Farmfest starts Tuesday at Gilfillan

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

GILFILLAN -- More than 500 companies will display their exhibits at Farmfest, Aug. 3-5 at Gilfillan Estate northwest of Morgan.

New events include horse training demonstrations daily at 11 a.m. in the Northeast corner of the show; livestock handling demonstrations and beef and dairy seminars at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the livestock demonstration tent.

Forums begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with a discussion of conservation provisions in the current Farm Bill and provisions that could be proposed at the federal level.

Congressional candidates incumbent Second District Rep. Collin Peterson, David Sturrock of Marshall and Patti Wetterling of St. Joseph, among others, will discuss agriculture and rural issues at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning, Minnesota House Speaker Steve Sviggum and Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson will make one of their few public appearances since the legislative session ended in May.

In a discussion of the Minnesota rural economy, they will be joined by Matt Kramer, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development; Jim Mulder, Executive Director of the Association of Minnesota Counties; and Bob Byrnes, Marshall mayor and regional extension director.

Biotechnology and other consumer food safety issues will be discussed at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Panel members include Dr. Jeff Varcoe, Corporate Manager for Food Safety and Microbiology at Schwan's, Inc. in Marshall; Michelle Torno, Director of Nutrition and Consumer Information for the Minnesota Beef Council; Lance Peterson of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and a U of M food safety specialist.

The Farm Family of the Year will be recognized at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday in the forum tent. Participants include Steve and Kerry Hoffman of Brown County, Lowell and Adrianne Sjostrom of Nicollet County, Darwin and Judy Pless of Redwood County, Daryl and Shar Husfeldt of Sibley County and Paul and Sharon Bergling of Watonwan County.

Thursday morning's forum will center on grain marketing strategies with three grain marketing analysts.

The public is invited to a Minnesota Food and Agriculture Council meeting, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Tuesday in the Farm Safety for Kids tent, near entrance gate 2.

On Thursday, Farmfest-goers can register to win a $3,550 value in Farmfest Shopping Cash from participating companies between 8-11:30 a.m. The drawing takes place during the Noontime Ag Jamboree in the forum tent.

A calf auction will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in the forum tent. Thirty Future Farmers of America and 4-H groups decorated calf statues as fund-raisers. Auction proceeds will go to the group that decorated the calf.

Repeat events include family living programs, cattle and field demonstrations, kids farm safety, a pedal pull and craft and toy tents.

(Fritz Busch can be reached at fbusch@nujournal.com)