SACE connects students to agriculture industry

By LAURA COLE The Land Staff Writer

It’s a busy time of year for the Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence (SACE). The Center collaborates with the ag industry and educators to ensure students are equipped to succeed in their future careers. SACE’s Executive Director, Dr. Megan Roberts, recently spoke about the program and their current work.

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

operate eight Centers of Excellence. The Centers stemmed from an initiative of then Governor Tim Pawlenty. According to SACE’s website, the first four were established in 2006 and the following four in 2013. The Minnesota State Centers of Excellence aim to “help students gain access to the latest technologies and work-based learning opportunities, and facilitate education and training for business partners to meet their workforce needs today and into the future.”

Each Center focuses on one of the following industries: agriculture, energy, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and engineering, and transportation. The agriculture industry has two Centers: one for the northern region and the other for the southern region. Each Center has a campus home; SACE’s is located at South Central College in North Mankato, Minn. While Roberts stated SACE and its counterpart, Minnesota State Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence (AgCentric), have very similar missions, the nature of their geography leads them to differ in such areas as industry partnerships and educational initiatives.

Roberts’ focus at SACE is in direct alignment with Minnesota State’s three-part mission of engaging industry, enhancing education, and inspiring students.

“A high priority area for SACE right now includes making connections between community college programs and university programs, so students can experience successful transfer between two-year and four-year degree programs in Minnesota,” Robert stated.

“We are also really focused on making sure college ag students have access to high-tech modern agricultural equipment and curriculum. Partnering with private industry will be key in attaining new investments to support our collegiate agricultural programs.”

Roberts was recently a part of GreenSeam’s State of Ag report as one of the educational faculty members. Such involvement helps her to have “a pulse on what’s going on in our region.” She also values interactions with the ag workforce, as well as with students at career fairs. She states those conversations are one of many aspects that help her in determining how to best execute SACE’s mission.

“We are here to serve,” she emphasized.

One of SACE’s biggest events, Career Connections, is coming up on April 24 at the Minnesota State FFA Convention. Roberts explained that SACE, AgCentric and the FFA Foundation hold the annual career and college fair expo for FFA students. She commented, “Last year, 4,000 students attended the event, and we are hopeful we will reach as many in 2023.”

Providing a quality service is of high value to Roberts. She stressed the importance of meeting students where their needs are and of providing courses and resources that will help them navigate their path. One program geared toward that goal is Farm Business Management (FBM), which is offered at seven colleges in Minnesota.

“At the farmer level, SACE works to