Lee Mink will be the guest speaker at the 7 a.m. monthly Friends of Agriculture breakfast meeting at the 4H Center located on Locust Street in Columbus.

A core program of the office of agricultural economic development and sponsored by Polk County Farm Bureau, the Friends of Ag breakfast is open to everyone in the immediate region with interest in agriculture and community. There is no charge. The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. with a formal program that wraps up by 8 a.m. for those who need to get to work. Community building and visiting with neighbors continues past then.

This months’ speaker is Lee Mink. Mink practices sustainable agriculture and teaches classes on his two farms in Polk County. His discussion for the group will include sustainable agricultural growing practices, which he refers to as “ leaving the earth better than you found it.” He will also share with the group his take on an optimal planting schedule for 2011.

Friends of Agriculture breakfasts use local eggs, meats, fruit spreads and grains in their preparations. Note that Friends of Ag organizers are still seeking donations of tablecloths for the breakfasts and other events at the ag center in Mill Spring.