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Green Seam promotes southern Minnesota agriculture

A combination of agricultural businesses and professionals are working to promote southern Minnesota as “the Silicon Valley of Agriculture.”

Sam Ziegler, director of Green Seam, says the regional chamber of commerce in Mankato recognized the important role the area played both nationally and internationally in food production.

“It’s production ag and our natural resources, but it’s all the way through the chain: professional services, engineering, logistics and transportation.  (Greater Mankato Growth) decided to make this about the region, not just their town or community.”

The idea was hatched in 2013 with Ziegler being brought on a year later to lead the effort.

He tells Brownfield there is significant meaning behind the name.

“Green really represents the green, lush area that people comment on every summer (with) the lakes and trees.  But green also represents having a prosperous area to live, work and raise a family in.  And green also represents strong renewable energy, strong crops and things like that.”

Ziegler says “Seam” represents a community of people working together.

The next phase of the initiative includes reaching out to colleges and universities to recruit young people to the area.