Our Mission
We Develop And Support Excellence In Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Programs And Career Pathways In Partnership With K-12, Government, Other Academic Institutions, And The Industry.
We believe in education. We connect the technology. We are strong advocates for agriculture. We are the link from campus to industry.
AgCentric Founded
Central Lakes, Northland, Ridgewater
Career Connections Beginnings
2016 MAELC Challenge Grants
2016 Career Pathways Brochure Established
AgCentric develops Technology Trailer
Statewide FBM Curriculum Refining and Unifying
St. Cloud Tech Joins Operations Council
Post-Secondary Summit Established
PIM (Post-Secondary Instructor Mentoring) Established
Adding a second Rural Mental Health Specialist for Rural Mental Health Services
C.A.S.E. Partnership
On Farm Communications Training
New AFNR Career Website Launched
RCPP Project Origination
Career Pathway Development – Meat Cutting and Butchery Earmark
Statewide FBM Curriculum Refining and Unifying
Cover Crop Financial Benchmarking Cohort
Minnesota Team Agricultural Education is composed of organizations and entities representing students, teachers, teacher educators, state leaders, alumni, sponsors, industry,
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Professional Excellence Program (PEP)
The Professional Excellence Program (PEP) is led by Betsy Jensen and co-led by Denise Reeser. This mentorship program is for
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Emerging Farmers
Emerging Farmers encompasses both those individuals who are entirely new to farming as well as those individuals who have been
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Rural Mental Health
Owning and managing a farm isn’t easy. With all the responsibilities and stress that comes with farm management, sometimes a farmer needs a helping hand. Minnesota provides assistance that farmers can turn to when the stress of their career becomes difficult to manage. Call the Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline at (833) 600-2670 for free, confidential counseling 24/7. AgCentric is also partnered with Rural Mental Health Specialists Ted Matthews and Monica McConkey.
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Center for Farm Financial Management
The Center for Farm Financial Management (CFFM) at the University of Minnesota creates innovative software, web applications, and educational programs
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State FBM Database
Farm Business Management students provide data to the State FBM database which yields information about net farm income, farm crop
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Team Ag Ed
Minnesota Team Agricultural Education is composed of organizations and entities representing students, teachers, teacher educators, state leaders, alumni, sponsors, industry,
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Career Pathways
Career advocacy in AFNR involves promoting and supporting individuals in pursuing fulfilling and impactful careers within these sectors. It encompasses
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LCCMR Hemp & Cover Crops
Establishing industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) as an oilseed grain crop has potential to improve surface and ground water quality and
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Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement
The Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement (C2A3) is a collaboration of ten Midwest community colleges across nine states who
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Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Center
AgCentric and the Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Center foster a unique and symbiotic relationship, deeply rooted in the
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Minnesota State Centers of Excellence
Minnesota State hosts eight Centers of Excellence – each serving a major industry that faces serious workforce challenges. The centers
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Team Ag Ed
Minnesota Team Agricultural Education is composed of organizations and entities representing students, teachers, teacher educators, state leaders, alumni, sponsors, industry,
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Post-Secondary Instructor Mentorship (PIM)
Post-Secondary Instructor Mentorship is led by PIM Coordinator’s Kari Slinden and T.J. Brown. The program is for instructors in their
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Post Secondary Summit
The Post-Secondary Summit brings together post-secondary educators from across the state in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) and related
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Federal Meat Cutting & Butchery
AgCentric received $2.0 million in Federal Community Program funds to support Central Lakes and Ridgewater Colleges in launching meat cutting
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Career Connections
The Career Connections event serves as a platform for FFA Members to interact with industry professionals, explore diverse career opportunities
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Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Center
AgCentric and the Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Center foster a unique and symbiotic relationship, deeply rooted in the
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Post-Secondary Instructor Mentorship (PIM)
Post-Secondary Instructor Mentorship is led by PIM Coordinator’s Kari Slinden and T.J. Brown. The program is for instructors in their
READ MOREPartners
Professional Excellence Program (PEP)
The Professional Excellence Program (PEP) is led by Betsy Jensen and co-led by Denise Reeser. This mentorship program is for
READ MOREPartners
On Farm Communications Training
The On Farm Communications training, a farm immersion program at the Central Lakes College Ag & Energy Center in Staples,
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Case 4 Learning
The partnership between Case 4 Learning and AgCentric is a collaborative effort aimed at advancing agricultural education through innovative curriculum development.
