Amy Durand is the Dean of Agriculture at South Central College, where she leads innovative initiatives to strengthen agricultural education and workforce development. With a focus on hands-on learning, strategic partnerships, and inclusive leadership, Amy is dedicated to preparing students for success in today’s evolving ag industry. She is a passionate advocate for rural resilience and women’s leadership in the agricultural sector.

Sue VonBank is a Special Projects Coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Her portfolio of work includes coordinating the Minnesota Farm Safety Working Group, managing her division’s website and records, planning the Minnesota Organic Conference, and directing the agency’s digital accessibility efforts. Sue grew up in west central Minnesota and has worked on farms in Germany and Australia. She has a degree in agricultural education from the University of Minnesota. 

Allison joined the Ag Marketing and Development Division at the MDA in 2022. She works on the Grants Team administering the Farm Safety grant programs, AGRI Beginning Farmer Farm Business Management Scholarship program, Farmers’ Market Nutrition Assistance Grant, and the AGRI Preparing for Extreme Weather (Prepare) Grant. In addition, she also assists the Commodity Council Coordinator with administrative duties such as organizing Council elections and reviewing checkoff refund applications. 

A former fourth-generation farm owner and operator, Dr. Staci Gilpin carries forward her family’s agricultural legacy and deep rural roots into her work advancing rural equity and family well-being. As Co-Founder of Rural Pathways, a women-owned consulting firm, she partners with communities and organizations to design funding strategies, evaluate impact, and strengthen systems that support working families—including access to quality child care. Dr. Gilpin holds a PhD from the University of North Dakota and has led multimillion-dollar initiatives in education, workforce, and rural development. Rooted in her upbringing on a small grain and livestock farm in Northwest Iowa, she remains deeply committed to helping rural women and families thrive.

Heather Dufault was raised in McLeod County, where she grew up on a dairy farm and actively participated in 4-H, band, choir, and cheerleading throughout high school. She attended the University of Minnesota Crookston and earned an Associate’s degree in Dairy Science and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Industries Sales and Management.

Heather began her career as a licensed Crop Insurance Agent, working for a small independent agency for five years before joining AgCountry Farm Credit Services, where she served for 15 years. Today, Heather and her husband Kevin manage the family farm, producing wheat, corn, soybeans, and sugar beets. Their oldest son has joined the operation, continuing a seven-generation farming legacy. The family also maintains a small cow/calf operation and raises steers for butcher.

Heather has been a local Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota Extension since 2018. She enjoys crafting, crocheting, needlework, and reading. Heather and Kevin have three children.

Sue VonBank is a Special Projects Coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Her portfolio of work includes coordinating the Minnesota Farm Safety Working Group, managing her division’s website and records, planning the Minnesota Organic Conference, and directing the agency’s digital accessibility efforts. Sue grew up in west central Minnesota and has worked on farms in Germany and Australia. She has a degree in agricultural education from the University of Minnesota. 

Allison joined the Ag Marketing and Development Division at the MDA in 2022. She works on the Grants Team administering the Farm Safety grant programs, AGRI Beginning Farmer Farm Business Management Scholarship program, Farmers’ Market Nutrition Assistance Grant, and the AGRI Preparing for Extreme Weather (Prepare) Grant. In addition, she also assists the Commodity Council Coordinator with administrative duties such as organizing Council elections and reviewing checkoff refund applications. 

Heather Dufault was raised in McLeod County, where she grew up on a dairy farm and actively participated in 4-H, band, choir, and cheerleading throughout high school. She attended the University of Minnesota Crookston and earned an Associate’s degree in Dairy Science and a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Industries Sales and Management.

Heather began her career as a licensed Crop Insurance Agent, working for a small independent agency for five years before joining AgCountry Farm Credit Services, where she served for 15 years. Today, Heather and her husband Kevin manage the family farm, producing wheat, corn, soybeans, and sugar beets. Their oldest son has joined the operation, continuing a seven-generation farming legacy. The family also maintains a small cow/calf operation and raises steers for butcher.

Heather has been a local Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota Extension since 2018. She enjoys crafting, crocheting, needlework, and reading. Heather and Kevin have three children.

Allison (she/her) has served as the Aitkin Farmers’ Market Hub manager since 2020and has no plans to stop shortening supply chains, championing local businesses, and working for the chaotic good. She's excited to expand small and local agriculture work to include a greater story of conservation, preservation, and production. Allison and her husband Scott own and operate AlliCat Farm in Aitkin, MN, where their motto is, “Food that nourishes, land that thrives.” Of their 80 acres, they have about half an acre in vegetable production, 20 in hayland, and the rest is mixed forest land. Soil health and ecological diversity are and always will be the lenses through which farming and stewardship decisions are made. ​

Alex grew up part-time in rural Wisconsin, spawning an affinity for open space, vintage tractors, bird chatter, and frog croaks. After 20-some-odd years working in the nooks and crannies of the food industry, she moved to Montana to learn more about farming and fell hard for the people and the work. Alex recently returned to the Upper Midwest to begin this next stage of work, melding some of her favorite things: people, earth, farms, and food.

Alex is a Soil Health and Land Access Organizer with LSP in Montevideo, MN as well as working as a regional coordinator for MNWIC. Alex and her partner Kevin recently took the big leap they’ve been hoping for and bought a small farm in Dillworth, MN.

Noreen Thomas is an organic farmer from northwest Minnesota, where she and her family operate a certified organic farm near Moorhead. With a background in Food and Nutrition, Chemistry, and Microbiology, Noreen combines science and stewardship to grow organic hay and specialty grains while protecting soil and water quality. An advocate for beginning and underserved farmers, she has connected over 180 producers to the USDA through Renewing the Countryside and helped secure over $180,000 in pandemic relief for Clay County farmers. Noreen’s leadership extends to work with tribal communities to preserve and grow rare Indigenous seeds and bring them into contemporary cuisine.

Gabi Bolwerk is a University of Minnesota Extension Educator specializing in Water Resources and Soil Health. She earned a B.S. in Soil and Land Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and an M.S. in Natural Resource Management from South Dakota State University. Through her work, Gabi educates producers and agriculture professionals about soil health principles and practices, with a special interest in crop and livestock integration.