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… 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
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
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
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
Mikayla Tabert
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. … Continue Reading Mikayla Tabert
Ted Winter
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… Continue Reading Ted Winter
