JULY 2026 – EVERYWHERE WE NEEDED TO BE!
July kept our team moving at full speed. Between industry events, professional development opportunities, and outreach with students, educators, and partners, we embraced a true “divide-and-conquer” approach to maximize our reach. At times, we felt like ships passing in the night, covering different events and audiences to ensure as many connections as possible. The pace was relentless, but the impact was worth it. Every conversation, presentation, and partnership helped strengthen pathways, expand opportunities, and reinforce the value of showing up where our audiences need us most.
MAAE Summer Conference
Our team was all hands on deck, dividing and conquering to support as many sessions and connections as possible. From secondary and post-secondary education to Farm Business Management (FBM), the Professional Excellence Program (PEP), and educational workshops, the week reinforced the power of collaboration in growing the future of agriculture.
A highlight was partnering with AgCentric to welcome first and second year agriculture teachers during the Teacher Induction Program (T.I.P.), introducing them to the resources and support available through Minnesota State’s Agricultural Centers of Excellence.
See for Yourself. We love what we do!
“We Are Family. We’ve Got All Our Sisters (and brothers) and Me.”
Thank you to MAAE and all of the educators, presenters, and partners who made this an impactful week. Investing in educators today creates stronger classrooms, stronger communities, and the next generation of agricultural leaders!
Ready to Grow. Ready to Challenge Themselves. Ready to Explore!
2026 YMCA Pathfinders Camp
From industry tours to hands-on learning, every day was a new adventure at YMCA Cultivating Curiosity Camp along with the Mankato Family YMCA Youth!
Thanks to our partnership with Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Science, Engineering, and Technology, students explored the many ways AFNR shapes our communities and future careers.
The excitement on their faces says more than words ever could!
Field Days at the Rosemount Research Center
Courtney attended the second annual 4-H field day at the Rosemount Research and Outreach Center that took place on July 23, 2026. Partnering with the University of Minnesota Extension, the facility hosted local 4-H youth for hands-on agricultural learning, crop science exploration, and farm skill-building.
Bringing the Ag Safety Trailer to this event was a hit and it was well attended!
Tina LeBrun featured on The Al Travis Show
Your Friend Who Knows A Guy
It’s The Al Travis Show. Just a radio show with a guy who has talked with Minnesota law makers for over 30 years. I have talked with Governors, U.S. Senators and Congressmen, State and Local legislators as well. I consider myself a regular guy who knows a lot of people in the news. I pride myself on getting people on from all sides and having frank, fun respectful conversations. Getting to know all the guests as full people and not just how they identify politically.
AgViews Live With Dr. David Kohl
We were lucky enough to attend, during the 12th annual Bell Bank AgViews Live seminar stop in Mankato, Minnesota, where agricultural economist Dr. David M. Kohl received the Distinguished Service Award and was named a Friend of the National Farm & Ranch Business Management Education Association (NFRBMEA). Dr. Kohl consistently highlights Minnesota Farm Business Management on a national scale has been incredibly positive for this program.
Family Night on a Farm
Thank you to the Hoffman family for opening your farm to the community for Family Night on a Farm! We also extend our appreciation to the New Ulm Farm City Hub Club for organizing an outstanding event that gave hundreds of families the opportunity to experience and learn about agriculture firsthand.
As you can see from the photos, the kids had a great time exploring all the activities! A special thank you to Minnesota 4-H / UMN Extension 4-H Plant Sciences for volunteering at our Ag Safety Trailer with us.
Farmamerica Garden Explorers
Thanks Farmamerica – The Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center for the opportunity to be at your Garden Explorers Day! It was the PERFECT atmosphere to visit with a very enthusiastic group of young learners. A special shout out to the U of M Extension Steele County 4-H Cloverbuds. They were so much fun and couldn’t get enough of our combine simulator!
Minnesota Ag in the Classroom's "Growing Minds" Conference
The first-ever Growing Minds Conference took place on July 27–28, 2026, at St. Paul College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Hosted jointly by Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom and Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom, the two-day professional development event offered K-12 educators immersive agricultural field trips, interactive breakout sessions, and professional development opportunities.
GreenSeam Celebration of Ag
We celebrated the strength, innovation, and community behind agriculture in the GreenSeam region. Held at ISG Field in Mankato, Minnesota, the annual Celebration of Ag, brings together business leaders, ag professionals, and community members to learn about the accomplishments of our organization from the past year and to celebrate the impact of agriculture in our region. The event featured a keynote and storytelling presentation from representatives from VERDÁNT Organics (an indoor precision farming company)From networking opportunities to enjoying the Mankato MoonDogs game, this is an event you can’t miss.
Passport to Agriculture transforms the Rice County Fairgrounds into a series of fun, interactive “destinations” where attendees can learn about local agriculture, meet real farmers, and get hands-on with farming activities. Visitors received a passport to collect stamps at each stop, unlocking exciting ag experiences like bottle-feeding a calf, driving a combine simulator, and taking a ride in a real tractor.
2026 Ag PhD Field Day in Baltic, SD
Our team traveled to the Ag PhD Field Day in Baltic, South Dakota, where we joined thousands of agricultural professionals, educators, and industry leaders at agriculture’s largest one-day event.
These conversations help us advance our mission of connecting learners, educators, and employers while building stronger pathways into Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources careers.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to connect with us. We are excited about what lies ahead.
