Mission
The Irrigators Association of Minnesota (IAM) supports new science-based research on irrigation management and provides advocacy at the state and local level for the right of farmers to irrigate.
History
Established in 1975 as a non-profit organization, IAM is the only statewide association solely concerned with irrigated agriculture and dedicated to the management of Minnesota land and water resources.
Advocacy
We advocate with the state legislators on key issues that matter to our members.
Officers and Directors
President Jake Wildman
Vice President Anna Bregier
Treasurer Fletcher Syltie
Secretary Jason Halvorson
Lee Hanson, Legal Advisor, Hanson Law
Jerry Wright, Membership Secretary
Bonanza Valley
Grant Anderson – AFREC Representative
Jason Halvorson
Central Irrigators
Ben Deuel
Kristi Anderson – NWATS
Dairyland
David Kolb – AFREC alternate
East Central
Jeff Edling
Ross Imholte
Pomme de Terre
Johnny Carruth
Southeast
Terry Stoudt
Matt Bester
Southern
Kevin Rohwer
Upper Mississippi
Marlene Schlichting
Dean Zimmerman
Industry Representatives
Jeff McManigle, West Central Irrigation
Jake Tomsche, Traut Companies
Dan Bauer, Kimmes-Bauer Irrigation
Mark Koch, Compeer Financial – Waite Park
Daniel Whitney, Northwest AqwaTek Solutions
At Large
Ryan Peterson
Byron Fischer
Our Partners
Comments by the IAM President Jake Wildman
Greetings IAM Members, I hope everyone one had a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. From all of us at IAM, I hope 2023 brings you joy and happiness.
I just want to first start out by saying thank you to every member that has supported IAM. Over the last year or so, the board has made it goal to get to that 500 member mark and I can tell you that goal has been achieved in 2022. Thank you to all of the long time members, as well as the new members who joined in 2022. The board cannot express enough how much we appreciate all of your support. It means so much, and we will continue to do everything in our power to advocate for your right to irrigate in 2023 and beyond.
It’s that time a year again where the board has been busy planning IAM’s annual meeting and convention. We are still working out some of the details, but in the newsletter you will be able to find a tentative agenda for the day. The event is scheduled to take place on February 16th at the community center in Freeport MN. I feel we have a nice line-up of speakers again this year that will present on some interesting topics. I hope you are all able to attend and I look forward to seeing many of you on the 16th.
On the legislative side of things, IAM along with our lobbyist, have been busy preparing for legislative session that started at the beginning of the month. As you are all aware, there was an election that took place last November which resulted in some changes in St.Paul. Because of these changes, IAM feels it will be more important than ever to have an active presence down at the capital and we plan on doing just that. There are a lot of new faces on both sides of the isle and all of us the Ag community, not just us as irrigators, need to be in front of these newly elected officials telling our story and discussing our issues. We need to be the ones forming the narrative before the narrative is formed for us.
I am excited to announce that IAM is planning Day on the Hill at capital again this year. We are currently working on the details, but please mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 28th. I will have more details at the annual meeting and you will also be able to find them on IAM’s website as they come available. You can also register to on attend the event on the website as well. I can’t stress enough the importance of having good attendance for events like this, so if your schedule allows, please plan on joining IAM at the capital for day on the hill.
I’ll wrap up by just saying thank you again for all of your support. There will definitely be challenges over the next few years, no doubt. But I can assure you IAM will face these challenges head on and continue to represent your interests as irrigators so you are able to irrigate today and into the future.
Hopefully I’ll see many of you at one of our events coming up here in February and I hope everyone has a good rest of the winter.
IAM 