Farmfest Forums Focus on Key Ag Policy Issues

Between ag trade issues, the future of renewable energy, and the large reconciliation bill recently passed by Congress, it seems that there is no shortage of topics to discuss during the Farmfest Forums in 2025. These topics and more will be highlighted during the feature forums at Farmfest on Aug. 5, 6 and 7 in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center at the Gillfillan Estate near Redwood Falls, Minn. Farmfest is coordinated by IDEAg Group, LLC, a subsidiary of American Farm Bureau Federation.

Tuesday, Aug. 5 will start out with a forum titled: “How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping Agriculture”, which will be moderated by Zach Johnson, the “Millennial Farmer”, and will include Ken O/Brien, Agronomy Innovation Leader for Corteva, and Don Scriber, with the TeraClear firm. The feature forum at 10:30 am on Tuesday, Aug. 5 is titled: “Developing a Reliable Safety Ag Policy Net”, which will include four members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation. The forum will be moderated by Mark Dorenkamp, Brownfield Ag News Anchor, and will include Second District Congresswoman Angie Craig, Ranking member of the U.S. House Ag Committee. The forum will also include First District Congressman Brad Finstad, also on the House Ag Committee, along with Seventh District Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach and Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber,

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen will headline the feature forum on Tuesday afternoon Aug. 5 at 1:15 pm that is titled: “Building a Sustainable Future for Midwest Agriculture”. They will be joined by Charlotte Lollar, Director of Sustainable Aviation Fuel for Delta Airlines and Julia Silvis, Vice President of the Minnesota Sustainable Aviation Fuel Hub, along with Minnesota farm leaders Dan Glessing, President of Minnesota Farm Bureau and Gary Wertish, President of Minnesota Farmers Union. Jerry Groskruetz, KDHL Farm Director, will serve as moderator for the forum.

Another highlight in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center will be the “Farmfest Ag Outlook Forum” on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 9:15 am. The outlook forum will feature Kurt Blomgren, Minnesota State FSA Director, Dave Nicolai, University of Minnesota Crops Extension Educator, Brian Werner, Minnesota Biofuels Director, and Mark Schultz, Grain Marketing Analyst with Northstar Commodities. The feature forum on Aug. 6 at 10:30 am is titled: “Beyond the Trade Deficit: Rethinking Trade Balance and Opportunities”. Minnesota U.S. Senator Tina Smith will be joined by representatives of the Canadian and Mexican Consulate in Minnesota on the forum panel. Other Minnesota ag leaders on the panel include Randy Spronk, Past President of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, Chad Willis, Past Chair of the U.S. Grains Council, and Darin Johnson, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association President. The forum will be moderated by Don Wick, Farm Director for the Red River Farm Network.

The afternoon forum at 1:15 pm on Aug. 6 is titled: “The Future Outlook for Minnesota’s Agricultural Higher Education & Workforce”, which will be moderated by Blois Olson, WCCO Radio Political Analyst. The panel will include:  Dr. Hara Charlier, President of Central Lakes College, Brian Buhr, Dean of the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Science, Bev Durgan, Dean of University of Minnesota Extension, and Keith Olander, Executive Director of MNSCU Ag Centric

Thursday, Aug. 7 will feature events recognizing farm families and women farmers. The 2025 “Farmfest Women in Ag Event” will be held at 10:45 a.m., where the 2025 “Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year” will be announced. Over 80 County farm families of the year will honored at the University of Minnesota “Farm Family of the Year Recognition Program” on Aug. 7 at 1:15 p.m. The Linder Farm Network will host the noon show at Farmfest each day from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center

The Livestock Tent, newly located on the southwest side of the Farmfest site, will host timely panel discussions on the “Strategies to Navigate New World Screwworm and Other Pandemic Livestock Diseases” outbreak on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 11:15 a.m. and “In the Red or in the Black: Managing Risk and Finding Profit in Cattle and Hog Markets” on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 11:15 a.m. Cattlemen and women are also invited to obtain their “Beef Quality Assurance Certification” during the Thursday, Aug. 7 at 10:00 a.m., which is a  session being presented by the Minnesota Beef Council. The University of Minnesota will host a “Manure Applicator Certification Program”, on Thursday, Aug. 7, starting at 8:00 a.m. in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center.