It has been announced that Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton will be attending FARMFEST on the morning of Tuesday, August 2, and will be giving a Keynote Address at 10:15 AM that day, according to Kent Thiesse, FARMFEST Forum Coordinator. The Governor will address those in attendance at FARMFEST in the Forum Tent on the Show Site, which is located at the Gilfillan Estate on State Highway #67, 7 miles southeast of Redwood Falls, Minnesota. An excellent set of FARMFEST Forums are scheduled on August 2, 3, and 4 in the Forum Tent.

FARMFEST is hosting a free breakfast and grain marketing seminar on Tuesday, August 2, from 7:00-8:30 AM in the Forum Tent. For more details or to sign-up, please call
1-800-827-8007 or go to the FARMFEST web site at : www.farmshows.com

The "Designing the Next Farm Bill …… Shaping the Future of Rural America" is the title of the Feature Forum on Tuesday, August 2, at 10:30 AM. The Forum Panel for this important topic will feature Kevin Paap, MN Farm Bureau President, Doug Peterson, MN Farmers Union President, Chris Clayton, DTN Ag Policy Analyst, and Dave Ladd, President of RDL & Associates, LLC. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congressman Collin Peterson, and Congressman Tim Walz, were invited to participate in this panel discussion, but will be unable to attend due to commitments in Washington, DC.

“Regulation …… The Biggest Threat to Production Agriculture ?” is the title of the Forum scheduled for Tuesday, August 2, at 1:15 PM. The Forum will provide an overview of the potential impacts to farm operators and the agricultural industry of current and proposed Federal and State regulations for water quality, air quality, use of antibiotics, transportation, and other regulations. The Panel of experts participating in this intriguing Forum will include Liz Wagstrom, Chief Veterinarian with the National Pork Producers Council, Warren Formo, Executive Director of the MN Agricultural Water Resources Coalition, Matt Wohlman, Assistant MN Commissioner of Agriculture, Don Schiefelbein, MN State Cattleman’s Assn. President and MPCA Citizens Board member, Bill Crawford, MN Pork Board President, and Dave Pfarr, MN Corn Growers Assn. Board member.

The "Finding a Common Message for Agriculture" is the title of the morning Forum on Wednesday, August 3, at 10:30 AM. The focus will be on building collaboration within the agriculture industry, as well as communicating agriculture’s message to the non-farm public. Dave Frederickson, MN Commissioner of Agriculture, will make the opening comments. The Panel members will include Brad Finstad, Executive Director of the MN Rural Policy Center, Brian Greenslit, MN Soybean Research & Promotion Council and member of the U.S. Farm & Ranch Alliance, Staci Martin, Director of Legislative Affairs for AgStar, Karen Richter, National Pork Board Treasurer, Donna Moenning, Vice President of the Midwest Dairy Assn., and Stacy Thoeny, dairy farm operator from Ogilvie, MN.

A special Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, August 3, at 1:15 PM, and is titled : "Designing State Agencies to Enhance the Agriculture Industry". This Forum will focus on how various State Agencies work independently and collaboratively to support the work of agricultural producers, processors, and retailers. Panel members will include Dave Frederickson, MN Commissioner of Agriculture, Deputy Commissioners Paul Moe of MN DEED and John Linc Stine of MPCA, Dennis Frederickson, Regional DNR Director, Mike Barnes from MNDOT, and John Jaschke, BWSR Executive Director.

The Feature Forum on Thursday, August 4, at 10:30 AM., is titled : “Keeping the Land-Grant Mission Alive", and will focus on the importance of public agricultural research and extension outreach. Panel members will include Bev Durgan, Dean of U of M Extension, Gene Stoel, Chairman of the MN Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Gyles Randall, retired U of M Soils Scientist, and Jim Nesseth, crop consultant in Southwest Minnesota.

A special Forum titled “Presidential Elections …… Electoral College or Popular Vote ?” has been added on Tuesday, August 2, at 3:00 PM. This Forum will focus on efforts across the U.S. to change the way U.S. Presidential Elections are conducted, by switching from the current Electoral College system to electing the President by a National Popular Vote. The Forum will feature Laura Brod, former State Representative, and other special guests.

The MN Farm Bureau will host a free breakfast on Wednesday, August 3, from 8:00-10:00 AM in the Forum Tent at FARMFEST. Special guest will be Eric Kaler, new President of the University of Minnesota. President Kaler will also give a keynote address at FARMFEST at 10:15 AM on Wednesday, August 3, just prior to the morning Forum.

Three special FARMFEST Grain Marketing Forums will be held at 9:00 AM each day. The first Marketing Forum on Tuesday, August 2, will feature Bryce Anderson, well-known DTN agricultural weather expert, and John Sanow, DTN grain marketing analyst. The Marketing Forum on Wednesday, August 3, which will be part of the MN Farm Bureau Breakfast, will feature Mark Schultz from Northstar Commodities, and the Thursday Marketing Forum at 9:00 AM will feature Jacquie Voeks, marketing analyst with the Stewart-Peterson company.

The “Farm Family of the Year” Recognition Program will be held on Thursday, August 4, at 1:30 PM, in the Forum Tent. Over 65 honored farm families from throughout Minnesota have been selected at the County level for this recognition. This Recognition Event is jointly sponsored by FARMFEST and the University of Minnesota.

Other special events at FARMFEST in the Forum Tent include the naming of the Minnesota State Pork Ambassadors on Wednesday, August 3, at 1:00 PM, and the 4th annual FARMFEST Auctioneering Championship on Wednesday, August 3, at 3:00 PM. Minnesota Farmers Union and the MN Farmers Union Insurance Agency will sponsor free watermelon during the event.