Every day Minnesota Farm Bureau members strive to make a positive influence with our families, a positive influence on our farms and a positive influence with our Farm Bureau policies. Two specific members have made very intentional commitments to Minnesota Farm Bureau.

On January 4, Nancy Petschl announced that she would be retiring from her position as Treasurer on April 5. For 35 plus years, Nancy has helped guide our organization with her dedication, financial leadership, attention to detail and unwavering loyalty. Her efforts and dedication to Farm Bureau and her work with our state board of directors, insurance affiliates, local counties and individual members will be sincerely missed. We wish Nancy and Jack many years of great retirement.

With sad hearts, Minnesota Farm Bureau members celebrated God’s grace in the life of our long-time friend and employee Vern Ingvalson. Vern served MFBF for 32 years as our chief lobbyist and Director of the MFB Foundation, retiring on December 19, 1994. He served our organization well as an excellent employee, a knowledgeable, well-respected advocate of Farm Bureau policy in St. Paul and as a wonderful friend to many of us. Vern worked tirelessly on the issues of property tax reform and strengthening the protection farmers have under Minnesota’s Nuisance Suit Liability Laws. He worked on Minnesota’s Wetland Conservation Act and incorporating agriculture exemptions into the legislation, as well as bringing favorable changes to Minnesota’s Corporate Farm Law. The Minnesota House of Representatives approved a special House Resolution commending Vern for his honesty, integrity and diligence in representing the policies of Farm Bureau members. Minnesota Farm Bureau presented our highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award to Vern at our 76th Annual Meeting.

Vern had an intentional commitment to be a positive influence in all that he did. He was purposeful in encouraging others to take hold of an optimistic attitude, to keep moving forward and stay engaged with whatever circumstances came their way. Vern consistently modeled this heart and mind approach to life, and this is what helped him gallantly fight a 19-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. And it was this template for life that he fought the battle so amazingly well. He continued to stay engaged with family, travel and his rich life at Woodbury Lutheran Church. LaVerne Dale Ingvalson will be deeply missed by soul mate and wife of 60 years, Marlene, children, Debra (Mark) Hurrle, Scott and Robyn (Jim) Tretter, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Soon we will back in the fields. Please take a minute on a fine spring day that is sure to come to remember those that we have worked with in the past that have moved on to new stages in their lives or have passed from us. Remember the good times and that we were fortunate to have our lives touched by them. And above all else, have a safe and productive planting season.