How Can I Help?
The West Central Minnesota Food Council operates by working groups that form and dissolve as needed. They are task-oriented and meet monthly to accomplish goals. These meetings are open to individuals and organizations interested in working on the working group goals, whether or not they are members of the Food Council.
Recruitment Working Group
As the Council grows from a 4- to a 16-county region, we're on a mission to recruit new members to serve and represent these new areas of our region, as well as replace members who completed their 2 and 3 year term limits. Stay tuned for our hybrid event taking place on April 7th, 2026 from 4-6 p.m. to learn more about the food council and what opportunities are available to serve.
Meet the Chair
Interim Chair - Patrick Hollister
Meeting Time: Feb.-Apr. every 2 weeks
Contact: patrick.hollister@claycountymn.gov
Artificial Intelligence Capacity Building Training
With funding from the Better Food Policy Fund, the Food Council will be offering a training series dedicated to the food and farming community to help them access financial resources in the wake up disappearing funds at the state and federal level.
This training will be held in late summer/early fall 2026.
If you're passionate about AI tools and how they can be used to make our region's food system more resilient, join our working group as a volunteer! Contact the working group chair using the information below.
Meet the Chair
Meet the Current Council Members & Advisory Team
Jason Bergstrand
Council Manager
Advisory Team Member
Emily Reno
Council Coordinator
Advisory Team Member
Patrick Hollister
Advisory Team Member
Harold Stanislawski
Food Council Member
Julie Smith
Food Council Member
Lori Vrolson
Food Council Member
Emily McCune
Food Council Member
Olivia Olson
Food Council Member
Bjorn Solberg
Food Council Member
Heather Nesemeier
Food Council Member
Cleophace Mukeba
Food Council Member