MN Ag Expo 2024 is just around the corner! The annual event, which is hosted by Minnesota Corn and Minnesota Soybean, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 17, and Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato. Expo is free, but registration is encouraged to ensure there are ample meal tickets for attendees. Sign up today!
Once again, Minnesota Corn will offer plenty to Expo attendees, from networking opportunities to grassroots policy discussions and more. Here is what you can expect from Minnesota Corn during the event.
Highlighting advocacy, research efforts
At the Minnesota Corn booth (#68-71), MCGA grower-leaders and staff will highlight how the organization is advocating for growers in St. Paul and Washington, D.C. Advocacy helps ensure corn farmers can access the tools necessary to raise a healthy crop, and MCGA looks forward to showcasing its multifaceted approach to the work. Additionally, Minnesota Corn will have staff on hand to highlight how the organization develops developing markets for corn, ethanol, and ethanol co-products through partnerships, biofuel promotion campaigns, and new uses projects.
In addition to spotlighting advocacy and market development efforts, Minnesota Corn will feature research supported by corn farmers through the Minnesota corn check-off. Stop by the researcher area adjacent to the Minnesota Corn booth to meet university scientists leading check-off-supported projects and researchers who conduct on-farm projects that explore and build on farming best practices. You can also learn more about Minnesota Corn-supported research at mncorn.org/research.
[More: Read about Minnesota Corn’s research projects]
Minnesota Corn staff will be at the organization’s booth throughout Expo to help new and renewing members fill out membership forms. Membership costs $75 annually, though if you have sold at least 7,500 bushels of corn in the past year and paid into the Minnesota corn check-off, you may qualify for a one-year membership at no cost. For people ages 16 to 24, membership costs $20 annually. Learn more here!
Networking and annual meeting
MCGA will host its annual auction and reception honoring leaders of its 52 county corn grower associations on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of the event center. Attendees can network, support MCGA by bidding on items, and enjoy light refreshments and a cash bar. They are encouraged to stick around after the reception for the annual Expo dinner and keynote speech, which will be delivered by University of Minnesota Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck.
On Thursday morning, MCGA will host its annual resolutions session and annual meeting. The member-only meeting is an opportunity to shape MCGA’s policy priorities and learn about Minnesota Corn’s research, promotion, and outreach investments on behalf of growers. MCGA will also recognize contributions of three longtime champions of agriculture and set the stage for its 2024 activities. If you are interested in being a delegate to MCGA’s resolutions session and annual meeting, contact your local district field manager. Their information is at mncorn.org/contact/staff.
Follow Minnesota Corn on Twitter (@mncorn) and Facebook (‘Minnesota Corn’) for the latest MN Ag Expo news and updates. Or visit our website at mncorn.org.
2024 MN Ag EXPO schedule, Jan. 17-18
Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, Mankato
Schedule is subject to change
Visit mnagexpo.com to view the most up-to-date schedule.
Wednesday, January 17
8:00 a.m.: Learning Session 1 – Mental Health, Self-Help techniques
9:00 a.m.: MSGA Delegate Session and Annual Meeting
9:00 a.m.: Trade Show Opens
9:00 a.m.: Breakout: Day 1 – First Aid Training on the farm
10:00 a.m.: MN Ag in the Classroom hands-on learning session
10:00 a.m – Learning Session 2: Diversity Operations / Opportunities
Noon Speaker: Sponsored by CHS (TBD)
12:00 p.m.: Lunch
1:00 p.m.: Learning Session 3 – TBD
2:30 p.m.: Afternoon keynote panel — Livestock panel
3:30 p.m.: Trade Show Reception
4:00 p.m.: Trade Show Closes
3:30 p.m.: MCGA Auction and Reception
5:00 p.m.: Dinner with Keynote Speaker P.J. Fleck
7:00 p.m.: Expo After Hours at Loose Moose
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