Why It Matters
Wisconsin’s agricultural sector, a cornerstone of the state’s rural economy, took center stage Friday when President Donald Trump traveled to Chippewa Falls for a roundtable aimed at highlighting his administration’s policies toward American farmers. The visit arrives roughly six months before November’s midterm elections, with both parties competing for the loyalties of rural voters in a key battleground state.
What Happened
Trump held the roundtable discussion at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, gathering a bipartisan-flavored audience of lawmakers, agricultural officials, and local figures to discuss federal farm policy. The event marked Trump’s first Wisconsin appearance of the current election cycle.
U.S. Representatives Derrick Van Orden and Tom Tiffany, both Wisconsin Republicans, appeared alongside Trump. U.S. Senator Ron Johnson also attended. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was present, as was farm owner Ken Custer, whose property hosted the event.
Among the more notable attendees were Jake Leinenkugel, Olympic speed skater Jordan Stolz, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas, a University of Wisconsin-Madison alumnus who now operates a beef farm in western Wisconsin.
Trump spoke for more than 40 minutes, ranging well beyond agricultural topics to address former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, congressional dynamics, the 2020 election, immigration policy, D.C. renovation projects, and transgender issues.
What They Said
Van Orden set the tone early, telling the audience that anyone who claims Trump does not care about farmers should be told directly that such a claim “is a pile of manure.” The congressman framed the administration’s record as proof of its commitment to rural America.
Trump, in characteristically blunt terms, described Democratic candidates as “some very sick puppies” running for office, signaling the political dimension of the gathering.
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat, issued a written statement criticizing the administration’s farm-related policies ahead of and following the event. Democratic politicians and progressive organizations organized counter-programming in the area before the roundtable took place.
By the Numbers
- 40+ minutes: Length of Trump’s remarks at the roundtable
- 6 months: Time remaining until the November midterm elections
- Multiple congressional delegates: Two U.S. House members and one U.S. senator attended from Wisconsin’s Republican delegation
Tensions Beneath the Surface
The celebratory framing of the event exists alongside measurable economic pressures in the farm community tied to administration policy. Trump’s tariffs have driven up the cost of fertilizer and fuel for Wisconsin growers, while simultaneously narrowing export market access for corn and soybean producers who depend heavily on overseas buyers.
Wisconsin’s dairy industry, which relies substantially on immigrant labor, has also been affected by the administration’s immigration enforcement actions, which have reduced the availability of undocumented migrant workers at a time when the sector is already grappling with thin margins. These dynamics were not addressed publicly during the roundtable.
Zoom Out
The Wisconsin event fits into a broader White House strategy of shoring up rural support ahead of competitive midterm contests. Farm states across the Midwest have seen a complicated relationship with federal trade policy over the past year, with agricultural groups in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana similarly expressing concern about export disruptions caused by ongoing tariff disputes. The administration has argued that short-term market pressures are necessary to achieve more favorable long-term trade terms for American producers.
Wisconsin’s agricultural sector — which spans dairy, beef, corn, and soybean operations — makes it a frequent target for both parties seeking to demonstrate rural credibility. For more on economic pressures facing working Americans in similar communities, see our coverage of the widening retirement savings gap affecting workers of color and rural households.
What’s Next
With midterm elections approaching this November, both parties are expected to intensify outreach to Wisconsin’s farming communities. Democrats plan to continue drawing contrasts on trade and labor policy, while the administration is likely to schedule additional rural events as part of its midterm strategy. Whether the roundtable translates into durable political support among Wisconsin farmers will depend in part on whether commodity prices and export conditions improve in the months ahead.