2026-05-13T17:02:22-05:00 2025-06-30 411397419 Abdo LLP 5201 Eden Ave Ste 250 Edina MN 55436 990 2024-07-01 411635043 Agricultural Utilization Research Institute AGRI 2182817600 510 County Road 71 Ste 120 Crookston MN 56716 Shannon Schlecht Executive Director 2182817600 2026-05-11 1 1 Steven D Anseth CPA P00552219 9528359090 2026-05-11 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Shannon Schlecht 510 County Road 71 Ste 120 Crookston MN 56716 6456699 0 X WWW.AURI.org X 1989 MN AURI is an economic catalyst for the agricultural industry, taking innovative ideas from concept to reality to build a stronger agricultural economy. 11 11 38 11 0 0 6619372 5797393 126058 388059 253152 262032 14765 3206 7013347 6450690 200000 4700 0 0 4251317 4408672 0 0 0 1902074 2053967 6353391 6467339 659956 -16649 8882711 8815408 2545309 2414614 6337402 6400794 X Accelerate the expansion of the agricultural economy by empowering expanded uses and markets of agriculturally derived products. 0 1 1298458 4700 171369 Commercialization Services Program:The Commercialization Services Program provides technical assistance and research and development support to businesses utilizing Minnesota agricultural products to develop and commercialize value-added products and technologies. Services include staff expertise, laboratory and pilot plant resources, and cost-shared research funding when specialized capabilities beyond AURI's internal resources are needed. The program also provides support to entrepreneurs through assistance in pursuing grant funding and access to AURI laboratory facilities. These services help businesses advance innovative ideas, improve product development, and bring new agricultural products and technologies to the marketplace. 38651 Research Projects:The Research Projects program supports a limited number of internal research and development initiatives designed to develop technical knowledge, processes, and intellectual property that benefit Minnesota's agricultural industry. Through these projects, AURI staff explore early-stage concepts and innovations that may increase utilization of Minnesota agricultural commodities or improve industry practices. When technologies developed through these efforts demonstrate commercial potential, AURI may transfer or license the technology to third-party entities for commercialization, which can generate additional industry opportunities and support AURI's long-term financial sustainability. 2599632 216690 Initiatives Program:The Initiatives Program supports collaborative partnerships, applied research, and technology transfer efforts that add value to Minnesota agricultural products or improve efficiencies in agricultural processing. Initiatives may originate internally or be identified by stakeholders, industry partners, or researchers and often address broader industry challenges or opportunities. The results of these initiatives are publicly disseminated through research publications, outreach, and industry engagement activities. These efforts connect businesses, commodity groups, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to advance innovation and strengthen Minnesota's value-added agricultural economy. 3936741 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 32 0 1 38 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 11 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 MN X X Adam Stratton 2182817600 510 County Road 71 Ste 120 Crookston MN 56716 Federico Tripodi Chair 3.00 X X 2000 0 0 John Schafer Vice Chair (Resigned Jan. 2025) 3.00 X X 1220 0 0 Carolyn Olson Secretary/Treasurer 3.00 X X 1160 0 0 Kent Heins Director 3.00 X 0 0 0 Jon Veldhouse Vice Chair (as of Jan. 2025) 3.00 X X 1060 0 0 Joe Serbus Director 3.00 X 480 0 0 Ted Winter Director 3.00 X 275 0 0 Mikayla Tabert Director 3.00 X 580 0 0 Jeff Grev Director 3.00 X 330 0 0 Lauren McNamara Director 3.00 X 0 0 0 Senator Aric Putnam Director 3.00 X 0 0 0 Representative Samantha Vang Director (Resigned Jan. 2025) 3.00 X 0 0 0 Representative Rick Hansen Director (as of Jan. 2025) 3.00 X 0 0 0 Shannon Schlecht Executive Director 40.00 X 209463 0 39709 Luca Zullo Sr. Director of Science & Technology 40.00 X 150166 0 19083 Jennifer Wagner-Lahr Sr. Director of Business Development & Commerciali 40.00 X 126884 0 34206 Adam Stratton Sr. Director of Operations & Finance 40.00 X 124944 0 34186 Jason Robinson Business Development Director, Food 40.00 X 113040 0 14812 Michael Sparby Commercialization Director 40.00 X 107590 0 32978 839192 0 174974 6 0 1 0 0 5321093 476300 5797393 Contracts 900099 213623 213623 Fees for Service 900099 142138 142138 Project Fees 900099 14871 14871 Sponsorships 900099 11500 11500 Other Program Revenue 900099 4719 4719 1208 1208 388059 268041 268041 3206 3206 6009 -6009 -6009 -6009 6450690 388059 0 265238 4700 4700 275967 167079 108888 3028116 1826930 1201186 178034 108346 69688 694417 440536 253881 232138 143177 88961 36987 36987 30875 30875 36000 36000 269629 10015 259614 34032 11185 22847 