FARMERS UNION FOUNDATION

THE MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION (MFU) FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED IN 1958, ADVANCES THE MISSION OF MINNESOTA FARMERS UNION BY PROMOTING EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CLIMATE-RESILIENT FARMING, AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM STRENGTH. THROUGH PROGRAMMING THAT SPANS YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, COOPERATIVE EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT, AND CLIMATE INNOVATION, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FARMERS, CONSUMERS, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS MINNESOTA. THE FOUNDATION HAS EXPANDED AGRICULTURAL LITERACY AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES THROUGH PUBLICATIONS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND INITIATIVES LIKE MINNESOTA COOKS, WHICH CONNECTS LOCAL FARMERS AND CHEFS WHILE SHOWCASING MINNESOTA-GROWN FOOD IN ITS ANNUAL CALENDAR. TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS, MFU CREATED THE MINNESOTA FOODSHED PLATFORM TO CONNECT PRODUCERS AND BUYERS AND PARTNERED WITH RIDGEWATER AND CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGES TO ESTABLISH MEAT CUTTING & BUTCHERY PROGRAMS. ONGOING EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A USDA-INSPECTED REGIONAL MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY IN STAPLES, MN AIMS TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND KEEP MORE VALUE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. MFU'S CLIMATE & WORKING LANDS PROGRAM HELPS FARMERS ADAPT TO AND MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION. INITIATIVES INCLUDE A GREEN AMMONIA PILOT CONVERTING WIND ENERGY INTO LOW-CARBON FERTILIZER, THE CO-OPS FOR CLIMATE GRANT PROGRAM SUPPORTING FARMER-LED CLIMATE INITIATIVES, AND THE MINNESOTA WORKING GROUP FOR CLIMATE-SMART COMMODITIES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDES PRACTICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS THE FARMERS' GUIDES TO CARBON MARKETS AND SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY, AND PARTNERS WITH UNIVERSITIES AND AGENCIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CLEAN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES. FOR OVER EIGHT DECADES, MFU'S LEADERSHIP CAMP PROGRAM HAS EMPOWERED YOUTH AGES 8-18 WITH COOPERATIVE EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS, PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMMUNITY LEADERS. ACROSS ALL ITS INITIATIVES-FROM EDUCATION AND PROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE TO CLIMATE ACTION-THE MFU FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO BUILD A FAIRER, MORE RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY THAT EMPOWERS FARMERS, ENGAGES YOUTH, AND SUSTAINS MINNESOTA'S RURAL COMMUNITIES.