Grand Opening at Ag Innovation Campus in Crookston

On Thursday, Ag Innovation Campus in Crookston held their grand opening and ribbon cutting.

R&J Ag reporter Nick Revier talked with a couple of the Crookston FFA members who were helping at the event.

Tom Slunecka, CEO of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council and Ag Management Solutions, talks about the crush plant’s value to the area.

Slunecka says crushing will get underway in early October.

Slunecka talks about the Identity Preservation part of the plan.

Slunecka says the plan is to purchase beans locally.

Shannon Schlecht, Executive Director of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) talks about highlights of the AIC celebration.

Schlecht says the project has had some challenges that caused delays.

Schlecht says once the crush plant gets underway, AURI, and others, will be more involved in marketing opportunities.

Being a little bit of a smaller plant, Schlecht says that could give the crush plant in Crookston more opportunities for specialization.