09/02/2026
Today, the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center remembers and honors Warren Formo—our longtime executive director, colleague, friend, and one of Minnesota agriculture’s most thoughtful and dedicated advocates.
Our hearts are first and foremost with Warren’s wife, Karen, their children, and their grandchildren. While Minnesota’s agricultural community has lost a respected leader, they have lost a loving husband, father, and grandfather whose presence can never be replaced. We extend our deepest sympathy and hope they feel the support and gratitude of the many people across Minnesota whose lives Warren touched.
Warren worked tirelessly to strengthen Minnesota agriculture and ensure that farmers had a knowledgeable and credible voice in conversations about water quality, nutrient management, conservation, and public policy. He had a remarkable ability to bring farmers, agricultural organizations, researchers, and government agencies together around practical solutions grounded in sound science and real-world farm experience.
Under Warren’s leadership, the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center and Discovery Farms Minnesota helped turn on-farm monitoring and research into useful information that farmers could put into practice. His work created greater understanding between agriculture and the broader public while demonstrating that productive farming and responsible stewardship of Minnesota’s water resources can move forward together.
Warren’s influence can be seen in the partnerships he built, the research he championed, the farmers he represented, and the people he mentored. Those of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with him will also remember his steady presence, practical wisdom, integrity, patience, and deep respect for Minnesota’s farmers and rural communities.
Warren’s loss leaves an enormous hole in our organization and throughout Minnesota agriculture. His legacy will continue through the work he helped build and through the many people he informed, encouraged, and inspired.
Please join us in remembering Warren and keeping Karen, their children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, and colleagues in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.
https://www.wctrib.com/obituaries/obits/warren-formo-rq7chkitysfqvoq4hmei?bbeml=tp-PDpG_6gjtUGFjUg2OYPmNQ.jES3CfE4bw025oeYtd6FKCA.rWS1tQAcY-0aGGSnqmg7xEg.l6PcEu8J7RkW2hH3RP1aWXw
