CROOKSTON, Minn. — The inaugural lecture in a new University of Minnesota Crookston series honoring a key agriculture figure in Minnesota will focus on geopolitics and its intersection with agriculture. The goal is to discuss how those in rural communities can work together to push the field forward.
U of M Crookston Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause wants the event to show people how changes in geopolitics can impact local and nationwide agriculture.
“When something happens, it affects other sectors across the United States,” she said.
“The Changing Geopolitical Landscape and Opportunities for Agriculture” will be the inaugural lecture for the series, scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Bede Ballroom on the U of M Crookston campus.
The lecture series, which will encourage interaction and collaboration between people in the agriculture ecosystem, will start with a conversation about co-creating new ideas to advance agriculture and rural communities, a press release announcing the event said. It will feature a tribute to its namesake, Bob Bergland, by USDA Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack.
Bergland was a Minnesota House of Representatives member from 1971 to 1977 and United States secretary of agriculture from 1977 to 1981. He also served as an official of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Science for the Department of Agriculture from 1963 to 1968 and, while a representative, served on subcommittees for conservation and credit, and livestock, grains, dairy and poultry. Bergland died in 2018 and is the namesake for U of M Crookston’s laboratory building.
“The Bergland family is very honored and proud to have this lecture series named after him,” Diane Dahl, Bergland’s daughter, said in the release.
The lecture will be provided by Jacob Shapiro, head of Geopolitics and Macro Research at Bespoke — a multi-family office serving families and entrepreneurs — and host of “The Jacob Shapiro Podcast,” which focuses on interviews about geopolitics, agriculture, technology and other fields.
“I’ve heard him speak, and it’s just absolutely fascinating,” Holz-Clause said.
Following Shapiro’s lecture will be a breakout discussion about the future of the agriculture ecosystem.
Those interested in attending the lecture can RSVP to Chris Winjum at
or by calling 218-281-8343 by Monday, Dec. 2.
Otto is the region reporter for the Grand Forks Herald.