Minnesota Agriculture a publication of Minnesota Farmers Union March 2019 In this issue… Member in Focus: Dave Frederickson Rural Voices Discussions Lobby Day Drive-In Recap Washington Corner Former Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Dave Frederickson at the Minnesota State Fair Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers MFU members invited to our spring Rural Voices Discussions For the third year, Minnesota Farmers Also in attendance are staff from Minnesota’s Union is planning a series of Rural Voices members of Congress. They sit among the Discussions in locations around Minnesota. rest of the attendees, but also share their Minnesota Farmers Union These events have been popular not just thoughts at the end about what they’ll bring Executive Committee among our members, but among family back to our representatives. Occasionally, Gary Wertish, President farmers, rural residents, media and advocates state legislators attend as well. We make a Bryan Klabunde, Vice President in general. All members and the general point to invite other groups who share our Anne Schwagerl, Secretary public are invited to these free, open advocacy interests and can provide resources Carol Anderson, Chair sessions. that could benefit you. Ted Winter, Vice Chair If you’ve never been to a Rural Voices The Rural Voices Discussions are your chance Linda Larson Discussion, here’s what you can expect: to be heard. It may feel sometimes like you’re Steve Linder The focus is on listening to you, not having not being heard, especially if you can’t make Joshua VanDerPol someone talk at you. MFU puts together it to St. Paul or Washington, D.C. often. But a listening panel, usually consisting of your voice matters. We’re making it easy to Minnesota Farmers Union Staff President Gary Wertish; state agency speak up. Not to mention, there are Gary Wertish, President commissioners or assistant commissioners; refreshments such as coffee, milk and pastries. and a representative from National Farmers Bryan Klabunde, Vice President Even if you can’t attend a discussion in Laura Sherar, Operations Union. The panelists have no agenda for the person, we livestream each of them on our Glen Schmidt, Education discussion other than to hear from you. Facebook page and live-tweet them on MFU Membership and Outreach Director Twitter, so you can still share your thoughts. Bruce Miller, Membership and Outreach, Bruce Miller is the moderator. Minnesota Cooks At the time of the Minnesota Agriculture Michelle Medina, Programming If you’d like to speak up, raise your hand and deadline, we have not yet finalized the Brita Moore, Public Relations and you’ll likely be called on. Stand up, state your exact dates and times of the 2019 Rural Communications name and where you’re from, and say what’s Voices Discussions, but we’re planning on on your mind. Sometimes a panelist will late March and early April. They will be respond if you have a specific question they Minnesota Farmers Union finalized soon and posted on our website Outreach Staff can help with; otherwise they just listen. (www.mfu.org), in our weekly email Lee Johnson, (507) 317-7537 Once all who desired to speak have had their newsletter, on our Facebook page and turn, each panelist will share their reflections sent to statewide media. Ken Pazdernik, (218) 206-4499 on what they heard and any actions they can Diana Rico, (651) 368-6247 take as a result. You will have time following We look forward to seeing each of Peter Ripka, (320) 412-6355 to talk with them if you have further you at the Rural Voices Discussions Amanda Rosendahl, (320) 815-8670 questions. happening nearest you. MFU Phone: (651) 639-1223 MFU Toll-Free: (800) 969-3380 MFU Website: www.mfu.org Minnesota Agriculture Publication Number 351340 ISSN 0274-9718 Published monthly by the Minnesota Farmers Union; 305 Roselawn Ave. E, Suite 200 Saint Paul, MN 55117. Periodical rate postage is paid at St. Paul, MN. Postmaster: Send address changes to Minnesota Agriculture; 305 Roselawn Ave E Suite 200 St. Paul, MN 55117. Phone (651) 639-1223. Minnesota Agriculture is published exclusively for the use of Minnesota Farmers Union members. The newspaper is a benefit of membership in the statewide organization that represents family farmers and works to preserve and improve the quality of life for all who live in rural Minnesota. A portion of each member’s dues, about $5, funds a subscription. Volume 163 No. 3 March 2019 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE state who were affected by the drought disaster. It saved many dairy farms. “Cy was a Farmers Union advocate for life, from the time he joined the organization at 23 years of age until the time he passed. He was a forward thinker and a leader at a tough juncture for family farm agriculture,” said National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson. MFU will forever be grateful