DES MOINES - Al Franken, the newest member of the U.S. Senate, will be the guest speaker at Sen. Tom Harkin's annual steak fry Sept. 13.

Franken, who is expected to be seated in the Senate next week after winning recounts and court challenges to his upset of Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, will headline Harkin's 32nd annual steak fry fundraiser at the Warren County Fairgrounds.

Last year's headliner was Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who had fired up the 2008 Democratic National Convention just days earlier.

The steak fry started in Madison County, but was moved to near Indianola in 1992. The first steak fry was in 1972 and attracted just 20 people. It hit its stride in 1990 when Harkin was running for re-election to the Senate.

Since then it has taken on a "must-do" status as a political event and in recent years has been broadcast live on C-SPAN.

In fact, it has become something of a launching pad for presidential hopefuls. Harkin used the 1991 steak fry to announce his own presidential bid. Bill Clinton and John Edwards have made three appearances and Elizabeth Edwards has headlined the vent, too.

In 2006, Harkin's guest was Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who returned again in 2008 with Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards and Bill Richardson. Al Gore was his guest in 1995 and 1999. Other guests have included the late Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone as the keynote speaker in, political consultant James Carville and even one former Republican - Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords, who switched parties.

In addition to politicians, Harkin has hosted singer Sheryl Crow and Iowa actor-comedian Tom Arnold.