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Rural Voices Hold More Power Than You Think

By Dan Wilson, LSP member
May 5, 2022

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Like many people, I watched with hope as the protests in Minneapolis and across the country made possible the idea of significant police reform. I also watched with horror in 2021 as those reform efforts stalled in the Minnesota Senate. Being a white farmer living in rural Minnesota, I felt removed and powerless as all this happened. I couldn’t take the time to go to a march or rally in the Twin Cities. And I didn’t have the capacity to organize a rally in my local town. However, the then President of the Senate (now Senate Majority Leader), Jeremy Miller, is my Senator. I didn’t need to drive three hours to a protest; I could just pick up the phone.

When we think of an abuse of power, we typically think of politicians enacting racist and harmful policies. However, an abuse of power is also not using the power given to you to enact positive policies. My Senator, Jeremy Miller, is guilty of the latter. However, I am also guilty of same abuse of power. I live in Senator Miller’s district, and I have not been pressuring him to act for significant change. I sent him an e-mail, and I let it go at that. I didn’t give him a telephone call, I didn’t encourage others to do the same, and I didn’t schedule a meeting with him. Would Senator Miller have passed more police reform bills if he had more pressure from his district? I don’t know, which is why I finally reached out to set up a meeting with him — we have one now for May 7, from 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m., at Miller Scrap Metal & Iron Co. 

Many LSP members live in districts with legislators who hold a lot of power to make significant change for our state, yet they do not act in their communities’ interests. And because of white supremacy, those politicians give more weight to concerns held by white, rural, farming voters. We are in a unique position to push these lawmakers towards considering more transformative policies and to upend their assumptions about us. We are also in a position to vote them out when they are unwilling to listen.

You may think that you hold a minority view in your community; however, most policies championed by LSP in fact are very popular ideas. Which of your neighbors wouldn’t want cheaper healthcare, more money for farm conservation practices, or a convenient local butcher shop? The reality is that most political races are won or lost on voter turnout. In other words, how excited and engaged are the voters in your district? Because of this, apathy towards the political system only strengthens the incumbent. Politicians take our silence on these issues as consent to the status quo. However, by doing simple things such as writing an e-mail or making a telephone call to our local representative, we can demand that they use their power in a responsible way. As farmers, we are called to be stewards of our soil, and this also means being good civic stewards.

The truth is political work can be boring. I started farming because I love working outside, interacting with soil, and seeing simple tasks completed. On a nice sunny day, I would rather have my teeth pulled than sit down and send out an e-mail or make a telephone call to an apathetic politician. But if we write off the political process, we give up so much potential power to improve our lives. Now, thanks to Zoom meetings, I have been able to attend LSP town halls while making dinner or watching my daughter. Just like with doing my farm bookkeeping, I now set aside a small amount of time every week for political work. And just like my bookkeeping, I always dread doing it, but feel much better once it is done.

Police reform, health care reform, action on climate change, and agriculture reform are actually in our grasp. As members of LSP, we have seen that politicians can change their opinions and policies can change. Minnesota needs transformative change on so many issues, and as rural citizens, it is our representatives that are often blocking this progress for our communities. I invite you to join me in talking with Senator Miller on May 7 for positive change in our community and our state. Reach out to me at wilson.a.daniel@gmail.com if you’re ​interested in coming. 

Dan Wilson is an LSP member and farmer in southeastern Minnesota.

Category: Blog
Tags: local democracy • Minnesota Legislature • racial justice

Upcoming Events

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July 2025

Tuesday July 29 – Wednesday July 30

Premier Soil Health School 2025
Tuesday July 29 – Wednesday July 30
Premier Soil Health School 2025
38270 Kenwood Ave, Redwood Falls, MN 56283, USA

Details are here.

Wednesday July 30

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Healthy Roots & Clean Boots: Soil Health Event for the Whole Family
Wednesday July 30
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Healthy Roots & Clean Boots: Soil Health Event for the Whole Family
1015 70th Ave SE, Murdock, MN 56271, USA

This is a free, family-friendly Swift County SWCD event all about soil health and sustainable farming. Explore exciting, hands-on exhibits and demonstrations designed to teach both kids and adults about how farmers are caring for the land. There will also be several agricultural vendors on site, including consultants, product suppliers, and more.

Enjoy activities like:

  • Rainfall Simulator
  • Cover Crop Plots
  • Stream Table
  • Seeding Drone Displays
  • Soil to Snack
  • The Edible Underground
  • ​GeoSandbox Explorer
  • Equipment Displays
  • Ask-a-Soil-Health-Farmer Booth 

A free-will donation meal will be served, with all proceeds supporting local soil health programs. 

For details and to register, click here. 

Thursday July 31

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Thursday July 31
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms
Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery, 2752 215th Ave, Mora, MN 55051, USA

Join Renewing the Countryside and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this summer at one of their eight conservation events in a town near you, where you will:

  • Learn how conservation benefits Minnesota’s rural communities.
  • Hear from a panel of local speakers.
  • Discover available NRCS Farm Bill programs and the economics of on-farm practices.
  • Enjoy a complimentary lunch, plus a chance to win door prizes.
  • Network with local farmers, neighbors, and conservation professionals.
  • Receive helpful materials and personalized support on next steps after the event.  

For more information, click here. 

Locations & Dates:
Each event is free, open to all, and runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the venues listed. Space is limited, please register in advance.

  • Hallock (Kittson County) – Tues, July 22 @ Far North Spirits
  • Elbow Lake (Grant County) – Wed, July 23 @ Elbow Lake Community Building
  • Sleepy Eye (Brown County) – Thur, July 24 @ Sleepy Eye Brewing Company
  • Milaca (Mille Lacs County) – Tues, July 29 @ Gorecki Community Center
  • Mora (Kanabec County) – Thur, July 31 @ Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery
  • Owatonna (Steele County) – Tues, August 5 @ Owatonna Public Utilities Building
  • Jordan (Scott County) – Wed, August 6 @ Ridges at Sand Creek
  • Fairmont (Martin County) – Thur, August 7 @ Red Rock Center for the Arts

August 2025

Friday August 1

All Day
Early Bird Discount Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Class
Friday August 1
Early Bird Discount Deadline for LSP's Farm Beginnings Class

Beginning and prospective farmers are invited to apply to the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings course, a year-long training program that focuses on the goal setting, marketing, and financial skills needed to establish a successful farm business. The Farm Beginnings course creates a space for folks to name their vision, acquire the tools and skills needed to make it happen, and become part of a community of support to help them succeed.  

The course will run from November 2025 through March 2026, with some additional educational opportunities to take place later in 2026. 

The deadline for applications is Sept. 1. Early bird applications submitted by Aug. 1 will receive a $100 discount if you are accepted into the class. Partial scholarships are available.

More details are at http://www.farmbeginnings.org or Annelie Livingston-Anderson at annelie@landstewardshipproject.org.

You can apply to the course here.

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
Friday August 1
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
22545 Co Rd 42, Richmond, MN 56368, USA

Roots and Rotation is a summer field day series happening across Minnesota. These field days will discuss the use of livestock for soil health goals in different agricultural systems. 
 
Learn about the benefits of integrating livestock onto cropland and how to make it work on your operation. Hear from experienced farmers and Extension educators specializing in crops, livestock, and soil health. These events are for producers looking to elevate their cropland soil health and increase their forage resources. 

For more information and to register, see the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association website.

View Full Calendar

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