SAINT PAUL, MN— The Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) recently awarded more than $3 million to eight Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Farm Business Management programs including Northland Community and Technical College (NCTC). These grants are provided through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and were funded through this year's agriculture legislation spearheaded by House Republicans. Representative Deb Kiel (R-Crookston) chief-authored the bill to create these grants, and Representative Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) was a co-author. The grants are intended to help address an instructor shortage in Farm Business Management.
Both representatives advocated for this initiative, citing the importance of Farm Business Management programs to Minnesota's rural economy and met with NCTC staff and administrators, as well as local farmers, to gather input regarding this grant program.
"As Vice-Chair of the Agriculture Finance Committee, I heard first-hand this session how important local Farm Business Management programs are for our community, and how providing a quality rural education is essential to Minnesota's agricultural economy," said Rep. Kiel. "I'd like to congratulate Northland Community and Technical College for receiving this grant!"
"Talking with folks in our community, it became clear how vital the Farm Business Management program is for Northwest Minnesota, and ensuring these grants were available to address instructor shortages in this field was one of my top legislative priorities," said Rep. Fabian, a member of the House Agriculture Finance Committee. "I am pleased our community has access to world-class rural education opportunities at NCTC and would like to congratulate them for receiving this grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture."