Join NCR-SARE's Administrative Council

Marisol Berti is a professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University. She is a board member with the American Forage Grassland Council and the Soil and Water Conservation Society North Dakota Chapter. She is also a member of NCR-SARE's Administrative Council.

"Being on the AC of NCR-SARE for five years has been a wonderful experience for me. I always look forward to the in-person meetings. The AC is a group of amazing people, willing to share their experiences on their sustainable agriculture journey, regardless of their activity or background. Reviewing and discussing proposals for different programs gives you a rare opportunity to see the creativity and resilience of farmers in the North Central region, while learning innovative ideas to increase the sustainability of food production." - Marisol Berti

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The North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) is seeking nominees for a seat* on its Administrative Council (AC):

One rural sociologist (the individual should have expertise in rural sociology and/or quality of life factors pertaining to the social aspects of agricultural sustainability)

NCR-SARE Administrative Council members must live and work in one of the 12 states that make up the North Central SARE region. Those states are IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, and WI.

NCR-SARE’s Administrative Council represents various agricultural sectors, states, and organizations. It sets program priorities and makes granting decisions for the region. A collection of farm and non-farm residents, the Administrative Council includes a diverse mix of agricultural stakeholders in our 12 states. Council members come from regional farms and ranches, university extension and research programs, and nonprofits. In addition, the Administrative Council includes regional representatives of the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, state agencies, and agribusinesses.

The term for this SARE Administrative Council position is three years. Council members attend two in-person meetings a year, typically 2-3 day meetings in February and July at various Midwest locations, and participate in a few virtual meetings each year. Travel expenses are fully covered for travel to Administrative Council meetings.

Applicants should understand sustainable agriculture well and be comfortable reviewing grant proposals and participating in a group decision-making process. Members of the Administrative Council are not eligible to apply for SARE funding during their time on the Administrative Council. More information about NCR-SARE and the Administrative Council is online at https://northcentral.sare.org/about/ncr-sare-leadership-and-policies/.

To apply for a seat on the NCR-SARE Administrative Council, submit the following information using our online form. Applications are due January 9, 2026 by 4pm central.

Information we request (the first two items are collected through the online form):

your areas of interest or focus in sustainable agriculture
why you are interested in serving on the NCR-SARE Administrative Council
a short bio or cv/resume covering your experience, affiliations, and/or qualifications

NCR-SARE is one of four regional offices that run the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, a nationwide grants and education program to advance sustainable innovation to American agriculture. Since 1988, NCR-SARE has awarded more than $80 million worth of competitive grants to farmers, ranchers, researchers, educators, public and private institutions, nonprofit groups, and others in 12 states. The SARE program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).

Questions may be directed to Betsy Wieland at eliza003@umn.edu or 612-626-6556.