Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This is just a short update to convey my warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. No matter where you are this holiday season, if you had a great year and are surrounded by family, it's time to pause and be grateful for God's blessings. If this has been a tough year for you and your family, and you are struggling or dealing with loss, remember that this is also a season of hope when we look toward the future with new eyes and rekindle our dreams and plans for better times. If you are somewhere in the middle, it's a great moment to stop and refresh your spirit in the uncomplicated joy of the season.  

I have heard from many of you about the new flag and seal selections by the State Emblems Redesign Commission. Many of you do not like the selections.  Some don't think we should change the flag and seal, others would not mind a change but don't like the new selections.  Others think the whole exercise is a waste of time and money.

I was the Senate Minority Member on the Commission. I did not support the original bill to change the state flag. I believed then, as I do now, that the push to change the flag has been based on a false narrative that the flag is racist or is not a well-designed flag, according to flag design experts. Our state symbols are supposed to unite us, and it was for that purpose that, even though I was very skeptical of the project, I was willing to support a flag and a seal that got a positive popular response.  

As a non-voting member of the Commission, I tried to keep advocating for more public input into the process. Although they did solicit input by having a website which allowed written comments, I don’t think they read these comments, or they simply preferred to listen to designers, experts and themselves.  The opportunity for public testimony was extremely limited and the time available heavily favored the designers and flag experts.  This was the wrong attitude to take for something that we all (no matter what our income level, race and ethnicity, gender) must live with! I don’t believe this was the original intent of the bill and I won’t be quiet about the lack of public input into this process.

Rep. Bjorn Olson (who is also on the commission as a non voting member) and I have decided to write a minority report discussing what we think were flaws in the process and will be introducing legislation next session to revisit this issue, putting a stop to this change. However, you should know that the way the law is constructed, the flag and seal chosen by the commission will go into effect on May 11, 2024. The legislature would have to act to stop that from happening. It’s unlikely that the Democrats will admit they made a mistake or even believe they made a mistake. 

Farmers and agricultural landowners looking for assistance in creating succession plans for their properties have a new resource available through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

The MDA has hired Jim Molenaar as its farmland access and succession teams coordinator. In this newly created role, Molenaar will advocate for and guide farmers and ag landowners through the succession process, bringing in additional outside team members that are necessary for success. These team members could include, but are not limited to, legal experts, accountants, and farm business management (FBM) instructors. There is no cost for this service for those who participate.

Molenaar is an experienced advisor on the topic of succession and farm ownership. In addition to his new role, he works as a Farm Advocate for the MDA, where he offers one-on-one assistance for Minnesota farmers who face crisis caused by either a natural disaster or financial problems. He is also a retired instructor for the FBM program.

More information about MDA land succession tools, as well as Molenaar’s contact information, is available here: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/business-dev-loans-grants/farmlink

Please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you have to assist me in best representing you.  The best way to reach me is by email at [email protected] or by phone at 651-296-5612. My legislative assistant is Margaret Martin, and her number is 651-296-4264.  

Sincerely,

Steve Drazkowski

Minnesota Senate, District 20, Wabasha, Goodhue, Winona, Olmsted, and Dakota Counties.

2411 Minnesota Senate Building

95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg.
St. Paul, MN 55155