Oregon senator Merkley to headline Progress Iowa corn feed

CEDAR RAPIDS - Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley will headline Progress Iowa's third annual corn feed Sept. 10 in Des Moines.

Merkley will be joined by 2nd District Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa City, the lone Democrat in Iowa's congressional delegation, and South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who was an unsuccessful contender for chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

The corn feed will begin at 2 p.m. at the Simon Estes Amphitheater, 75 E. Locust St., Des Moines. General admission tickets are $30 and available at http://progia.us/cornfeed.

The corn feed, which Progress Iowa bills as 'Iowa sweet corn and a discussion about progressive ideas,” was started to fill the hole left when Sen. Tom Harkin retired and discontinued his annual steak fry.

In addition to the featured addresses, every announced Democratic candidate for governor and congress will be invited to speak.

The Progress Iowa Corn Feed also will feature local progressive organizations, businesses, and artists for a fun-filled afternoon! Last year's event drew hundreds of attendees and featured organizations and progressive leaders from across the state.

Progress Iowa is a multi-issue advocacy organization with an online community of nearly 70,000.

l Comments: (319) 398-8375; james.lynch@thegazette.com