History and Purpose
The Emerging Farmers' Working Group was created in the 2020 Legislative Session.
The purpose of the working group is:
"To advise the commissioner and legislature regarding the development and implementation of programs and initiatives that support emerging farmers in this state, the commissioner must periodically convene a working group consisting, to the extent possible, of persons who are, and organizations that represent, farmers or aspiring farmers who are women, veterans, persons with disabilities, American Indian or Alaskan Natives, members of a community of color, young, and urban, and any other emerging farmers as determined by the commissioner. No later than January 15 each year, the commissioner must update the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over agriculture regarding the working group's activities and recommendations.”
Members
- Cameron Bailey, Hennepin County
- Anika Bowie, Ramsey County
- Molly Byron, Waseca County
- Marcus Carpenter, Hennepin County
- Tara Conway, Hennepin County
- Katie Drewitz, Fillmore County
- Haley Ekstrom, Martin County
- Heather Gaston, Pope County
- Angela Johnson, Washington County
- Cynthia Johnson, Mille Lacs County
- LuVessie Knox, Hennepin County
- Rozalyn Maney, Hennepin County
- Tara Ostendorf, Stearns County
- Jason Montgomery Riess, Washington County
- Jina Rahimi, Ramsey County
- Matthew Ramadan, Hennepin County
- Adi Salagram, Hennepin County
- Jaton White, Hennepin County
- Tim Wilson, Carver County
- Melanie Woodford, Mower County
- Kelsey Love Zaavedra, Chisago County
Meetings
Schedule (All virtual meetings through Microsoft Teams)
ALL meetings will begin at 1 p.m. and adjourn at 3 p.m.
Year 6
- November 14, 2025
- January 9, 2026
- February 13, 2026
- March 13, 2026
- May 8, 2026
