Hillsdale College Republicans will host Pennsylvania state Rep. Barb Gleim to talk about American farming Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. 

The lecture, titled “American Farmers Under Attack: Fake Meat, Raw Milk, and Foreign Ownership,” will be held in the Heritage Room in Mossey Library and will focus on the importance of supporting American agriculture. 

“Barb Gleim has a lot of experience in the farming industry, and she’s just all about getting down to what the truth is about what we’re putting into our bodies and how that is affecting us,” said freshman Kathryn Vieceli, Hillsdale College Republicans communications chairwoman. “With only 1% of Americans as farmers nowadays, we need to support the people who are actually getting us the real food we need to live.”

Sophomore Josiah Jones, president of Hillsdale College Republicans, said he has worked with Gleim a few times since 2022 and believes her experience in both farming and politics will give her a unique perspective to share. Gleim represents Cumberland County, which borders Harrisburg.

“She has modeled to me what a real legislator who fights for their constituents should do,” Jones said. “She’s also really passionate about some of the agricultural issues. This topic is something she has actually written plenty of bills about.” 

Jones said Gleim has sponsored agriculture bills in Pennsylvania like water quality, manure regulation, and a foreign farmland ownership ban that she will speak to at the event. 

Jones said he believes the nutrition issues Gleim will speak to are significant for national health. 

“When we have government really restricting what the small farmers can do and big corporations coming in and modifying things like meat, there’s less real protein out there in our food,” Jones said. “It’s a public health issue.”

Vieceli encouraged all Hillsdale students to take advantage of the opportunity to hear from a congresswoman who is coming from a different state to speak at this event. 

“It’s really a big deal when you have representatives who want to come to Hillsdale and speak to us,” Vieceli said. “When those opportunities arise, seize those opportunities to hear from those people who we can learn and grow from. So don’t pass on the chance to come join us next week and hear what she has to say.”