Category: Advocacy + Education

Introducing Cara Soukup: A Familiar Face to MN Corn and your new District Field Manager

Posted on August 16, 2017

After 4 ½ years with the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA), I’m pleased to announce my new role with the organization as the District Field Manager for Territory 3. I will be serving the counties in east central Minnesota surrounding the metro area (see list of counties below). In addition, I will continue to manage MCGA’s Variety Plot Program.

In my previous role as field coordinator, I managed MCGA’s regional representative program and worked closely with our 52 affiliated county organizations.

Kids Learn about One A-Maize-ing Little Kernel

Posted on August 15, 2017

By Mariah Larson

Last week the first of four 2017 Farm Camps kicked off at Farmamerica near Waseca where several commodity groups came out to share information with youth from across the state about modern agriculture. As a first time attendee myself, I enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to talk to campers about Minnesota’s “A-Maize-ing Little Kernel.”

This year the four camps are spread throughout the central part of the state,

Future ag leaders learn about MCGA’s sustainability mission

Posted on August 10, 2017

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

Students recently attended a summer ag education seminar called Heart of the Heartland to hear Minnesota Corn Research and Promotions Council (MCR&PC) Research Director Paul Meints and Jodi DeJong-Hughes, a soil health expert with University of Minnesota Extension, discuss sustainability efforts by today’s farmers.

Meints discussed the 23 farmer-led, conservation-focused research projects funded by the Innovation Grant Program, which began last year as part of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association’s (MCGA) and MRC&PC’s mission for Minnesota corn farmers to become the most sustainable and environmentally responsible corn growers in the nation.

MCGA scholarship awarded to student using corn to create plastics

Posted on August 9, 2017

Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP) Undergraduate Researcher Quentoria Walton is the recipient of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association Summer Research Fellowship, awarded to a student who has helped advance CSP’s mission to transform how plastics are made.

Entering her junior year at Tuskegee University in Alabama, Walton received the $2,500 scholarship following her participation in CSP’s summer undergraduate research program. In the program, she worked on a research project that uses sugar from renewable sources like corn to make high-value materials that perform as well as petroleum-based counterparts,

Ag Policy Forum: National farm groups need young voices

Posted on August 8, 2017

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

It’s a time of decision for agriculture. That became clear at the National Ag Policy Forum at Farmfest last week as farmer leaders discussed the many issues requiring action sooner than later.

While crucial topics like trade, infrastructure and farm labor soon to be decided in congress will weigh heavy on production, the panel reached consensus on the need to grow participation of younger farmers in the grassroots efforts that are vital to the future of farming.

MCGA invites all gubernatorial candidates to visit a family corn farm

Posted on August 4, 2017

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) announced it is inviting all 2018 gubernatorial candidates to a one-on-one farm experience with a Minnesota corn farmer. With this invitation, growers hope to build relationships and foster conversation about farmers’ commitment to conservation, and also emphasize the significant economic impact of agriculture in both rural and urban communities in Minnesota.

“Minnesota corn farmers look forward to hosting all gubernatorial candidates, regardless of political persuasion, on a farm to help share how growers are working to raise high quality crops while caring for our state’s natural resources,” said MCGA President Harold Wolle.

Minnesota corn farmers attend NCGA’s 2017 Corn Congress

Posted on July 28, 2017

Written by Mariah Larson

Last week, 18 members of the MCGA and MCR&PC flew out to Washington D.C., to join delegates from across the U.S. for the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) 2017 Corn Congress. Held every July, NCGA’s two-day annual meeting elects officers to the NCGA board, reviews resolutions, hosts discussions related to U.S. agriculture, and meets with political leaders and government officials within agencies and departments in Washington.

A big topic of interest with the upcoming renewal next year,

Minnesota Corn is a must-see at Farmfest 2017

Posted on July 21, 2017

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) will have a little bit of everything at this year’s Farmfest, which runs Aug. 1-3 at Gillfillan Estate, near Morgan.

From conservation-minded research and policy updates to sweet corn ice cream and cookies made with Distillers’ Dried Grains (DDGS), there will be a lot of excitement at the MCGA tent located at the corner of Seed Road and Seventh Street.

Here is what you will find at the MCGA tent during Farmfest 2017:

Innovation Grant research spotlight: Corn farmer Brian Velde’s approach to irrigation defines the “innovation” aspect of MCGA’s farmer-led research program focused on conservation.

Meet Carrie Christenson, MCGA’s new district field manager

Posted on July 19, 2017

Now that my first days with the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) staff are in the books, all of my anticipation and anxiousness was just as I had hoped it would be – well worth it! I live in Waseca County and will be the new District Field Manager for the southeast region of Minnesota (see the list of specific counties below). I am very excited to be a part of this organization!

As for my background,

Kernel Nation connects community to farmers in Waconia

Posted on July 18, 2017

This is the second year that the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) has hosted Kernel Nation events, which are held to further develop relationships and make connections between greater Minnesota residents and the corn farming community. Last Wednesday, MCGA hosted their first Kernel Nation event of 2017 in Waconia at J. Carver Distillery.

The night kicked off with a social hour and welcome before the distillery tour and tasting, followed by dinner, drinks and closing remarks from MCGA Executive Director Adam Birr.

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