, but the FARMFEST Forums are one time when the focus is much more “fine-tuned” on the issues that are critical to farm families, small businesses, and rural communities.

The "Governor Candidate’s Forum on Rural Minnesota", which will be held at FARMFEST on Wednesday, August 4, at 10:30 AM, has garnered considerable statewide attention, and even some national focus. All five of the major Candidates for Governor of Minnesota have confirmed to participate in the FARMFEST Forum. This includes Tom Emmer, Republican candidate, Tom Horner and Rob Hahn, Independent Party candidates, and DFL candidates Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Mark Dayton, and Matt Entenza. A panel of Minnesota agricultural and rural leaders will pose questions to the Gubernatorial Candidates on a variety of issues affecting farm families and rural communities. The statewide Primary Election is on August 10, and the General Election is on November 2.

The "Congressional Candidate’s Forum on Agriculture and Rural Issues" will be held on the first day of FARMFEST, which is Tuesday, August 3, at 10:30 AM. All Congressional Candidates from Minnesota’s First, Second, Sixth, and Seventh Congressional Districts have been invited to participate in the Forum. Thus far, Congressman Collin Peterson (D) and Lee Byberg (R), his opponent in the Seventh District; Congressman Tim Walz (D), along with Randy Demmer (R) and Steven Wilson (I), his opponents in the First District; and Tarryl Clark (D), who is challenging Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R) in the Sixth District, have confirmed to participate in the FARMFEST Forum. A panel of agriculture reporters for radio and newspaper will pose questions to the U.S. House Candidates on a variety of issues affecting agriculture and rural communities.

Ideas for questions may be submitted via e-mail to Kent Thiesse, FARMFEST Forum Coordinator, at kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com. That information will then be forwarded to the panel members that will be posing the questions to the candidates during FARMFEST.

FARMFEST Forums will be held throughout the day on August 3, 4, and 5, in the Forum Tent on the FARMFEST Site, which is located at the Gilfillan Estate, 7 miles southeast of Redwood Falls, Minnesota. In addition to the two Candidate Forums, the 2010 edition of FARMFEST will include special forums ranging from ideas for Minnesota’s next Governor, to understanding carbon credits, to the future of the livestock industry, and strategies for agricultural education. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will be the keynote speaker at the Forum on Thursday, August 5, at 10:30 AM. All of the Forums will provide ample time for questions, and follow-up discussion by Panel members.