2011: ANNUAL MEETING
Agri-Growth's 44th Annual Meeting:
November 16, Minneapolis Convention Center
The 2011 Minnesota Agri-Growth Council Annual Meeting will be held on November 16, 2011 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. [MAP IT.] This event is the organization’s premier annual event, bringing together key stakeholders in the food and agriculture industry from Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. More than 400 industry leaders, news media, government relations professionals, commodity group and farmer leaders and public officials and staff gather to learn about current industry trends and topics. The event was a comprehensive one-day program, which includes a membership meeting, speakers conference, exhibitors, and luncheon program featuring high level keynote speakers and the presentation of the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council Distinguished Service Award. The program also serves as the venue for the Minnesota Governor's annual "State of the State on Agriculture" address.
Save the 2011 date in your calendar: download the iCalendar file.
Learn more about this year's event here.
What to expect:
The Minnesota Agri-Growth Council Annual Meeting is held annually in the late fall. Traditionally, the day begins with a member's meeting where we discuss board changes for the upcoming year. A public meeting, focusing on key issues facing the agriculture community, follows the member's meeting. We encourage all members of the agriculture community to attend our events - our annual event is open to the public!
The Agri-Growth Annual Meeting is our organization’s marquee annual event, consisting of a day-long program. The day typically begins with a morning membership meeting to review policies, elect new Directors to the Board, and hear organizational updates. Nationally and locally recognizable speakers make up the day’s conference program, with a mid-day luncheon and address. An evening dinner banquet with keynote address follows a social hour where the crowd usually swells to it’s largest point – over 500.
Check out our FAQ for more information about the event!
View photos, video footage and presentation slides from our 2010 Annual Meeting:
2010 Event Footage:
Dr. Thomas Stinson and Dr. Thomas Gillaspy:
Minnesota and the New Normal from Minnesota Agri-Growth Council on Vimeo.
Dr. Michael Swanson:
Economic Volatility has Consequences from Minnesota Agri-Growth Council on Vimeo.
Dr. Marla Spivak
Dr. Marla Spivak from Minnesota Agri-Growth Council on Vimeo.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar:
Annual Meeting 2010 Keynote: U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota Agri-Growth Council on Vimeo.
Mr. Scott Kilman:
Enough: Why the World's Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty from Minnesota Agri-Growth Council on Vimeo.
Pillar Presentation:
Pillar Presentations from Minnesota Agri-Growth Council on Vimeo.
Panel Discussion:
Discussion from the Four Pillar Panelists from Minnesota Agri-Growth Council on Vimeo.
2010 Presenter slides:
View photos from our 2009 Annual Meeting:
View photos from our 2008 Annual Meeting:
View photos from our 2006 Annual Meeting:
F.A.Q.
Q: What sort of speakers can I expect to see at the event?
A: Here is short overview of speakers that we've had at our event in recent years:
- Scott Kilman, Wall Street Journal
- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
- Secretary Dan Glickman, Bipartisan Policy Center
- Chris Policinski, Land O'Lakes
- Dr. Stephen Padgette, Monsanto
- Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, World Food Prize Foundation
- U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan
- Tim Pawlenty, Governor, State of Minnesota (The sitting governor gives a "State of the State on Agriculture" address at the Agri-Growth Annual Meeting each year.)
- Dr. Michael Swanson, Chief Economist, Wells Fargo Bank
- Thom Fladung, Editor, St. Paul Pioneer Press
- Jerry Hagstrom, Assistant Editor, CongressDaily and the National Journal, Washington, D.C.
- Ron Fagen, CEO, Fagen Inc.
- Mike Tolbert, President, Jennie-O Turkey Store
- Mike Helgeson, CEO, Gold’n Plump Poultry
- Gil Gutknecht, U.S. Congressman
- Michael Sommers, Assistant to the President for Agriculture Affairs, The White House
- Bob Dole, U.S. Senator
- Jim Weismeyer, Informa Economics
- Bob Dineen, President, Renewable Fuels Association
- Joe Jobe, CEO, National Biodiesel Board
- Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy
- Dr. Robert Bruininks, President, University of Minnesota
- Kim Perry Butler, Consul General, Canadian Consulate General
- Chris Thompson, Consul General, Canadian Consulate General
- Anne Venemann, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
- Charles Conner, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (Acting) and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
- Charles Stenholm (D-TX), former Member of Congress
Q: What sort of attendance does this meeting garner and who can I expect to see there?"
A: The Annual Meeting hosts state and national leaders of the agriculture business and producer communities. Every year this event brings together around 500 representatives from Minnesota companies like Cargill, Hormel Foods, General Mills, Land O’Lakes, CHS Inc., EcoLab, U.S. Bank, and many more, with others from the University of Minnesota, and state farm and commodity organizations including their farmer members. Congressional, state, and legislative leaders and staff are also frequently in the audience. The meeting is a "who’s who" of the Midwest agriculture industry.
Q: Are press welcome at the event?
A: The Agri-Growth Council distributes press releases prior to the event to explain the agenda and encourage media coverage. The Annual Meeting is often covered by industry reporters from print, radio and online media. Media from Red River Farm Network, Minnesota Farm Network, Linder Network, the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Associated Press, and agriculture publications including AgWeek, Agri-News, and other weekly papers are all a consistent presence at the Agri-Growth Annual Meeting. Do you represent a media outlet? Contact Krystal at kcaron@agrigrowth.org to reserve a spot at our next Annual Meeting.
Q: Does the Agri-Growth Annual Meeting have exhibit booths at this event in addition to the presentations?
A: Exhibitors, typically more educational and informational in nature, set up in the foyer of the hallway outside the general session rooms. This area also provides a backdrop to the social hour at the conclusion of the speakers program.
Q: I'm not sure about attending and/or speaking at this event. What benefits are there for me to attend this event?
A: In short, the Agri-Growth Annual Meeting prides itself on providing a diversity of industry speakers to educate, stimulate, and impart knowledge on a target rich audience base. Addressing the Annual Meeting affords a speaker the opportunity to share wisdom with a highly influential audience, and to promote certain ideas among a mixture of producer, industry, and academic leaders from the Upper Midwest’s food and agriculture sector.