Category: Advocacy + Education

4-H bringing sustainable science to young ages

Posted on June 27, 2017

Starting this year, the 4-H Polymers program will be available to K-2 classrooms nationwide, introducing science in a way that piques curiosity for kids of all ages. This initiative is the result of combining the educational outreach of 4-H with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP), which conducts research to create plastics derived from renewable resources.

The curriculum, titled “Be a 4-H Scientist! Materials in a Green, Clean World,” focuses on concepts like materials,

4-H Science of Ag Challenge continues to evolve

Posted on June 22, 2017

The 3rd Annual 4-H Science of Agriculture Challenge kicked off earlier this week as teams from eight counties came together at the University of Minnesota to present their solution to an agriculture-related issue. This year’s group tackled topics ranging from efficient fencing to optimal turkey bedding in a competition that instilled confidence in future generations of leaders in agriculture.

After the semifinals on day one, four teams representing Le Seur, Douglas,

Minnesota Corn Open Street debut delayed

Posted on June 14, 2017

Maizey along with the TC Road Crew were unfortunately rained out during Sunday’s Open Streets Downtown, which was hit by a severe thunderstorm preventing the group from setting up over the weekend. Thankfully, the event was the first of three Open Streets that will be attended by the group representing Minnesota Corn.

Open Streets are held throughout the Twin Cities during the summer months as a way to bring together community groups and local businesses on a temporarily closed street.

MCGA President Harold Wolle seeks position on National Corn Board

Posted on June 13, 2017

Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) President Harold Wolle, Jr., is running for a seat on the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Corn Board. Wolle, who has served on the MCGA board of directors for nearly five years, is one of six candidates vying for a position on the National Corn Board.

“After my experience with Minnesota Corn, it is a logical next step to move up to the national level,” Wolle said. “I find board service to be very rewarding,

MCGA awards scholarships to future agricultural leaders

Posted on June 7, 2017

In May two students from the Academy for Sciences & Agriculture High School (AFSA) received a college scholarship from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA), which partnered with the school in an effort to help grow the next generation of leaders in agriculture.

Melissa Hall and Elizabeth Weyer received $1,000 scholarships from MCGA. As students at AFSA, both will pursue careers in the agricultural and science fields. The charter school, located in Vadnais Heights,

Minnesota distilleries (and corn!) shine in craft spirits competition

Posted on June 1, 2017

Earlier this month six Minnesota distilleries competed in the first-ever Heartland Whiskey Competition, which brought together 75 distilleries from the 10-state region in America’s Heartland. Sponsored by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA), the competition featured craft distilleries that utilize corn in their spirits.

The whiskey competition was held, in part, to highlight the burgeoning farm-to-table movement. Customers are interested in the story behind their spirit, and for those distilleries participating in the competition that story starts with the corn base often acquired from nearby farms.

Middle schoolers take Norman Borlaug’s story to national competition

Posted on June 1, 2017

After beating out teams on the local, regional and state levels, three Twin Cities area students will be heading to a national history project competition by telling the story of Minnesota’s ultimate agricultural pioneer: Norman Borlaug.

Audrey Faricy, Sebastian Helgeson and Sruthi Subramanian leave for the University of Maryland later this month for the final event of National History Day, which is an inter-disciplinary research project competition for students in grades 6-12.

Legislative Recap: End of session and special session full of drama

Posted on May 26, 2017

The Legislature did not fully complete its business, including the passage of omnibus tax and budget bills, by the constitutional deadline of May 22nd at midnight, and went into a special session that finally concluded early Friday morning. Following is a report regarding key legislative issues important to farmers:

BUFFER LEGISLATION
The omnibus environmental and natural resources policy and finance bill was passed just before the close of the regular session. As amended,

Mariah Larson: What I’m looking forward to during my MCGA internship

Posted on May 26, 2017

My name’s Mariah Larson, and I am the 2017-2018 Minnesota Corn Growers Association student intern. I’m studying agricultural communication and marketing at the University of Minnesota, with a double minor in political science and international agriculture.

When I was applying for this internship back in 2016, what stood out to me was the leadership position that MCGA holds within Minnesota by supporting the agricultural community and our state’s commodities as a whole. Now that I am officially on board,

High school competition helps kids see ag in a new light

Posted on May 23, 2017

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

Minnesota Envirothon, a high school competition organized by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, challenges the upcoming generation of environmentalists with scenarios often seen in the world of agriculture.

This year’s competition, held earlier this month, asked 25 teams of five to consider a scenario where farmland and state-owned land are separated by a stream running between the two.

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