Eric Sannerud

Agricultural Innovation Leader & Entrepreneur; Founding Farmer at Mighty Axe Hops; TEDx Speaker; Hop Market Analyst

Ham Lake, MN, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info
Agriculture, Business Growth, Disruptive Thinking, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality, Social Entrepreneurship, TED, Thought Leadership
Read More +
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Eric Sannerud Biography

Eric Sannerud is a farmer, entrepreneur, and advocate for the next generation of American agriculture. He is the founding farmer at Mighty Axe Hops, the Midwest's largest hop farm, which raises specialty hops for craft brewers worldwide. Mighty Axe Hops began as a college project and expanded from a 5-acre plot to more than 80 acres of farmland. The company was founded with Ben Boo on Sannerud's home farm in Ham Lake, Minnesota. Combining agricultural innovation with entrepreneurial drive, Mighty Axe Hops established itself in Minnesota, focusing on defining the science behind terroir in hop production.

Sannerud graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota with an individualized degree in sustainability, business, and social justice. Inspired by educators and farmers Eduard Lindeman and Wendell Berry, he designed a pioneering cooking and food systems course, contributed to one of the first Food Systems majors in the country, and was a founding member of Urban Oasis, a sustainable food center that received a $1 million grant to bring cooking classes, an incubator kitchen, and locally sourced catering to communities in Saint Paul. He later started the Sandbox Center for Regenerative Entrepreneurship, a beginning farmer incubator addressing the need for new farmers in the United States.

Sannerud delivered a TEDx talk, "Without Farmers You'd be Hungry, Naked, and Sober," which examines the state of American farmers from the perspective of a next-generation farmer and has received more than 2 million views on TED. The talk explores why farmers are retiring faster than they are being replaced in the United States and challenges audiences to look beyond local farmers' markets, urging them to use their vote to support farmers. Sannerud is recognized for translating complex agricultural policy into accessible narratives, making him a sought-after voice in discussions about food systems, sustainability, and rural entrepreneurship.

Sannerud's work has been recognized by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Minnesota Alumni Society's U40 Leader Award, and the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation's Innovation Award. Outside of the hop yard, he has served as a board member of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Rural Finance Authority and as an advisor to the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. He has also held positions with the Institute on the Environment, Healthy Foods Healthy Lives Institute, and Farmers' Legal Action Group.

After navigating significant challenges, including a Labor Day storm that damaged Mighty Axe's hopyard with 55-mph winds and resulted in substantial crop losses, Sannerud transitioned to work as a freelance hop consultant for brewers, farmers, and marketers across the United States. He provides hop market analysis through a monthly newsletter called "Hop Notes." Sannerud remains active in leadership groups including the Central Minnesota Young Farmers Coalition, National Young Farmers Coalition, and Minnesota Farmers Union, continuing to support farmers and agricultural systems nationwide.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Eric Sannerud and other top speakers and celebrities.

Read more +

BOOK Eric Sannerud

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 05/21/2026.

Eric Sannerud Videos

Without Farmers, You'd be Hungry, Naked, and Sober

Without Farmers, You'd be Hungry, Naked, and Sober

Eric R. Sannerud is a farmer, thinker, and entrepreneur. He is farmer-CEO of Mighty Axe Hops, Minnesota's largest hops farm. He is a TEDx ...

I'm a Farmer: Eric Sannerud

I'm a Farmer: Eric Sannerud

Eric Sannerud grows hops for the craft beer market in Minnesota. He represents young farmers and what they are looking for in the Farm Bill.

See All Videos »

  • How do I book Eric Sannerud to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Eric Sannerud for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Eric Sannerud, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Eric Sannerud or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Eric Sannerud

    Speaking fees for Eric Sannerud, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Eric Sannerud are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Eric Sannerud, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Eric Sannerud speak about?

    Eric Sannerud is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Agriculture, Business Growth, Disruptive Thinking, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality, Social Entrepreneurship, TED, Thought Leadership

  • Where does Eric Sannerud travel from?

    Eric Sannerud generally travels from Ham Lake, MN, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Eric Sannerud’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Eric Sannerud for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Eric Sannerud for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Eric Sannerud or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Eric Sannerud is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Eric Sannerud for your event is available upon request. Eric Sannerud generally travels from Ham Lake, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are R "Ray" Wang, Clarenda "Farmer Cee" Stanley, Craig Siegel, Isha Datar and Sam Kass. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Eric Sannerud for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Eric Sannerud

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

1.800.698.2536

Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Eric Sannerud or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

1.800.698.2536
Contact Us

TOP