AURI is governed by a board of directors made up of representatives of the state’s farm organizations and commodity groups, agribusiness, and members of the Minnesota House and Senate agriculture committees. Meetings of the board are open to the public. Learn more about the board’s positions and terms.
Jeff Grev
Term Expires: January 2026
Jeff Grev began his career as a sales representative at Hormel Foods in 1984 and has progressed through a variety of sales, marketing, new product development, and business development roles.
Jeff has 30 years of experience generating success in consumer packaged goods sales, marketing, new product development, licensing, joint ventures and acquisitions. Business development successes have included the acquisitions of Fresherized Foods/WHOLLY GUACAMOLE and the SKIPPY Peanut Butter brand. Since 2014, Jeff has led the team that represents the interests of Hormel Foods in the government, legislative and regulatory arenas. Continue Reading Jeff Grev
Rep. Rick Hansen
Legislative Appointment
Representative Rick Hansen was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004. A member of the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party, Rep. Hansen currently serves as the Chair of the Agriculture Committee and served as Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee from 2019-2025. He is also a co-chair of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), which uses lottery funds to protect Minnesota’s environment. Rick has a master’s degree in Soil Management from Iowa State University, and he lives in South St. Paul with his wife Suzanne and their son Evan and has a farm in Southern Minnesota. Continue Reading Rep. Rick Hansen
Kent Heins
Term Expires: January 2028
With a 27-year career at the intersection of high-tech innovation and agricultural advancement, Kent brings a unique perspective to the AURI board. His expertise spans the development of cutting-edge products, manufacturing systems, and the seamless integration of technology into real-world applications. Beyond product innovation, he has been deeply involved in ensuring long-term sustainability and efficiency in customer solutions. Continue Reading Kent Heins
Lauren McNamara
Term Expires: January 2026
Lauren McNamara is the Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Plant Based Food and Beverage Business at SunOpta. She leads a business that includes manufacturing finished goods for brands & retailers, bringing to market innovative plant-based ingredients, and managing 3 consumer brands. In 2022, Lauren was named one of Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 40 under 40 which recognizes young business and community leaders on the rise. Continue Reading Lauren McNamara
Carolyn Olson
Term Expires: January 2027
Carolyn Olson raises organic corn, soybeans, small grains and alfalfa with her husband on a 1,100 acre farm near Cottonwood, Minnesota. They also finish approximately 14,000 conventional hogs annually.
Carolyn is the current District III Director on the Minnesota Farm Bureau Board of Directors, past president of the Lyon County Farm Bureau, chair of the American Farm Bureau Organic and Direct Marketing Issue Advisory Committee, current member and past chair of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Organic Advisory Task Force and secretary of the local FFA Alumni Chapter. Continue Reading Carolyn Olson
Sen. Aric Putnam
Legislative Appointment
Senator Aric Putnam is the Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Broadband & Rural Development Committee. He represents Senate District 14 which includes Benton, Sherburne and Stearns counties in the St. Cloud Area of Central Minnesota. Senator Putnam is a professor at St. John’s University and the College of St. Benedict. He is also the Vice Chair of the Higher Education Committee, as well as a committee member of the Jobs and Economic Development Committee and Taxes Committee. Continue Reading Sen. Aric Putnam
Joe Serbus
Term Expires: January 2026
Joe Serbus has been farming for more than 40 years in Renville County, where he grows corn, soybeans and sweetcorn on his third-generation operation.
As a lifetime farmer, Joe has served his community with distinction by volunteering on several boards for numerous organizations. In 2016, Joe was elected to serve as the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council’s District 5 & 6 director. He currently leads as chair of Council, which directs the state’s soybean checkoff program and invests checkoff resources into developing value-added products, among many other projects. He also represents the Council on the Soy Transportation Coalition. Continue Reading Joe Serbus
Mikayla Tabert
Term Expires: January 2027
Mikayla Tabert co-owns Trinity Creek Ranch, Inc. in Red Lake County, along with her family. Trinity Creek Ranch is a diversified farming operation with a long history of emphasizing regenerative farming practices to operate a diverse cropping and cattle farm. Mikayla and her family are willing to think outside the box and try new things. The farm prioritizes soil health and has been no-till since the mid-1990s, integrating cover crops since 2012. They are active in Minnesota Wheat’s On Farm Research Network Program with projects ranging from utilizing bioreactors to grow their own “bugs in a jug” for inoculating seed to fertility trials, along with independently experimenting with Kernza, camelina, interseeding cover crops, and PeaOla (Peas & Canola). Continue Reading Mikayla Tabert
Federico A. Tripodi
Term Expires: January 2028
Federico Tripodi serves as the chair of AURI's Board of Directors and has served as a public company executive with extensive experience in agricultural, food and health R&D and product development. During his two-decade career in the ag tech and seed industry, he has led organizations in both Fortune 500 and entrepreneurial settings. Most recently, he was the CEO of Calyxt Inc., a food ingredient company based on a gene editing technology invented at the University of Minnesota. Continue Reading Federico A. Tripodi
Jon Veldhouse
Term Expires: January 2028
Jon Veldhouse is the CEO of Qore LLC, a joint venture of Cargill and HELM-AG. Qore supports material producers and brand owners in making more sustainable products using QIRA® a renewable, drop-in chemical intermediate.
Jon has a unique mix of technical and commercial expertise that have been developed across several roles in start-up environments, Cargill, and Cargill JV’s. Jon holds a degree in Biotechnology from St. Cloud State University, Minnesota. Continue Reading Jon Veldhouse
Ted Winter
Term Expires: January 2027
Ted Winter is a member of the Minnesota Farmers Union Executive Committee, a grassroots organization representing Minnesota's family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities since 1918. In addition to serving as an elected member of the Minnesota Farmers Union since 2017, he serves as the president of the Rock & Nobles County Farmers Union.
Ted has operated his family farm in Nobles County for over 50 years and was an insurance agent with the Farmers Union Agency until 2020. Additionally, Ted served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1987 through 2003, where he was a strong advocate for farmers. Continue Reading Ted Winter
