Minnesota Farmers Union

ST. PAUL, MN (July 31, 2012) – Now in its tenth year, the Minnesota Cooks^TM program (www.minnesotacooks.org) at the State Fair brings together those who value and support our sustainable food system: farmers, consumers, and chefs. Onstage, chefs will create amazing dishes using fresh ingredients supplied by local stewards of the land. As they prepare their creations, emcees Mary Lahammer of Twin Cities Public Television and JD Fratzke of The Strip Club Meat & Fish will engage the chefs and a taster panel of farmers and local celebrities in lively and meaningful discussions about their sustainable philosophies. At the end of each demonstration, the panel, as well as fairgoers, will sample the mouthwatering, farm-fresh fare.

The program begins at 9:00 a.m. with culinary demonstrations by Le Cordon Bleu students and live music from Noah Hoehn, live looping musician. There will be six hourly presentations by Minnesota’s premier chefs and cooks, beginning at 10:00 a.m. All shows take place on the Minnesota Cooks Stage in Carousel Park, just south of the Grandstand.   

ST. PAUL (July 31, 2012) – The Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators (MAAE) honored Lee Thompson of Goodhue Public School with their Outstanding Agricultural Teacher Award, sponsored by Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU).

Check out the video of President Peterson on KSTP:

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S2708811.shtml?cat=12157

ST. PAUL (July 26, 2012) – Farmfest is set to be at Gilfillan Estate outside Redwood Falls, Minnesota on Tuesday, August 7- Thursday, August 9 and Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) has a new booth and location and exciting things going on.

“Farmfest is always an exciting part of the summer because there are so many rural folks in one spot discussing farm policy and sharing farm ideas,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “We have a new booth and new location, which is just west of the forum tent, and we invite you to stop by the MFU booth and check the markets, the weather, and try your luck at winning a Cenex gas card, plus sign our petition in support of homegrown fuels and the Renewable Fuels Standard.”

Minnesota Farmers Union activities:

ST. PAUL (July 17, 2012) – Mitchell Farmer-Lies, son of Tim Lies and Kathy Farmer of Belle Plaine was elected to serve on the National Farmers Union’s (NFU) National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC).

NYAC is made up of six youths who were elected by over 70 of their peers from across the country at the NFU All-States Leadership Camp in Bailey, Colorado.  Those Minnesotans attending the All-States Leadership Camp are youths who have completed four years of Minnesota’s Senior High Camp and have shown dedication to working in a cooperative manner with a commitment to bettering themselves through education and leadership.

ST. PAUL (July 17, 2012) – Eight Minnesota teens return from National Farmers Union’s (NFU) All-States Leadership Camp in Bailey, Colorado, where they learned about cooperatives, built on their leadership skills and heard from motivational speakers. 

St. Paul (June 18, 2012) – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) will be holding its second leadership retreat aimed at focusing on the future of farming and rural communities.  The retreat will be held at Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria, June 25-27.

“A couple years ago we brought together our Farmers Union leaders and some newer members to discuss the paths needed to keep family farmers and Farmers Union strong. Our first retreat was successful and our second retreat will intensify focusing on the future of farming and Farmers Union,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President.  “Our discussions will surround the Farmers Union organization successes and building on those successes to keep Farmers Union families and farms strong and prosperous as rural people."

Thank you to the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association for their sponsorship of the retreat.

During this retreat, attendees will get to look at MFU’s rich heritage as a farm organizaion; its present role for advocating for rural people and rural policy; and will get insight from Don Davis of Forum Communications and Tom Rothman of Minnesota Farm Network as to the ‘why’ and ‘what’ makes rural news, and how it becomes published. 

St. Paul (June 18, 2012) – Seven Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) women will be attending the National Farmers Union Women’s Conference in Bailey, Colorado from June 20-24, and they are: Heidi Svingen of Benson, Janet Lundebrek of Benson, Lourdes Flores Hanson of Woodbury, Patricia Kasella of Royalton, Linda Larson of Rosemount,  Pat Irrthum of Wanamingo, and MFU Communications Director Katie Fitzsimmons.

“Minnesota Farmers Union is very proud to have such an exceptional group of Farmers Union women heading to Colorado to represent Minnesota at this leadership conference,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union.  “I look forward to hearing about what the women learned and incorporating it into the Minnesota Farmers Union infrastructure.  We believe an informed Farmers Union is a strong Farmers Union and are proud of these women for attending this conference.”

The conference objective is to provide participants with tools and information to confidently manage risks in their farm or ranch operations. This will be done with a variety of trained instructors teaching family farm finances, budgeting and cash flow, cooperatives, marketing, farm transfer and estate planning, business planning, leadership assessment and skills, generational issues, and action planning.

St. Paul (June 14, 2012) – Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) Foundation is having their 5^th annual golf benefit for Lake Sarah and Farmers Union youth programs.  The golf benefit will be at Oak Lake golf course in Erskine on July 19 at 12:30 p.m.  This year, golfers will also have an opportunity to see what their generous donations have been used for at an open house at Lake Sarah.

“This golf benefit has helped Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation improve member and youth education efforts as well as providing improvements to the Lake Sarah educational campground,” said Doug Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union President. “Lake Sarah is a Farmers Union treasure and a place where thousands of kids have learned about agriculture and cooperatives, made lasting friendships, and life-long memories at our leadership camp.  I thank everyone for their contributions, and look forward to our continued partnership.”

Start time for the two-person scramble is 12:30 p.m. with a cost of $35 for 9 holes and $45 for 18 holes; fees also include a meal at the Lake Sarah campground.  Prizes will be awarded with proceeds going toward Farmers Union youth camps and activities at Lake Sarah. Non-golfers can purchase dinner for $15, and child care is available.