The above video highlights our Advisory Board meeting in May 2026.  As part of our meeting, we toured POET in Lake Crystal.  Our Advisory Board is made up of many individuals representing the full spectrum of the agricultural industry. They play a key role in the direction of the Center, program development, workforce training, and continued education.  Members of the Board represent the 8 career pathways represented in the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources industry.  Here is our Board Charter.

Advisory Board:

• Travis Stewart, Senior Vice President, Aon (Agribusiness Pathway), Chair
• John Hromyak, Sr. Corporate Giving Relationship Specialist, Compeer Financial (Agribusiness Pathway)
• Jill Sacket Eberhart, Board Conservationist, MN Board of Water and Soil Services (Natural Resources Pathway)
• Steve Olson, Principal, Steve Olson Consulting, LLC (Agribusiness Pathway)
• Bruce Drager, Technology, Bayer Crop Science (Biotechnology Pathway)
• Ben Anderson, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Ralco (Biotechnology and Animal Pathways)
• Derek Schultz, General Manager, POET Bioprocessing (Biotechnology Pathway)
• Ryan Erickson, Senior Manager, AGCO Corporation (Power, Structural and Technical Systems Pathway)
• Molly Byron, Farmer (Agribusiness Pathway)
• Heather Gleason, Executive Director, South Central Workforce Council (Agribusiness Pathway)

Ex-Officio Members:

• Patrice Bailey, Assistant Commissioner, MN Dept of Agriculture
• Sarah Dornink, Executive Director, Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council
• Jake Rinehart, Economic & Workforce Program Specialist, GreenSeam
• Val Aarsvold, Executive Director, MN FFA Foundation
• Kelly Schmidt, CEO, MN Beef
• Meghan Ward, Licensed Counselor, Madelia Public Schools
• Brian McNeill, Extension Professor – 4-H STEM & Agri Science Director, University of MN Extension
• Jessica Beyer, Deputy Director, Region Nine Development Commission