Leaving a lasting impact

ALEXANDRIA — Although Bernie Van Zomeren belonged to FFA in high school, he did not plan on becoming an agricultural education teacher and FFA adviser. But after graduating from college, he spent the next 31 years doing just that.

“The thing that sticks with me was seeing the kids grow over the course of those four years in high school,” Van Zomeren said. “I always said we take the kid from where they are to where they should be. Seeing them develop and grow was the best part.”

Because of Van Zomeren’s efforts in agricultural education, he will be inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame. He will be recognized at the Minnesota FFA Alumni Association’s annual conference March 7 and formally inducted during the Minnesota State FFA Convention April 20-21.

“(Being inducted into the hall of fame) is such a humbling experience,” Van Zomeren said. “I’m not even sure how to describe that feeling. In all my years of teaching, I never, ever expected this to happen.”

Van Zomeren’s FFA journey started while he was in high school in Herman.

“I got my greenhand and chapter degrees and stopped there,” Van Zomeren said.

After high school, Van Zomeren pursued a degree in agricultural business at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with the intention of going into agriculture sales.

“While I was there, the ag education people came over and said, ‘We need more ag teachers; you guys know ag and have a 4-year degree,’” Van Zomeren said.

Van Zomeren’s first job out of college was teaching agricultural education in Nicolett.

“After a few years, I wanted to be closer to home to help my dad farm,” Van Zomeren said. “In July 1970, I moved back here and got the ag teaching job in Alexandria. In September of 1970, my dad passed away.”

From 1970 to 1997, Van Zomeren taught agricultural education at Alexandria High School, impacting thousands of young agriculture enthusiasts.

“When I got to Alexandria, ... I made a list that I called ‘Big Dreams’ of everything I wanted to accomplish, like get students state and American degrees,” Van Zomeren said. “I enjoyed working with the kids.”

The chapter did achieve many state and American degrees as well as regional and state officers, state and national contest winners, and many successful events and fundraisers. During his time teaching, Van Zomeren brought students to state and national conventions.
When they attended the National FFA Convention, Van Zomeren also brought a local agricultural businessperson to share the experience with the students.

“Going to state conventions and seeing the kids jump up and down after they won a contest was always a highlight,” Van Zomeren said. “Then, going to the National FFA Convention and experiencing all the screaming at the sessions was something else. It is louder and more intense than any athletics event I have ever gone to.”

After Van Zomeren retired from teaching, he continued to be an agriculture advocate by helping to launch the Alexandria FFA Alumni chapter.

“I went to all my past students and said, ‘We need this alumni chapter,’” Van Zomeren said. “We did a spaghetti supper as a fundraiser to get some money, and from there, we started the chapter.”

When Van Zomeren retired from teaching, he began working for Van Ahn & Company Inc., where he traded commodities for farmers. He worked there for several years before starting his own commodity trading company, Heartland Commodities and Securities, retiring in 2017.

During this time, he served as president of the Alexandria FFA Alumni chapter and assisted the local FFA chapter when he could. When the Alexandria school district was building a new school, the original plans did not include any agriculture-specific classrooms.

“I talked to a school board member and got them to put in two classrooms and a greenhouse, but they are detached from the main building,” Van Zomeren said. “That is, to this day, one of my biggest accomplishments.”

In his spare time, Van Zomeren raises sheep on his family’s farm, a certified century farm, and still owns the land that was farmed by his grandfather.

“I started raising sheep in 1978,” Van Zomeren said. “My kids showed them in 4-H, and now, my grandchildren show the sheep.”

Van Zomeren has already received his honorary Minnesota State FFA Degree and his Honorary American FFA Degree. In 2025, he was awarded the Day-Frederick Award, which is the highest award through the Minnesota FFA Alumni Association, for alumni members who go above and beyond to advance agricultural education in Minnesota. Now, he will be able to add his Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame plaque to his list of accolades.

“Ag is different now than it was when I was teaching,” Van Zomeren said. “FFA and agricultural education are about more than just awards, degrees and contests — they are about the young men and women who believe in the future of agriculture.”