This quarter, Ag Innovation News (AIN) highlights AURI’s first-term Board Director, Minnesota Farmers Union elected member Ted Winter. Winter is a third-generation farmer who has farmed his family’s land for 55 years. In this edition of AIN’s Board Q&A, he shares his unique history with AURI and his vision for serving Minnesota farmers
Q: Please give us some highlights around your ag background.
Since 2017, I’ve served as an elected Minnesota Farmers Union Executive Committee member. Minnesota Farmers Union is a grassroots organization representing Minnesota’s family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. I’m also the president of the Rock & Nobles County Farmers Union.
I’ve been farming for 55 years, first as a dairy and hog farmer and now as a corn and soybean farmer on my family farm in Nobles County. I served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1987 through 2003, where I voted to establish AURI under the bill brought forth at the time by Representative Jerry Schoenfeld and Senator Roger Moe
Q: What motivated you to join the AURI Board of Directors?
Well, I may be the first AURI board member to have previously served on its board! I was an AURI board director from 1988- 1997, filling the Minnesota House Ag Committee seat when I
served in the Minnesota House of Representatives. I believe in what AURI did then and believe in what it wants to accomplish now. AURI is an incredibly important organization. Part of why I voted to establish AURI is because I was a farmer who went through the farm crisis in the 1980s and almost lost my farm. Finding diverse income streams and new markets to support
farmers is what ensures farmers can continue to exist and feed people across our great country.
Q: What do you hope to achieve during your time on the board?
Obviously, I think it’s important to find new uses for farm products and add value to the economy. But I also want to ensure new income generators connect back to farmers and their families. Sometimes companies benefit from new end- products, but that value is not shared back to the producer.
Q: What are some interesting trends you currently see in value-added agriculture?
From my perspective, the economics of new uses is tied directly to science and research. It’s crucial to stay abreast of new technologies and develop capabilities that can be made available to people with great ideas. The new Waseca facility is a great example of moving value-added agriculture forward.
Q: What role do you expect AURI to play in the future of Minnesota’s value-added agriculture?
AURI is strategically located with different offices throughout the state. AURI offers proximity and access to all kinds of people, entrepreneurs, and companies in Minnesota. It is imperative for AURI to continue to efficiently and aggressively use its assets to drive new product ideas forward.
Q: What is something people are surprised to learn about you?
Well, I’m not shy to say I’m a Democrat and a Catholic. In today’s world, it seems that admitting your beliefs or political stance can risk backlash. I believe we need to stand up for our ideas and, more importantly, our ideals. Good people can disagree and still be civil. I’m proud that supporting agriculture is a long-standing area of unity amongst Minnesota’s leaders.
