On Friday, US Senator Tina Smith came to Northfield to hold an agriculture roundtable conversation with a dozen 
Senator Smith brought people together around the kitchen table at Mike and Kay Peterson’s Twin Oaks Farm in Northfield to discuss priorities for a possible Farm Bill, and to strategize how the Senator’s new position as chair of the Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade can benefit Minnesota farmers. As a new chair of this subcommittee, a statement released by her staff said that her priorities include promoting the importance of agriculture exports, which account for over one third of Minnesota’s total exports, pushing for more open foreign markets, and strong crop insurance and commodity programs to help famers in Minnesota, and around the country, manage the uncertainties that always seem to find their way into in the agricultural markets.
Senator Smith said conversations like the one on Friday are important to gather information from the people who actually grow the food and rase the livestock, not just to inform a new farm bill, but also to send a message to the people in the Federal Government who think a 2023 Farm Bill should not be a priority.
“And you know, this is all set up with the view that we know the Farm Bill is a must pass bill this year. I know there’s lots of chat about, oh, we don’t need to do it, or we can wait, and you know all of that falderal. But that’s not the way we see it. We see it as being really important. Of course, I didn’t just make that up. That’s what I’m hearing from all of you.”
At the outset of the conversation Smith said she wanted to discuss crop insurance. The response was strong and clear: do not do anything to diminish it. All those gathered agreed that it is the floor farmers cannot live without. It does not pay all the bills, nor does it create a profit, but in times of crisis, crop insurance repays the loans that will help a farm put a new crop in the field in the spring.
There were changes that were suggested to Senator Smith, and most of those centered around helping new and young farmers. The senator noted that she is seeing a large demographic transition in farming right now to a new generation. Many of the people gathered agreed and said that the government should do more to help the younger generation get started, or at least loosen some of the restrictions on loans and insurance to create a more even market between the young and the established farmers.
Senator Smith said she heard “a lot of consistency” between the conversation on Friday and other conversations she has had around the state, and that will aid her as she continues to push for a new bill in 2023.
State of the City Address more than a speech
The City of Northfield has announced the 2023 edition of the Mayor’s State of the City Address will be presented next 
week. Mayor Rhonda Pownell’s annual address will celebrate what Northfield accomplished this past year and the goals and aspirations that will be made priorities this upcoming year.
Sam Temple, the station manager of Northfield Public Broadcasting and the defacto producer of the event said the mayor’s address will be a distillation of information brought together from the various city departments and presented through the mayor’s prioritized lens, but it is much more than a speech given by Mayor Pownell. It will include recognition of various award winners, and a celebration of things like the annual Mayor for a Day essay contest that runs every year in Northfield’s 4th and 5th grades.
Temple said the program will feature live music, including a performance from the Northfield Youth Choir, to highlight Northfield’s cultural aspects, and brief video presentations on this year’s honorees.
“We have the Human Rights Award, the Ethical Leadership Award, the Board and Commission Excellence Award, the Employee Excellence Award, and the Living Treasure Award all celebrated at this event and those will all be in video form so that we can concisely say, ‘Here’s why we’re celebrating this person.’”
Mayor Pownell said in a statement issued by the city that this is an event for all Northfielders, and not one to be missed. It will, she said, recognize the city’s challenges and showcase the passion that Northfielders share for our city.
City Administrator Ben Martig added that the event has been transformed in recent years from a spotlight on the mayoral vision for the city, to a festive celebration of the city itself.
“Some people who have gone for the first time have been like, ‘Wow, this was actually really fun,’ and it is. It’s kind of a celebration and it’s entertaining. It’s informational, there’ll be a lot of city employees there, I’ll be there. So, we have a little reception afterwards. If you want to ask all kinds of questions about what’s going on, there’ll be a lot of public officials and city employees there too. Everybody is encouraged to check it out. This could be a lot of fun.”
The 2023 State of the City Address will be held on Tuesday, March 21 – one week from tomorrow – at 6:30pm at Carleton College’s Weitz Center for Creativity in the Kracum (KRAY-cum) Performance Hall. ASL and Spanish interpreters will be available. Refreshments will be available after the address.
Temple said a recording of the event will be available in English and Spanish on Northfield Public Broadcasting channels 180 and 187 and on the city’s YouTube Channel throughout the year.
School Board will meet tonight
The Northfield School Board will meet tonight in the Northfield School District Office Boardroom, at the District 
Office building.
Among the items on the agenda this evening, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matt Hillmann will give an update on the district’s strategic plan and on the latest enrollment numbers, Finance Director Val Mertesdorf will discuss the budget for debt service, and the board will discuss the process to make changes in the district handbooks. There will also be further discussion about the reductions that have been proposed for the 2023-2024 school year budget.
The School Board will always invite public comment from those who live in the Northfield School District. Public comments for the regular school board meetings may be made in person at the beginning of the meeting. Those wishing to speak must sign up in person prior to the beginning of the meeting. The boardroom opens at 5:30 p.m.
Tonight’s meeting will begin at 6:00.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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