Waseca County Distinguished Agricultural Leadership Award
Click here for Nomination Form
CONGRATS TO…
Patrick Gregor – 2011 Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year
Ray and Lisa Winter Family – 2011 Farm Family of the Year
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.
Chamber Agri-Business Committee
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 second 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 2011 starting with the annual Farm/City Luncheon on March 24. 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 2011
Active Agri-Business Committee Members
Co-Chairs Gyles Randall & Hugh Chester-Jones, Sam Baidoo, Kim Balfe, Kim Foels, Ed Frederick, James Gibson, Justin Gode, Steven Graff, Sue & Greg Harguth, Harlan Holmquist, Doug Leet, Barb Roessler, Mark Scharf, and Vicky Singlestad
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.
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
