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