REDWOOD FALLS -- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., chairman of the House Ag Committee, will participate in a Farm Bill forum during the 26th annual Farmfest, which starts Tuesday.
Also participating at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the forum tent will be Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
Arctic explorer Will Steger will be featured in a presentation on global warming and agriculture's role in climate change at 1:30 p.m. under the forum tent. A panel of agricultural leaders will respond to Steger's presentation. That panel will include Gene Sandager, corn farmer from Hills; Kristin Duncanson, soybean association national director; Mark Willers, CEO of Minwind Energy of Luverne; and Loni Kemp, senior policy analyst for The Minnesota Project.
Wednesday's forums include a discussion on farmland usage, grain and livestock marketing strategies and rural leadership. On Thursday afternoon, the county farm families of the year will be honored by the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Farm Network and Farmfest.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty headlines the 10:30 a.m. forum Thursday on strengthening rural Minnesota's economic future. He will be flanked by Steve Wenzel, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development director; Dan McElroy, commissioner of the state Department of Employment and Economic Development; Bev Durgan, dean of the University of Minnesota Extension Service; and Jack Geller, director of the Center for Rural Policy Development.
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New this year at the show will be the outdoor sports showcase, located adjacent to the Farmfest grounds. The showcase will feature presentations and product displays for outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, archery, firearms, conservation and habitat development. Free activities include an archery range, climbing wall and laser range, along with a landowners' help desk and a native prairie grass exhibit.
The outdoor sports showcase runs from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.
University of Minnesota experts will be at the show, including climatologist Mark Seeley on Tuesday and agronomist Dale Hicks on Wednesday. The U of M tent will include an exhibit on renewable energy to illustrate the University's research on soy diesel, wind power, anhydrous ammonia and biomass for energy.
Daily highlights of the show include seed plots from 21 seed companies; livestock demos at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; field demos, including sprayer, tractor, hay, mowing and ATV equipment ride and drive opportunities at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily; an antique tractor exhibit, craft and toy exhibits, kids pedal pull and a farm safety scavenger hunt. The show features more than 580 exhibitors and is expected to draw 35,000 over its three-day run.
Farmfest is located southeast of Redwood Falls on the Gilfillan Estate, on the corner of state Highway 67 and Redwood County Road 13.
The show runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. Admission is $7 per person with age 18 and under admitted free. Parking is free. Get more information at www.farmshows.com .
