FERGUS FALLS – With his decorated history in agriculture, a Minnesota farmer leader prepares to put on a new hat as a newly elected member of the Northern Crops Council (NCC).
Paul Freeman was appointed to replace Kris Folland on NCC. Folland, who farms in Kittson County, is retiring from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) after nine years and previously represented the organization on NCC.
“The Northern Crops Institute (NCI) serves a tremendous mission by researching and education of end users of crops and crop ingredients grown in Minnesota, North Dakota and the region,” Folland said. “They educate and promote throughout the country and the world. Paul Freeman will be a great addition, as he has served the soybean producers of Minnesota on the Council for many years.”
Freeman is MSR&PC’s District 4 director. He previously served as a director and president with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA). The Pope County farmer has also sat on the Agricultural Research, Education, Extension and Technology Transfer (AGREET) program at the University of Minnesota since its inception.
“Through my years with Minnesota Soybean, I’ve seen the good work the Northern Crops Council does in introducing our crops to countries around the world,” Freeman said. “I’m very glad to be participating in this organization.”
Freeman’s well-rounded credentials make him uniquely suited to represent MSR&PC on NCC.
“Paul’s longstanding service representing Minnesota Soybean on the board of the Upper Mississippi Waterways Association (UMWA) will stand him in good stead as an NCC board member,” said Kim Nill, MSR&PC director of market development. “Similar to UMWA, the membership of the NCC Board represents very diverse industries that must closely work together for the entire region to succeed in the goals pursued by NCI.”
Freeman will join NCC as the organization is reaching a new level of innovation as it prepares for the largest academic building project in North Dakota State University’s (NDSU) history. NCC governs NCI at NDSU, which is a collaborative effort among Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota to support the promotion and market development of crops grown in this four-state region.
“Paul is coming aboard NCC at the propitious moment in time when NCI is about to move into its brand-new building (the Peltier Complex), which will more than double the square footage available to NCI staff,” Nill said.
Once complete, the complex will support a wide range of research involving food science, meat science, muscle biology, food safety, nutrition, consumer sensory traits and the development of new agricultural products.
Freeman says he’s excited to see the growth that will happen at The Peltier Complex.
“I can’t wait to see it all come together,” he said.
The complex celebrates its dedication and groundbreaking of the new Agricultural Field Labs on June 12.
About the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council
The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council oversees the investment of checkoff dollars on behalf of the more than 25,000 soybean farmers in Minnesota. The Council is governed by the rules of a federally mandated checkoff program requiring all soybean producers to pay a fee on the soybeans they sell. This money is used to promote, educate and develop market opportunities for soybeans.
