Agricultural Utilization Research Institute

“The form 990 is electronically sent to the board of directors for review and is then discussed and approved at a board meeting prior to filing.”

“Board members are required to sign a conflict of interest agreement upon being seated on the auri board of directors and it is reviewed and signed-off upon annually, thereafter. Auri requires board members to disclose any actual or perceived conflicts of interest with auri.”

“The auri board of directors conducts an annual evaluation/review of the executive director's performance. The board of directors decides upon and approves the compensation of the executive director with input from auri's human resources department. The auri human resources department looks at comparable data to substantiate the compensation, along with input from an independent company. The salaries, wages and benefits of all auri employees are included in the annual budget, which is reviewed and approved by the executive director and board of directors annually. All compensation of auri employees is reviewed by its human resources department and an independent party prior to hire and reviewed annually, thereafter.”

“Governing documents and conflict of interest policies are available upon request to the executive director. Financial statements are made publicly available at all board meetings and upon request to the executive director.”

“Shannon schlecht - 510 county road 71, ste #120, crookston, mn 56716.”

“Mr. Kenneth asp represented mn wheat research & promotional council until being replaced by ms. Mikayla tabert in january of 2024. Mr. Joe serbus represents mn soybean research & promotional council. Mr. John schafer represents mn beef council. Mr. Jerry hasnedl represented minnesota farmer's union until being replaced by mr. Ted winter in january of 2024. Mr. Jeff grev, works for hormel corporation and represents agri-business on auri's board of directors. Ms. Lauren mcnamara works for sunopta and represents an agri-business seat on auri's board of directors. Mn wheat, mn soybean, mn beef, mn farmer's union, hormel and sunopta may or may not be collaborators on some of auri's projects. Shannon schlecht and jimmy gosse, employees of auri served as board members for the ag innovation campus. Leadership in this project included mn soybean growers, mn soybean research and promotion council, and farmers union industries, all of which collaborate on some projects with auri. The ag innovation campus closed and dissolved in september of 2024.”