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Event Sponsors
Date and Time
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
Location
TBD
Fees/Admission
$18 for Chamber Members
$23 for Non-Chamber Members
*Lunch is included!
Contact Information
Mavi Valentin
Send Email
Description
2025 State of the Agriculture
Tuesday, July 22
11:45AM - 1:00PM
Please join us for the 2025 State of the Agriculture as we host a very interactive panel between panelists and attendees.
Register online today - lunch is included with your registration fee!
Meet your Panelists!
Julie Tesch
Center for Rural Policy and Development
After 25-years of living in urban areas, Julie decided it was time to return to her roots in rural Minnesota. Julie became the President & CEO in 2018 after working in Washington, DC as the executive director of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. She has been involved in non-profit management and supporting the rural lifestyle her entire career through her work with the National FFA Alumni Association and the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC). She is a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where she received her bachelor’s degree in applied economics and her Master’s of Education in agricultural education.At the Center, Julie is the chief relationship builder, manages a board of 19-members, oversees the overall management of the center, and is the pied piper of living in rural Minnesota.
Outside of work she enjoys volunteering for 4-H & FFA activities, discovering her family history through genealogy, traveling the world and discovering craft breweries and wineries across Minnesota.
Sam Ziegler
GreenSeam
Sam Ziegler has a passion for all things related to agriculture. Being a part of providing food, feed, fuel and fiber to families in our area to families abroad is such an amazing profession to be a part of. In this position, Ziegler works with key ag stakeholders building coalitions along with developing and executing key strategic initiatives that are essential components to realize the aspirations of GreenSeam. Sam spent nearly ten years with the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and is a fourth generation partner and operator of Ziegler Farms, located near Good Thunder. Sam enjoys being a father and husband, and for fun he likes playing baseball, hanging at the lake or hunting.
Meet your Facilitator!
Carolyn Olson
Olson Organics of Cottonwood
Carolyn grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis and joined her husband on the farm in 1988. Once there, she quickly learned the ropes; preferring spring and fall tillage as well as running the combine.
As an organic crop farmer from southwestern Minnesota, Carolyn has served in many policy development and leadership roles both on a local, state, and national level. Carolyn has a passion for bringing together all types of farmers to secure a better future for all of agriculture. Carolyn also makes a delicious cinnamon roll - ask her for her recipe!
We hope to see you there!
