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Farmer says lobbying trip was worthwhile Thursday, October 13, 2005
Agri News staff writer
HAYFIELD, Minn. -- Evan Schmeling's pristine vision of Washington was shattered on his first visit to the nation's capital.
Schmeling, a third-generation farmer who raises corn, soybeans and sweet corn near Hayfield, was expecting to see in person what he's seen in photographs and on television over the years.
Instead, there was construction all over and the city was abuzz.
"My impression was it's a very busy place," Schmeling said. "It's a working place where there's things happening all the time."
He and his wife, Linda, spent three days in Washington in early September meeting with lawmakers to lobby for payment limits on commodity programs, limits in cuts to food and nutrition programs and no cuts to the Conservation Security Program.
"It was quite an interesting trip," Schmeling said.
The couple, who traveled with Vicky Poier of Montevideo on a trip organized by Land Stewardship Project, landed in Washington about the same time lawmakers returned to town after Hurricane Katrina. It was a zoo with lawmakers scurrying to pass hurricane relief legislation, he said.
Still, most Minnesota lawmakers or their aides took time to visit with them.
The days were long and busy, Schmeling said. They saw six people one day and three the next morning. Linda developed blisters on both feet from all the walking.
They were given a short course on what to say when talking to lawmakers and their aides and how to treat people they talked with. They weren't told what to say.
"When I visit with somebody, I tell him what comes from here," Schmeling said, pointing to his heart.
He admits lobbying isn't his favorite thing, yet visiting the nation's capital and meeting with lawmakers and their aides made him feel patriotic. Lobbying is something everyone in this country can do, he said. It's so real and so powerful.
Yet a person wonders if a visit makes a difference, Schmeling said, sharing a story of visiting with one lawmaker who didn't seem to be very interested in what he was saying. When he arrived home, however, he received a letter telling him the lawmaker had signed onto the Grassley-Dorgan bill to limit commodity subsidies.
He appreciated having Adam Warthesen of LSP along as a guide because Warthesen knew his way around. His least favorite part of the trip was trying to figure out where he was at and finding where he was supposed to be next.
They saw the city from the inside out, Schmeling said, which he imagines is much different than the sights he'd see from a tour bus. Another time, he'd like to visit the city as a tourist to see some of the museums. |
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