48941 18316 30625 124027 20477 103550 331822 215684 116138 117829 58258 59571 14974 4992 9982 229755 206780 22975 75041 75041 Project Cost 534773 534773 Lab supplies 53887 53887 Equipment and Maintenan 48921 26513 22408 Newsletters 29023 29023 37451 20070 17381 6467339 3936741 2530598 0 400 53833 1260944 5965394 247662 93461 259706 292820 54939 49952 4036798 2680116 1372425 1356682 4609507 0 1077128 1003266 8882711 8815408 670919 733254 873682 665775 1000708 1015585 2545309 2414614 X 6337402 6400794 6337402 6400794 8882711 8815408 -16649 80041 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 5136845 4779025 5892726 6619372 5797393 28225361 5136845 4779025 5892726 6619372 5797393 28225361 28225361 97796 146827 198716 282817 181937 908093 29133454 1125991 0.96880 0.96720 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 36000 36000 3900741 3936741 346837 86709 0 0 279964 352250 345655 346837 1324706 1987059 27000 36000 36000 36000 135000 69991 88063 86414 86709 331177 496766 Form 990, Schedule C, Part II-A, Line 1b AURI contracted with Rokala Public Affairs for providing a 2024 Farm Bill and fiscal year 2024 Agriculture Legislative Strategy. The term of the contract was from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, with a sum of $3,000 paid on a monthly basis, for a fiscal year 2025 total of $36,000 for services rendered. 1374031 951507 422524 2576416 1642258 934158 86351 86351 0 1356682 Operating right-of-use assets 1003266 1003266 Operating lease liabilities 1015585 1015585 6530731 80041 80041 6450690 0 6450690 6467339 0 6467339 0 6467339 X X X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Shannon Schlecht Executive Director 209463 0 0 0 0 0 13922 0 25787 0 249172 0 0 0 Luca Zullo Sr. Director of Science & Technology 150166 0 0 0 0 0 9524 0 9559 0 169249 0 0 0 Jennifer Wagner-Lahr Sr. Director of Business Development 126884 0 0 0 0 0 8419 0 25787 0 161090 0 0 0 Adam Stratton Sr. Director of Operations & Finance 124944 0 0 0 0 0 8399 0 25787 0 159130 0 0 0 Form 990, Part III, line 3 During the reporting period, the organization did not introduce new program services or discontinue existing ones. The descriptions of program services were expanded to more fully describe the scope and impact of activities that were already in place. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 2 Ms. Mikayla Tabert represents MN Wheat Research & Promotional Council on the AURI board of directors. Mr. Joe Serbus represents MN Soybean Research & Promotional Council. Mr. John Schafer represented MN Beef Council until being replaced by Mr. Kent Heins in January of 2025. Mr. Ted Winter represents Minnesota Farmer's Union. Mr. Jeff Grev, works for Hormel Corporation and is member-at-large on AURI's board of directors. Ms. Lauren McNamara works for Sunopta and represents an agri-business seat on AURI's board of directors. Mr. Jon Veldhouse works for Cargill/Qore and represents an agri-business seat on AURI's board of directors. MN Wheat, MN Soybean, MN Beef, MN Farmer's Union, Hormel, Sunopta, and Cargill may or may not be collaborators on some of AURI's projects. Shannon Schlecht and Jimmy Gosse, employees of AURI served as Board members for the Ag Innovation Campus which was to be built and operated by the Minnesota Soybean Growers, who collaborate on some projects with AURI. The Ag Innovation Campus dissolved in September of 2024. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The Form 990 is electronically sent to the board of directors for review and is then discussed and approved at a board meeting prior to filing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c The conflict of interest policy and its application shall be reviewed annually for the information and guidance of board directors or employees, each of whom has a continuing responsibility to scrutinize their transactions and outside business interests and relationships for potential conflicts of interest, and make such disclosures as described in this policy. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The AURI Board of Directors conducts an annual evaluation/review of the Executive Director's performance. The Board of Directors decides upon and approves the compensation of the Executive Director with input from AURI's Human Resources department. The AURI Human Resources department looks at comparable data to substantiate the compensation, along with input from an independent company. The compensation of management is decided upon similarly, Human Resources benchmarks positions, then a budget is proposed to the Board of Directors for approval by the Executive Director. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 Governing documents and conflict of interest policies are available upon request to the Executive Director. Financial statements are made publicly available at all board meetings and upon request to the Executive Director. Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c: The process has not changed from the prior year.