Farmfest Forums Have A Long History

Many times people wonder about the history of the educational forums at Farmfest. Actually, 2025 will mark the thirty-eighth anniversary of educational forums at Farmfest. The forums actually started in 1988, when Farmfest was held near Lake Crystal, which was a year of a major drought in Minnesota and the Midwest. Current Farmfest Forum Coordinator Kent Thiesse worked with the late Marlyn Buss, former owner and manager of Farmfest, to bring in crop and weather specialists from the University of Minnesota, as well as other crop consultants and grain marketing specialists, to discuss various topics related to the drought that year. After a successful first year, the forums have continued in every year since 1988, including for five years at Austin, MN (1990-1994) and at the current site near Redwood Falls, MN from 1995 until the present time.
 
Ag trade issues, the large reconciliation bill recently passed by Congress, the future of renewable energy, and workforce development initiatives will be key topics to be featured during the Farmfest Forums in 2025. These topics and more will be highlighted during the educational forums at Farmfest on August 5, 6 and 7 in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center at the Gillfillan Estate near Redwood Falls. Farmfest is coordinated by IDEAg Group, LLC, a subsidiary of American Farm Bureau Federation.
 
The feature forum at 10:30 am on Tuesday, August 5 is titled: “Developing a Reliable Safety Ag Policy Net”, which will include four members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation. The forum will include discussions on the Title I and crop insurance provisions in the Reconciliation Bill that was recently passed by Congress, as well as the future prospects for passing a new Farm Bill, and the potential need for another round of farm economic assistance later in 2025. The forum panel will include Second District Congresswoman Angie Craig, Ranking member of the U.S. House Ag Committee, and First District Congressman Brad Finstad, who also is on the House Ag Committee, along with Seventh District Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach and Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber, The forum will be moderated by Mark Dorenkamp, Brownfield Ag News Anchor.
 
Tuesday, August 5 will start out with a forum at 9:30 am that is titled: “How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping Agriculture”, which is a topic that has created a lot of interest among farmers and the agriculture industry. The forum will be moderated by Zach Johnson, the “Millennial Farmer”, Presenters on the forum panel will include Ken O/Brien, Agronomy Innovation Leader for Corteva, and Don Scriber, with the TeraClear firm, which is a leader in drone technology.
 
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen will headline the feature forum on Tuesday afternoon August 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. This forum will focus on the current economic challenges facing crop and livestock producers, enhancing support for beginning farmers, the future direction of conservation and carbon sequestration programs, as well as the current status of E15 ethanol, SAF fuel, 45Z, and other renewable energy initiatives.
 
 
 
As has been tradition for several years at Farmfest, Wednesday August 6 will kick-off with the free pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 am in the Minnesota Farm Bureau Tent on the north end of the Farmfest site, which is sponsored by MN Farm Bureau. Another highlight in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center on Wednesday morning, August 6 at 9:15 am will be the “Farmfest Ag Outlook Forum”, featuring an update on current crop conditions, growing season weather, and grain marketing strategies. The outlook forum speakers will include Kurt Blomgren, Minnesota State FSA Director, Dave Nicolai, University of Minnesota Crops Extension Educator, Brian Werner, Minnesota Biofuels Director, Mark Schultz, Grain Marketing Analyst with Northstar Commodities, and Dan Glessing, MN Farm Bureau President.
 
The feature forum on August 6 at 10:30 am is titled: “Beyond the Trade Deficit: Rethinking Trade Balance and Opportunities”. The forum will include discussions on ag trade deficits, the impact of tariffs on both ag exports and imports, and opportunities for new trade agreements. The forum panel will include Jorge Cicero from the Mexican Consulate in St. Paul, MN, along other Minnesota ag leaders, including 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 August 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, Mary Holz-Clause, Chancellor at the University of Minnesota Crookston, 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. The panel will focus on recent joint workforce enhancement efforts between the University of Minnesota and the MNSCU system, as well as ongoing educational programs in higher education, outreach efforts through U of M Extension, and the Farm Business Management program in Minnesota.
 
Since the late 1990’s, Farmfest has been the host for the University of Minnesota “Farm Family of the Year Recognition Program” Over 80 County farm families of the year from throughout Minnesota will be honored at this year’s event on Thursday, August 7 at 1:15 p.m. Earlier on Thursday, August 7 at 10:45 am, the “Farmfest Women in Ag Event” will be held, where the 2025 “Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year” will be announced.
 
As usual, Farmfest will feature the latest innovations and advancements in farm machinery and equipment, numerous exhibits in the Ag Tents, entertainment, and of course plenty of food choices. There are also some excellent informational forums and cattle chute demonstrations in the Livestock Tent each day, which will be newly located this year to the southwest corner of the Farmfest site. For more information on the Farmfest forums, schedule, exhibitors, food vendors, and other information, visit the Farmfest website at: Farmfest.com.
 
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For additional information contact Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst, Green Solutions Group
Phone --- (507) 381-7960; E-mail --- [email protected]