Lindsey Graham Becomes 11th Potential Presidential Candidate to Commit to Iowa Ag Summit

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina Becomes 11th Potential Presidential Candidate to Commit to Iowa Ag Summit

West Des Moines, IA – U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, is the 11th potential presidential candidate to confirm his appearance at the Iowa Agriculture Summit, organizers said today.

Graham served four terms in Congress before being elected to the Senate in 2002 and re-elected in 2008 and 2014. A U.S. Air Force veteran who also served six years in the South Carolina Air National Guard, Graham continues his military service today as a colonel in the Air Force Reserves and is a proponent of a strong national defense.

"Senator Graham is a recognized voice for a strong America. Our ability to produce our own food and fuel is an important component of national security, and I'm sure many Iowans look forward to hearing Senator Graham's views on the entire range of issues shaping American agriculture today," said Bruce Rastetter, the Iowa entrepreneur and philanthropist who is organizing the summit.

The ten potential 2016 presidential candidates who previously accepted invitations to participate in the first-ever, bipartisan event are: Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, 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 and former Secretary of Agriculture and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge.
 
Prospective candidates will each on stage alone with Rastetter 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.