Today, Governor Tim Walz spoke with farmers at Farmfest 2021 about the last year, getting vaccinated, and the state fair. The governor has been pushing for Minnesotans to get their shots as the fight against Covid-19 has resurged in the past few months due to the Delta variant.
Listen to your favorite News/Talk station now on Audacy.
Walz shared with farmers that he grew up on a small farm and understands how important farming is to Minnesota.
"It's not just a cliche; agriculture is the foundation of our state's economy," Walz said. "It's the foundation of everything we do."
Walz went on to talk about what the state has been through this year, sharing that it "was a year like none of us had ever seen."
He went on to talk about how farmers have not stopped throughout the past year as Americans flocked to stores to stock up, sometimes in excess, on food. Walz acknowledged that for farmers, this "has been challenging, and it's been difficult." Walz also shared that it was always brought to his attention when he made the wrong decision.
"They never tell the stories about the planes that land; it's the planes that wreck that gets in the news," Walz said.
Related
When it comes to the state fair, Walz shared that he hopes everything will go as planned, but with case counts jumping in the state, he can't just ignore the numbers.
"I want it to happen; I am gonna be clear the country is going through this," he said. "We're still one of the seven better states, but our positivity rate is up to 6.7% today, and that was down to .9%. I got 60 more people in the hospital, and I got five more deaths; all unvaccinated."
At the moment, mask requirements, attendance limits, and other options are on the table. With News Talk 830 WCCO's Adam Carter this morning, State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer shared that if more people were vaccinated, they wouldn't be discussing any restrictions.
Speaking on how the nation has been coming out of the pandemic, Walz shared that "we have come out a little meaner."
Related
When acknowledging masks, Walz got a little colorful in his commentary.
"Nobody hates the damn masks more than me," he said. He also shared that he was frustrated with high school sports being canceled but that it was what needed to be done. But still, for Walz, he shared that this is his home.
"No matter how much we got on each other, no matter how hard last year was, there's no damn other place in the world I would rather live," he said.
In closing, he made his priorities for Minnesotans clear, get vaccinated.
"I don't give a damn about voting. That'll work itself out," Walz said. "But this can't get into our communities; it can't divide us.
"If you haven't been vaccinated, get vaccinated so you can vote against me next November."
Related
