Local farmers discuss Washington farm rally

By SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- There were 3,200 farmers, business people, chruch leaders, laborers and others involved with rural life who seized their chance to be heard by congressional leaders this week at a "Rally for Rural America" held this week in Washington, D.C.

There were 450 Minnesotans and approximately ten people from Brown County who attended the rally. Among the group from Brown County was former Brown County Commissioner District 5 and rural Comfrey farmer Alphonse Mathiowetz.

Mathiowetz and his group of 44 people on the bus left early Saturday morning and arrived early Sunday afternoon. The group returned from Washington D.C. early Thursday morning, Mathiowetz said. There were seven buses from Minnesota which stopped for people at Worthington, Windom, Butterfield, Mankato, St. Peter, Belle Plaine and Roseville. People also flew out east to the rally, Mathiowetz said.

"It's gotta help," said Mathiowetz, "If they didn't get the message this time they never will. This is a wake-up call. Let's get with it. Everybody should contact their representatives and tell them enough is enough. We need fair (farm) prices to survive out here."

There was a "five point agenda" that people at the rally pushed for, according to Mathiowetz. The first point was to immediately pass a new farm bill. The second point was to restore competition to the marketplace through strict enforcement of anti-trust law. The third point on the agenda was to protect the consumers and the environment. The fourth point was to hold referendums on the mandatory pork and beef check-offs as petitions by independant producers. The last point was to negotiate fair trade agreements.

"That's what were pushing for," said Mathiowetz, "It gets so political ... as far as I can see we've got to get the politics out this thing because it's a moral issue. It's people's livlihood. This isn't only a farmer thing, it affects churches and businesses ... and these are the things we need to change to get things back on track."

Mathiowetz said as soon as they got there Sunday they went to a hotel and later that evening they attended a church service. On Monday a welcome gathering was held on the mall grounds and a "Farmer's Share Lunch," was served. Mathiowetz said the Farmer's Share Lunch was supposed to demonstrate that from an $8 meal, the farmer only sees a $.39 of profit from it.

The keynote address that day was given by Dan Glickman, the Agriculture Secretary and the rest of the day on Monday was spent at a Town Hall meeting where participants heard various speakers.

"There were business people, labor people, and farmers all there to support this Rally for Rural America," said Mathiowetz.

The better part of the afternoon on Tuesday was spent at the rally, Mathiowetz said. Despite grey skies and some rain, the rally supporters remained faithful to their attendance at the rally.

"Everyone I talked to was glad they went and they felt like they made a difference," said Mathiowetz, "This is a serious issue and I wish people would understand. There are some people sitting on the sidelines. All I can say is if you're not part of the solution ... you're part of the problem."