Get to know Senator Matt Schmit
Senator Matt Schmit is serving his first term in the Minnesota State Senate, serving District 21. He serves as vice chair of the Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, and also serves on the following committees: Capital Investment; Environment and Energy; and Finance--Environment. He earned his MPP from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. from St. John's University. Below is a short Q&A with Sen. Schmit.
Why did you initially want to serve on AURI's board? I grew up in the heart of farm country in southeastern Minnesota and have a deep appreciation for agriculture's role in our state's history, quality of life and economic competitiveness. As a legislator, I serve on the agriculture policy and finance potential. I'm drawn to the AURI mission and have been honored to represent the Minnesota State Senate on the board.
What value does AURI bring to Minnesota that you're most proud of? Policymakers look for opportunities that create and leverage "value added." Agriculture is a prime example of how productivity and innovation in one sector of our economy can create new opportunities in other areas, such as manufacturing, energy or consumer products. AURI strives to identify, create or develop these opportunities, which adds value to Minnesota's broader economy and quality of life.
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