Election season has arrived for the Minnesota Association of Wheat Growers (MAWG).
As the organization marks its 50th year of operations in 2025, MAWG needs strong leaders at its helm more than ever to keep the ship steady amid a tumultuous political climate.
“When there are important issues in this part of the country, the wheat growers have led the fight on quite a few issues,” MAWG President Kevin Leiser said. “MAWG is talking to the people voting on the issues that directly and indirectly impact Minnesota wheat growers.”
Since 1975, MAWG has represented Minnesota wheat producers in St. Paul and Washington, D.C. With two seats in District 1 and two at-large positions on the election ballot, MAWG is positioned to ensure wheat producers are represented at the legislative table.
MAWG First Vice President Austen Germolus, who is an at-large director, and Director Erik Younggren, who represents District 1, are seeking reelection. After serving Minnesota wheat growers for five years, MAWG Second Vice President Justin Osowski isn’t pursuing reelection, opening his District 1 seat. And with a vacant at-large position, there are multiple opportunities for producers to become engaged in advocacy.
“I think that growers need to be involved in the rules that they operate under and involved in the decision-making process and advocating for rules and policies that are beneficial to farmers and to the industry,” Younggren said.
Seven Minnesota wheat producers serve on MAWG’s board of directors: two represent District 1, two represent District 2 and three at-large directors serve the entire state. Directors serve three-year terms on the board with a term limitation of three consecutive three-year terms.
“MAWG is a great organization that really cares about wheat as a commodity, and as a wheat grower, I want to continue to support our industry and see it thrive in Minnesota,” Germolus said. “It’s important to have an organization that advocates for the growers in the state.”
The nomination deadline to become a candidate is Dec. 11, 2024. If interested in becoming a MAWG director, please call 218-253-4311 ext. 1 with any questions or to place your name on the ballot. Nomination forms can be found at https://mnwheat.org/growers/districts/.
Elections for at-large positions will be conducted during the MAWG Annual Business Meeting, Dec. 11, 2024. Elections for District 1 will be conducted by mail ballot.
