There are six public members appointed by the Governor. No public member may reside in the metropolitan area.
The Rural Finance Authority board consists of representatives from five state agencies:
- Department of Agriculture (Chair)
- Minnesota Management and Budget (Vice-chair)
- State Auditor
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Employee and Economic Development (DEED)
Powers and Duties include: The authority’s purpose is to develop the state’s agricultural resources by extending credit on farm real estate security and depreciable agricultural property (improvements, machinery, animals). The authority carries out this purpose by purchasing participation interests in loans or selling Agricultural Development Revenue Bonds to agricultural lenders or individuals for the purchase of agricultural items. Another loan participation program provides for restructuring farmer agricultural debt. An additional program was added in 1994 providing assistance to lower equity farmers to purchase stock in a value-added processing cooperative.
Rural Finance Authority Board Members
- Thom Petersen, Commissioner
Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155-2538
651-201-6219
thom.petersen@state.mn.us - Myron Frans, Commissioner
Minnesota Management and Budget
400 Centennial Building
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-201-8024
myron.frans@state.mn.us - Julie Blaha, State Auditor
525 Park Street, Suite 400
St. Paul, MN 55103
651-296-2524
julie.blaha@osa.state.mn.us - Steve Grove, Commissioner
Department of Employment and Economic Development
1st National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite E200
St. Paul, MN 55101-1351
651-259-7112
s.grove@state.mn.us - Steve Kelley, Commissioner
Department of Commerce
85 Seventh Place East, Suite 500
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-539-1441
steve.kelley@state.mn.us - Mary Gritzmacher
Unity Bank
26171 Highway 27
Pierz, MN 56364
320-468-0366x2306
mgritzmacher@unitybanking.com -
Harold Wolle, Jr.
16595 473rd Avenue
Madelia, MN 56062
507-236-2181
Hwolle1227@gmail.com -
Shelly DePestel
18942 County Road 18
Lewiston, MN 55952
507-261-7909
Daleyfarm2@live.com - Carol Anderson
14235 115th Avenue NE,
Foley, MN 56329
320-492-1663
ander@fallsnet.com - Gary Wertish
26416 County Road 17
Renville, MN 56284
651-262-7128
gary@mfu.org - Eric Sannerud
8505 95th St. N.E.,
Foley, MN 56329
952-201-4227
ericsannerud@gmail.com
2019 Board Meeting Dates
- January 2
- February 6
- March 6
- April 3
- May 1
- June 5
- July 3
- August 7
- September 4
- October 2
- November 6
- December 4