Jim Gilmore Becomes 12th Potential Presidential Candidate to Commit to Iowa Agriculture Summit

Jim Gilmore of Virginia Becomes 12th Potential Presidential Candidate to Commit to Iowa Agriculture Summit

West Des Moines, IA – Former Gov. Jim Gilmore of Virginia has committed to appearing at the first-ever Iowa Agriculture Summit, raising the number of potential 2016 presidential candidates speaking at the March 7 event to 12, according to organizers.

Gilmore, a former U.S. Army officer and Attorney General of Virginia, served as governor from 1998 to 2002. Virginia governors are limited to one term by the commonwealth's constitution. Gilmore is the president and chief executive officer of the Free Congress Foundation, a conservative think tank focused on tax, economic, urban, transportation and foreign policy.

Other potential presidential candidates who will speak at the summit are: Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, former Gov. George Pataki of New York, former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, New York businessman Donald Trump and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. The summit, which will be held at the Elwell Family Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, will also feature U.S. Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa, Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge and others.
 
Prospective candidates will each on stage alone with Bruce Rastetter, the Iowa entrepreneur and philanthropist hosting the event, for 20 minutes to answer questions about the broad range of issues facing American farmers and agribusinesses, including modern  agriculture practices, renewable fuels, biosciences, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), grain and livestock markets, land conservation, federal subsidies and other related topics.