Former Minnesota State Fair CEO Jerry Hammer, former USDA Wildlife Service Supervisor John Hart, and former Director of Government and Agriculture Outreach for University of Minnesota Extension Tom Rothman have received the Minnesota Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award at the organization's 106th Annual Meeting Awards Banquet Nov. 22 in Minnetonka. 

 

This annual award recognizes an individual who’s work has made a significant impact on agriculture in our state.

 

Jerry Hammer

Jerry Hammer retired in the spring of 2023 after an incredible 53-year career at the Minnesota State Fair, including 26 years as CEO. He is the longest-serving chief executive in the 169-year history of the Fair. 

 

During his tenure, Jerry oversaw remarkable growth in attendance, programming, and revenue, contributing to an annual economic impact of $300 million in the Twin Cities and beyond. Under his leadership, the 322-acre fairgrounds underwent nearly $180 million in improvements, including renovations and expansions—all achieved without public funding. Many of these initiatives were facilitated through the State Fair’s bonding authority and the Minnesota State Fair Foundation, both established during his early years as CEO. Jerry takes pride in the Fair’s professional staff, whose expertise and dedication ensure the event’s success.

 

A lifelong resident of St. Paul’s Como Park neighborhood, Jerry began his journey at the Fair in 1970 as a 15-year-old in the greenhouse. He held various positions before becoming CEO in 1997. His leadership extends to his role as past chairman of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions and the Mid-West Fairs Association, earning him numerous awards, including induction into the IAFE Hall of Fame.

 

John Hart

John Hart is an important figure in Minnesota, working tirelessly on issues impacting farmers and ranchers in relation to the gray wolf population in the northern part of the state. 

 

John has been involved professionally with Minnesota agriculture since 1989 as a trapper, wildlife biologist and supervisor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Wildlife Services program in northern Minnesota. He retired from federal service in early 2024. During his career with Wildlife Services John worked extensively with Minnesota livestock producers, other agencies, NGO’s and elected officials to develop, implement and deliver an effective wolf damage management program. John was also very involved with the successful effort to end Bovine Tuberculosis in NW Minnesota. 

 

John currently owns and operates his own business, Custom Wildlife Capture and Consulting, LLC.

 

Tom Rothman

Tom Rothman has dedicated over 40 years to telling the story of agriculture in a variety of ways with a variety of audiences. 

 

He began his career on air in Iowa before joining the Minnesota News Network, where he served as farm director for 30 years. During his tenure, he helped expand the network from three affiliates to over 50, capturing farm stories from across the state, providing legislative updates, and offering insights into Minnesota agriculture. Tom’s career also included international experiences, participating in trade missions and other global engagements that enriched his understanding of agriculture on a broader scale.

 

After leaving broadcasting, Tom joined the University of Minnesota Extension as the Director of Agricultural Stakeholder Outreach. In this role, he leveraged the relationships he had built to strengthen connections between Extension and agricultural stakeholders throughout the state. In 2021, he transitioned to the role of Director of Government and Agriculture Outreach for Extension, focusing on raising awareness of the value of University of Minnesota Extension among elected officials and their staff.

 

Throughout his career, Tom has served on various boards, including the Minnesota FFA 

Foundation, Farmamerica, and the Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation.