I am planning to attend Farmfest on Tuesday and to take notes. It’s a fun event if you have the time and opportunity to attend. Here’s the schedule…
Tuesday, August 4 – RURAL BROADBAND DAY
- 8:00 a.m. Show Opens
- 9:00 a.m. Governor’s Task Force on Broadband
The task force is committed to crafting policies that expand broadband access throughout the state to ensure that all communities, businesses and citizens have access to vital resources. - 9:00 a.m. Welcome by Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith, Introductions, Approval of Minutes
- 9:15 a.m. State and Federal Broadband Initiatives
MODERATOR: Margaret Anderson Kelliher
PANEL MEMBERS:
Colleen Landkamer, State Director, Rural Development, USDA
Brett VanDerBosch, Field Representative, Office of Sen. Al Franken
State Senator Matt Schmit
State Rep. Ron Kresha - 10:15 a.m. Presentation: Minnesota 4-H Science of Agriculture Challenge
Joshua E. Rice, Ph.D. Assistant Extension Professor, Science of Agriculture Specialist University of Minnesota, Extension Center for Youth Development - 10:35 a.m. Public Comments and Overview of Remainder of Day
- 11:00 a.m. Keynote by Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith
- 12:00 p.m. Linder Farm Network Ag Information Hour Focused on Broadband
- 1:15 p.m. Rural Broadband: The Future of Agriculture
MODERATOR: Lynn Ketelsen, Linder Farm Network
PANEL MEMBERS
Mike Macrie, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Land O’ Lakes
Jerry Johnson, Founder & CEO, Superior Edge
Jason O’Flanagan, North American Field Marketing & Sales Support Manager for Advanced Technologies Solutions Group, FUSE Technologies
Bob Young, Chief Economist & Deputy Executive Director, Public Policy, American Farm Bureau Federation
Paul Lanoue, Farm Business Management Instructor - 2:30 p.m. Rural Broadband as a Rural Development Tool
MODERATOR: Lynn Ketelson, Linder Farm Network
PANEL MEMBERS:
Lisa Hughes, MN Southwest Regional Economic Developer, MN DEED
Bryan Lydick, CEO, Redwood Area Hospital
Dave Gelhar, RVI/SpecSys
Kent Kelly, General Manager, Fortune Transportation - 5:00 p.m. Show Closes