Date set for 40th annual Rural Forum presented by GreenSeam

Click here to watch the full video on KEYC News Now. 

GreenSeam is proud to announce the 40^th annual Rural Forum, which will take place on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, MN. Under the theme “Future Forward: Empowering Rural America Through Innovation,” this milestone event will gather current and future leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss the future of rural economies in southern Minnesota. Tickets are available at greenseam.org/forum23/  The 40^th annual Rural Forum is presented by Gislason & Hunter LLP.

The Rural Forum is GreenSeam’s premier event and has been a vital platform for fostering discussions about rural development and public policy since its creation. This year, the focus is on innovation as a means to empower rural America, addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

“We’re excited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rural Forum, with a focus on the future,” said Sam Ziegler, Director of GreenSeam. “We believe that the continued prosperity of our rural communities will depend on collaborative and innovative solutions, and GreenSeam is committed to creating a platform for those important discussions.”

The Rural Forum is open to a wide audience, including food and ag business leaders, students, and public officials. The event will feature networking, dinner, and remarks from experts on the technologies that are transforming rural communities.

Event Speakers

1. Keynote Address by Dr. Robert Reiter: Dr. Robert Reiter, Head of Research & Development for Bayer’s Crop Science Division, will deliver the keynote address, sharing insights on innovations in agriculture. He has over 30 years of experience in discovering, developing, and delivering innovative R&D solutions in the agricultural space.
2. Energy Panel: Pam Gorman Prochaska, General Manager of Xcel Energy’s Nuclear Fleet Operations and Brian Werner, Executive Director for MN Bio-Fuels Association will have a moderated discussion on the future of sustainable energy.
3. Legislative Panel: Public officials and policymakers will dive into the policies affecting rural communities.