Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence

09/04/2026

Our agricultural roots run deep, but it is the strength of our partnerships that truly ensures the future of our industry. We know that we cannot achieve our mission alone.

To deepen these critical connections and amplify our impact, we are thrilled to welcome two new champions to the Teach Ag Minnesota team in dedicated outreach roles!

Please join us in giving a warm Minnesota State welcome to: Sarah Jacobs, Agriculture & Business Outreach Coordinator
Department of Agriculture, Culinology and Hospitality Management at Southwest Minnesota State University School of Agriculture and Erica Johnson, Director of Outreach and Engagement for the School of Applied Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources at Minnesota State University, Mankato

In their new outreach positions, Sarah and Erica will be on the ground, listening to our partners, building bridges, and driving the collaboration needed to keep Minnesota agriculture resilient and forward-looking.

Welcome to the team! We are looking forward to continuing our partnership and doing wonderful things together!

09/03/2026

We are looking forward to returning to the St Paul Area Chamber Career Connect next month, sharing space with the Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence! We attended this event last year and engagement from students was great from beginning to end. If you are looking to capture the attention of hundreds of students across the metro area to help them learn about careers, this is an event you should consider. More information available at https://www.stpaulchamber.com/careerconnect.html.

09/02/2026

The Great Minnesota Get-Together Minnesota State Fair is almost over, but there's still time to visit the Minnesota 4-HBuilding and experience our Ag Safety Exhibit!

Don't miss the opportunity to learn valuable farm safety lessons and witness Minnesota 4-Hers taking the lead on educating thousands of attendees through our interactive Ag Safety Trailer. A few minutes could make a lifetime of difference for farm families.

Watch the video, catch the “safety dance” rhythm, see the exhibit in action, and discover why ag safety matters to everyone.

Then stop by, say hello, and experience it for yourself before the fair wraps up!

Our team grew up on the farm and understands the importance of cont...

08/31/2026

Congratulations to Riverland Community College on the open house and ribbon cutting for its brand-new RiverLAND Lab! 🌻

This beautiful outdoor garden space on the Austin campus is a wonderful addition to the college and community, made possible through a partnership with the City of Austin and Mower County. It was a gorgeous day to celebrate this exciting new space, and we were glad to be part of it!

We’d also like to extend our congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Okey as he begins his retirement! 👏

08/29/2026

What started as a fun day at the Minnesota State Fair became a powerful reminder of the incredible people and partnerships that make agriculture so special. Grateful to connect with organizations and leaders like Minnesota STEM Ecosystem, Southeast Service Cooperative, Minnesota 4-H CFANS, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Minnesota State Minnesota FFA Association, Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence, UMN Extension 4-H Plant Sciences, Minnesota 4-H State Ambassadors, Alumni, & Friends, Kristin Campbell Harnerand many others.

Agriculture's greatest strength is its people!

08/27/2026

Picture a late-summer morning with early elementary students learning about where their food comes from. 🌱🍅

That’s exactly what we got to experience this week! The kids picked beans, tomatoes and even grapes from the garden at the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota and then ate what they picked. Talk about farm-to-table learning!

To add to the experience and food variety, fresh produce and herbs were purchased from local producers at the North Mankato Farmers' Market and Mankato Farmers' Market.

Then, Maisie with the Living Earth Center and Morrigan and Bruce, two interns through the MSU Mankato Dietetics and Nutrition / Family Consumer Science at MSU - Mankato program, turned the fresh ingredients into a delicious green garden dip. The kids helped cut up the produce, learned about the nutrition of the foods they were eating, and most importantly, got to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of their work. 🥕🍇

Through the Seed to Sauce program led by the Living Earth Center, it was a great way to connect kids with local food, agriculture and healthy eating all in one hands-on fun experience! Thanks to all of these groups for the collaboration! 💚

08/26/2026

Congratulations to the Riverland Community College team on the opening of its RiverLAND Lab! This will be a great community asset and a hands-on learning environment. We look forward to joining them for this celebration tomorrow afternoon!

08/25/2026

If July 2026 had a theme, it would be connection! Our team spent the month dividing and conquering to cover as many miles as we could. We were busy building skills, creating partnerships, sharing resources, and taking in all of the opportunities we could to spread the word of agriculture. Take a look at the July 2026 Update to see the impact of a busy month on the road!

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 ...

08/24/2026

We're looking forward to returning to Caledonia for its CTE Exploration Day in less than a month! We had so much fun being part of the event last year and were lucky enough to have a gorgeous day, too! ☀️ We’re excited to once again join the businesses, colleges and universities that come together to show students the many opportunities available right here in our region.

CTE Exploration Day is coming September 17. Students will have the opportunity to explore career and technical education pathways.

https://www.bluffcountrycollaborative.org/calendar/cte-exploration-day

08/19/2026

💚 Our Ag Safety Trailer has a new (temporary) home. We're happy to again be teaming up with Minnesota 4-H / UMN Extension 4-H Plant Sciences during the Minnesota State Fair, this time with our Ag Safety Trailer 💚!

If you’re at the fair, be sure to visit the 4-H Building! You’ll find our trailer in the large open area just inside the main entrance, with exhibits available to explore and learn from. The Minnesota 4-H Agriculture Ambassadors have been volunteering with us at numerous events and will take control over the trailer during the fair.

Our team grew up on the farm and understands the importance of continued education on farm and ag safety and this gigantic opportunity will reach thousands of people throughout our state. We are grateful for our relationship with both students and adult leaders within Minnesota 4-H!