Isane brings passion for advocacy to MCGA board
Shayne Isane has long been passionate about advocating on behalf of agriculture. First, he was an advocate at the local level in his home region of northwestern Minnesota. Then he became involved at the state level as a member of the Minnesota Farm Bureau Board of Directors. Now, he’s taken on a new role—as a statewide advocate for the corn industry as a member of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) Board of Directors.
Isane, of Badger, joined the MCGA board at MN Ag Expo in January. He said he’s excited about the role and excited to learn more about the organization and shape its grassroots advocacy, research, and promotion efforts.
“I think it’s going to be a great fit,” he said. “To represent my fellow corn farmer, and to promote that crop and the corn industry, I think that’s going to be something I’m really going to enjoy.”
Isane is the second generation of his family to farm in Badger, a Roseau County town about 25 miles from the Minnesota-Canada border. His father started the farm in the 1950s after emigrating to the U.S. from Norway, and he grew up alongside his two brothers working on the farm.
That early experience—and watching his dad grow the operation—led him to pursue farming for his career. He spent a year at North Dakota State University after high school and then began farming full time alongside his dad and brothers.
In the years since, they’ve grown the operation. They now raise corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, canola, perennial ryegrass for seed, and Timothy hay for the horse market. They also have a cow-calf herd and a 40-head registered Angus herd. Two nephews have also joined the farm.
Isane said he enjoys working with his family, noting that each member of the operation has a different role. Corn has long been a part of the crop rotation, he said, but with changes in genetics, they’ve started growing it over the past 20 years as a cash crop. They also implement practices such as variable rate fertilizer and rotational grazing with an eye toward being good stewards of their soil.
From 2017 to 2024, Isane served on the Minnesota Farm Bureau board. He said he enjoyed that experience.
He added that he thinks it’s important for farmers to speak out on behalf of agriculture, noting that many Minnesota residents—even in rural areas—don’t know where their food comes from.
“I think that’s an important part of what we can do—telling them our stories,” he said.
Minnesota Corn welcomes Shayne to the MCGA board! We appreciate his service on behalf of family farmers.
