Advisory Committees

Citizens' Advisory Committee

This volunteer committee provides consultative support to the Extension Dean. The committee meets two times a year to discuss Extension priorities. See Guiding Principles to learn more about the committee and its work.

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  Michael J. Kennedy, Chair

  Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Education Specialist
  Lake County, Two Harbors

  Mike has been an education specialist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the past eight years. He served as the associate director for education at the Raptor Center, University of MN from 1995-1999. He continues to serve as a Lake County Extension Committee member; currently he is chair.

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  Julie Buntjer

  Nobles County, Worthington

  Julie has a degree in agriculture journalism and has worked in many aspects of journalism including covering issues on agriculture, county government, public health, watersheds and feature writing. Julie is involved in Extension as a 4-H mentor, 4-H past club leader, county 4-H director, County Extension Committee member and is a graduate of the U-Lead Advisory Academy. One of her recent awards is the statewide media award from the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

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  Tim Gerlach

  Dakota County, Eagan

  Tim's background includes 20 years of experience in biofuels and environmental work. Most recently, Tim was appointed executive director of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council. Previous appointments include managing the USDA-supported National Alternative Fuels Laboratory Program at the University of North Dakota's Energy & Environmental Research Center, leadership positions for the Minnesota E85 Coalition and American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest.

• Joan Jagt

  Business Partner, County Commissioner
  Lincoln County, Tyler

  Joan has served five years as a Lincoln County Extension Committee member. She was in the first cohort of Extension’s U-Lead Advisory Academy.

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  Douglas Hoffbauer

  St. Louis County, Duluth

  Douglas has a degree in forest resource management from the University. He worked as a gardener and greenhouse program director at the North East Regional Corrections Center. Douglas and his wife, Lois, have been members of the Duluth Farmers market for 28 years, selling various vegetables from their 10-acre farm. Additionally, they grow 35 acres of Christmas trees and sell trees and wreaths through local retailers during the holiday season. Douglas's Extension history includes serving as chair/vice chair for of St. Louis County Extension Committee (9 years) and serving on Grand Rapids horticulture research advisory committee.

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  Mark Koehn

  Morrison County, Holdingford

  Mark grew up on a dairy/hog farm, worked as an independent pork producer until he became an agricultural appraiser in 1997. Mark has served on the Morrison County Extension Committee and continues to be involved in civic and community boards, including Upsala Cooperative Telephone Association, Morrison County FHA Loan committee and Holdingford Area Historical society (Founder, past President).

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  Randy Maluchnik

  Carver County, Chaska

  Randy, a retired Army National Guard Staff Sergeant, is on the County Board of Commissioners for Carver County. He was recently elected as 2012 President of the Association of Minnesota Counties. In addition to his commissioner work, Randy serves on numerous committees for county development, transit and watershed initiatives as well as advocacy for veterans and families.

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  Paula Mohr

  Anoka County, Anoka

  Paula grew up on a dairy farm in Michigan and was active in 4-H. After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in agriculture communications and natural resources, Paula worked as a reporter for the Cadillac Evening News, associated editor with Dairy Today and presently is editor of The Farmer. In each of her positions, Paula relied on Extension agents and specialists to serve as valid sources for her pieces. In her community, Paula serves as a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, is treasurer of Anoka High School Swim & Dive Booster Club and is a member of the Class VI of the MARL program.

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  Dwain Schuette

  State Farm Insurance Agent
  Douglas County, Aledandria

  Dwain has been a State Farm Insurance agent in Alexandria for the past 33 years. He has provided funding for local 4-H awards during fair week, and has hosted the 4-H award program representing the local Rotary Club. He has been the past president of Rotary; past president of Lake Le Homme Dieu Association; past president of Viking Sportsmen. He is currently the vice president & education director of the Minnesota Lakes Maritime Museum where he has given guided tours to over 700 people.

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  Samuel Schuth

  Hennepin County, Minneapolis

  Sam currently serves as the State Director of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the nation's largest grant maker in support of service and volunteering. Prior to his work at CNCS, Sam worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia, West Africa, as a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio, and as a manager of community development efforts in 15 nations for a St. Paul-based non-profit organization. Sam has Extension ties through the joint work in the creation and implementation of the Latino and East African Financial Literacy Program. Sam has received numerous awards for his public service, including the Dean's Award for Distinguished Diversity and Inclusion, the State Diversity Award from Epsilon Sigma and the Mary W. Wells Memorial Diversity Award from the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences.

