UPDATED: first on decorahnews.com: Iowa's top Republicans will very quietly gather in Decorah Thursday

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad.  Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds.  Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.  Iowa U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst.

They will all be in Decorah on Thursday night--but they won't be meeting the public.  decorahnews.com has learned the state's four top Republicans will be attending a private fundraising banquet at the Hotel Winneshiek on Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m.

A spokesperson for the Lynch Family Foundation says the four will be attending the 18th annual Foundation banquet.  "This is not a fundraiser for any candidate and due to the nature of the event, it will not be open to the public," said the spokesperson.

However, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor will hold two public events in Northeast Iowa leading up to the Thursday night event in Decorah.  The two will make a 3:00 p.m. stop in Waukon at WW Homestead Dairy, LLC and a 5:00 p.m. stop in Cresco at a ceremony to recognize Howard County becoming the 2nd Home Base Iowa Community.