A steady voice for Minnesota’s agriculture, food and natural resources: Community partners reflect on Dean Brian Buhr’s leadership

For more than a decade, Dean Buhr has led the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences through a period of significant change in higher education, agriculture and public research.

The role required balancing competing priorities across one of the University's broadest and most publicly connected colleges — one deeply tied to Minnesota's agricultural economy, natural resources, rural communities and future workforce.

As Buhr prepares to conclude his 13-year tenure as dean, CFANS asked several of the College's longtime partners and stakeholders to reflect on his leadership and the impact of his work. Their perspectives span agriculture, industry, government, higher education and community organizations.

Leadership roles like Buhr's rarely come without competing expectations or criticism, given their high visibility and consequential nature  Yet through these reflections, several consistent themes emerged: a commitment to partnership, a belief in the land-grant mission, and a leadership style rooted in listening, relationship-building and public service.

As Beth Ford, President and CEO of Land O'Lakes, put it, Buhr brought a steady hand to the College while helping strengthen collaboration across local food, agriculture and natural resources industries

"Brian Buhr has been a steady, thoughtful leader for CFANS. He strengthened the College and advanced collaboration across food, agriculture, and natural resources by leading with integrity, curiosity, and a deep belief in partnership. I've valued his approach and his commitment to advancing innovation, education, and partnerships that truly serve farmers, students, and communities," said Ford.

That emphasis on dedicated partnership surfaced repeatedly throughout the conversations.

Doug Huebsch, chair of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, said Buhr understood something fundamental about the College's role in Minnesota: agriculture, natural resources and thriving communities are deeply interconnected.

"Brian Buhr has made a real difference for CFANS, the University of Minnesota, and for communities across our state. He understood that healthy natural resources, strong agriculture, and a thriving rural economy all depend on people working together — farmers, researchers, students, industry leaders, and local communities alike."

Huebsch said Buhr also never lost sight of the College's statewide responsibility and its role in helping prepare Minnesota for the future.

"Throughout his tenure, he never lost sight of CFANS's responsibility to serve Greater Minnesota and help prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead. We're grateful for his steady leadership, collaborative spirit, and his deep commitment to the University's belief that innovation and community go hand in hand," said Huebsch.

Longtime alumni volunteer, past president of the University of Minnesota Alumni Association and agricultural advocate Pat Duncanson saw Buhr’s commitment firsthand through years of working together, including annual advocacy visits to Washington, D.C., on behalf of land-grant universities through the Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET).

Duncanson recalled hearing Buhr speak passionately about the value of public research and education and their impact on society.

"I was able to hear his unrehearsed and unabashed belief statements that public research and education have the power to transform individuals and our nation," said Duncanson.

Drawing on both his academic training and his belief in the public value of higher education, Buhr consistently made the case for research, teaching and Extension, even when support was far from guaranteed.

"Dr. Buhr was able to advocate by making the case for continued investment in research and higher education when some lawmakers were just not excited to do so. Dr. Buhr had the long-range vision to continue to work for what is right," said Duncanson.

For Duncanson, the relationship was personal as well as professional.

"It has been a joy to have worked side by side with Dr. Buhr on many occasions as an alumnus and been treated as a valuable contributor. In quieter moments, his humanity and friendship will remain a treasured memory," said Duncanson.

Others pointed to Buhr's ability to bring diverse groups together around shared goals.

Perry Aasness, Vice President for Legislative Affairs for Compeer Financial, highlighted the creation of the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Technology Transfer (AGREETT) program as one example of that approach. Established through state legislation and partnerships among commodity groups, industry leaders, lawmakers and the University, AGREETT helped add more than 30 faculty and Extension educator positions focused on addressing Minnesota's most pressing agricultural, food and natural resource challenges.

"Brian showed up, he listened, he was always thoughtful, and solution oriented. AGREETT would not have happened without Brian's active engagement, collaboration, and leadership."

Aasness said that while Buhr's economics background grounded his decision-making, relationships remained central to his leadership.

