The Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee has announced that Minnesota’s Commissioner of Agriculture Dave Fredrickson will be the keynote speaker at the 11th annual agriculture lunch.

The lunch is scheduled for noon Tuesday in the Fairlane Building at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds and features the naming of the 2016 Freeborn County Farm Family of the Year.

Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Dave Frederickson to the position of Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in January 2011. Frederickson’s family roots in farming go back to 1873, and he and his wife, Kay, operated a farm in Murdock for more than 24 years.

Frederickson was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 1986, and was reelected to the post in 1990.

He represented constituents in Swift, Yellow Medicine, Lac Qui Parle, Chippewa and Redwood

Counties. As a senator he served on a variety of committees, including agriculture and rural development, education, government operations, taxes and tax laws and local and urban government. From 1991 to 2002, Frederickson served as president of the Minnesota Farmers Union. He subsequently served as president of the National Farmers Union from 2002 to 2006. In both organizations, he worked on federal farm policy and other issues important to farmers and ranchers. From 2007 to 2010, Frederickson worked as agricultural outreach director for U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Commissioner Frederickson’s farm background and his wide range of experience in public service have given him unique insights into the challenges facing Minnesota’s agricultural industry. Today, he is focused on ensuring the Minnesota Department of Agriculture fulfills its mission to protect the integrity of its food supply, the health of our environment, and the strength of our agricultural economy.

Tickets are $12.50 each and may be purchased at the chamber office at 1725 West Main in Albert Lea.