Farmers are always encouraging city folk to come to rural America and see what farming is all about first-hand. And guests don’t get much more “city” than business mogul and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is currently a Democratic presidential candidate. Bloomberg will be in Wells, Minnesota, on Wednesday afternoon at the farm of Darin Johnson for a tour.
Throughout his farming career, Johnson has hosted many trade delegations from across the world at his family farm in Wells. But Johnson, who serves as secretary of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, has never hosted a high-profile presidential candidate from New York before.
“We are very excited to host the Bloomberg campaign for their first visit to Minnesota,” Johnson says. “Our organization is non-partisan and doesn’t endorse candidates, but we certainly encourage and welcome all candidates from both parties to visit a farm and see what life is like in rural America.”
Bloomberg was a Democrat until 2001, when he won the New York City mayoral race on the Republican ticket. He reverted back to the Democratic Party this past year when he announced his presidential campaign. This is the first time Bloomberg has ever been to a Minnesota farm.
Bloomberg is expected to arrive at the Johnson family farm in Faribault County on Wednesday afternoon for a tour of Johnson’s operation, followed by a roundtable discussion with Darin, his wife, Rachel; father, Charlie; uncle, Scott; and MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek. Bloomberg and the Johnson family, who also run a flourishing seed business, will discuss the agriculture economy, renewable fuels, health care options, the importance of improving rural broadband access and other farm policy priorities heading into the 2020 primary season.
“This is a great opportunity for Darin and our farmers,” Smentek says. “Minnesota agriculture contributes about 25 percent to the state’s GDP, and we’re pleased to see that Mayor Bloomberg realizes farming drives local economies throughout the country.”
