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BOARD/COMMISSION:  Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council

(MAELC)

Address

218 Ruttan Hall
1994 Buford Ave
St. Paul, MN
55108-6197

Web Site

Supporting Entity/Enabling Legislation Supported by University of Minnesota

ENABLING LEGISLATION
M.S. 41D.01 (Originally 1997 Minn. Laws Chap. 183 Art. 3 Sec. 2; 1990 Minn. Laws Chap. 562 Art. 8 Sec. 3)
Enabled: 05-20-1997
Revisor of Statutes Link

Chair and Contact
CONTACT
Sarah Dornink
(612) 624-6249
CHAIR
Aric Putnam
(651) 296-6455
TITLE
NAME
EMAIL
PHONE
PRIMARY
Contact
Sarah Dornink
tesm0010@umn.edu
(612) 624-6249
Yes
Program Coordinator
Kari Schwab
opdah012@umn.edu
(612) 624-6256
No
TITLE
NAME
EMAIL
PHONE
PRIMARY
Chair
Aric Putnam
sen.aric.putnam@senate.mn
(651) 296-6455
Yes
Co-Chair
Paul Anderson
rep.paul.anderson@house.mn.gov
(651) 296-4317
No
Co-Chair
Rick Hansen
rep.rick.hansen@house.mn
(651) 296-6828
No
Membership
  • the dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota;
  • a representative of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities;
  • a representative of an agricultural education program at a higher education institution that prepares agriculture teachers for licensure;
  • a representative of the Commissioner of the Department of Education;
  • a representative of the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture;
  • the president of the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators;
  • the president-elect of the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators;
  • a representative of the Minnesota FFA Foundation;
  • the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee;
  • the ranking minority member of the Senate Agriculture Committee;
  • the chair of the House Agriculture Committee;
  • the ranking minority member of the House Agriculture Committee;
  • a member of the Senate Education Committee;
  • a member of the House Education Committee;
  • two members representing agricultural education and agriculture business appointed by the governor.
Member Info

COMPENSATION

  • Per Diem: $55.00
  • Other Compensation: Mileage

MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

  • Requires Older Member - no
  • Requires Senate Approval - no
  • Members file campaign finance and disclosure - no
Entity Powers and Duties, Activity Summary
  • develop recommendations to the legislature and the governor and provide review for agricultural education programs in Minnesota;
  • establish a grant program to foster and encourage the development of secondary and postsecondary agricultural education programs;
  • coordinate and articulate Minnesota's agricultural education policy across all programs and institutions;
  • identify the critical needs for agricultural educators;
  • serve as a link between the agribusiness sector and the agricultural education system to communicate mutual concerns, needs, and projections;
  • establish and maintain an increased awareness of agricultural education and its continued need to all citizens of Minnesota;
  • operate the Minnesota Center of Agricultural Education created in section 41 D.03;
  • gain broad public support for agricultural education in Minnesota; and
  • report annually on its activities to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over agriculture policy

ACTIVITY SUMMARY

MAELC is a 16-member legislative council that provides leadership to promote and expand agricultural education in Minnesota. The state legislature, agricultural educators, and agriculture industry leaders are all represented on the council. MAELC administers multiple grant programs for agricultural, food and natural resource (AFNR) education at all levels, with specific grants for the Minnesota State College & Universities – Farm Business Management program. MAELC supports activities to increase awareness for agricultural education, including strategies to recruit and retain agriculture teachers and increase access to AFNR programming.
Meeting Information
Meetings typically last: Two to five hours
Meeting Frequency: Meetings held three times per year (June, September and December).

Meetings are held at:
Various throughout Minnesota, typically at least one held in the Twin Cities (December) and one in Greater Minnesota (June). The September meeting is held virtually.


Fiscal Information
Annual Staff Hours: 4480.00
Total Appropriations: $2,852,720.00
Appropriations Description: Operating budget, grant and scholarship programs
Fiscal Year Expenses: $2,852,720.00

Expenses Description:

Operating budget, grant, scholarship and internship programs, special projects/initiatives
Open Positions (0)
No Open Positions
No applicants found.
No pending appointments found.
POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
Direct Appointments
Chair of the Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee, or designee
Subcommittee on Committees of the Senate
Aric Putnam
Filled
01/04/2027
Chair of the Agriculture, Finance, and Policy Committee, or designee
House Minority Leader
Rick Hansen
Filled
01/11/2027
Chair of the Agriculture, Finance, and Policy Committee, or designee
Subcommittee on Committees of the House of Representatives
Paul Anderson
Filled
01/11/2027
Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota (CFANS)
Dean of CFANS
Brian Buhr
Filled
08/01/2029
Member of a House of Representatives Committee with Jurisdiction over Education, or designee
Subcommittee on Committees of the House of Representatives
Bryan Lawrence
Filled
01/11/2027
Member of a Senate Committee with Jurisdiction Over Education, or designee
Subcommittee on Committees of the Senate
Heather Gustafson
Filled
01/04/2027
President of the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators
Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators
Eric Sawatzke
Filled
07/09/2026
President-Elect of the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators
Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators
Amber Seibert
Filled
07/09/2026
Ranking Minority Member of the Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee, or designee
Senate Minority Leader
Gary Dahms
Filled
01/04/2027
Representative for Higher Education Institution Agricultural Education
Staff
Michael Martin
Filled
07/01/2027
Representative of the Commissioner of Agriculture
Commissioner of Agriculture
Mr. Patrice Bailey
Filled
07/01/2029
Representative of the Commissioner of Education
Commissioner of Education
Michelle Kamenov
Filled
09/03/2029
Representative of the Minnesota FFA Foundation
Minnesota FFA Foundation
Julie Tesch
Filled
01/01/2027
Representative of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU)
Terry Gaalswyk
Filled
09/01/2028
Current Members (2)
POSITION/SEAT
APPOINTING AUTHORITY
MEMBER NAME
STATUS
TERM END
Governor Appointee
Governor Appointee #1
Governor
Mr. Jeffrey Lindeman
Filled
01/01/2029
Governor Appointee #2
Governor
Paul Hansen
Filled
01/01/2029
ALL BOARDS/COMMISSIONS

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