Vikings legend to connect football, farming at 2027 MN Ag Expo

A Minnesota Vikings legend is returning to the former home of the team’s training camp to attend Minnesota’s premier indoor agricultural conference and trade show.  

Chad Greenway, who grew up on a South Dakota crop and livestock family farm and later played 11 stellar seasons with the Vikings, has been tapped as the keynote speaker at the 2027 MN Ag Expo, Jan. 19, 2027, at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato.  

During his address to Minnesota farmers, Greenway will connect his farming background with greatness on the gridiron. In both football and farming, he says, the best ability is availability: Stay in the moment.  

“It’s always fun to talk about my background, especially when I’m talking agriculture,” Greenway said. “Farming is not for the weak of heart, and I love to just talk about those challenges that come with it, but also the mindset that comes with being a farmer. Then, I correlate to my football career and the advantages that growing up on the farm gave me.”  

Following an All-American career as a linebacker at the University of Iowa, Greenway played his entire career with the Vikings. Using the strong work ethic farming taught him, Greenway maximized his talents to the fullest. He earned two-time Pro Bowler honors and considers the 2009 season – when the Vikings fell just short of reaching their first Super Bowl in decades – his peak as a pro. Greenway plans to discuss that season, along with other lessons learned and memories gained from his Vikings career, at MN Ag Expo.  

“I love to get into some of my NFL career, and then really talk about several people in my career that impacted me and traits that they had that were separators for them,” Greenway said. “It’s about setting the standard with consistency, hard work, grit, toughness, tenacity. A lot of those guys are now Vikings Ring of Honor members and Hall of Famers, because of how they played and operated. It’s fun to make those correlations, and, of course, everybody loves to hear the locker room stories and what these guys were really like to play with.”  

Greenway has stayed connected to his family farming roots. His mom, Julie, still runs the family farm in South Dakota after Chad’s dad, Alan, died in 2014. Chad’s uncle, Brad Greenway, is a farmer leader who was named the National Pork Board’s 2016 Pig Farmer of the Year. Chad also operates a 70-acre hobby farm in Delano.   

“My mom always laughs at me because it’s kind of a fake farm, but it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I love and enjoy being on the farm. … and just getting out in nature and having some animals to take care of, having a garden to feed the family and teach kids how to can vegetables and all that fun stuff.” 

Greenway is also co-founder of Gray Duck Spirits, which produces vodka, beer, seltzers, cold brews and more by using Minnesota agricultural products.  

“We source our corn from up in west-central Minnesota in the Morris-Alexandria area,” said Greenway, who’s also worked with NK Seeds and Minnesota Pork. “It’s a lot of fun to be a part of that company and watch that company grow, and then also to be able to be fully Minnesotan, from where we source our corn to where we produce it in Burnsville.”  

Registration is now open for the free 2027 MN Ag Expo, which is co-hosted by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and Minnesota Soybean Growers Association. Each year, Minnesota’s agriculture community gathers at MN Ag Expo for two days of connecting, learning, advocating and fundraising. With more than 150 booths across two trade show floors, attendees can visit with various commodity groups, state agencies, agribusinesses, industry organizations, legislative speakers and hear from engaging guest speakers.  

Greenway’s farming background and leadership messages are a perfect fit for MN Ag Expo, said Brownton farmer Ryan Mackenthun, who serves as MSGA president. 

“Football and farming are an ideal Minnesota combination, and we’re really excited to have a familiar face like Chad’s at this year’s Ag Expo to inspire us and relate to us as producers, while also sharing a few stories from his years with the Vikings,” Mackenthun said. “Along with our partners at Minnesota Corn, we’re honored to welcome him to the 2027 MN Ag Expo. With a little luck, hopefully the Vikings are still playing in late January.”  

Greenway spent every summer of his career in Mankato for Vikings’ training camps. He’s eager to return to south-central Minnesota farm country, this time during winter.  

“I drive through Mankato all the time driving back to South Dakota and for youth sports,” said Greenway, a father of four daughters. “It’s a beautiful part of the state, and I’m looking forward to being back there and visiting with farmers.”  

Visit mnagexpo.com for the latest agenda updates and registration information.