Ethanol at AgNite

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the very cool things about the AgNite event in Minnesota this week was the way it united all aspects of the agriculture industry. The 50 sponsors included agribusinesses, corn growers, food processors, livestock, dairy and poultry producers, and the ethanol industry. Some of these groups have been at odds with each other in recent months over the impact …

Audio, Ethanol

Feeding America

Chuck Zimmerman

You may be familiar with an organization called Second Harvest. Now you need to know it by the name, Feeding America. The new name was announced September 1. George Braley (front left) is their Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy. He was one of the people on hand Tuesday at their regional network member, Second Harvest Heartland, …

Audio, Food

Princess Kay of the Milky Way at AgNite

Chuck Zimmerman

Helping educate the people attending AgNite was Princess Kay of the Milky Way. She’s Kristy Mussman, a 3rd generation dairy farm family member. She’s still pretty overwhelmed by her selection as the 55th Princess Kay. “It’s an unbelievable feeling, knowing that one day I was just a dairy farmer’s daughter and then going through all the processes for dairy princesses …

Ag Groups, Audio, Dairy

Hormel Provides Protein Punch for Hunger Relief

Cindy Zimmerman

Joe Swedberg is Vice President of Legislative Affairs of Hormel Foods Corporation and currently chairman of the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, the coordinators of the gala AgNite event held in the Twin Cities on the second night of the Republican National Convention. Joe was also on hand earlier Tuesday during a potato-packing event held at Second Harvest Heartland to highlight the …

Agribusiness, Audio

FFA Helping Educate at AgNite

Chuck Zimmerman

The primary purpose of AgNite was to showcase and educate attendees about agriculture. What better way than to have your state FFA officers on hand? One of them was Sydney Place who is Minnesota FFA State Reporter. Sydney had an exciting day because she not only attended AgNite but it was also her first day of college. She says, “It …

Ag Groups, Audio, Education

Agribusinesses Proud to Sponsor AgNite

Cindy Zimmerman

CHS is a Minnesota-based, farmer-owned, diversified agribusiness that was a proud sponsor of the AgNite event held on the second night of the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities. CHS Governmental Affairs Director Jim Bareksten is a board member of the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, which coordinated the gala event celebrating food, agriculture and bioenergy – all of which are …

Agribusiness, Audio

Former Ag Secretary Attends AgNite

Cindy Zimmerman

One of the thousands who attended the non-partisan AgNite event held in the Twin Cities on the second night of the Republican National Convention was former agriculture secretary John Block, who is currently serving as co-chairman of John McCain’s Farm and Ranch committee. Block was impressed and proud at the turnout at the event. “To me that suggests that agriculture …

Audio

THE Big Event at the RNC

Cindy Zimmerman

There is no question that AgNite is THE “go-to” event in the Twin Cities this second evening of the Republican National Convention. Organizers were expecting 3-4,000 and that expectation has been surpassed. As someone said, “What if you threw a party and everyone showed up?” It sure seems like that has happened here. One of the people responsible for making …

Audio

AgNite Will Help Hurricane Relief Efforts

Chuck Zimmerman

The Minnesota Agri-Growth Council is the organization hosting AgNite in Minneapolis. Their President is Daryn McBeth, seen here being interviewed by Cindy. This was at the Feeding America food packing event held at their local network affiliate, Second Harvest Heartland. Second Harvest Heartland is also a member of the Council and Daryn says the unique partnerships between the food bank …

Audio

Second Harvest Heartland Potato Packing

Cindy Zimmerman

Second Harvest Heartland of Minnesota pulled in volunteers from the Republican National Convention Tuesday to help pack close to a million pounds of potatoes at their headquarters warehouse in St. Paul. Executive Director Rob Zeaske says the potatoes are supplied by a generous donor from St. Cloud who prefers to remain anonymous. “Last year they gave us 750,000 pounds of …

Audio