Speakers at the Iowa Youth Leadership Town Hall Meeting on Thursday will discuss the importance of keeping manufacturing and agricultural jobs in the state of Iowa.

Presidential candidates from both parties have been invited to attend the free event at 5:30 p.m. in Hilton Coliseum.

Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., is the only confirmed presidential candidate so far.

The ISU Democrats, ISU College Republicans, Engineering Leadership Program and ISU Collegiate Future Farmers of America are co-sponsoring the event.

The keynote speaker for the event is Daniel DiMicco, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Nucor Corporation, which manufactures steel. DiMicco is known for his fight against America’s unenforced trade policies. He will be speaking about the implications of foreign trade and its impact on the domestic economy.

Paul Reed, student coordinator for the Iowa Youth Leadership Town Hall Meeting, said he is expecting a sizable attendance.

“We’re expecting over a thousand people to show up,” he said.

There will also be a speaker from each of the co-sponsoring student organizations preceding DiMicco.

Sarah Walter, representative of the Engineering Leadership Program, will be speaking about how the loss of manufacturing and agriculture jobs directly ties to engineering.

“As we lose manufacturing jobs, we lose engineering competitiveness,” she said.

The four groups co-sponsoring the event all hope the presidential candidates in attendance take notice to the problem that is facing Iowa.

“Both Republicans and Democrats care about these issues because a wide variety of people are affected,” said Sarah Sunderman, representative of the ISU Democrats and senior in liberal studies.

The co-sponsors said in the media advisory that although they might not agree on every policy decision, they agree on one thing – the country needs leaders in Washington who will vote to secure opportunities for young Iowans and young Americans.

In the media advisory, Jordan Navara, executive director of the ISU College Republicans and senior in political science, said students are ready and prepared to participate in the global economy, and they need leaders who will stand up for America and enforce the rules of free trade.

The event will also focus on America’s role as an exporter of food.

In the media advisory, Andrea Ryan, representative of the ISU Collegiate FFA and senior in agricultural business, said in the last 10 years America has shifted from a net exporter of meat to a net importer.

Walter, Sunderman, Navara and Ryan will all speak for their respective organizations at the meeting.