New ag exhibit coming to Children’s Museum in September

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MANKATO — A new Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota exhibit opening in September will highlight modern agricultural practices in the region.

The museum announced the Taylor Farm exhibit Wednesday, which is funded by the Glen A. Taylor Foundation.

The exhibit will feature a tractor, corn field, barn and pig sections. Children can go on virtual adventures through farm fields on the tractor.

It will open to the public Sept. 21, with the museum to be closed between Sept. 11-14 for installation.

The partnership between the foundation and museum is about “fostering innovative learning experiences,” stated Taylor Corporation Chairman and founder Glen Taylor in a news release.

“This exhibit represents a captivating blend of modern agriculture, interactive exploration, and cultural heritage,” he said. “By enabling children to engage with the essence of agricultural practices, we hope to inspire a profound appreciation for our region’s farming legacy and the vital role it plays. Together, with the museum, we are excited to contribute to the growth and enrichment of our community’s educational landscape.”

The museum is thrilled to partner with the foundation to bring the exhibit to life, said Louise Dickmeyer, the museum CEO, in the release.

“Our aim is to provide children with a deeper understanding of the rich agricultural heritage of southern Minnesota,” she stated. “With its interactive elements and engaging design, the exhibit will inspire curiosity, spark imaginations and create lasting memories for our visitors.”

GreenSeam Director Sam Ziegler helped the collaboration happen and described the exhibit as a testament to the power of collaborative conversations and shared visions.

“Our discussions have come to fruition through this exhibit opening,” he stated. “This exhibit eloquently symbolizes our steadfast commitment to propelling the agricultural narrative forward within our region. We are proud to contribute to such an exhibit that represents the multifaceted GreenSeam region that boasts pork production and advanced tractor manufacturing.”

Click here to read the full article on The Free Press.

GreenSeam helping ag businesses attract non-U.S. citizen workers

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The Free Press

MANKATO — GreenSeam has launched a program aimed at connecting small food and agricultural business in the region to technical services for attracting non-U.S. citizens as job candidates.

Through its Global Workforce Program, GreenSeam is offering up to $3,000 for the cost of legal fees and human resources consulting fees for qualifying businesses seeking international talent.

If a business has 500 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, any affiliation with Region Nine counties (Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Sibley, Waseca and Watonwan) and any connection to food or agriculture, they may qualify for support.

 

Financial support includes two fully paid 45-minute sessions with GreenSeam’s human resources expert and immigration attorney partners, valued at $1,000. For any additional sessions, GreenSeam will cover 25% of fees incurred, up to $2,000.

GreenSeam’s 2023 State of Ag Survey identified a shortage of talent as the primary inhibitor of business growth in food and ag industries, and this program was developed in response.

Applications will be accepted through September on a first come, first served basis.

Apply at: greenseam.org/mbffa-global-workforce-program.

Click here to view The Free Press article.

Pork Power 5K Presented by MN Pork Board

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For those looking for fun, all we have to say is BACON! Whether you are looking for a PR, or bacon stops, you’ll be hooked. Each finisher receives a medal and post race goodies (including Pork Producer products!). This one-of-a-kind race is complete with a bacon station, pork treats and pig medals. It’s a fun Friday event that you and your friends will love.

Pork Power 5k Info and Sign-up

Cybersecurity with Eide Bailly

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October is cybersecurity month, and we’re getting a jump start on it this year! Here are some tools, resources, and free webinars that we wanted to share with you and the GreenSeam members.

EideBailly Full Article

Global Workforce Opportunities | International Students & Graduates

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On October 6th, 30 attendees from across the region gathered to learn how to navigate the legal process, how to attract, hire, and support international students and graduates.
 
Kim Phillips, Senior HR Manager at AGCO Corp in Jackson (GreenSeam Investor) shared information about her experience, recommendations to others, and the overwhelming return on investment they have found by hiring international student and graduate professionals. 

Video Recap

Summer Sales of Unleaded 88 are Strong

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Reported monthly sales of Unleaded 88 in Minnesota reached new heights this summer and early fall, state data show.

According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, reported sales of Unleaded 88 were over 9.2 million gallons in July. Reported sales were over 9.5 million gallons in August and over 9.3 million gallons in September.

Before July, reported Unleaded 88 sales in Minnesota had never reached 9 million gallons. In May, reported sales were over 8.7 million gallons, and in June, they were over 8.9 million gallons. Those were the first months in which Minnesota passed the 8 million gallon threshold.

In total, reported Unleaded 88 sales in Minnesota for the first nine months of 2022 were 76.3 million gallons. For comparison, Minnesota’s total reported Unleaded 88 sales in 2021 were 87.1 million gallons. That was a state record for annual Unleaded 88 sales.

