EAGAN, Minn. — IDEAg Group, LLC. will host the annual Minnesota Farmfest Aug. 1-3, at the Gilfillan Estate in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Farmfest features innovative products from nearly 500 exhibitors, political forums, educational sessions and fun for the whole family.
IDEAg Minnesota Farmfest has been connecting the Midwest’s top farmers with the latest in farm equipment from local and leading companies for more than 30 years. Key topics during this year’s event include: the 2018 farm bill, rural health and safety, agriculture around the nation and retirement preparation.
“While continuing its focus on global agricultural innovations, Farmfest is also proud to host this year’s Farm Bill Forum,” said John Hawkins, senior director of conventions and operations for the American Farm Bureau Federation and IDEAg Group. “We look forward to a lively and informative discussion led by featured speakers House Ag Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) and House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.),” Hawkins said.
Also participating in the Farm Bill Forum will be Reps. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Kristi Noem (R-S.D.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Rodney Davis (R-Ill.),
Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) and Dwight Evans (D-Pa.).
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1
- 7:30 a.m., free mini-doughnuts for the first 1,000 attendees sponsored by Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (Entrance Gate 2)
- 9:00 a.m., DTN Ag Weather and Grain Marketing Update
- 10:00 a.m., Minnesota State Patrol Vehicle Inspections sponsored by Nuss Truck (Booth #830)
- 10:30 a.m., Addressing the Rural Health Care Dilemma (Panel members: Emily Piper, commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services; Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.); Minnesota state Sen. Gary Dahms (R); Nicholas Gerhart, chief administrative officer, FBL Financial Group; and Jeff Nielsen, CEO, United Farmers Cooperative
- 11:30 a.m., free sweet corn feed sponsored by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association
- 12:00 p.m., Linder Farm Network Noon Show
- 1:00 p.m., Keynote Address by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
- 1:00 p.m., Kids’ Pedal Pull (Entrance Gate 2)
- 1:15 p.m., Strategies for Farming in Challenging Times. Panel members: Dave Frederickson, Minnesota commissioner of agriculture; Minnesota state Sen. Paul Anderson (R); Bob Roesler, farm business management instructor, Sherburn, Minnesota; Pauline VanNurden, University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management; David Bau, University of Minnesota Extension educator; and Bob Worth, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association secretary, Lake Benton, Minnesota
- 2:00 p.m., Minnesota State Patrol Vehicle Inspections sponsored by Nuss Truck (Booth #830)
- 2:45 p.m., Farm Safety: Protecting You, Your Family, Your Employees and Your Bottom Line, sponsored by Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety Health, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Safety Council
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2
- 8:00 a.m., Minnesota Farm Bureau Pancake Breakfast
- 9:00 a.m., Grain and Livestock Marketing Presentation with Mark Schultz, North Star Commodities
- 10:00 a.m., Minnesota State Patrol Vehicle Inspections (Booth #830)
- 10:30 a.m., National Ag Policy Roundtable. Panel members: Zippy Duvall, president, American Farm Bureau Federation; Matt Perdue, government relations assistant, National Farmers Union; Bruce Schmoll, past president, National Meat Export Federation; Tom Haag, board member, National Corn Growers Association; and Jim Compart, board member, National Pork Producers Council
- 12:00 p.m., Linder Farm Network Noon Show featuring Max Armstrong
- 1:00 p.m., appearance by the guys from DieselSellerz (until 3:00 p.m., Minnesota Soybean Booth #618)
- 1:00 p.m., Kids’ Pedal Pull (Entrance Gate 2)
- 1:15 p.m., Transitioning to the Next Generation of Farmers. Panel members: Karson Duncanson, farmer, Mapleton, Minnesota; Dan Helvig, Minnesota Pork Board executive board member and farmer, Truman, Minnesota; Natasha Mortenson, Riverview Farms, Morris, Minnesota; Tim Nolte, farmer and past president, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Sebeka, Minnesota; Pam Uhlenkamp, farm business management instructor, Mankato, Minnesota; Brad Schloesser, director, Southern Minnesota Center for Agriculture
- 2:00 p.m., Minnesota State Patrol Vehicle Inspections (Booth #830)
- 2:45 p.m., Retire At Zero Seminar presented by Farm Bureau Financial Services
- 6:30 p.m., Minnesota BioDiesel Pull-Off (Redwood County Fairgrounds)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 3
- 9:30 a.m., The Next Farm Bill…Conversations in the Field forum hosted by House Ag Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) and House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (R-Minn.)
- 10:00 a.m., Minnesota State Patrol Vehicle Inspections (Booth #830)
- 12:00 p.m., Linder Farm Network Noon Show
- 1:00 p.m., Kids’ Pedal Pull (Entrance Gate 2)
- 1:15 p.m., University of Minnesota Farm Family of the Year Recognition Program
- 2:00 p.m., Minnesota State Patrol Vehicle Inspections (Booth #830)
Daily Events
- 1:00 p.m., Kids’ Pedal Pull (Entrance Gate 2)
- Minnesota Farm Bureau Scavenger Hunt (Booth #7)
- Ride and Drive Experiences
About IDEAg Minnesota Farmfest
IDEAg Group, LLC. delivers an optimal experience to attendees, exhibitors and industry thought leaders in the agricultural market. Through its established farm show events and Feed & Grain magazine, the IDEAg Group is dedicated to bringing interactive, content-rich, high-value events to the marketplace, connecting top-level producers to the providers across the country. The IDEAg Group offers interactive events, publications and media products that are produced “For Agriculture. By Agriculture.”
Other upcoming IDEAg shows include Dakotafest (Aug. 15-17) in Mitchell, South Dakota; the Amarillo Farm & Ranch Show (Nov. 28-30) in Amarillo, Texas; and the Northern Illinois Farm Show (Jan. 10-11, 2018) in DeKalb, Illinois. Download the Farmfest mobile app at http://www.ideaggroup.com/farmfest and visit http://www.ideaggroup.com/ to learn more about all the shows.
— IDEAg Minnesota Farmfest
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