2016 Democrats, GOP invited to Iowa Ag Summit

DES MOINES - Several potential 2016 GOP presidential candidates will participate in a Freedom Summit hosted by Citizens United and U.S. Rep Steve King this weekend in Des Moines.

The 2016 hopefuls from both the Republican and Democratic parties are invited to the first Iowa Agriculture Summit March 7 that will provide a forum for them to discuss issues of vital importance to the Iowa and national economies.

Although the state becomes an epicenter of American politics every four years, there hasn't been a forum 'solely dedicated to matters that directly affect Iowa farmers who feed and fuel not just the country, but the world,” Iowa businessman and Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter said in announcing the summit.

'One of the areas that a number of us has discussed around the caucuses is there is no forum to talk about agriculture” Rastetter said.

Invited speakers include Vice President Joe Biden, former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Dr. Ben Carson, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, Gov. Martin O'Malley of Maryland, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, New York businessman Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia.

Each speaker will appear alone with Rastetter on stage for 20 minutes to discuss a range of issues including modern agriculture, renewable fuels, biosciences, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), grain and livestock markets, land conservation and federal subsidies.

For more information, visit: www.IowaAgSummit.com. For ticketing information, contact Jill Ryan at (515) 282-3000 or jill@cgiowa.com.