Residents of southern Minnesota will have a unique opportunity to meet nine DFL candidates for governor on Saturday at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch during the first-ever Politics in the Pumpkin Patch event.

The event, which will go from 4 to 8 p.m., is sponsored by DFL Senate District 27, which covers Freeborn and Mower counties, along with the western edge of Fillmore County. This area is represented by state Sen. Dan Sparks and Reps. Robin Brown and Jeanne Poppe.

According to a news release, the following nine DFL candidates for governor have made a commitment to attend Politics in the Pumpkin Patch: state Sen. Tom Bakk, state Sen. John Marty, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, state Rep. Paul Thissen, former state Sen. Steve Kelley, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner and former state Rep. Matt Entenza.

The event will include food by Piggy Blues Bar-B-Que, music by Jesse Smith of Austin, horse drawn wagon rides, and political discussion by state legislators, mayors, candidates for governor and members of Congresss. A straw poll for governor will be conducted.

Individual tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the event or locally at the Albert Lea Seedhouse.

For more information, call Norma Nelson, Senate DFL chair, at (507) 325-2288.