ST. PAUL — Twenty-two Farm Bureau members from across Minnesota met with their members of Congress in Washington, D.C. during the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s (MFBF) Farmers to Washington, D.C. trip September 11-14.
Participants met with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith; members of Congress Collin Peterson, Tom Emmer, Betty McCollum and Jason Lewis; and staff members from the offices of Collin Peterson, Tom Emmer, Betty McCollum, Jason Lewis, Erik Paulsen, Rick Nolan and Tim Walz.
During the meeting, attendees discussed Farm Bureaus policy priorities to include finishing the 2018 farm bill on time, defending and expanding trade opportunities, protecting and expanding the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), finding a solution for the very serious farm labor shortage and cutting the burdens of regulations.
“There is a significant impact when showing up in person and having that personal conversation about your farm and family with your member of Congress,” said Peter Bakken MFBF Promotion & Education Committee chair. “Your personal story is valuable information they can’t get anywhere else.”
In addition, attendees met with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Ted McKinney and Under Secretary Bill Northey, USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson, USDA Secretary Perdue’s senior staff and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall and AFBF staff. They attended the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on Perspectives on Agricultural Trade while there, members visited with Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), both Minnesota Senators Klobuchar and Smith, Senator Ernst (R-IA) and US Trade Ambassador Gregg Doud.
“Trading in barn clothes for business suits this week has been a great experience. To see the relationships that Farm Bureau has with elected officials and their staff has been awesome. It’s nice to know that we are respected and represented as Farm Bureau members,” said Jeff Pagel – MFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee chair. “From visiting with elected officials to sitting in on a U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on trade, our message is being heard. It’s a busy time of year, but after being out here I can see the impact that coming and telling my story about how my family is affected by these issues makes a difference.”
Trip attendees included county Farm Bureau leaders, state board of director members, state Promotion & Education (P&E) and Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee members and YF&R contest finalists.
YF&R contest finalists earn this trip by competing in the 2017 MFBF YF&R Achievement Award and Excellence in Agriculture contests held during the MFBF Annual Meeting in November 2017 or the 2018 Discussion Meet held at the MFBF Leadership Conference in January. In addition to the Washington, D.C. trip, state contest winners receive a $500 cash prize, a trip to the AFBF YF&R national leadership conference and a trip to compete in the AFBF contests. For more information about the MFBF YF&R program, contact your county offices or visit fbmn.org.
— Minnesota Farm Bureau
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