The Center is governed by a board of directors made up of representatives of commodity groups, agribusinesses and members of the Minnesota legislature.
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… Read More »Carolyn Olson
Jerry Hasnedl
Jerry Hasnedl represents a statewide farm organization on the AURI Board of Directors. Hasnedl, a member of the Minnesota Farmers Union, resides on his 3,200 acre family farm in St. Hilaire, Minnesota. Hasnedl received his degree in agricultural economics from Northland Community College before serving in the U.S. Air Force. He was on the CHS… Read More »Jerry Hasnedl
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. Cloud State University. He also serves on the Aging and Long Term Care… Read More »Sen. Aric Putnam
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… Read More »Joe Serbus
Kenneth Asp
Kenneth Asp farms 2,400 acres in Pennington County, growing primarily wheat and soybeans. Ken joined the AURI Board as a representative of the Minnesota Wheat Industry. He is a U.S. Navy Veteran and a graduate of the University of Minnesota Crookston with degrees in Agronomy and Aviation. Ken served nine years on the Pennington County… Read More »Kenneth Asp
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… Read More »John Schafer
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… Read More »Jeff Grev