GreenSeam helps bolster south-central MN’s ag reputation
Above: GreenSeam, which has received support from Minnesota’s Corn farmers through investments in the corn check-off, is helping to build a greenhouse at Mankato East High School.
Written by Jonathan Eisenthal
What transformed the farmland south of the San Francisco Bay Area into Silicon Valley? What made lower Manhattan’s Wall Street the economic heartbeat of the Western world?
These are historical beginnings that can be debated, but one certainty is that once these places became brands, the attraction of more talent, resources and business interests exploded and fed one another, leading to exponential growth.
Sam Ziegler, who has been an active agriculture advocate for years, makes the proposition that Minnesota, and in particular the south-central region around Mankato, represents another economic industry cluster. He has dubbed the region the “GreenSeam” and has helped build an organization of the same name that works to support and develop agricultural businesses.
“I learned by traveling overseas, over many years, that more people around the world realize what a big deal agriculture is here in south-central Minnesota than we do locally,” Ziegler said.
Through research and the work of many ag leaders, GreenSeam has helped the region leverage its strengths, and put growth into overdrive. The dream, Ziegler said, is retention and expansion of agribusiness in the GreenSeam.
“We already have the economic industry cluster. It’s just that nobody has put all the pieces together,” Ziegler said. “GreenSeam is putting the pieces together.”
[More: Read about other organizations supported by Minnesota Corn.]
Through farmers’ investment in the corn check-off, Minnesota’s corn organizations support GreenSeam’s efforts to develop, attract and retain talent in the region. Ziegler said he appreciates the support of Minnesota’s corn farmers, which has allowed GreenSeam to invest time and resources into collaborating with communities and schools.
New economic development philosophy
Working with a two-person staff, Ziegler has four focal points: expanding and retaining business; creating and attracting new business; developing the depth and talent of the labor pool to support those businesses; and branding the region.
It’s a new philosophy when it comes to economic development.
“For years, economic development has taken the line: ‘If I have a good school, and if I have a good hospital, I can attract any business possible.’ But that can be a waste of time,” Ziegler said. “Instead, let’s focus on attracting businesses in the sector that we are really good at. For example, let’s get Conagra to rebuild the Birds Eye plant in Waseca and not lose them. We helped the city of Waseca on that project by providing advice, insights, data and information. This helped them decide what kind of package to put together to retain that facility. It’s a $200 million project that’s now 30% on its way. We are hoping they will be ready by next packing season — July 2022. There will be 125 full-time and around 75 part-time employees.”
The future success of GreenSeam depends heavily on the profile of the region’s labor pool. And that means education.
[More: Read about Minnesota Corn’s 2021 summer events.]
One recent success was the groundbreaking in early June for a state-of-the-art, 40-by-60 greenhouse at Mankato East High School. Ziegler said the Mankato School District has hired two agriculture teachers, after going years without having any, and that over 400 Mankato students have enrolled in agriculture classes this fall.
“They are a school district of 8,000 students. It was a matter of putting a spotlight on the issue, telling them, ‘we need people who have an understanding of ag,’” Ziegler said.
To read more about MCGA’s outreach and education efforts, visit mncorn.org.
