LITTLE FALLS -- What is on the minds of rural Minnesotans?
Minnesota Farmers Union aims to help make the answers clearer. The grassroots farm organization is hosting Rural Voices Discussions this spring to hear from farmers and rural residents.
In central Minnesota a discussion will be 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the Initiative Foundation, 405 First St. SE, Little Falls.
“It is not easy for many rural Minnesotans to get to Washington, D.C., or the State Capitol, or even to make their voices heard online,” said farmers union President Gary Wertish in a news release. “Our Rural Voices Discussions provide the opportunity for farmers and rural residents to speak out about issues affecting them, directly with people who need to know about it.
“With negative farm income, unsustainable health care costs, lack of internet access and crumbling roads, rural people are facing some tough times. We strongly encourage all rural Minnesotans to attend the Rural Voices Discussions.”
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Wertish will lead a listening panel along with other panelists to be announced, likely from Minnesota government agencies. Congressional staff and state legislators may attend as well.
Participants may bring up any topic for discussion -- the panelists are there to listen and take notes. At the end, they will respond with reflections on what they heard and what they might be able to do with the information.
Minnesota Farmers Union staff also take notes at these meetings for future reference, which will be compiled into a report later on. The report will be shared with media and policy makers.
Each of the discussions will be livestreamed on the MFU Facebook page. Follow along with them on social media with the hashtag #RuralVoices.
The discussions are free and open to the public.
