U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson announced that United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will be in Marshall on February 15 and 16 to attend and give the keynote address at the 2010 Home Grown Economy conference at Southwest Minnesota State University (SWSU).

“Having Secretary Vilsack come to Marshall to attend and participate in this year’s conference is a big deal for us,” Peterson said. “He knows agriculture and he knows that local foods are an important component of economic development for us. I think people are going to be very interested to speak with him and to hear what he has to say.”

The Home Grown Economy Conference will kickoff on Monday, Feb. 15, with a Local Food and Wine Sampler Showcase catered by Dr. Michael Cheng’s culinary students at SWSU. Rep. Peterson and Secretary Vilsack will also be there to welcome conference attendees and Rep. Peterson will play his guitar and sing with a local band. Registration for Monday’s event will be limited to the first 120 people who register.

“Changing attitudes about food, its impact on health and well-being, and growing opportunities for small farmers have sparked a movement across the country and in Minnesota of consumers seeking out locally grown foods, Peterson said, “and I’m hosting this conference to help get the word out and link people to the available resources.”

“With this demand for more locally grown foods, farmers and rural communities can benefit from a variety of new opportunities. The farm to school program, linking local agricultural producers to school lunch and breakfast programs, is growing in Minnesota. Farmers markets and food co-ops are

springing up all over the

state and in grocery stores; “Minnesota Grown” and “locally grown” labels are

being sought out by shoppers.”

“On Tuesday, Secretary Vilsack will be our keynote speaker,” Peterson said. “As people know he’s a former governor of Iowa and he knows from first hand experience how agriculture generates economic growth in rural America.”

In addition to the Marshall

location, Secretary Vilsack’s keynote address and other sessions on Tuesday, Feb. 16 will be broadcast to other locations in the district through interactive video.

The following college campus locations will be participating: University of Minnesota, Crookston, University of Minnesota, Morris, Bemidji State University and Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls.

For more information on the 2010 Home Grown Economy Conference or to register, go to www. regionalpartnerships.umn. edu, or contact Congressman Peterson’s office at 218-847-5056.