Goodhue County corn and soybean family farmer honored by House Agriculture Finance Committee

The Agriculture Finance Committee in the Minnesota House of Representatives honored Ryan Buck, a family corn and soybean farmer near Goodhue, for his contributions to agriculture with a special resolution on Tuesday, April 7 at the state capitol.

Buck has been farming for 11 years and is Past President of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA). Buck’s family, along with his wife Lauren’s family, have been farming and involved in agriculture for multiple generations.

Even though Buck has been in a wheel chair since 2008 following a snowmobile accident, he’s continued farming and serving as a grower-leader with MCGA. When he’s not farming, Buck sells crop insurance and enjoys spending time outdoors.

“We’re a proud farming family and it was an honor to be recognized by the House Agriculture Finance Committee,” Buck said. “I wasn’t going to let my accident stop me from doing what I love. Farming is in my blood and I take great responsibility in not only growing food, feed, fiber and fuel for the entire world, but also preserving the land we farm for the next generation.”

Buck received a standing ovation from committee members, fellow farmers and others in attendance at the meeting. The resolution honoring Buck was read by House Agriculture Finance Committee Chair Rod Hamilton (R – Mountain Lake).

“We like to recognize people from all across the state who have inspired or done great things in agriculture,” Hamilton said. “Ryan is someone that’s inspired me. Thanks to proud, responsible family farmers like Ryan, we live better lives with more nutritious food options.”

Buck served as President of MCGA from Oct. 1, 2013 to Sept. 30, 2014 and remains on the MCGA board of directors. As a famer-leader with MCGA, Buck speaks at events to connect with non-farmers, spends time in Washington D.C. and St. Paul visiting with legislators on agriculture issues and helps oversee a farmer-funded research portfolio that focuses on environmental stewardship, finding new uses for corn, biofuels and agronomy.

“It’s important that corn farmers make their voices hear on issues that are important to them,” Buck said. “MCGA helps corn farmers amplify their voices, tell their own story and creating a better future for corn farming and our rural communities.”