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Midwest Council on Agriculture
The Midwest Council on Agriculture represents the agricultural industry across twelve Midwestern states. This organization unites farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, commodity
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Team Ag Ed
Minnesota Team Agricultural Education is composed of organizations and entities representing students, teachers, teacher educators, state leaders, alumni, sponsors, industry,
READ MOREPartners
Federal Meat Cutting & Butchery
AgCentric received $2.0 million in Federal Community Program funds to support Central Lakes and Ridgewater Colleges in launching meat cutting
READ MOREPartners
LCCMR Hemp & Cover Crops
Establishing industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) as an oilseed grain crop has potential to improve surface and ground water quality and
READ MOREPartners
Headwaters Agriculture Sustainability Partnership
Headwaters Agriculture Sustainability Partnership solutions benefit the environment, economic viability of farmers, and vitality of rural communities. This partnership is
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Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement
The Community College Alliance for Agriculture Advancement (C2A3) is a collaboration of ten Midwest community colleges across nine states who
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United States National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation (NSF) funded the development of a yearlong secondary curriculum consisting of hands-on activities aligned with agricultural technician
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Soybean Project
AgCentric/Central Lakes College has secured a $43,037 grant for a collaborative program with the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) and the Minnesota Farmer's Union. The initiative aims to establish a soybean crush facility employee training program at AIC in Crookston.
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Our Team
Keith Olander
Executive Director of AgCentric, and Agricultural Partnerships
Keith Olander
Keith Olander is director of AgCentric and the Central Lakes College (CLC) Ag & Energy Center. He has been in agriculture education for more than 25 years.
Previously Dean of Agricultural Studies at Central Lakes College, Keith also served as a farm business management instructor for the college. Before that he was an agricultural education instructor at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School and New Ulm High School, both in Minnesota.
He has a bachelor’s degree and Master of Education degree in Agricultural Teacher Education from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Married with three children, he and his family live in rural Staples, MN, where they operate a 350-acre crop farm and grow a crop rotation of mostly corn and soybeans.
Keith can be reached at [email protected] or at 763-257-2881.
Judy Barka
Assistant Director
Judy Barka
Judy is the AgCentric Assistant Director. Before joining AgCentric Judy worked in a variety of non-profit services organizations. In these organizations she served as agency director, volunteer coordinator and fundraiser.
Judy is a graduate of the MARL – MN Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program. She has served as President of the MN FFA Alumni association and continue to be active in the organization.
Judy and her husband Randy (an instructor in Ridgewater College’s Agriculture Department) are the co-owners of Forest City Land and Cattle, their farming operation. Their four children are also involved in agriculture. Three are in production agriculture – crop farming, beef farming and dairy farming and one is an Agricultural Education teacher.
Judy can be reached at (320) 221-0219 or [email protected].
Melody Weber
Melody Weber
Melody has been a part of Central Lakes College for over 30 years and a part of AgCentric since it was formed in 2015. Melody has a degree from the University of North Dakota, where she met her husband, Greg. Melody and her husband have three grown children and four grand kids, who they love to go visit in North Dakota.
Melody can be reached at (218) 894-5123 or at [email protected].
Tyler Grunewald
Tyler Grunewald
Tyler joined AgCentric in the fall of 2022. Tyler has a degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead in Mass Communications. During the summer months of the late 90’s and early 00’s, Tyler worked at a grain elevator, Triple Crown Nutrition in Ada, MN. He also has worked in radio and retail management in Fargo, ND, before he and his family moved to Staples, MN in fall of 2018.
Tyler and his wife Claire have five children and reside in Staples, MN, where they are active in multiple community organizations and activities. Tyler serves on his church’s Finance/Stewardship Committee, the Colla Voce Girls’ Choir Board, he coaches youth football, and is the voice of Staples-Motley varsity football on KNSP AM 1430 The Fan.
Tyler can be reached at (218) 894-5141 or at [email protected].
Operations Council
Interactive Reports
2022 Minnesota State Centers of
Excellence Annual Report
2023 AgCentric Annual Report
AgCentric Strategic Plan
2023 AgCenter Annual Report
Council Members
