New year, new decade. The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) are turning the page and ready to roar into the 2020s. Joining the commodity organizations will be a special guest, Gov. Tim Walz. 

MN AG EXPO, jointly hosted by MSGA and MGCA, will be held Jan. 22-23, at the Mankato Civic Center in Mankato. Gov. Walz will speak at around 3 p.m. Wednesday from the trade show stage. Walz is expected to address the state of the rural economy and his priorities for the year ahead.

“We appreciate Gov. Walz taking the time to join us at MN AG EXPO next week and look forward to learning about efforts in 2020 to build a brighter future for the state’s farmers,” MCGA President Les Anderson said. “In addition to the opportunity to hear from Minnesota policy makers, MN AG EXPO will once again be a terrific opportunity for farmers across Minnesota to come together and enjoy engaging speakers, panels and a buzzing tradeshow floor.” 

This year’s EXPO lineup is chock full of diverse speakers and presentations covering all aspects of agriculture. Keynote speaker Michelle Miller, aka “The Farm Babe,” will kick-off EXPO Wednesday at 10 a.m., and closing keynote speaker and mental health consultant Cindra Kamphoff will speak during Thursday’s lunch.

“Farmers from across the state make the pilgrimage to AG EXPO to learn and network with other farmers and businesses,” says MSGA President Jamie Beyer “There’s something for everyone at EXPO – legislative and market updates, the latest advances in innovation and research, along with panels that help farmers think differently about their operations.”

Other highlights include: a solar energy panel; a presentation on agriculture economics from Dr. David Kohl; an estate and planning session with Gislason Hunter’s Kaitlin Pals; and a biofuels panel featuring Geoff Cooper and Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen.

“In addition to a panel that will explore future opportunities to grow biofuels in Minnesota, MCGA will be sharing their own efforts to further increase awareness, understanding and usage of biofuels in our state,” MCGA Chairman Brian Thalmann said. “Minnesota has long been a national leader in biofuels, and we look forward to unveiling an initiative that will build on that momentum in the year ahead.”

Along with an extensive list of speakers and topics, there are nearly 100 exhibitors registered for the two-day event. State and federal legislators – including Rep. Jim Hagedorn – are scheduled to meet with constituents on the trade show floor and during MSGA and MCGA annual meetings. Legislative candidates are also slated to attend.

“It’s no secret that 2019 was a difficult year for many in agriculture,” says MSGA Executive Director Joe Smentek. “However, MSGA notched a long list of big wins for our members during the past legislative session, proving once again that there’s a sizable return on investment by joining MSGA. We look forward to meeting with farmers at AG EXPO to highlight those wins and discuss our policy priorities in 2020.”

The trade show floor this year will feature expanded hours, opening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22 with registration beginning at 8 a.m. The trade show will re-open Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pre-registration for MN AG EXPO is encouraged for this free event, as a badge is required for entrance and meals.

To view the exhibitor list, updated schedule, or to pre-register, visit mnagexpo.com