Comments from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Candidate Spark Controversy
Chris Jones, a Democrat vying for the position of Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, faced backlash from the Iowa Republican Party after making remarks about farmers. He described them as “wealthy” and suggested that growing grain is “not that hard,” adding that farmers “only work a few weeks out of the year.” These comments were brought to light by Iowa Field Report, which shared a video from an interview Jones conducted at the Iowa Ideas Conference in 2021.
In the interview, Jones stated, “A lot of grain farming now is not that difficult. They only work a few weeks out of the year.” He went on to claim, “These farmers may be hard-working, inventive, and there’s a lot more to say about that, but the truth is, many of them are millionaires. They make three times as much as the average Iowan.” Earlier, he characterized Iowa farmers as “rich, older, white people.”
The current Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, who is being challenged by Jones, condemned his comments. Naig remarked, “If you think farming is ‘not that hard’ and that farmers only work a few weeks a year, you don’t deserve to be Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture. Iowa farmers deserve respect, not contempt.”
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Byrd labeled Jones’ remarks as “Horrible,” implying they are misguided, especially with the Iowa State Fair approaching, a significant event celebrating agriculture in the state. Byrd, who grew up on a family farm, suggested voting for Naig instead.
Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufman responded by sharing his family’s long history in farming, emphasizing the hard work involved. He criticized Jones’ perspective, saying farmers work tirelessly from dawn till dusk to sustain the world and suggested Jones insulted them while requesting their support.
Jade Sissy, the Iowa Republican Party spokeswoman, expressed that Jones’ remarks were insulting, highlighting that he is out of touch with the farming community. She said he seems to seek votes while advocating for policies that might burden farmers, underscoring a disconnect between his views and the realities of farming life.