"Brian's economics background grounds his thinking, but he has also placed a priority on building relationships and striving to do the right thing in serving the many constituencies of CFANS, which at times can be a thankless job," said Aasness.

Adam Birr, Executive Director of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, said the AGREETT program remains one of the most significant investments made during Buhr's tenure, strengthening CFANS at a time when many land-grant institutions were struggling simply to maintain existing capacity.

"Dean Buhr's legacy as Dean of CFANS will be remembered in no small measure for his visionary leadership in the creation and stewardship of the AGREETT program," said Birr.

Birr said the expertise supported through AGREETT has generated lasting benefits for both the University and the state.

"The extraordinary breadth and depth of AGREETT expertise have generated lasting returns for the University and for the state of Minnesota, strengthening our ability to meet the most pressing agricultural, food, and natural resource challenges of our time," said Birr.

For Birr, the program represents an investment whose impact will continue well into the future.

A recurring observation among partners was Buhr's ability to connect the work of the College with the needs of Minnesota's agricultural communities.

Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said Buhr consistently worked to strengthen those connections.

"I've had the opportunity to work with Dr. Buhr most of my career and I have always valued the vision and collaboration Dr. Buhr brings in building partnerships with CFANS to make the University a premier research and learning institution that reflects the vast diversity in Minnesota agriculture."

The impact of Buhr's leadership also extended well beyond the University.

During his six years on the board of Second Harvest Heartland — including serving as board chair — Buhr helped guide significant growth and expansion for one of the nation's largest hunger-relief organizations.

CEO Sarah Moberg described him as both an advocate and a builder.

"Dean (Brian) Buhr is a tireless advocate when it comes to supporting his community. During his six years on the board of Second Harvest Heartland, he demonstrated a passion for change and the type of innovative spirit that helped make our food bank one of the largest, most impactful hunger-relief organizations in the country."

Moberg said Buhr's influence remains visible today.

For many, Buhr's leadership ultimately came back to a steadfast commitment to the land-grant mission.

Longtime colleague Gary Koch, Christensen Farms Board Member, said that commitment never wavered. Koch said Buhr's example will continue to influence future generations of scholars and agricultural leaders.

That commitment to the future was also evident in how Buhr approached institutional change.

Philip Pardey, Distinguished Global Professor and Director of the GEMS Informatics Center for CFANS, said Buhr recognized early that CFANS would need to evolve in order to remain competitive and relevant during a period of rapid change in agricultural research and innovation.

"For CFANS to remain relevant in this shifting innovation landscape requires far-sighted institutional reforms and fiscal discipline. Brian spearheaded multiple strategic initiatives to improve the institutional structures and implement the difficult financial reforms required for CFANS to thrive in this newly emerging R&D environment."

Pardey credited Buhr with helping position the College for the future through investments in data science, research computing and public-private partnerships.

"Brian's support for GEMS Informatics and related efforts has positioned the University of Minnesota to again take the lead in this newly emerging future, especially using IP-aware and AI-forward approaches to accelerate the pace of innovation, attract top ranked faculty and ambitious students, and catalyze new public-private innovation partnerships."

He added that Buhr paired strategic vision with a strong commitment to service.

"He did all this with a purpose-driven, servant-leadership style across the College, while also investing considerable effort in elevating awareness of the College in state and federal government settings, the large private sector, and the broader community beyond."

Former State Representative Rod Hamilton said that same balance of vision and collaboration defined Buhr's leadership.

"Working with Brian has been a privilege—his dedication to innovation, partnership, and student success has truly shaped the College and beyond. Dean Buhr's leadership has been marked by vision, collaboration, and a deep commitment to the agricultural community. His impact will be felt for years to come."

As these reflections make clear, people experienced Brian Buhr's leadership from different vantage points and in different settings, yet many arrived at similar conclusions. They describe a leader who valued relationships, believed deeply in public service, championed agriculture and higher education, and worked steadily to strengthen the connections between the University and the people it serves.

After 13 years as dean, those relationships, investments and partnerships — built across communities, industries, government and higher education — may be among the most lasting parts of Brian Buhr's legacy.