Our Capital Campaign Goal $1.0 million 1 Farmamericas Vision - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Our Capital Campaign

Goal $1.0 million

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Farmamerica’s Vision

 Connect people

with the evolution

• f agriculture

through hands-on educational experiences like field trips, guided tours, events and more.

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Farmamerica – The Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center: 360 acres of educational opportunities

• Explore. Discover. Connect.

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~100 acres Agronomic & Crop Genetic Research ~115 acres Agronomic & Crop Genetic Research

1850s Farm site School 1930s Farm site Blacksmith Shop

Visitor Center

Feed mill Church

Orchard Vineyard

Prairie

Research Plot Pumpkins Strip-till, Cover crop trial 4 PROPERTY MAP -

Farmamerica’s Key Features

360-acres of educational

• pportunity, located in

Waseca, heart of the GreenSeam

A 10,000 square foot

Visitor Center with educational displays and hands-on learning

• pportunities

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Farmamerica’s Key Features

 The mile-long Time Lane

trail winds from the Visitor Center to the following sites:

➢ Prairie Interpretive Center ➢ 1850s Settlement ➢ Country Church ➢ One-Room Schoolhouse ➢ 1930s Farmstead ➢ Grain Elevator & Feed Mill ➢ Blacksmith Shop/Town Hall

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In 2019…

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

We welcomed nearly 12,000 people to Farmamerica.



Current Target Audience: 3rd grade – Adults



Primarily a 70-mile radius

Farmamerica’s Key Milestones

1978 – Founded by the Minnesota State Legislature 1999 – Visitor Center opened 2016 – In October 2016, hired first full-time executive director in 17 years 2017 – Recognized as a “Nonprofit to Know” by the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation 2018 – Rebranded 2018 – Named the “Emerging Partner

• f the Year in Greater MN/ND” by

Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest 2018 – Invested our funds to develop expansion plans July 2019 – Completed a Comprehensive Feasibility Study August 2019 – Began planning capital campaign November 2019 – Received “Seamed in Success” Award by Greater Mankato Growth and GreenSeam

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Ways to connect

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Field Trips & Career Exploration

 Through grant support,

field trips are free for students & schools

 In partnership with

Junior Achievement and area ag businesses, junior high students discover how their personal interests might align with a career in agriculture.

Photo courtesy of CHS, Inc.

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 Guided and Self-guided Tours  Beyond the Barn Day Camp  Unique community events: ➢ Goat Yoga, Meat-a-palooza, Family Farm Nights,

Fall Fest, Pumpkin Party, DIY craft events

Tours, Day Camps, Special Events

AUGUST 13, 2020

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Why Expand?

 To help people

understand the importance of agriculture to the State

• f Minnesota.

 To help people make

personal connections to agriculture.

 To tell the complete

story of agriculture, not just its history.

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Our Capital Campaign

Goal $1.0 million

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 Revamp the Main Visitor Center  Remodel the Feed Mill  Add an inclusive outdoor playground  Expand educational programming and

• utreach in greater Minnesota

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 Timeline: 2017 VISION | 2018 STUDY |

2019 CAMPAIGN AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT | 2020 CONSTRUCTION 2021 GRAND OPENING AND NEW PROGRAMMING

Campaign Priorities

Jennifer Bartelt, Campaign Chair Tim Penny, Honorary Advisor Cabinet Ann Fitch Naomi Mortenson Roger Toquam Vicky Singlestad Bob Zelenka Advisors Veronica Bruckhoff Tom Rothman Warren Formo Gary Sandholm

• Dr. Ed Frederick

Julie Tesch Jim Gibson Eric Worke Nathan Hanel Lynette Ziegler Caitlin Keck Sam Ziegler Board of Directors Staff Jessica Rollins, Executive Director Samantha Meyer, Program Director Crystal Paulson, Office Manager Gene Kuntz, Property Manager

Campaign Leadership

 Full-service design and

build company from St. Paul

 Specializing in the creation

• f natural and cultural exhibits

for interpretive centers, aquariums, zoos, museums, and political institutions.

 The Farm Wisconsin Discovery

Center and Jay C. Hormel Nature Center

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• 1. Revamp

the Visitor Center

 Hands-on experiences

and exhibits that explore agriculture in

• ur everyday lives so

visitors have a better understanding of where their food, fuel and fiber

• riginate.

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Before

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Before After

After

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Interactive Pods in the Visitor Center

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Before The Silo

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After

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Introducing the “Ag Around You” Discovery Center

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• 2. Remodel the Feed Mill

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Before

After

Feed Mill: Transformed into a three- season classroom space

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Interactive Play and Discover Areas

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• 3. Add an

Accessible Playground

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• 4. Expand

educational programming and outreach

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Goals & Outcomes

 Year-round education  Increase attendance by at

least 50% the first year to more than 20,000 visitors

 New learning opportunities

for older students

 Attract a wider, regional

audience

 Seek new partnerships with

complementary organizations

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Capital Campaign Gift Levels

Gifts to the Campaign:

 Can be pledged over multiple years  Fulfilled on a schedule convenient to you  Lead Gifts ($100,000 or more) will be

publicly announced and celebrated

 Early gifts at this level may align with a

unique naming opportunity

 All gifts of $2,500 or more will be

acknowledged prominently on a donor wall of honor within the Visitor Center

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 For the last 41 years, Farmamerica

has been helping people explore the history of agriculture through hands-on experiences.

 Now it is time for us to help people

personally connect with the story

• f today’s agriculture.

 Through our capital campaign

we will better utilize our current square footage and develop new partnerships along with create more educational opportunities and interest in ag careers.

Will you join us?

Contact: Jessica Rollins, Executive Director 507-835-2052 jrollins@Farmamerica.org

Thank You!

Your Q&A