Contact: Mike McMahon, 612-722-6377
Paul Sobocinski, 507-342-2323 or 507-430-1509

EDITORS: For a digital photo of the press conference, call 612-729-6294, or e-mail bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org

11/17/04
ST. PAUL, Minn.—Minnesotans from around the state gathered at the Capitol today to show their opposition to recommendations from Governor Tim Pawlenty to weaken the powers of township and county governments, as well as bedrock environmental protections. To drive the point home, the citizens brought with them over 5,000 signatures on bright yellow postcards from Minnesotans who feel the same way. During the past few months, Land Stewardship Project (LSP) members and supporters gathered the signatures on postcards from county fairs, churches, busy street corners, grocery stores and other public venues.

The Governor’s proposals were created by his “Livestock Advisory Task Force,” and are part of the administration’s efforts to recruit large-scale factory farms to Minnesota. With hundreds of postcards on display boards as a backdrop, those gathered talked about their concerns.

“I gathered hundreds of signatures at the Todd County Fair. My neighbors know strong local communities need strong local control,” said Todd County farmer and LSP member Alan Perish. “Weakening township rights weakens our rural communities.”

The Governor renewed his commitment to the proposals on Nov. 9 at the annual meeting of the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, the state’s largest agribusiness lobbying organization. At the event he gave the “State of the State of Agriculture” address.

“Governor Pawlenty needs to get in touch with what Minnesotans value and stop promoting corporate ag interests at the expense of township and county governments,” said Wabasso hog farmer and LSP organizer Paul Sobocinski. “Instead of talking to the farmers and citizens of Minnesota, he delivers the State of the State of Agriculture address at an event put on for corporate ag interests who paid $115 a head to be there.”

Also today, LSP unveiled a media campaign with the headline, “Gov. Pawlenty, do you share our values?” and the theme, “Minnesota values strong local government, family farms, and clean water.” (Click here to view the advertisement featuring rural resident Lois Nash; click here to view the advertisement featuring dairy farmers Dave and Florence Minar.) The advertisement will run in city, rural and suburban newspapers during the coming months.

“I was shocked when Governor Pawlenty proposed weakening local government rights and environmental protections to help corporate ag interests,” said Dodge County resident and LSP member Lois Nash, who is featured in one of the advertisements. “That’s not why he got my vote. That is not what I value.”

Founded in 1982, LSP is a nonprofit membership organization that is dedicated to putting more farmers on the land successfully raising crops and livestock.

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Rural Dodge County, Minn., resident Lois Nash spoke during the press
conference about why she is opposed to weakening local government.