ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council (MAELC) is excited to release its 2025 Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource (AFNR) Education Blueprint. It provides key goals and strategies to enhance AFNR education at multiple levels, including agricultural literacy, school-based AFNR education, post-secondary AFNR education, teacher preparation in Agricultural Education, and Farm Business Management. This blueprint will help MAELC promote and expand agricultural education throughout Minnesota.
Developing the 2025 AFNR Blueprint was no easy task and was created after listening to feedback from over 200 agricultural education stakeholders and industry professionals. In October 2017, six listening sessions were held around the state to hear the ideas and perspectives about what Minnesota AFNR education should accomplish by 2025. A select group of AFNR education experts established goals, strategies for achieving those goals, and indicators of success based on visions shared at the listening sessions. All goals and strategies can be categorized into four broad themes including: quality of instruction, increasing the numbers and types of those involved in AFNR education, improving the understanding of AFNR systems, and supporting AFNR programs locally and statewide.
The MAELC board will review and prioritize the goals and strategies identified in the 2025 AFNR Blueprint. During this process, they will carefully evaluate its existing programs, initiatives and partnerships in order to effectively implement this statewide strategic plan. “MAELC strives to ensure all Minnesotans have access to quality AFNR education and we look forward to implementing this blueprint over the next seven years,” said Sarah Dornink, Executive Director of MAELC.
To learn more about the 2025 AFNR Blueprint or access an electronic version, visit the MAELC website at http://mn.gov/maelc/initiatives.html.
About MAELC–Established in 1997 by the Minnesota Legislature, MAELC is comprised of 17 educators, legislators, government officials, and agribusiness and community organization representatives. The Council represents all of the major institutions and groups in Minnesota with an interest in agricultural education and serves as a focal point for initiatives to improve agricultural education in the state.
— Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council
For more news from Minnesota, click here.