for Cy’s service to our organization. Everything 2019-2020 Executive Committee – Back row (l to r): Vice Chair he did was motivated by his love for the Ted Winter, Joshua VanDerPol, President Gary Wertish, Steve family farm. He not only was a gifted Linder, Vice President Bryan Klabunde. Front row: Chair Carol leader himself, but also raised up new Anderson, Secretary Anne Schwagerl, Linda Larson. leaders and active members, making people feel like they could make a difference with us. Washington, D.C. offices. He lives on a family He cared about MFU so much that in his health farm in Kerrick, Pine County. He’ll officially decline, his wife Fran would read issues of begin work with us on March 11, and he’s GARY WERTISH Minnesota Agriculture to him, as he still wanted excited to get to know you all. Welcome, Stu! PRESIDENT to stay informed about how we were doing. Successful Lobby Day Drive-In; other A memorial service was held on Friday, Feb. 8 [email protected] legislative activity in Bloomington, which I attended, along with Despite some tricky weather in early February, former MFU and NFU President and MDA we had a strong turnout at our annual Lobby In Memoriam: Cy Carpenter Commissioner Dave Frederickson (our Member Day Drive-In. Thank you to each of you who in Focus), and many former MFU staff. We send attended. Minnesota Farmers Union lost a leader our condolences to Fran and his loved ones. this past month. Cyril Carpenter, MFU About 80 MFU members came to the Capitol, President from 1972-84 and NFU Cy asked that any memorials be sent to the meeting with legislators from their districts. President from 1984-88, passed away Minnesota Farmers Union Scholarship Fund. The first thing that happened that day was a at 96 on Feb. 4. MFU Full Board elects Executive visit from Gov. Tim Walz, who came to us. He Carpenter grew up on a family farm in Committee shared his understanding of the importance of Sauk Centre, Minn., joining MFU as a agriculture in our state and of working together Our Full Board of Directors, consisting of all for the common good. He was joined by lobbyist and secretary in 1965. He served county Farmers Union presidents, met on Feb. as president of MFU from 1972-1984, Commissioner Thom Petersen, our former 16. One of their orders of business was to elect Government Relations Director, who provided and in 1984, he was elected by NFU the 2019-2020 Executive Committee. For the membership to serve as president, a the same encouragement to members as he next year, the following people will serve with always has: showing up makes a difference. position he held until 1988. In 1989, the me and Vice President Bryan Klabunde on the NFU Board of Directors honored Carpenter We thank the Governor and Commissioner for committee: coming to talk with us. with a Meritorious Service Award to Anne Schwagerl, Browns Valley – State Secretary Agriculture and to World Agriculture, We’d also like to thank Speaker of the House Carol Anderson, Foley – Committee Chair the organization’s highest honor. Melissa Hortman, who followed them. She Ted Winter, Fulda – Committee Vice Chair Carpenter was instrumental in building expressed gratitude for members coming and Linda Larson, Rosemount membership and making farm training making their voices heard and that she’d make management programs available under Steve Linder, Oklee sure members of the House took MFU priorities the GI Bill of Rights. Cy led the 1976 effort Joshua VanDerPol, Clara City into account. Thank you, Speaker Hortman, for taking the time to meet with us. to organize a Farmers Union hay lift, which We look forward to working with the new brought forage to livestock farmers in our committee. We also extend our thanks to In addition to these, several members met with Eunice Biel, Larry Jacobson and Alan Perish Secretary of State Steve Simon and Attorney for their years of dedicated service on the General Keith Ellison, both of whom expressed Executive Committee. their support for healthy rural communities and civic engagement. We thank them for their New Government Relations Director time as well. I am pleased to announce that we have The most important part of Lobby Day Drive-In selected Stuart Lourey to serve as our next is that those who make policy decisions for our Government Relations Director. Stu has years of state see us with our Farmers Union nametags experience working in government, including and are reminded of the family farmer’s role in on health care issues with Senators Al Franken Minnesota’s culture and economy. Cy Carpenter discussing issues with and Tina Smith, both in regional and Congressman Oberstar (continued on page 4) Minnesota Farmers Union Standing for Agriculture, Working for Farmers 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (continued) We are well-respected across the political Anniversary Convention, held in Bellevue, Wash., American agriculture.