Photo submitted by Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s Farmers Lyon County Farm Bureau President Brad Hennen and Dan Hennen, both of Ghent, were among the participants in the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s Farmers to Washington, D.C. trip Sept. 12-16.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Farm bill priorities were on the minds of Brad and Dan Hennen during a visit to Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

The father and son from were among the participants in the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation’s (MFBF) Farmers to Washington, D.C., trip Sept. 12-16.

 Participants met with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Al Franken, Rep. Tom Emmer, Rep. Rick Nolan and staff members from the offices of Tim Walz, Erik Paulsen, Jason Lewis, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison and Collin Peterson.

 “We had an opportunity to learn the process of advocating for our farmers, making connections with the Cuban Embassy and seeing our country’s heritage,” Brad Hennen said. “As a Farm Bureau member, it’s great to know someone is working on our behalf making sure rural America is not forgotten in D.C. while we are at home in our fields and our barns.”

Brad Hennen said he and his fellow Farm Bureau members shared their preferences on Minnesota and national issues.

“Some of our county’s resolutions had been worked on at the MFBF state conference last November,” he said. “There were a couple of them regarding alternative energy and the use of public domain in that regard. We wanted to make sure the public domain option wasn’t abused.”

Brad Hennen said their primary topics in Washington, D.C. were trade, taxes and the farm bill.

 “During the meetings, attendees discussed Farm Bureau’s farm bill priorities including the importance of keeping nutrition as part of the farm bill and protecting risk management programs,” MFBF Public Relations Director Kristin Harner said in a news release. “They also discussed the need for affordable and available health care, tax and agricultural labor reform, delisting the wolves from the Endangered Species Act and the importance of keeping and expanding market opportunities through international trade.”

In addition, attendees met with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s senior staff, Harner said.

 “This experience outfits our leaders with the tools they need to become strong advocates for agriculture and rural Minnesota,” MFBF President Kevin Paap said. “It allows them to share their stories, build relationships and bring Farm Bureau policy to life for our Farm Bureau members. It instills the importance of discussing issues that are important to us. If we are not sharing our story, then someone else will be.”

 “I enjoyed it again,” Hennen said. This was his second trip with Lyon County Farm Bureau, and this time he was able to take his son, Dan Hennen, also from Ghent. “We learned more about government at the national level and talking with our congressman.”

Dan Hennen, an insurance agent who works with farmers, said he, too, enjoyed the trip, especially exploring the historical aspect on their free time.

“My favorite part was touring the monuments and museums,” Dan Hennen said. The sessions were interesting as well, he said. “It was fun to do some lobbying and see the offices and what they do when they lobby. It was good to get insight on the topics they’re working on.”

Trip attendees included county Farm Bureau leaders, state board of director members, state Promotion and Education and Young Farmers and Ranchers committee members and YF&R contest finalists. During their trip members also interacted with Farm Bureau members from Illinois, Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin.