For Seminar 3, MARL class 13 gathered Jan. 22-24, 2025 in Mankato in conjunction with the Minnesota Ag Expo. We enjoyed seeing one another again in the New Year and exchanged personal and professional updates.
We gathered as MARL Class 13 to start off seminar 3 by listening to two CHS corn and soybean trade managers at the MN Ag Expo. They discussed the current market conditions, exports, production history, and gave their outlook on the domestic and global corn and soy production and trade. The MARL class then had an opportunity to network with vendors at the Expo before heading to our first speaker, Julie Tesch, Executive Director of the MN Center for Rural Policy and Development.
Where can a policy maker or local leader go for unbiased research about the challenges facing rural Minnesota? The Center for Rural Policy and Development, run by Executive Director Julie Tesch, generates, aggregates and disseminates the data that decision makers need to promote rural economic vitality. Julie’s presentation gave us an overview of demographic and economic trends in Greater Minnesota. We learned that this decade has been good for rural areas so far. Despite increasingly having more deaths than births, rural areas have been able to stave off population declines with more in-migration so far this decade, most notably from folks aged 30-49 years old. Rural economies are vibrant. Despite lower earnings, rural areas are outpacing urban counties in earnings growth.
A MARL graduate, Sam Ziegler of GreenSeam shared with our class how MARL impacted his career decisions and current life path. He shared the vision of GreenSeam is for southern Minnesota and northern Iowa to be known as the “Silicon Valley” or “Wall Street” of the midwest. Darin Johnson talked about his journey from a young, 4th generation farmer, to the President of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and how mentors helped form and shape who he is today.
After the Wednesday lectures, we hit the tradeshow floor to test out our networking skills with ag related vendors. We were tasked with meeting with and visiting an exhibitor that we were unfamiliar with, engaging in networking. Susan Schatz, Le Center, MARL Class #13
The class had a great opportunity to speak with members of Minnesota Corn Growers (MCGA) and MN Soybean Growers (MSGA) Associations, long-standing premier sponsors of the MARL program. MARL and MCGA & MSGA members from across the state had conversations ranging from current topics in ag policy, to innovation on the farm and industry, to member engagement. We then took part in a spirited live auction. *We thank the Research & Promotions Councils of MCGA & MSGA for their support of the MARL program and interest in forming great leaders across our state. Partners ‘investing in people.” Emily Alm, DeGraff, MARL Class #13
MARL Class 13 attended the Ag Expo dinner Wednesday night and listened to engaging speakers Emily and Rob Sharky, the “Shark Farmer”. They told about how they started farming by raising hogs in 1998, which turned out to be one of the worst years ever for hog farmers. They accumulated an almost insurmountable amount of debt in one year, which took them seven years to pay off. In order to achieve that, Rob started an outfitter business on his land for deer hunters. This was a novel idea, and he explained a particular moment when he would have changed his mind about pursuing it if someone close to him would have laughed at his plan.
Sharky told how he found out about podcasting and started his “Shark Farmer” podcast. He shared about his experience as he quickly gained a following and expanded into a TV show.
Rob and Emily used a portion of their time to talk to the MN Ag Expo audience about farm transition. They illustrated how an appropriate conversation should go between parents and children and shared some of the important values and fears that each generation usually has about transitioning the farm. After the dinner presentation, the Sharky’s took some time for individual conversation with members of MARL Class 13, which we appreciated. Dustin Johnson, Montevideo, MARL Class #13
Gathering at the Loose Moose for an After Hours Social sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association gave Class 13 an opportunity to practice the communication and networking skills we learned during previous seminars. The social also gave class members a chance to network with leaders from organizations across Minnesota Agriculture.
Thursday, January 23 – “Leading with your Strengths” at the MN Ag Expo:
The moment we were all waiting for, the group results and subsequent discussion of our CliftonStrengths assessment. Isabel and Abbey led us on a three hour tour of how to capitalize on our strengths, survival gear included.
Discussions, reflections, comparisons, surrounding oneself with people who have strengths in needed areas can impact positive team performance.
Isabel Huot-Link & Abbey Guggisberg – UMN Extension Leadership & Civic Engagement Educators provided a class strengths grid, resources, domain groups and an engaging survival activity where some could have been left cold and hungry on the island – however, working together all survived!
Greg Peterson, better known as “Machinery Pete”, was the lunch speaker at MN Ag Expo on Thursday. He has been compiling auction prices of farm machinery for over 35 years, and compared himself to the farmer who created the worlds largest ball of twine; (The one over in Darwin, MN) “when you start doing something, you don’t expect it to be anything out of the ordinary, but if you keep at the same ordinary task for a long time, eventually you end up with something huge.” In this case much machinery data and decision making details.
Machinery Pete talked about some changes in trends of auctions. For example, in March of 2020 due to the COVD19 pandemic, all auctions went online, and have mostly stayed that way. He immediately noticed an uptick in prices when buyers could click a button anonymously. Over the years, dealers have adjusted their approach to selling machinery, now being much quicker to liquidate inventory on auctions instead of holding it.
Pete suggested 2025 likely will be a good market for buying machinery. He explained how his experience has shown him that auction prices are higher when the buyer feels some kind of personal connection to the seller, which can be created through simply recording a short video of the seller talking about his equipment. Summary by Dustin Johnson, Montevideo, MARL Class #13
Like this snowmobile found idling at the Children’s Museum of Southern MN – We are guessing Cameron would value that sled for their young children and be willing to pay the price!
Or the … Fendt Tractor displayed by AGCO, also located at the CMSM – thinking Alexandra is connecting to her younger years on the family farm when she was tilling ground near Lakefield. Personal connections – value that!
Farmamerica was our Thursday afternoon destination, Janesville/Waseca vicinity. Minnesota’s best agricultural interpretive center formed with the mission: To connect Minnesotans to the evolving story of agriculture through hands-on educational experiences, partnerships, and community engagement. A visit with Jessica Rollins, Ex. Director of the site, shared an overview and future plans for the site, also revealed some of the challenges and needs for sustainability on this special location in our state. Kari Wadd, Program Coordinator shared an insightful tour of the outdoor spaces and attractions on the grounds while giving us a glimpse into past agricultural practices and life styles with a simultaneous view of the current and future of agriculture. Morgan Mudgett, Communications & Engagement Coordinator hosted MARL class members on a educational ag scavenger hunt in the new welcome space which did include some visitation with the two Minnesota Turkeys “Blossom & Peach” who did meet and were pardoned last Thanksgiving by President Joe Biden, the famous pair will be residing at Farmamerica the rest of their lives.
milking it for all it is worth, Michelle O’connor – winning extra points at Farmamerica! MARL Class #4 alumni and Farmamerica board member Jim Checkel of Kasson, was on hand and shared greetings and advice with the class.
Friday, January 24 – Leading with your Strengths…
“Oh to be a child again!” Louise Dickmeyer, Visionary and Integrator leading the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) has been a long-time leader serving throughout the state of Minnesota and is currently serving as the CEO at CMSM. There is a vision of a 3.5 acre outdoor playscape to be added to the museum in the near future. The museum served over 100,000 children of all ages last year and look forward to allowing more children to run, jump and play. Sharyce Baartman, Ruthton, MARL Class #13
MARL Classmates toured and played – what a marvelous place for us to be children and play, be risky and dream.
Class members had to depart the play place and relocate to eastern Mankato for a tour of the Walmart Distribution Center.
Company protocol did not allow for capture of images in the distribution center, a good thing for us, as a “swivel head” was encouraged while were led by six Walmart managers on personalize viewing of the produce, grocery, meat, dairy items, basically it was summed up by the assistant site manager – “I buy all my grocery items and more at either Walmart or Sam’s Club, because if we don’t have it; You don’t need it.” Apparently, others are practicing the same buying protocols, the facility is maxed out on capacity and will be more than doubling its distribution center role in the next few years. Currently, every 2 minutes a semi truck loaded is entering the MN state highway system from the Mankato DC #7079. Following the addition which ground was being moved at the time of our visit and a fully automated facility will be integrated for the future. The result, trucks will be leaving Walmart Distribution Center every 30 seconds!
“It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the wind.” A motto used by Minnesotans in the depths of a polar vortex to keep at bay the question “Why do I live here?”. We got to run a test of the infamous motto while touring the Walmart Distribution Center in Mankato. Though not balmy, the -20ºF ice cream freezer was not so bad without the wind! While it was fun seeing forklifts buzzing around as associates assemble pallets of frozen and refrigerated foods heading out to stores in a five-state area, the real excitement came as we learned about the expansion underway that will add 600,000 square feet to the facility and bring new jobs to the local economy. Reflections by Carson Ouellette, Moorhead, MARL Class #13
Class 13 each shared a word to describe seminar 3 as a recap. Some words shared were “Growth”, “Influence”, “Strengths”, and “Teams”, “Excellence”, “Talent”. Brad Schloesser covered some take home notes to prepare for seminar 4 next month and we departed ways. Rich with stronger relationships, open to fresh ideas and experiences, stronger in our leadership. Using a small sheep bell to signify the movement from one location to the next. Each class member rang the bell and passed it on to their fellow class member after sharing their one word representation of the seminar. Until the next ringing session – all are leading with their strengths.
The sound of leadership rings on!
Mankato Seminar – Leading with your Strengths – In collaboration with the 2025 MN Ag Expo.
Thank you to Class #13 members contributing to this blog post. Sue Schatz, Emily Alm, Sharyce Baartman, Dustin Johnson, & Carson Ouellette