Politics are an election-year staple at Farmfest. In addition to the candidate forums, politicians meet with farm leaders. “The biggest thing that we’re trying to do is build relationships with our elected officials and potential elected officials and put a face on the issues of agriculture,” explained Carolyn Olson, vice president, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. “Sometimes policy might look great on paper, but when you see how it affects a farmer, they’re not going to know that unless we have that relationship and are able to explain that whether it is at Farmfest, State Fair or in their office in DC.”
