On Jan. 28, Nate Hultgren of Raymond, Minnesota, was elected unanimously as president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association (ASGA) for 2022 by farmer representatives from across the country who gathered for the ASGA annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. He has served on the ASGA board of directors since 2016.
“It is an honor to lead such a talented group of farmers,” says Hultgren. “The American sugarbeet industry is truly the best in the world. Throughout all the challenges our country has gone through over the last two years, the industry has overcome each and every hurdle faced. Our farmers, cooperatives, and employees have continued to provide the nation with a continuous supply of sugar throughout the pandemic. We’ve got a great story to tell federal lawmakers about the needs and merits of American production and manufacturing. I’m eager to get to work on behalf of our industry.”
Hultgren previously served as ASGA’s vice president. He also serves as chairman of the board of the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative. He is a fourth-generation farmer who runs the farm with his brother Noah and his father Duane in west-central Minnesota. Hultgren Farms raises 1,200 acres of sugarbeets, as well as corn, soybeans, alfalfa, sweet corn, peas, kidney beans and beef cattle on 6,000 acres. The farm is also a partner in a neighboring dairy, which milks 8,000 cows. He and his wife Jaime have five children.
The American Sugarbeet Growers Association represents approximately 10,000 growers in all 11 producing states.