Steve Sodeman recognized for involvement with Fishers & Farmers
This summer, Minnesota Corn is recognizing a former farmer-leader for his involvement with a nongovernmental organization that works to improve river and stream fish habitat in the five-state Upper Mississippi River Basin.
Steve Sodeman, a Minnesota Corn Growers Association board member from 2004-13, participated in Fishers & Farmers Partnership on behalf of Minnesota Corn for 15 years. Comprised of state and federal agencies and agricultural, conservation, and tribal organizations, Fishers & Farmers funds locally led conservation projects in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. It also holds workshops that connect farmers, landowners, watershed groups, and conservationists with the goal of finding solutions to water issues. Additionally, it supports local field days, outreach, and demonstration projects that aim to help farmers adopt BMPs.
Given the predominance of agriculture in the basin—approximately 60% of basin land is cropland and pasture—Fishers & Farmers aims to foster collaboration between farmers, landowners, and conservationists. To support that collaborative spirit, Fishers & Farmers includes both agricultural and conservation interests on its steering committee.
Sodeman said he provided steering committee members without an agricultural background insight on what it’s like to farm in Minnesota. He said it was a great opportunity to visit with people who didn’t have a farm background and teach them about agriculture. “It was a really good connection,” he said.
‘It fit real well’
Sodeman became involved with Fishers & Farmers through Jack Lauer, a retired Minnesota Department of Natural Resources regional fisheries manager who also served on the steering committee.
In 2010, both Sodeman and Lauer attended a water summit in Bloomington. According to Lauer, Sodeman was sitting up near the front asking tough but thoughtful questions of the presenters. He introduced himself to Sodeman during a break and asked him if he’d be interested in applying for the steering committee.
For Sodeman, who spent decades as an independent crop consultant and was a member of Minnesota Corn’s Production Stewardship Action Team, applying was of interest. “It fit real well,” he said.
Over the years, Sodeman participated in Fishers & Farmers’ annual RFP process and attended field days and local workshops. He also reported back to Minnesota Corn farmer-leaders about the organization’s activities—even after he had termed off the MCGA board.
Fishers & Farmers Program Coordinator Heidi Keuler said Sodeman taught the biologists on the steering committee about farm economics and that he emphasized how each individual farming operation is different. She added that Sodeman also had a keen focus on how proposed projects would affect local fisheries.
“There’s going to be a hole on our steering committee without him,” she said.
Lauer said Sodeman was usually one of the first people to ask a question of the project presenters and that he would zero in how proposals would affect fish. He added that Sodeman would ask tough questions and provided the committee members with the business reality of farming.
Fishers & Farmers is one of 20 regional fish habitat partnerships under the umbrella of the National Fish Habitat Partnership, a program supported by federal agencies and national organizations, with funding administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Learn more about Fishers & Farmers on its website, fishersandfarmers.org.
