Chamber Agri-Business Committee

Chamber Agri-Business Committee Assisted with the annual Taste of the Farm Event which was on June 15 at the Tom and Julie Sommers farm.

The Waseca Chamber Agri-Business Committee consists of area lenders, farmers, ag advisors, University scientists, and other agricultural leaders. Their primary mission is to enhance communication on and facilitate awareness of agricultural issues between rural and urban folks in the Waseca area. Products of this mission are the: Farm-City Luncheon held each March, selection and recognition of the Outstanding Young Farm
Family announced at the Farm-City Luncheon, participation in the Taste of the Farm event held on a local farm each June, and monthly announcements of agricultural events being held in the area. The Committee meets over breakfast at 7 AM on the third Friday of each month from May-September. From time to time, ag industry leaders update the Committee on issues occurring in their industry and how they may affect local agriculture. Anyone interested in these Ag-focused meetings is encouraged to join us. Simply call the Chamber office at 835-3260.

     The Waseca Chamber Agri-Business Committee enjoyed a very productive 2009 starting with the annual Farm/City Luncheon on March 12. Robin Kinney, Deputy Administrator for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, was the featured speaker. Chad Buendorf of rural New Richland was chosen as the Waseca Area Outstanding Young Farmer. Receiving the Waseca County Extension Farm Family of the Year award was the Greg and Sue Harguth family. Each of the award recipients spoke briefly about their farming operations. The “Taste of the Farm” event was hosted by the Greg and Sue Harguth family on June 11. The beautiful evening enabled a blend of about 700 people from the farm and city community to enjoy food and friendship while learning more about agriculture. Generous support for this activity was provided by numerous commodity groups, regional agri-business industries, and local Waseca businesses.

 

     Monthly meetings of the Agri-Business Committee are held the third Friday of each month at 7 a.m. from September through May. In addition to receiving updates from the members and planning the above events, we frequently invite an outside speaker to apprise us of their agricultural business and how it serves the Waseca area.

 

Gyles Randall and Hugh Chester-Jones, Co-Chairs 2010

Congratulations to -

Dan Kuhns and wife Nicole, Outstanding Young Farmer

Leon & Beth Schoenrock family, Farm Family of the Year

Caroline Scheffert, Farm Bureau Ag Video Award Winner

    *Curt & Gladys Carlson of Waseca. Area 6 Outstanding Conservationalist

     * Vicky Singlestad of Waseca- Minnesota Pork Council Promoter of the Year!

     * Waseca County Farm Bureau President, Kathy Guse receiving an award from MN Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap. Awards received include: Presidents Award for Exemplary Achievement, Presidents Club Recognition - Membership Growth, Awards of Excellence for public policy, public relations, promotion & education, leadership development, and member benefits.

 

Waseca FFA Alumni Association
Agriculture is recognized as making a difference in Waseca, Minnesota and broader America.
Currently there are seven (soon to be eight) career pathways recognized by the U.S. Department of Education that are the bases for defining agricultural education programming and curriculum in schools. In the Waseca school district, approximately 20% of the high school student body is participating in Agricultural Classes. As these students graduate, they are prepared to enter fields such as grain and livestock farming, agricultural lending, agronomy, agricultural sales, veterinary medicie, animal husbandry, and forestry, just to name a few.

Thank you very much for your support of the Waseca School District Agricultural Education program and your agricultural community in Waseca County.

For more information on the Waseca Schools Agricultural Education program please contact Bonita Sommers at somrtime@wildblue.net.

 

Taste of the Farm 2010- Date & Location TBA

Agricultural Heritage

 

Agricultural roots run deep for 848 farm families who call Waseca County home.  The area boasts a wide diversity in the types of farms, and the fruits of their labors.  These dairy producers, hog farmers, corn and soybean growers and tillers of the soil are leaders in productivity and environmental stewardship.

     In Waseca’s backyard we find a leading agricultural research institution, as well as the state’s agricultural interpretive center.  In addition, the area boasts a diversity of agricultural industries who manufacture grain dryers, farm machinery, and parts for other manufacturers.  There is also a major supplier of wholesale horticultural plants, one of the country’s top frozen vegetable producers, and a manufacturer of specialty dairy food ingredients.  One of the largest Ethanol plants in the United States is just down the road in Janesville. 

 

     The University of Minnesota’s Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) is an integral part of the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.  In a broad sense, the SROC is working on improving both the natural and economic environment in rural Minnesota.  Research at the SROC is conducted in the following areas:  agronomy, soil science, horticulture, entomology, plant pathology, agricultural drainage, climatology, swine production, and raising replacement heifers for dairy farms.  Some of the cutting edge projects that are currently underway include: human disease prevention and therapy through nutricuticals, the production of woody plants for use as renewable energy, using animals as delivery mechanisms for phytonutrients to humans, and minimizing environmental issues through better use of tillage, drainage, and fertilizer.

     The main office building at the SROC is nestled in a stand of centuries old bur oaks, typical of the area prior to European settlement.  The Hodgson Memorial

Arboretum on the Northeast corner of the Center contains over 40 tree species,

many of which are very rare for Southern Minnesota.

     The SROC is a research and outreach station with a world class reputation,

and entertains visitors from all over the globe. 

To learn more log on to sroc.cfans.umn.edu

 

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