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Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is proud to announce Nathan Lund of Glacial Hills Elementary in Starbuck, MN as the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. This honor recognizes K-12 educators in Minnesota who creatively integrate agriculture concepts into their classrooms. 

Lund has taught 5th and 6th grade at Glacial Hills Elementary since 2021. With his support, students in his class have gained a deeper appreciation for agriculture and the environment through hands-on learning experiences. These include starting and maintaining a schoolyard garden, incorporating hydroponic systems in the classroom, restoring native habitats around the school grounds, canning tomatoes from the garden, and hosting food-making contests. In addition, Lund launched a school-wide composting initiative with his students actively leading the effort each year.

“We were so impressed by the many ways Mr. Lund and his students are working with their community—whether it’s building outdoor learning spaces or participating in local environmental initiatives,” said Sue Knott, Education Specialist with MAITC, a program of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). “It’s clear he is creating a lasting impact in both the classroom and throughout the broader community.” 

Reflecting on his work, Lund shared “Witnessing students’ transformation into proactive environmental stewards over the past four years has been incredibly rewarding. It has reinforced my belief in the power of experiential learning to inspire real-world change and has motivated me to continue integrating environmental education and agriculture into our curriculum.” 

Lund credits programs like Ag in the Classroom, Lettuce Grow, Action for Healthy Kids, and Farm to School with helping him to bring authentic agriculture experiences into the classroom. “Through all of these different experiences, it is my goal to give students many opportunities to build life skills and a love of life-long learning and growing,” says Lund.

All licensed Minnesota K-12 educators who creatively integrate agricultural into non-agricultural subjects are eligible for the MAITC Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. As this year’s winner, Lund will receive $500 plus support to attend the National Ag in the Classroom Conference taking place in Minneapolis, MN, June 23-26. 

MAITC is a partnership between the MDA and the MAITC Foundation that seeks to increase agricultural literacy through K-12 education. For free educational resources and to learn more about the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, visit the MAITC website. 

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Media Contact 
Nikki Warner, MDA Communications
651-238-7909
Nikki.Warner@state.mn.us

Governor Walz today signed Chapter 34, House File 2446, the Agriculture and Broadband Development Policy and Finance Bill, into law. The bill funds the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Minnesota Board of Animal Health, and the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. 

“We worked closely with lawmakers throughout the session to craft a bill that invests in Minnesota agriculture and our farmers and ranchers,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “The bill also provides food to those in need, supports mental health and farm safety resources, and protects our natural resources. It is a major win for our ag community and sets us all up for success now and into the future.”

Highlights of the bill include a new state level Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) Program ($700,000 per year, Fiscal Years 2026-2029 (FY26-29)). This fills in for a federal LFPA program that was terminated in March. The program has been widely successful in helping emerging farmers build markets and providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to food shelves around the state.

The bill also increases funding to the Farm to School and Early Care Program (an additional $550,000 for a total of $1.594 million in FY26 and $1.544 million in FY27). A federal award for the Local Food for Schools program was also terminated in March. This funding will help offset that loss of federal funds. 

There is a onetime increase of $1.5 million in funding to the Ag Emergency Account in FY26. The account helps the state respond to agricultural disasters and animal diseases like avian influenza. New funding is also available for the Protect Grants, specifically for avian influenza ($400,000 in FY26/27).

The AGRI Meat, Poultry, Egg, and Milk Processing Grant will see an additional $100,000 for a total of $600,000 in FY26/27. This grant helps with the start-up, modernization, or expansion of meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing businesses. Processing bottlenecks in the wake of the pandemic highlighted the need for this support in the food supply chain.

The ag bill increases funding to the Farm Down Payment Assistance Program (an additional $500,000 for a total of $2.5 million in FY26/27). This grant helps qualified farmers purchase their first farm. The amount of each award will also increase from $15,000 to $20,000 per grantee.

