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Leah Bittner

“The SMSU RN to BSN Program does not have you take a set amount of credits each semester. This flexible scheduling was perfect for me as it allowed me to vary the amount of credits I took each semester. I would have struggled without that flexibility as I am a non-traditional student who is also a wife, mother of four, and worked full time while completing my degree. This program is designed to fit into your life, whether you want to be a full-time or part-time student.”

Leah Bittner, '22 Alum
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Department of Agriculture, Culinology and Hospitality Management

SMSU’s Department of Agriculture, Culinology® and Hospitality Management (or ACHM) is comprised of students, faculty and staff who pursue educational opportunities ‘from the farm to the fork.’

We offer valuable bachelor degree programs in:

  • Agribusiness Management
  • Agronomy
  • Agricultural Solutions
  • Agriculture (transfer program for AS or AAS grads)
  • Agricultural Education (Teacher Licensure Program)
  • Agricultural Communication and Leadership
  • Culinology®
  • Hospitality Management

We additionally provide minors in Agribusiness Management, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Animal Science and Hotel/Lodging Management.

Agronomy Field Day, July 18, 2023.  

Many thanks to all the presenters and supporters who made SMSU 5th Annual Agronomy Field Day a big success!

Crowd of people at the Ag Field Day
Lee French speaking into a microphone
Provost Wastvedt speaking with a microphone
Student Speaking into a microphone
Another student Speaking into a microphone
Another student Speaking into a microphone
A crowd of people sitting at picnic tables under a canopy
Another student Speaking into a microphone
Mindful Meals representative speaking into a microphone
Two people smiling
Lee French smiling
Group of people talking with eachother
Two people smiling

ACHM students’, faculty and staff accomplishments

We are proud of our ACHM students’, faculty and staff accomplishments during the past year.  Some highlights include:

  • The 16th Annual Ag Bowl. In conjunction with an at-home SMSU football game, the Ag Bowl is presented by Ralco and SMSU Athletics. It was held on Saturday, September 10, 2022. The Fall Ag Bowl is a celebration of agriculture in Minnesota and features events for both kids and adults. This year’s Ag Bowl activities included: Ralco food zone, a petting zoo, tractor displays, hay rides, Ag related booths, mechanical bull riding, farm-themed inflatables, and more! 
  • SMSU’s Agriculture Career Fair. Our 10th Annual Ag Career Fair was held on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM in the Upper Conference Center on the SMSU campus. Over 20 different employers from the agricultural industry met with our Agriculture students seeking internships and full time positions.
  • Providing Prepared Meals. Professors Adam Alford and George Taylor, in conjunction with Ralco and SMSU Student Enactus club, continued a Summer/Fall program entitled “Mindful Meals” which provides prepared meals for low-income families.  Food for the program was supplemented from crops raised on the SMSU Research Plots just north of campus.
  • 12th Annual SMSU/Ralco Ag Bowl Scholarship Invitational. This year the Ag Bowl Invitational took place on February 3, 2023. It was in-person and on-campus again. Hooray! We had approximately 1,100 FFA Students participate – the largest number ever. Our Ag Club members went above and beyond to make this event possible. Many thanks for their efforts! FFA teams from the surrounding region competed for awards in at least 15 different CDE’s.
  • CULG-HOSP Program participated as an Exhibitor in SMSU’s Worldfest International Education and Outreach Event. April 15, 2023, Marshall’s Red Baron Arena. Thanks to help from Adjunct Faculty Member Dave Simonson, Associate Professor Yumi Lim and our CULG-HOSP Program worked a booth at Worldfest, and our theme was “The Taste of Pickles around the World”. We served the following pickle varieties: Kimchi from Korea, Sauerkraut from German, Giardiniera from Italy, Tsukemono from Japan, and Achard from Africa.
  • SMSU’s Hospitality Management Faculty began offering a 100% Online Hospitality Management Degree with Hotel & Event Management Concentration, starting in Fall Semester 2022
  • Schwan’s Culinary Skills Challenge at SMSU. April 19, 2023. Our Culinology and SHO Clubs hosted activities for this area high school competitive culinary event. https://www.swwc.org/culinary
    • Adjunct faculty member Dave Simonson and member of the CULG Club provided breakout sessions for the high school student participants
    • The SHO club catered breakfast and lunch for the event
  • Student Hospitality and Culinary Tour of the Minneapolis Area. May 9 – 12, 2023. Five members of SMSU’s SHO Club organized a tour of the Minneapolis Area. They were hosted by the Marriot Fairfield Inn by the MSP Airport. Their culinary itinerary included Axel’s River Grille, Crave, Wooden Paddle, Normandy’s Kitchen, and the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. Their hospitality tour was also very busy, and comprised the Mall of America, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Sculpture Gardens, the Stone Arch Bridge, and Minnehaha Falls.

Do you need more information about our ACHM Programs?

Please email us at agriculture@smsu.edu or call 507-537-6223. 

Last Modified: 8/3/23 9:50 AM | Website Feedback


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