Corn farmers team up with the Minnesota Gophers

On the farm, corn farmers and gophers have a contentious relationship. Gophers just wants to dig their holes in peace. Corn farmers find nothing peaceful about fields dotted with gopher holes and dirt mounds.

On the football field, hockey rink and basketball court, however, Gophers and corn farmers get along just fine.

The Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) is teaming with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers to recognize conservation-minded corn farmers during all home football games through the “Farm Team Family of the Game” promotion this season.

MCGA will also be co-sponsoring “Celebrate Ag and Food Day” on Sept. 20 when the Gophers play San Jose St. and giving away Farm Team-branded seat cushions at the Oct. 11 game vs. Northwestern.

The gridiron isn’t the only place where corn farmers and Gophers are joining forces.

The Zamboni will be decorated with a MCGA Farm Team theme when the Gophers hockey team plays at Marriucci Arena this winter. Look for Farm Team messages and logos throughout Williams Arena during Gophers basketball games, too.

Finally, MCGA is also sponsoring this year’s Gophers Speaker Series at the Minneapolis Club. Prominent members of the Twin Cities business community attend the Gophers Speaker Series to hear from Gophers coaches like Jerry Kill, Richard Pitino and others.

“Our partnership with the Gophers is a great way to connect with non-farmers about what we’re doing on our farms, especially in the area of protecting water quality and conservation,” said Goodhue farmer and MCGA President Ryan Buck.

Gophers and corn farmers…turns out they can work together, after all.