Ag Management Solutions

What Ag Management Solutions does

Ag Management Solutions (AMS) is a private, for-profit association management company founded in 2017 and headquartered at 1020 Innovation Ln. in Mankato, Minnesota. The firm is co-owned by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) and the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) and provides a full-service back-office and program execution stack to agricultural associations, checkoff organizations, and small agriculture for-profit groups. Core service lines include executive management and board governance, accounting and compliance (daily accounting through audit-ready financials, tax filings, grant tracking), administrative services, technical expert resources (agronomy, research, international trade, environmental regulation), membership recruitment and retention, sales and event management, and an award-winning marketing communications practice. AMS additionally produces or co-produces multiple recurring publications, including Soybean Business magazine (reaching 23,000 farmers and industry professionals), Prairie Grains Magazine, Soy Forward, and the Minneline newsletter, and operates the U.S. Identity Preserved brand assurance program and the Offsite Meetings and Events venue at its headquarters.

The company's go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct relationships, industry events, and professional networks in U.S. agricultural commodity organizations. With 30+ staff organized across finance, communications, marketing, events, membership and technical operations, AMS is structured to function as an outsourced association management department rather than a software platform. Revenue is generated through professional services fees (executive management, accounting, publications, events) plus ancillary income from the Offsite venue and program administration contracts. Customer concentration is high, anchored by its two parent organizations and other state-level soybean, wheat, and specialty grain boards, with selected forays into adjacent verticals such as biodiesel (Plasma Blue), aquaculture (WISHH/Cambodian Aquaculturist Association), and conservation (Conservation Technology Information Center). AMS has no disclosed AI/ML or proprietary software product; competitive advantage derives from domain specialization, talent depth, and embedded client operations.

Name

Ag Management Solutions

Legal name

Ag Management Solutions

Website

https://agmgmtsolutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ag Management Solutions is a private association management firm co-owned by the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association and the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, providing executive management, accounting, marketing, communications, membership, and event services to agricultural associations and checkoff organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Association Management Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Supply Chain, Marketing & Contracting Advisory (Grain/Livestock Marketing) (AFACAJAH)

Keywords

• Agricultural association management
• Association management services
• Executive management services
• Agricultural marketing communications
• Membership management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Mankato

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Association Management Services: AMS provides comprehensive management services including executive management, accounting, administrative services, and marketing/communications to agricultural associations and organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ag Management Solutions (AMS) provides comprehensive association management services to agricultural organizations, including executive management, accounting and compliance, administrative services, technical expert resources, membership services, sales and events, and marketing communications. The firm also produces award-winning client publications such as Soybean Business Magazine, Prairie Grains Magazine, Soy Forward Magazine, and the Minneline Newsletter, and administers brand assurance programs like the U.S. Identity Preserved brand mark.

Product overview

Ag Management Solutions (AMS) is an association management company founded in 2017 that provides a comprehensive suite of services to agricultural organizations. The company operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a modular software platform. Core services include Executive Management, Accounting & Compliance, Administrative Services, Technical Expert Resources, Membership Services, Sales & Events, and Marketing Communications. AMS also manages several client publications including Soybean Business Magazine, Prairie Grains Magazine, Soy Forward Magazine, and the Minneline Newsletter. The company supports client technologies like Plasma Blue (plasma water treatment) and administers the U.S. Identity Preserved brand assurance program. AMS employs over 30 staff members and operates from its Mankato, Minnesota headquarters, which also houses an event venue called Offsite Meetings and Events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Management Services
• Accounting & Compliance Services
• Administrative Services
• Technical Expert Resources
• Membership Services
• Sales & Events Services
• Marketing Communications Services
• Soybean Business Magazine
• Prairie Grains Magazine
• Soy Forward Magazine
• Minneline Newsletter
• U.S. Identity Preserved Brand Program
• Offsite Meetings and Events Space

Quantifiable outcome

• Yield contest participation doubled in 2024 through integrated marketing campaign re-brand
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Identity Preserved Alliance (formerly Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021AMS helped dissolve two boards and merge them into SSGA (now USIPA), created financial efficiencies while uniting membership under common goals. AMS secured $2M+ in federal grants to launch the Identity Preserved brand assurance mark. Brand launched December 2021 with 13 companies using the brand abroad.
• World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMS staff authored an association toolkit at WISHH's request to help build the Cambodian Aquaculturist Association, which grew to 160+ members.
• Minnesota Association of Wheat GrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMS helps produce Prairie Grains Magazine, expanding the wheat community with visually appealing design and engaging prose telling stories of farmers across four states.
• Goodyear Tire CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough a yearslong campaign, Minnesota soybean farmers donated Goodyear's soy-based tires to local law enforcement throughout Minnesota. AMS helped facilitate this initiative.
• Greater Mankato GrowthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership for Offsite Meetings and Events space open house and ribbon cutting ceremony.
• Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSR&PC owns the building where AMS headquarters is located and co-owns AMS with MSGA. Council utilizes AMS for research, education, outreach, and checkoff projects.
• Minnesota Soybean Growers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSGA co-owns AMS and utilizes services including executive management, Soybean Business magazine production, advocacy communications, and membership management.
• Plasma BluecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMS helped Plasma Blue upscale technology to produce more biodiesel annually and promoted the technology to prospective customers. Plasma Blue creates biodiesel from electricity with no petroleum needed.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SmithBucklin: SmithBucklin is the largest association management firm in the U.S., serving hundreds of trade and professional societies across many industries including agriculture. It is a broad incumbent offering overlapping association management capabilities to a wider portfolio of clients.

Direct peers

• Association Headquarters, Inc. (AHI): AHI is a Mount Laurel, NJ-based association management company delivering full-service management, conventions, and publications to member-based organizations, directly comparable to AMS in business model and service mix.
• Naylor Association Solutions: Naylor provides association management, publishing, and member engagement services including magazines, newsletters, and trade shows. Its publication-driven model and association focus make it a direct comparable to AMS's magazine and event portfolio.
• Management Solutions Plus: Management Solutions Plus is an association management firm providing executive direction, financial management, and meeting services to trade associations. It overlaps directly with AMS's core association management service lines.
• Kellen Company: Kellen is an association management firm providing executive leadership, marketing, meetings, and member services to trade associations. It directly competes with AMS for association outsourced services across multiple verticals.
• YGS Group: YGS Group provides association marketing, publications, and membership solutions, including print and digital magazines for trade associations. Its publishing-led service mix parallels AMS's magazine and newsletter business.
• Virtual, Inc. Virtual Inc. is a management company for associations and standards organizations, offering strategy, operations, events, and member services. It competes for the same outsourced association management engagements as AMS.
• Association Management Center (AMC): Indianapolis-based AMC provides full-service association management (executive, accounting, meetings, communications) to professional and trade associations. It is the closest direct peer to AMS in scope of association management services offered.
• Ewald Consulting: Ewald Consulting is an association management firm providing executive management, marketing, events, and publications to trade associations and professional societies, directly comparable in service offering to AMS.

Emerging players

• MemberClicks: MemberClicks provides association management software (AMS platform, membership database, event registration) to small and mid-sized associations. It is an emerging technology-enabled player competing for some of the same clients AMS serves with services rather than software.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AgManagementSolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ag-management-solutions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles34 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ag Management Solutions