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  Kristi Stoltz

  Anoka-Ramsey Community College Student
  Isanti County, Isanti

  Kristi has been in 4-H for 13 years and is a member of the “Strike the Gold” club in Isanti County. Kristi has been very involved in school and community activities. She is currently a freshman at Anoka-Ramsey Community College where she is working on her general prerequisites and hopes to pursue a degree in education.

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  Linnea Stromberg-Wise

  Marketing, advertising and public relations, Retiree
  Carver County, Chaska

  Linnea’s career has been in marketing, advertising and public relations. After serving 20 years at Valleyfair Family Amusement Park and Cedar Fair, she retired in 2001 as the vice president of marketing. She has been a member of the U of M Tourism Advisory Committee for 10 years.

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  Kent Thiesse

  MinnStar Bank, Vice President and Ag Loan Officer
  Blue Earth County, Lake Crystal

  Kent is vice president and ag loan officer for MinnStar Bank in Lake Crystal.  In 2003, he retired from a 28-year career as an Extension educator in agriculture and 4-H youth development. He currently writes a weekly column, “Focus on Ag” that is distributed to local newspapers and 30 agricultural media outlets.  Some of Kent’s recent accomplishments include:  induction into the Minnesota Livestock “Hall of Fame,” 2006; Extension Director’s Team Award for “Winning the Game,” 2002; National USDA Service Award for the Rural Response Team” program, 2001; and the statewide Extension Distinguished Field Staff Award, 1999.

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  Tom Wegner

  Land O’Lakes Cooperative, Director of Economics and Dairy Policy
  Hennepin County, Minneapolis

  Since 2005, Tom has been the director of economics and dairy policy for Land O’Lakes Cooperative where he monitors national, regional and state regulatory issues that affect dairy farmer members as well as Land O’Lakes dairy manufacturing. From 1993 to 2005, he was an Extension educator specializing in natural resource issues and collaborated on educational programs with a wide variety of campus faculty, community stakeholders and Extension administrators. Tom also served as an area program leader in the College of Natural Resources working with federal, state and local elected officials. Earlier in his career, Tom worked for the New York State Senate, U.S. Department of Agriculture and served as a Peace Corps volunteer.

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  Rhonda Weis

  Dodge County, Pine Island

  Rhonda grew up involved in 4-H, worked as a dairy farmer and mother for 20 years. She now works as a supervisor at the Transplant Center of Mayo Hospital working with Mayo leadership to provide customer service training classes for about 900 employees on a quarterly basis. Rhonda is involved in community programs, including 4-H, State Dog Show (judge), Dodge County American Dairy Association, Dodge County Dairy Herd Improvement Association and Dodge County Extension Committee. Rhonda has received several special awards including Friends of 4-H in Dodge County, Farm Family of the Year (1996) and the Mayo Clinic Above and Beyond Award for her leadership in the Transplant Center.

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  Matthew Wohlman

  Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
  Hennepin, Richfield

  Matthew Wohlman is Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.  Prior to this appointment in 2011 he served for four years as outreach director for U.S. Congressman Tim Walz, Minnesota’s First Congressional District.  Matt spent two years working in U.S. Senator Mark Dayton’s office and three and a half years as legislative aide to Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon at the Minnesota State Senate.

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  Marvin Zutz

  Minnesota Barley Council and Minnesota Turf Seed Council, Executive Director
  Hennepin, Red Lake Falls

  Marv Zutz serves as the executive director for Minnesota Barley Council and Minnesota Turf Seed Council. He has worked extensively with Extension in research and agriculture promotion. Marv is active in grower outreach activities with the Barley Coordinated Agricultural Project (CAP), funded by the National Research Initiative (NRI) of the USDA. The project involves government and public- and private-sector laboratories and links laboratory and field research with education and outreach. It uses modern tools of genomics to facilitate classical plant breeding efforts to develop superior barley varieties.