On Friday, the American Farm Bureau Federation, described by Civil Eats in February as "an insurance company and lobbying group that has often been closely aligned with Big Ag," cancelled two trade shows in Minnesota and South Dakota over concerns about COVID-19.
Naturally, rural Minnesota Republican activists called for the resignation of Governor Tim Walz. Or so it went on the often newsworthy Minnesota 7th Congressional District Republican Party Facebook page.
The Facebook page admin posted the Farm Bureau announcement:
Some of the comments are priceless:
Vallie Rae Maki Labandz Call WALZ and tell him to Resign along with every other Democrat in Office they are Wrecking Our State and Our Country wake up Minnesota.
Sue Nelson Destroying everything the[y] can that make America exceptional. ENUFF!!
Joyce Pawlitschek Remember November and vote RED!
Jan Hough Democrats, scared trumps going to win
We missed the part about Governor Walz controlling the American Farm Bureau Federation--and being able to cancel Dakotafest, a private event in Kristi Noem's South Dakota. Perhaps Governor Walz used his unstoppable socialist commie emergency powers to gain control of the conservative Republican governor and the right-leaning group via the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition.
After all, as we noted in December's post Is Governors' Biofuels Coalition a cockamamie distraction by Walz? Some lawmakers say so, the bipartisan biofuels coalition is just more "unrealistic and heavy-handed bureaucratic goals." If Walz can do this to conservative hero Kristi Noem, surely AFBF President Zippy Duvall is putty in his tyrannical hands. Who will think of the children? Dakotafest is gone for 2020!
How he turned the American Farm Bureau president into a socialist stooge is beyond Bluestem's powers of investigative blogging.
It's clear from the press release who cancelled both venues:
IDEAg Group LLC., owned by American Farm Bureau Federation, producers of Minnesota Farmfest and Dakotafest, has canceled both farm shows for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We announce this decision with great disappointment but the well-being of our exhibitors, attendees, staff, volunteers and their families is paramount,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We understand the impact this has on the ag community, but simply put, it is the right decision to make in these uncertain times.”
Farmfest, scheduled for Aug. 4-6 in Redwood County, Minnesota, has served farmers and the agriculture community for 38 years. Dakotafest, scheduled for Aug. 18-20 in Mitchell, South Dakota, was set to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
No need for Ag Mafia mental health watch; Political forums go on
As disappointing as the cancellation of the trade fair maybe for the hoi polloi, the set of lobbyists for industrial agriculture who call themselves the Ag Mafia (who are we to argue?) will still have their fun, both the Farm Bureau and the Farmfest websites let us know.
The American Farm Bureau Federation press release notes:
IDEAg management confirms that aspects of each show will be made available to attendees virtually this year, including the Farmfest Political Forums.
“The Farmfest Political Forums are a highly anticipated part of our annual event, especially for the state’s ag industry and in this important election year,” said Melissa Sanders Carroll, executive director, IDEAg. “Providing people a virtual opportunity to learn about and participate in the issues that directly impact their farms, lives and families is essential to us.”
On the Farmfest page, there's this:
Virtual Farmfest Forums
We are pleased to announce that one popular part of Farmfest is going virtual in 2020! The annual political debates, listening sessions and public forums with political leaders and candidates are going virtual so you can learn about and participate in the issues that directly impact your farms, lives and families, especially in this political year. Stay tuned for more information about Virtual Farmfest Forums. Please sign up for updates about how to attend from the comfort and safety of your home.
We urge readers to sign up. Political town halls and debates will most likely be virtual throughout the campaign season, and even Jason Lewis, who skipped the 2018 candidate forum, can attend from pastoral Woodbury. We can't wait.
Related posts:
- Farmfest attendees shake-off agri-business trade show's political candidate forum's legitimacy
- Farmers for Free Trade motorcade stops at Farmfest; group has interesting origins
- In Farmfest panel, MN livestock producer group reps repudiate ALEC-inspired "ag gag" bill
Screengrab: Minnesota 7th Congressional District Republican Party Facebook page admin was not suprised [sic] that Farmfest and Dakotafest were cancelled. Republican activists blamed The All-Powerful Walz, whose tentacles extend to Mitchell, South Dakota.
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