FastBreak Foundation Inspiring Women Winner
Dane Mizutani
Web Editorial Assistant
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Val Aarsvold has dedicated much of the last 13 years of her life to serving the Minnesota Future Farmers of America Foundation. Aarsvold, who worked a job as a teacher before she got involved with the Minnesota FFA Foundation, works as the Executive Director for the organization.
�I help build partnerships that help support young people in agricultural education,� she said. �We partner with organizations that have an interest in young people that have good leadership skills that are able to take the initiative and work hard to help grow food and process it into something that�s good an nutritious to all of us.�
Her passion for the Minnesota FFA Foundation is evident through the peppy tone in her voice when she speaks. It�s clear Aarsvold loves her job and doesn�t do it for the recognition.
But that doesn�t mean a little recognition isn�t merited. On Tuesday night, Aarsvold got the praise she deserves.
She was honored as the Minnesota Lynx Inspiring Woman for the month of June at Tuesday night�s game against the Los Angeles Sparks. This is the latest installment of an accolade designed to empower women that are helping better communities around the Twin Cities.
Aarsvold stood in front of a crowd of nearly 8,000 screaming fans during a second quarter timeout to accept the honor It was a brief ceremony in which Aarsvold received a plague and a signed basketball before she was escorted off of the court.
�It was a lot of fun,� she said moments after she walked off of the court. �I�m really humbled by it and I really appreciate the partnership we have with the Lynx.�
Aarsvold said the recognition was a nice surprise, but it by no means changes her attitude toward her occupation. She knows there is still a lot of room to grow the Minnesota FFA Foundation.
�It�s important for us to invest in the development of young people,� she said. �And these young people in our organization are strong leaders that are without a doubt going to make a positive difference.�
Aarsvold stayed until the end of the game Tuesday night to watch the Lynx beat the Sparks 83-72. She said she�d definitely try to find and make it out to another game in the near future.
�I got the news about this honor a little ways back and they asked if I had room in my schedule to be here,� Aarsvold said. �I definitely found time to be here tonight. I wouldn�t miss it.�
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