For decades, agricultural lobbyists of all types have banded together to throw a pre-inauguration party affectionately known as the Ag Ball, the Farm Prom, or the Piggy Party. But this time around there was no unity as some aggies were furious over the price of the tickets and how the event was handled. Instead, they decided to hold a much smaller party Monday night organized by the National Farmers Union, the farm group closest to President Obama.

The controversy started when the firm in Alexandria, Virginia hired to run the established big affair set a price of $750 per person, with each trade group required to buy a table of 10 seats - or spend $7,500 - to attend.

 Some farm leaders found the cost offensive, insisting similar events with dinner and dancing usually come in at around $250 a ticket. National Farmers Union President Tom Buis said "No way," and began organizing his own party. Buis was the only farm leader willing to go on the record, but a commodity lobbyist said he and his staff would not attend the big event because his board had told him $750 per person was out of line. What started out as "the people's ball has been ruined," the lobbyist said.

Another problem was that much fewer tickets than normal were given to Hill staffers, and invited lawmakers were told that if they could not attend they could not give their tickets to staff. Also members of the press were told they could attend only if they paid $750 apiece. One prominent farm lobbyist said in an e-mail, "This is truly one of the biggest disasters I've seen lately."

Meanwhile, Buis said that people came up to him at Agriculture Secretary-designate Tom Vilsack's recent confirmation hearing complaining they were on the waiting list for the $85-per-person smaller dinner party he was hosting Monday night at Founding Farmers, the restaurant located in the building on Pennsylvania Avenue owned by the North Dakota Farmers Union. Buis said if he had known his party would become so popular he would have booked the entire restaurant rather than just the second floor.

                                                                                                               --Jerry Hagstrom