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Campus News

Retired FBM Instructor Awarded


cliff vrieze11/24/15
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announces Clifford Vrieze, a retired farm business management instructor from Minnesota West in Truman, MN, as the winner of the 2016 ACTE Lifetime Achievement Award. As the Region III winner of ACTE’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Vrieze was one of five finalists considered for the national title.


The ACTE LifetimeAchievement Award recognizes the contributions and distinguished accomplishments of members who have been identified with the work and purposes of the Association for Career and Technical Education over an extended period of time. Vrieze was announced as the national winner during the ACTE Awards Banquet on Thursday, November 19 at ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.


Over a 30-year career in farm business management (FBM), Cliff Vrieze has assisted more than 175 farm owners to establish successful family businesses. His program, which increased annual profit per farm by $9,000 on average, has been expanded and replicated across the region. With Vrieze’s reputation as a leader in FBM firmly cemented, he went on to contribute significantly to the CTE field at large.


As president of the Minnesota Association of Agricultural Educators (MAAE), Vrieze invested the organization in scholarship and teacher mentor programs as well as new positions for a professional development coordinator and executive director/lobbyist.


As president and treasurer for Minnesota Association of Career and Technical Education (MnACTE), he coalesced affiliate organizations underneath MnACTE to strengthen the association as a voice for all CTE in the state. His staunch advocacy on behalf of CTE has resulted in increasing funding for postsecondary FBM programs in Minnesota by $1 million biennially and establishing a permanent local levy authority for secondary CTE.


Beginning in the early 2000s and moving into his retirement, Vrieze continued to champion opportunities for students through his work with various scholarship and grant committees. His eight-year term as board member on the Minnesota Agriculture Education Leadership Council (MAELC) included five years as a Governor’s appointee, for which he oversaw the distribution of over $2 million in grants and scholarships to CTE programs and students.


The Awards Banquet was sponsored by Express Employment Professionals, Kuder, CareerSafe, Certiport, and Stratasys, Project Management Institute Educational Foundation and International Baccalaureate.


For more information about the ACTE Excellence Awards, visit the ACTE website.


About ACTE
The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) is the nation’s largest not‐for‐profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. ACTE represents the community of CTE professionals, including educators, administrators, researchers, guidance counselors and others at all levels of education. ACTE is committed to excellence in providing advocacy, public awareness and access to resources, professional development and leadership opportunities.