Farm and business leaders to discuss health coverage

PIERZ - Health coverage and its cost for doing business will be discussed by farm and business leaders Aug. 17 at the Central Minnesota COACT 28th annual Farm Picnic in Pierz Park.

Serving of a ham, sweet corn and potato salad dinner begins at 2 p.m. Co-sponsors of the regional event are Morrison County Farmers Union and area NFO members.

Thom Petersen of the Minnesota Farmers Union and Nancy Breymeier of the Metropolitan Independent Business Alliance will join Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, and Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, to discuss a plan to cut health coverage costs for farm operations and businesses.

The Minnesota Farmers Union/NFO Direct Marketing Program is providing ham for the dinner, the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls are offering potato salad and vegetables and Morrison County Dairy Princesses will serve milk and ice cream.

Complimentary tickets are available from supporting businesses displaying the Farm Picnic posters or purchase tickets at the picnic for $4.50 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for children age 12 and younger.

COACT, Minnesota Farmers Union and the Metropolitan Independent Business Alliance are three of 15 organizations comprising the Minnesota Health Care Coalition, which is working for enactment of the Minnesota Health Plan.