Carolyn Olson’s nine years of service on the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute’s (AURI) Board of Directors will end in January 2027. Representing the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, Olson has brought decades of farming experience, agricultural leadership, and a strong interest in innovation to the board.
Olson has been farming for nearly 38 years, beginning when she married her husband, Jonathan, and joined him on the farm. Though she grew up in the Twin Cities metro area, agriculture was already familiar to her through summers spent on her grandparents’ farm and time with cousins who farmed.
“I have worked on the farm since we got home from our honeymoon and have loved it,” Olson notes. “I love the lifestyle, but also just love what we do.”
Olson and her husband farmed conventionally for their first decade before exploring organic production in the 1990s. In 1998, they began transitioning their first field to organic production. Today, their operation includes approximately 1,100 acres of certified organic cropland, where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and other small grains, as well as occasional alfalfa. They also raise seed, continuing a tradition in her husband’s family that dates back to the 1930s.
Her leadership journey began through the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation. Olson has served in positions ranging from county board director and president to district director representing 12 counties in southwest Minnesota and, most recently, vice president of the organization. Through Farm Bureau, she was eventually encouraged to represent the organization on AURI’s board.
The opportunity immediately appealed to her. “Out of the box thinking, small organization, but with big potential,” Olson explains of what attracted her to AURI. She was especially interested in the wide variety of projects the organization supports, from food products to biobased innovations.
Some of Olson’s favorite memories have come from seeing and experiencing those projects firsthand. She particularly remembers trying Amazing Chickpea® chocolate spread, which she appreciated as an alternative to Nutella® for people who cannot eat hazelnuts. Another lasting impression came when she received a small bag of Kernza® flour to test at home. An avid baker, Olson made two batches of vanilla bean scones, one using wheat flour and another incorporating Kernza flour, and brought them to a Minnesota Farm Bureau board meeting for a taste test. “They loved the opportunity to participate in the testing,” Olson says.
During her time on the board, Olson witnessed AURI become a more collaborative organization. She recalls a time when different areas of expertise operated more independently; strategic planning has helped bring staff and programs together.
“Now everybody works together, and the workflow, to me, is much better, and it makes a lot more sense,” Olson observes. “I think we’re really opening ourselves up for a lot of good innovation from a good, well-rounded staff, because everybody is collaborating.”
Olson has also watched AURI diversify its funding through grants and partnerships and improve the onboarding process for new board members. As secretary-treasurer, she has paid particular attention to AURI’s finances, governance, and long-term strength.
When asked what she is most proud of personally, Olson hopes she has helped strengthen board culture, encouraged governance training, and fostered an environment where members can contribute openly.
As AURI looks toward future board members, Olson believes a strong board depends on having people with different personalities, backgrounds, and experiences. She acknowledges that farmers can sometimes feel intimidated by the professional and educational qualifications of others around the table, but believes those credentials are not what ultimately determine whether someone will be a strong contributor. Instead, she looks for someone willing to work with others, speak up, build trust, and openly share the knowledge and experiences they bring to the board. “It takes all kinds of personalities, and it takes all kinds of backgrounds to make a successful board,” Olson notes.
As her term comes to an end, Olson hopes AURI continues receiving the support needed to pursue new opportunities while remaining focused on Minnesota agriculture. She wants the organization to keep thinking outside the box, supporting farmers and finding new uses and markets for Minnesota agricultural commodities.
She is also proud of AURI’s growing visibility. “We’ve gone from being the best-kept secret in Minnesota to being a lot more visible,” Olson says. “And it’s something that I’m proud of — to have been on the board when that has happened.”
AURI Executive Director Shannon Schlecht reflects: “As a board director, Carolyn has been committed to AURI’s mission from day one. She has regularly represented us at events, spoken on panels to share a farmer or innovation perspective, informed strategic direction, and raised awareness of AURI’s role in Minnesota’s agriculture industry and across her network. I’m constantly amazed by the number of hats she wears and the leadership roles she actively and enthusiastically commits to. She brings insights and a connective mindset, weaving together various touchpoints to further the organizations she engages with and to support Minnesota agriculture. Carolyn consistently shared diverse, practical perspectives and kept AURI’s mission and Minnesota agriculture in mind when contributing to our programs, ultimately ensuring their impact. Thank you, Carolyn, for nine years of dedicated service and leadership to AURI and for advancing innovative, impactful opportunities that benefit Minnesota agriculture!”
