Duane Carrow to Receive Alumni Association Honorary Membership
Published Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Each year the SMSU Alumni Association seeks to recognize alumni and friends who have made significant contributions of time, talent or financial resources to help advance and bring positive recognition to Southwest Minnesota State University. The Honorary Lifetime Membership is given to someone who supports SMSU with the heart of a Mustang even though they did not attend SMSU. This year's honor is being presented to Duane Carrow, a Marshall native and lifelong friend to the University.
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Duane Carrow: A Lifelong Friend of SMSU and Champion of Community
Duane Carrow’s connection to Southwest Minnesota State University isn’t defined by a diploma — it’s defined by decades of involvement, family ties, and a deep appreciation for education and community. This fall, Duane will be honored with an honorary lifetime membership to the SMSU Alumni Association during Homecoming, a recognition that celebrates not just his contributions, but the lasting impact he and his family have had on the university.
Duane grew up just down the road from SMSU, and his earliest memories of the university go back to its very beginning. “I remember when the first bricks were laid,” he said with a chuckle. “We were just trying to stay out of their way.” He and his brothers would help out around the campus, planting hay and trees, doing whatever they could to support the vision of a vibrant learning community. “It was exciting,” he said. “We didn’t know what it would become, but we knew it mattered.”
His father played a key role in connecting the university to the local farming community. Professors — many of whom were experiencing rural life for the first time — were invited out to the Carrow family farm. “My dad got to know some of the professors, like Dr. Howard Bellows,” Duane recalled. “They’d come out for burgers or a steak fry, and they got a real taste of farm life. We had milk cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, beef cattle — the full gamut. Dr. Bellows was always so interested in what we were doing. He’d ask about our chores, how we planted crops. He was just genuinely curious and engaging.”
That early exposure to higher education left a lasting impression on Duane. “Even though I was just a kid, I appreciated getting to know him. It was my first real glimpse into what college could be.”
Duane’s family has a long and proud history with SMSU. His older brother Doug enrolled in the college in 1969 after graduating from Marshall High School. His younger brother David followed in the early 1980s, earning a degree in ag business and ag finance. “We weren’t just watching the university grow — we were growing with it,” Duane said.
The next generation of Carrows continued the tradition. Duane’s daughter Marri graduated from SMSU with a degree in literature and was named the Gold Graduate about ten years ago. “We’re really proud of her,” Duane said. “She had such a great trajectory, and SMSU was a big part of that.”
His son Nick also attended SMSU through a partnership program with the University of Minnesota, earning a degree in technical writing. “He took all his classes at SMSU, but the degree came from the U,” Duane explained. “It was a great collaboration, and it gave him the foundation he needed.”
Even Duane’s late wife, Deb, became part of the Mustang family. When their youngest started kindergarten, Deb enrolled at SMSU and earned her degree in psychology and business. She later went on to earn a master’s degree in counseling and returned to SMSU to launch the Upward Bound program, which supports first-generation college students. She passed away in 2015.
“Upward Bound was her passion,” Duane said. “She was a first-gen student herself, and she poured her heart into helping others succeed.”
Duane himself never enrolled as a degree-seeking student, but he was a regular on campus. “I took various courses over the years,” he said. “Not degree-seeking, but knowledge seeking. I’ve always believed education isn’t just about credentials. It’s about curiosity and growth.”
That belief carried through his professional life. Duane built a successful career in the petroleum industry, gaining hands-on experience and a deep understanding of energy production and business operations. After returning to Minnesota to farm, he also worked for the University of Minnesota Extension, where he helped bridge the gap between education and industry.
One of his proudest achievements was helping develop Biofuels Technology Program and the Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence at Minnesota West Community and Technical College. “We saw the biofuels industry growing, and we knew students needed practical training,” Duane said. “We built a curriculum that gave them hands-on experience and prepared them for real careers in renewable energy.”
He also became involved in the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (MARL) program, joining the very first class. The program is built on the mission of helping rural leaders build the skills and confidence to make a difference in their communities. “It’s about giving people the tools to lead,” he said. “Especially in rural areas, where leadership can really shape the future.”
Through it all, Duane remained deeply committed to education, leadership, and community. His story is one of quiet influence — of planting seeds, nurturing growth, and watching others flourish.
“I’ve always believed that learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms,” Duane said. “It happens in conversations, in experiences, in the work we do and the people we meet.”
Receiving the honorary lifetime membership from SMSU is a meaningful moment for Duane — not because of the recognition, but because of what the university has meant to him and his family. “SMSU has always felt like home,” he said. “Even though I didn’t graduate from there, it’s been a part of my life in so many ways.”
Duane’s story is a reminder that you don’t need a diploma to make a difference. His legacy is written in the lives he’s touched, the programs he’s helped build, and the community he’s helped strengthen. Whether planting trees on campus or helping students find their path, Duane has always been about growth — and SMSU is proud to finally call him one of its own.
Although Duane has recently moved away from the Marshall area, he lived on the family farm for most of his working career, a stone’s throw away from SMSU. He currently serves on the SMSU Foundation Board and the Ag Advisory Council. He is engaged to Cheri Buzzeo.
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Celebrate with Duane Carrow and all of this year's Alumni Award Recipients at The Southwest Celebration on Friday, October 10, 2025 starting at 5:30pm in the SMSU Conference Center Upper Level.
The evening begins with a social hour with free drinks. The SMSU faculty and students will be on hand from several academic and support programs to showcase the special projects in their areas. At 6:30pm guests will be invited to be seated for a plated, formal dinner follwed by a short program recognizing this year’s award recipients. The evening will close with a Homecoming mixer. The event will have valet parking outside the Conference Center. Tickets are $50 per person and available online at www.SMSUAlumni.com/celebration.
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