The Minnesota Farm Bureau recognized and awarded outstanding agricultural professionals during the Minnesota Farm Bureau’s 101st Annual Meeting.
Recognition was given during the Nov. 22 awards banquet at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington.
The FFA Advisor of the Year award was presented to Kerry Lindgren. This award recognizes the important role these professionals play in developing agricultural leaders for tomorrow.
Lindgren has been the Staples-Motley FFA adviser for the past 32 years. He has been an FFA adviser for 36 years total, starting with his career at Foley High School. He went on to complete a fellowship at the University of Minnesota to help create an urban agriculture high school and after completing his groundwork and development of the Academy for Sciences and Agriculture in Vadnais Heights, he began teaching at the Staples-Motley. Lindgren’s FFA chapter and members have achieved numerous awards and accomplishments. The chapter completes an annual program of activities that focuses on growing leaders, strengthening agriculture and building communities.
Lindgren has had leadership roles in the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators and has received the Outstanding Agricultural Educator Award, Agri-science Teacher Award and has also served as the Region 2 FFA advisor. He is a member of his local Lions Club and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. He and his wife Becky have two daughters.
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“I am humbled and honored to be receiving this award,” Lindgren said in a news release.
When asked about challenges to agriculture in the 21st century he said he believes there are three challenges: feeding the growing population with fewer resources, informing the public that agriculturalists care about natural resources and meeting the demand for agriculture, including agricultural educators.
“Farm organizations must continue to provide support to youth leadership organizations such as FFA and 4-H,” said Lindgren. “These students will be our next agriculture leaders. If we are to meet the challenges of the future, we need to be active partners in agriculture.”
Other Minnesota Farm Bureau award winners include Carolyn Lange, Agriculture Communicator of the Year; Brad Rugg, Extension Faculty and Staff of the Year; and Kim Lippert, Post-Secondary Agriculture Educator of the Year.
Farm Bureau Financial Services agent Brett Carlson was recognized by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation as a member of its elite Builders Club. Carlson signed 78 new members this year. His office is located in Baxter.
Recipients receive a trip to the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting Jan. 17-22 in Austin, Texas. Award winners are nominated by their county Farm Bureaus. For information about nominating an ag communicator, Extension educator, FFA adviser or post-secondary agriculture educator for next year’s award, contact a local county Farm Bureau office.
