Elevating AFNR Education in Minnesota
Join us Friday, January 16, 2026 (1:00-7:00 p.m.) at the Best Western Plus Kelly Inn — St. Cloud, MN.
The Post-Secondary Summit brings together Minnesota’s AFNR post-secondary community — faculty, instructors, advisors, program leaders, and industry partners who shape the future of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources education statewide. Sponsored by the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence, the University of Minnesota CFANS, and the University of Minnesota Crookston, and held in conjunction with the MAAE Winter Ag Tech Conference, this Summit is designed as a strategic forum for advancing programs, aligning to workforce demand, and strengthening institutional impact through shared expertise.
This year’s Summit centers on a high-impact keynote by Dr. Kevin J. Fleming, a nationally respected voice in career-connected learning and author of (Re)Defining the Goal). His work translates labor-market intelligence into actionable strategy for colleges and educators — precisely aligned with AFNR pathways. After the keynote, participants will engage with an AFNR industry panel on emerging trends and workforce expectations, followed by structured collaboration and a networking supper that creates space for statewide idea-exchange and partnership building.
Tentative Event Details:
- 1:00 – Introductions and Statewide AFNR Connections
- 1:30 – Keynote Speaker: Kevin Fleming
- 3:30 – Networking & Refresh Break
- 3:45 – Facilitated Collaboration Session
- 4:45 – Industry Voices
- 6:00 – Supper and Extended Networking
Whether you teach, advise, build partnerships, develop curriculum, or lead AFNR programs, the Summit is designed to equip you with insight, alignment, and relationships that elevate your work and your institution.
The Summit is presented in partnership with the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence, the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS), the University of Minnesota Crookston, and the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators (MAAE) Winter Ag Tech Conference.
For any questions about the Summit, please reach out to Tyler Grunewald, 218.894.5141 or via email at [email protected].
