Farmamerica: Funding that Ah-Hah moment
The Waseca-based agricultural interpretive center nears fundraising goal for new discovery center
Written by Jonathan Eisenthal
What’s all around us, in our homes, workplaces and schools, and yet few of us see?
Agriculture. Or rather the products of agriculture.
Farmamerica: the Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center is hoping to change that, to reach out to the public, to give them that ‘ah-hah moment’ where they realize how central agriculture is to all our lives. Beyond that, Farmamerica will help them connect the concept of agriculture to real people. That includes Minnesota’s farmers and the many thousands of people — such as researchers, production workers and technology experts — who help get products from farms into our homes.
Jessica Rollins, executive director of Farmamerica said the three-year capital campaign is in the final stretch and needs one more push to attain its $850,000 goal.
“We are reaching out to both new donors and long-time supporters to help us get across the finish line,” Rollins said. She reported that funds from the campaign have already paid for a makeover of the 43-year-old site’s welcome lobby to make it more inviting with vibrant green, blue and brown colors. The centerpiece of the campaign will be Farmamerica’s new “Ag Around You” Discovery Center in the visitor’s center.
[Read more: MN Corn-supported Farmamerica capital campaign hits milestone]
The campaign achieved great momentum when Minnesota Corn announced in 2019 that it would provide $100,000 to the campaign, over several years. Minnesota Corn supports Farmamerica as part of its mission to raising awareness and build a better understanding of farming and its impact in our state.
Since then, Farmamerica has raised more than three quarters of the goal, but they hope to find the remaining funds in the next four weeks.
“My favorite spot in the new Discovery Center will be the family dinner table — it looks like you have walked right into someone’s home — you can sit down and push different food items on the plates and a video will pop up that shows a farmer who has raised that product,” Rollins said. “We have a pig farmer, a beef farmer, and we are lining up a fruit and vegetable farmer — possibly from the Hmong American Farmers Association and Bushel Boy.
[Learn more: Read about Minnesota Corn’s other outreach efforts]
Beyond the Discovery Center, the capital campaign will also fund two new permanent exhibits: one on seed technology, to help people understand GMOs, and another that shows how farmers have embraced sustainable agriculture methods.
“Agriculture is changing rapidly, and there’s a fascinating story to tell,” Rollins said. “And we want to make it fun, because people learn so much better when they are having a great time and not thinking about the fact that they are learning. Thanks to our generous supporters, we can help engage and entertain people on their way to learning about how farming is done today.”
If you want to be a part of this amazing new way to tell the public about today’s agriculture, make a donation here. Donations of all sizes are appreciated.
Learn more about the Farmamerica capital campaign.
