John Burkel is a Republican member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 1A in northwest Minnesota, including parts of Kittson, Marshall, Pennington, and Roseau Counties such as Thief River Falls and Badger. A fourth-generation turkey farmer from Greenbush, he was elected in 2020 after incumbent Dan Fabian retired, and reelected in 2022; he is married to Joni with five children: Vanessa, Andrea, Alex, Jack, and Emily. Notable positions include co-vice chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, plus service on Agriculture Finance and Policy, Legacy Finance, and the Property Taxes Division; achievements encompass advocating for avian flu emergency funding, compensation for farmed deer restrictions, vocational education expansion, rural county engineer residency reforms, and opposition to ethanol subsidies and COVID-19 mask mandates.

Education and Political Experience

• Greenbush High School graduate
• Attended North Dakota State University for two years

Political Experience

• Elected to Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020; serving third term as of 2026
• Co-Vice Chair, Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee
• Member, Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee
• Member, Legacy Finance Committee
• Member, Taxes Committee
• Chairman, Northern Pride, Inc. board ; board member for 20 years
• Chairman, Minnesota Turkey Growers Association ; board member
• Chairman, National Turkey Federation executive committee ; member
• Active in St. Mary's Church, Badger
• Roseau County ambassador to Red River Valley Emerging Leaders program