Fall colors and the bright yellow and green of Farm Team signs filled a ballroom of 100 tables in a New York City hotel. The Great Farm Breakfast honored elected officials at the Republican National Convention on September 1. (Photo: Suzanne Freeman)

Wednesday, September 1—On the third day of the convention and the first day of September, it became fall at the Great American Farm Breakfast. Flowers mixed with apples, oranges, and lemons graced tables draped in shades of brown in the Mariott Marquis' Broadway Ballroom. More than 700 elected officials and lobbyists from the agriculture industry came together to eat and greet—and to bash Democrats.

Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman was the guest of honor, but Kansas Senator Pat Roberts stole the show with his homegrown, farm-town humor.

"The choice is between a cowboy hat or hairspray," Roberts said, referring to the choice between George W. Bush and John Kerry for President. "Bush wears cowboy boots on his ranch, but Kerry has yet to learn that you can't wear flip-flops in the barn."

Roberts quickly got to business explaining the flip-flop remark. He said Kerry and his running mate, Senator John Edwards, missed an important vote on a bill that would have doubled the use of ethanol. Ethanol is a corn-based fuel that can be used to power cars and trucks. Boosting ethanol would mean a boost in the need for corn, and an increase in corn prices. The bill needed two more votes to pass. Roberts said Kerry and Edwards both support increased use of ethanol, but were too busy campaigning to cast their votes.

"Rural America will lead the way," Roberts told the crowd.