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AIC Board of Directors

The Center is governed by a board of directors made up of representatives of commodity groups, agribusinesses and members of the Minnesota legislature.

Photo of Carolyn Olson

Carolyn Olson

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… Continue Reading Carolyn Olson

Sen. Aric Putnam

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… Continue Reading Sen. Aric Putnam

Photo of Joe Serbus

Joe Serbus

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… Continue Reading Joe Serbus

Photo of John Schafer

John Schafer

John Schafer represents the Minnesota Beef Council on the AURI Board of Directors. Schafer currently serves as the chair of the research committee of the Minnesota Beef Council, and serves on the budget committee. Schafer raises Hereford cattle, corn, soybean, alfalfa and grass in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota. Schafer graduated from the University of Minnesota with… Continue Reading John Schafer

Photo of Jeff Grev

Jeff Grev

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… Continue Reading Jeff Grev