Four youths are MCGA's inaugural Agvocates
By Carol Stender
cstender@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 09/09/2010 9:24 AM
E-mail article | Print version
SHAKOPEE, Minn. — Four Minnesota youth are laying a good foundation for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association's Agvocate program.
This is the first year for the program which is designed to create a learning environment to develop young leaders in agriculture.
Mercedes Lee of Perley, Katie Zenk of Danube, Kristin Spinler of Morristown and Derek Mulhern of Fountain were the four chosen to be Agvocates out of 40 who originally applied for the program, said Jenna Kromann, MCGA communications assistant.
Lee graduated from Ada-Borup High School in 2009 and is attending NDSU where she has a double major in crop and weed science and management communications.
She grew up on a small farm near Perley with her parents, Lynn and Wayne and three older brothers.
Lee has raised registered Hampshire sheep since 2003 and plans to raise them "throughout the rest of my life."
She learned about the Agvocate program through a friend who thought the opportunity would be great for someone like Lee who is very involved in agriculture.
"I decided to apply because I have a passion and dedication to agriculture," she said. "And I felt that it was a great program to be part of. It also offers me a chance to network with producers and use my communication skills to reach the public."
Like the other Agvocates, Lee has attended the Minnesota Ag Ambassadors Institute. They've also worked with the public at Farmfest and at the Minnesota State Fair.
She has been active in both FFA and 4-H. Lee has served as a Minnesota State 4-H Ambassador, a county ambassador, club president, Federation president and as an Extension Committee member. Lee has also served two terms as FFA chapter president and two terms as a region officer.
Her sheep entrepreneurship proficiency earned her top honors at state and a chance to compete at the National FFA convention.
Katie Zenk is from Danube and is a graduate of BOLD High School. She is a junior at the University of Minnesota where she is majoring in applied economics. She would like to work in ag policy either as an elected official or through an agency office or company government relations department.
Zenk is an only child who grew up on a small beef and poultry farm. The family also raises an acre of wine grapes.
She has been active in both 4-H and FFA serving as a club and county officer and state 4-H ambassador. She's a seven-year FFA member. She was a state officer and will be running for national office this fall. She received her American degree during the last National FFA convention.
Zenk is a part of the agricultural education club, collegiate agri-women and Beta of clovia sorority at eh University of Minnesota.
Agvocate Kristin Spinler attended Medford High School and is now a junior at South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D. She is an ag education major with a minor in animal science.
Her mom, Tracie, is a registered nurse and her father, Brad farms and owns an ag retail business. With her two siblings, Spinler has grown up on a cash crop farm.
Summer is a busy time for Spinler with 4-H and FFA projects including chickens, beef calves, pigs and goats. She recently started a Boer goat herd which she says her family "graciously takes care of while I am at school."
She's been a Steele County 4-H'er for 14 years and received her American Degree at the National FFA convention in 2009.
Derek Mulhern grew up on a 400 cow dairy farm near Fountain.
He is attending the University of Minnesota majoring in ag education.
Mulhern was the 2008-2009 Minnesota FFA state president and is interning with the United State House Committee on Agriculture.
Through programs like MCGA's Agvocate program, he's not only had an opportunity to connect with producers around the state, but he's also been able to develop relationships with consumers in Minnesota who wonder where their food comes from, he said.
Each Agvocate receives a $3,000 scholarship and an opportunity to promote agriculture at several events throughout the year.
The four encourage other youth to apply for the program.
"The time for advocacy on all fronts is now," said Zenk. "Many decisions are being made about what and how we produce in terms of food, fiber and fuel. Staying out of the conversation now means accepting not shaping the future of our industry.
Lee agrees.
"It is a great way to help support agriculture and the farmers who feed us," she said. "It allows students to develop or enhance skills that they will need to use throughout their entire life and the people you meet makes it a phenomenal experience."