About Unleaded 88

Unleaded 88, also known as E15, is a blend of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the fuel for use in all model year 2001 and newer vehicles.

Compared to regular unleaded gasoline, Unleaded 88 reduces greenhouse gas emissions. It also costs less than regular unleaded; it’s typically 5 cents to 40 cents per gallon less, on average.

Through farmers’ investment in the Minnesota corn check-off, Minnesota Corn has helped dozens of fueling stations upgrade to equipment compatible with Unleaded 88 and higher biofuel blends. In 2021, for example, Minnesota Corn pledged $1 million to a state biofuel infrastructure grant program. The state legislature allocated $6 million to the program during the 2021 legislative session.

On Oct. 1, 2022, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced that 44 fueling stations are receiving funding through the program.

In addition, Minnesota Corn has continued promoting Unleaded 88 to consumers across the state through the Better Fuel Initiative. For the past two years, the campaign has featured KFAN “Power Trip” morning show co-host and producer Chris Hawkey.

Hawkey has appeared on Better Fuel billboards and in TV and radio ads that have played statewide.

Unleaded 88 is available at over 400 Minnesota fueling stations. To find a station with Unleaded 88 near you, visit betterfuel.org.

Full Article

Opportunity: St Olaf Consulting Group

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This student-led organization partners with organizations to provide data-driven insights while their analysts benefit from professional development and academic credit. The typical project length is eight weeks with each team committing over 300 hours. Projects begin with conversations between the client and an engagement manager to determine the scope, deliverables, and timeline of the project.

St. Olaf Consulting Group Prospectus

About

The St. Olaf Consulting Group is comprised of motivated undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing careers in management consulting. Our goal is to provide a tangible impact for our clients, while simultaneously enabling our analysts to gain real-world consulting experience. Each consulting team consists of 4-6 analysts and an engagement manager, with support from a faculty mentor (MBA) from St. Olaf’s Piper Center for Vocation and Career. Analysts are selected from the college’s brightest and most dedicated students through a competitive application and interview process to ensure our work is to the highest standards. Our analysts have a wide range of backgrounds and majors ranging from the social sciences to STEM. Analysts are also given training and development opportunities to ensure they possess the necessary technical skills for each specific project. Engagement managers are selected from the most successful analysts and possess significant outside business and leadership experience. Our alumni have gone on to careers at leading consulting firms including Deloitte, Boston Consulting Group, and McKinsey & Company.

Engagements

The St. Olaf Consulting Group provides our clients with data-driven insights while our analysts benefit from professional development and academic credit. The typical project length is eight weeks with each team committing over 300 hours. Projects begin with conversations between the client and an engagement manager to determine the scope, deliverables, and timeline of the project. Typical deliverables include excel models, competitive benchmarking, strategy planning, and a slide deck synthesizing overall recommendations to be presented to the client. During the project, the client meets at least twice with the team to introduce the project and receive final recommendations at its conclusion. Throughout the project, engagement managers serve as a liaison between the client and the team to gather available data and clarify project details.

Previous Engagements

• Developed a tailored product launch strategy for a low-vision stationary company, covering pricing, distribution, and marketing.
• Performed financial modeling and projected costs for a startup company in the aquaculture industry, positioning it to attract investors.
• Identified strategies to optimize staffing levels for a top technology company.
• Analyzed discounting the prices of consulting services for a major technology company and designed a hybrid discount and value-based pricing model.

Contact

If your business is interested in working with the St. Olaf Consulting Group, please contact the group’s presidents Noah Mock (mock1@stolaf.edu) and Ben Steil (steil1@stolaf.edu). 

St. Olaf Consulting Group Prospectus

GreenSeam Testimonies at the Capitol

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Wednesday, President and Director of GreenSeam, Sam Ziegler was at the State Capitol testifying on behalf of GreenSeam. He was joined by Senator Frentz, Troy Schmidke founder of Earth Scout, Ethan Dado, the first ag teach at Mankato Area Public Schools, and FFA Chapter President and student Brynn Bohlke. This team turned heads with their powerful testimonies. Thank you legislators for your continued financial support, staff, and everyone involved!

Hear the Testimonies

Congratulations to Dr. Seung Bach; Appointed the next Dean of Minnesota State University, Mankato – College of Business

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Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State University, Mankato Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs David Hood announced that Seung Bach (pictured) has been named dean of the University’s College of Business, effective July 1, after a national search.

Bach is currently the interim dean of the School of Business and Public Administration at California State University, Bakersfield, a position he has held since September 2022. He served as the school’s associate dean from July 2019 until his current appointment. He has served as executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at CSU Bakersfield since January 2022 and as a professor of entrepreneurship and strategic management since July 2019.

“Dr. Bach brings a commitment to student success and equitable outcomes for all, and a strong foundation in teaching and learning, academic leadership and community engagement,” said Hood. “His broad base of experience in administrative roles, and faculty appointments ranging from private institutions in Ohio to leadership roles at large state universities, has provided him with knowledge of the many challenges and opportunities influencing higher education today.”

Under Bach’s leadership, the CSUB School of Business and Public Administration has streamlined and broadened its academic portfolio. Bach was instrumental in developing the university’s master of science degree in accountancy and restructuring its first-year seminar for business students.

Bach played the lead role in establishing two new centers and fellowship grant programs at CSU Bakersfield, raising approximately $7 million in endowments for the School of Business and Public Administration.

According to Hood, Bach also transformed the CSUB School of Business and Public Administration culture to embrace a spirit of diversity and inclusion. Hood said Bach was instrumental in fostering gender equality and disrupting prejudices based upon ethnicity and race.

Prior to joining CSU Bakersfield, Bach held academic and administrative positions from 2002-2019 at Sacramento State University in Sacramento, California, and Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Bach earned a doctorate in business administration from the University of Tennessee, master’s degrees in business administration from both George Washington University and Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hanyang University.

Bach will succeed Brenda Flannery as dean of Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Business. Flannery, who has served as dean since July 2011, plans to return to the Minnesota State Mankato faculty after an earned sabbatical.

Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 14,482 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 30 colleges and seven universities.

Minnesota State Mankato Names Seung Bach Dean of College of Business

 

Having Trouble Hiring New Talent? Get Creative.

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Organizations often use LinkedIn, Indeed.com, Facebook, recruiters, and other platforms to source new talent. These methods serve a purpose, but none of these options offer prospective employees a chance to see, learn, and experience your business or culture. 

Eighty-one percent of organizations with 10 or more employees surveyed in the 2022 State of Agriculture Report identified the talent shortage as the greatest negative impact on their business. Not only are you competing against other firms for new business, but you are also directly competing for workers.  

Regardless of your business type, industry, or specialty, one way to differentiate your talent pipeline is to engage with the next generation of talent: high school and college students and graduates.  

The GreenSeam Talent Development, Retention, and Attraction Committee, which includes business and education leaders from across the region, have been hard at work to connect high schools, colleges, and universities to industry and employers looking for talent. Nick Schiltz, committee member and Agricultural Instructor and Program Coordinator at Riverland Community College suggests, “The goal of any business is to promote their company and job positions in front of students. If it is in-person or through any virtual program, the goal is to get in front of students and share what they do.” 

Businesses may get in front of students in a variety of ways. This may include company tours, job shadowing, mentorship, speaking to classes, student organizations, and more. Once you get your ‘foot in the door’ you can then share more about your opportunities available. This can be part-time and time-flexible jobs, internships, or careers upon graduation.  

One of the goals of the GreenSeam Talent Committee is to help connect employers to talent related resources, networks, and events by developing a calendar of events. These can include career expo/fair opportunities in our region. There may be volunteer opportunities for ag related events; and education/industry partnership opportunities. 

 

Recruiting strategies can be tailored to target non-traditional ag students. Ag-related career pathway resources can be made available to parents. Encourage the expansion of local educational institution learning facilities and local program offerings. Businesses could have access to survey data related to internships. 

The calendar of events is a new addition and resource to educational and business leaders. Ashley Leivermann, Chair of the GreenSeam Talent Committee and Chief Human Resources Officer at Crystal Valley Cooperative states, “There is an abundance of opportunities for companies to get involved and when time, money, and resources are limited, convenience is key for me. I love being able to see what is going on in the surrounding areas and ways I can get in front of potential candidates not only to fill crucial roles at Crystal Valley, but to promote agriculture for all of us.”  

Nick Schiltz agrees, “the calendar allows Minnesota agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) programs to know what events, conferences, opportunities, and even what companies have available for prospective students and future employees.”  

Engaging the next generation of workers at the high school and collegiate level takes time, energy, and patience. Working with students should be considered a supplemental approach to your recruiting strategy with short-term and long-term goals and objectives. Short-term, students may be looking for an immediate job opportunity while the long-term approach includes skill development, industry education, and future job opportunities.  

Check out the GreenSeam Talent Calendar at greenseam.org/talentevents/ to learn more about engagement opportunities across the region. Michalia Cyphers supports these initiatives and may be contacted for opportunities, questions, and more at mcyphers@greenseam.org