Other highlights include:

• Funds milk purchases to Minnesota food shelves ($1 million per year, FY26-29)
• Funds rural mental health and farm safety ($200,000 in FY26/27, $100,000 in FY28/29)
• Increases funding for wolf depredation claims (an additional $175,000 for a total of $275,000 in FY26 and $250,000 in FY27FY26/27) and elk damage claims (an additional $175,000 for a total of $275,000 in FY26 and $250,000 in FY27)
• Increases funding for Farm Business Management (an additional $500,000 for a total of $5 million in FY26/27)
• Funds an evaluation of the Olmsted County Soil Health Program ($75,000 onetime in FY26)
• Increases funding for meat inspection services (an additional $1.5 million in FY26/27)
• Creates a competitive grant program for agricultural related organizations (AGRI Works, $1.5 million in FY26/27)
• Funds the Biofuels Infrastructure Grant ($2.75M in each FY26/27) and also expands eligibility to retail petroleum dispensing sites from 10 to 20
• Creates a biofertilizer efficiency pilot program ($500,000 in FY26/27)
• Funds the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (an additional $100,000 for a total $600,000 in FY26/27)
• Provides funding for County Ag Inspectors ($1 million in FY26/27)

The funding bill will take effect July 1, 2025.

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Media Contact
Allen Sommerfeld, MDA Communications
651-201-6185
Allen.Sommerfeld@state.mn.us

Minnesota is proud to host this year’s National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, “Lakes, Land, and Legends,” June 23–26, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, MN. Organized by the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO), this premier professional development event brings together Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, volunteers, and agricultural literacy leaders from across the country. Participants will take part in workshops that connect agriculture to core subjects in alignment with national education standards. Traveling workshops will also give attendees a firsthand look into Minnesota’s diverse agricultural landscapes.

Twenty-five teachers from across Minnesota have been awarded full scholarships to attend the conference, thanks to the support of the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) Foundation. Representing a wide range of subject areas and schools from Kelliher to Worthington, these educators are committed to connecting students with agriculture though everyday learning.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson will deliver welcome remarks as the conference kicks off on Tuesday, June 24th. “Minnesota’s agriculture is as rich and varied as the landscapes that shape it," said Commissioner Petersen. "From our lakes and forests to our family farms and farmers markets, there’s a story to be told in every corner of our state. I’m excited to welcome educators from across the country to experience the spirit of Minnesota firsthand through the 'Lakes, Land, and Legends' conference."

Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the MAITC Foundation that seeks to increase agricultural literacy through K-12 education. MAITC programs help students connect real world agricultural content to subjects like science, social studies, language arts, and nutrition. For free classroom resources, visit minnesota.agclassroom.org.

The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization is a 501c3 nonprofit that works to improve agricultural literacy nationwide by helping teachers and students understand the value of agriculture. Through strong partnerships with state programs and its annual conference, NAITCO has reached millions of students and thousands of teachers across the country. To learn more or register for the conference, visit agclassroom.org/conference or contact events@naitco.org.

2025 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference Scholarship Recipients

• Jody Ruen – Lanesboro Public School, Lanesboro  
• Beth Sletta – Minnesota Virtual Academy, Rogers  
• Kerry Schulte – AFSA K-12 Charter School, Circle Pines  
• Kimberly Penning – Owatonna High School, Owatonna  
• Carrie Stencel – Princeton Intermediate School, Princeton  
• McKenzie Gregory – Rockford Elementary Arts Magnet School, Buffalo  
• Andrea Finnigsmier – Thomas Lake Elementary, Eagan  
• Lisa Patrick – Minnetonka High School, Plymouth  
• Savannah Stafford – Lake Ripley Elementary School, Grove City  
• Tiffany Kobbermann – Minnewaska High School, Hancock  
• Julie Bauman – Prairie Elementary, Worthington  
• Libby Wickum – Northome School, Mizpah  
• Beth Gruenke – Hilltop Elementary, Inver Grove Heights  
• Carrie Allord – St. Francis, Fort Ripley  
• Meghan Sunderland – MACCRAY, Montevideo  
• Hannah Seeger – JA Hughes, Red Lake Falls  
• Renae Swanson – Red Lake Elementary, Red Lake, located in the Red Lake Nation  
• Tiffany Kortbein – Greenvale Park Elementary, Northfield  
• Marie Kruse – Bluff View Elementary, Lake City  
• Haven Fillbrandt – Northern Light Community School, Grand Rapids  
• Heather More – Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Elementary, Mapleton  
• Sara Browen – Worthington Middle School, Worthington  
• Amy Mastin – Kelliher High School, Kelliher  
• Jeni Braidenbach – Minnetonka High School, Minnetonka  
• Jodi Landro – Thomas Lake Elementary, Eagan 

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Media Contact
Nikki Warner, MDA Communications
651-238-7909
Nikki.Warner@state.mn.us