Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence

09/28/2026

An exciting day of career exploration at the Southwest Minnesota Career Expo at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington!

High school students, Adult Basic Education students, and regional workforce participants connected with local businesses, agencies, educational partners, and industry professionals through interactive exhibits and hands-on experiences. Sponsored by the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council, SWWC Service Cooperative and the Southwest Initiative Foundation , the event showcased the many career pathways and opportunities available throughout the region.

It was inspiring to see students engaging with employers, exploring future careers, and building connections that can help shape their next steps. As an added bonus, Courtney even had the opportunity to catch up with two of our Farm Business Management rockstars over lunch! In addition, she had time to showcase a few of our partners. Southwest Minnesota State University Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence

09/26/2026

An amazing day of hands-on learning at the Austin Aspires / FutureForward CareerQuest event at Riverland Community College!

High school students explored career pathways through interactive activities led by local businesses, industry professionals, educators, and community partners. CareerQuest connected classroom learning to real opportunities in Southern Minnesota and beyond, helping students discover careers, build industry awareness, and engage with the many pathways available right in their own communities.

Events like CareerQuest continue to support Austin Aspire's vision of educational excellence from cradle to career, preparing students for future success through meaningful career exploration and community partnerships.

Shoutout to Erica Johnson, Director of Outreach and Engagement for the School of Applied Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources at Minnesota State University, Mankato for joining in and jumping in on the action!

09/25/2026

As we reflect on National Farm Safety and Health Week 2026 and this year's theme, "Safety Today, Success Tomorrow," we want to recognize the ACSD - Ag Cooperative Safety Directors - Minnesota for their commitment to advancing agricultural safety through education, networking, and professional development.

Courtney had the opportunity to join the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office in presenting on fire prevention in rural communities while providing hands-on demonstrations with the Ag Safety Trailer. It was a great day of learning, collaboration, and sharing safety resources with agricultural professionals from across Minnesota.

Thank you to Farmward Cooperative for hosting this outstanding group in Morgan!

09/24/2026

Career exploration came to life at the Houston County Economic Development Authority & Bluff Country Collaborative's CTE Exploration Day! Students learned about local industries, asked questions, and enjoyed hands-on exhibits. The combine simulator was a favorite and kept students engaged throughout the event!

09/23/2026

Last week, hundreds of people from Minnesota and across the Midwest attended Center For Farm Financial Management's Minnesota Crop Insurance conference in Mankato. We had a great timing assisting with registration with our University of Minnesota Extension friends along with having great conversations with industry members who were in attendance, including our Advisory Board Chair. And, it's always great to hear from so many speakers who are passionate about what they do!

09/22/2026

Our team has had a week to reflect on the hard work, dedication, and passion our extended agricultural professional family put into the 2026 Farm Business Management fall conference.

58 Farm Business Management instructors from across Minnesota, along with colleagues from Wisconsin and North Dakota, gathered in Waite Park for two days of professional development. Representing Minnesota's Farm Business Management programs, participants explored economic trends, FINPACK+, farm transition planning, mentorship opportunities, agricultural policy, grant resources, and the future of FBM.

The conference brought together a strong lineup of partners and presenters, including Pauline Van Nurden, Extension Economist and Director of the Center For Farm Financial Management, Sarah Dornink with Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC)(MAELC), Amber and Tyler with Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators (MAAE), Val Aarsvold with the Minnesota FFA Foundation, the efforts from AgCentric, Eyes on the Horizon, and many others who continue to strengthen agriculture through education, leadership, and collaboration.

At the Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence, we know that meaningful impact happens when educators, industry leaders, and partners come together to share ideas, build relationships, and invest in lifelong learning.

09/21/2026

This week marks the beginning of National Farm Safety and Health Week.

As our communities prepare for harvest, it’s an important time to put farm safety front and center.

Harvest is one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year. Long days, tight schedules and changing conditions can make it easy to overlook safety. Taking a little extra time to slow down, stay alert and look out for one another can make a big difference.

National Farm Safety & Health Week starts Sept 21st - stay tuned for information on how to prevent farm illness and injuries and keep yourself safe and healthy.

Learn more: bit.ly/NFSHW-26

09/14/2026

What a great (and VERY windy) event in Marshall for collaborating with our partners from Southwest Minnesota State University!
The 11th Annual SMSU Agronomy Field Day brought together producers, industry professionals, students, and community members for a day of learning and connection in the field.

Participants explored current field trials, discussed emerging agronomic practices, and gained insights that can be applied directly to today's agricultural challenges. Plot tours following the program provided a firsthand look at the research taking place and the data being generated. Great job Southwest Minnesota State University School of Agriculture team!

09/10/2026

Join us TOMORROW (Friday, Sept. 11) at Agronomy Field Day! Along with a FREE meal, you'll enjoy:

➡ A welcome from SMSU President, Dr. Jones
➡ ACHM department news
➡ An overview of SMSU demonstration plots and field-trial site management
➡ A presentation from the MN Soybean Research and Promotion Council (MSRPC) on turning research into profit
➡ A Next Gen Ag presentation on alternative w**d control treatments
➡ A presentation from Ralco on hay preservatives
➡ A presentation from AURI on unlocking value across ag sectors

We hope to see you there!

09/09/2026

Minnesota West Agriculture Program is off to a fast start working with industry to get students out of the classroom and into the field! These are great real-world examples of how hands-on experiences can bring classroom learning to life.

Seeing the equipment, talking with industry professionals and visiting working farms gives students a better look at the many opportunities available in agriculture.