GreenSeam Celebrates 40 Years of the Rural Forum with Eyes Set on the Future

    November 5th, 2023

    MANKATO, MN – GreenSeam is proud to announce the 40th annual Rural Forum, which will take place on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, MN. Under the theme “Future Forward: Empowering Rural America Through Innovation,” this milestone event will gather current and future leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss the future of rural economies in southern Minnesota. Tickets are available at greenseam.org/forum23/ The 40th annual Rural Forum is presented by Gislason & Hunter LLP.

    The Rural Forum is GreenSeam’s premier event and has been a vital platform for fostering discussions about rural development and public policy since its creation. This year, the focus is on innovation as a means to empower rural America, addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

    “We’re excited to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Rural Forum, with a focus on the future,” said Sam Ziegler, Director of GreenSeam. “We believe that the continued prosperity of our rural communities will depend on collaborative and innovative solutions, and GreenSeam is committed to creating a platform for those important discussions.”

    The Rural Forum is open to a wide audience, including food and ag business leaders, students, and public officials. The event will feature networking, dinner, and remarks from experts on the technologies that are transforming rural communities.

    Event Speakers

    1. Keynote Address by Dr. Robert Reiter: Dr. Robert Reiter, Head of Research & Development for Bayer’s Crop Science Division, will deliver the keynote address, sharing insights on innovations in agriculture. He has over 30 years of experience in discovering, developing, and delivering innovative R&D solutions in the agricultural space.
    2. Energy Panel: Pam Gorman Prochaska, General Manager of Xcel Energy’s Nuclear Fleet Operations and Brian Werner, Executive Director for MN Bio-Fuels Association will have a moderated discussion on the future of sustainable energy.
    3. Legislative Panel: Public officials and policymakers will dive into the policies affecting rural communities.

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    About GreenSeam:

    GreenSeam is not only a region that spans across southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, but also a nonprofit organization dedicated to strategically building and connecting the region’s extensive agricultural business assets to the world by enhancing collaboration and investment with public and private sector partners. We are committed to the long-term prosperity of southern Minnesota and northern Iowa by strengthening collaborations and partnerships, growing businesses and their workforces, as well as communities they call home. GreenSeam is a business unit of Greater Mankato Growth, Inc.