MCGA Launches “Minnesota Farm Team” Campaign to Highlight Conservation Practices
What does corn farming, Elvis Presley, buffer strips and playing the accordion have in common? It’s all part of a new campaign launched by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) to highlight the conservation efforts of Minnesota corn farmers.
The campaign features 30-second radio commercials during Minnesota Twins games that profile a member of the “Minnesota Farm Team,” which is made up of corn farmers who have implemented a specific conservation practice on their farm to improve water quality, protect soil and lower agriculture’s carbon footprint. The commercials also highlight something fun and unique about each farm team member that goes beyond what they do on their farms.
For example, Lori Feltis practices no-tillage farming to reduce soil erosion on her family farm in Stewartville where she grows corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat. She also owns 17 accordions and plays at family gatherings and local events.
MCGA also launched MNFarmTeam.com where you can learn more about the members of Minnesota’s Farm Team and enter for a chance to become groundskeeper for a day at a future Twins game.
“This is a slightly different approach to show people the steps corn farmers take to protect our land, soil and water resources,” said Ryan Buck, who farms in Goodhue and serves as MCGA President.
“By using a little bit of humor and good-natured fun, we’re hoping to reach people who we otherwise might not reach. When the commercial airs and that accordion music kicks in or the voice of Elvis comes through your speakers, we want people to take notice and learn something they might not have known about what we do on our farms.”
To reach even more people, MCGA is incorporating TWINGO – a baseball version of BINGO played at Twins home games – into the campaign. On the back of each TWINGO card, fans at Target Field
answer trivia questions to unscramble a code word. The code word is then entered at MNFarmTeam.com for a chance to win the groundskeeper-for-a-day grand prize and other prizes from MCGA.
Other corn farmers involved in the campaign include:
- Bill Brown farms in Watonwan County and uses buffer strips to protect water quality. The fourth-generation family farmer also keeps himself busy away from the farm as an Elvis impersonator.
- Gary OverGaard has farmed in Rock County for 40 years and practices precision agriculture to reduce fertilizer use and increase efficiency. He’s also married to Emily
Joe Maidl Lodine OverGaard, an internationally recognized mezzo-soprano opera singer.
- Joe Maidl farms in Nicollet County and uses modern technology such as a GPS-synched planter that reduces fuel usage and lower agriculture’s carbon footprint. When he’s not busy on the farm, Joe is talking fast and selling farmland, machinery and antiques as an auctioneer.
You can listen to all four four commercials below. Be sure to visit MNFarmTeam.com to learn more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBuA-YrYRUQ&feature=youtu.be
