About AAI
The American Agricultural Institute is a nonpartisan research and educational organization dedicated to advancing a stronger agricultural economy through research, education, and sound public policy.
Our Mission
AAI connects and informs farmers, distributors, policymakers, and consumers with accurate data and analysis to restore agricultural price parity, reflecting the comprehensive economics of modern production, ensuring an abundant supply of raw materials while generating the personal and corporate income needed to purchase them, in a national economy that provides growth and prosperity for all.
We envision a nationwide coalition of farmers across all crops and commodities, and to reconnect the American public to the people who grow its food. We will educate and advocate for a policy environment in which farm prices approach USDA parity – because parity for agriculture means prosperity for America.
Our Approach
Research
Conducting independent research into the U.S. economic record, comparing gross farm income and national income, and the policies that shape widespread prosperity among the U.S. population.
Education
Equipping farmers, policymakers, and the public with practical knowledge and a deeper understanding of Raw Material Economics and the productive sectors' pivotal roles in a robust economy.
Policy
Restoring principled, research-driven policy solutions to strengthen domestic production, promote long-term economic stability, and preserve the nation's capacity to create real wealth.
Our Leadership
Alan Perry
President
Alan P. Perry is an agricultural consultant, fifth-generation farmer, and Certified Crop Adviser with more than five decades of experience spanning production agriculture, soil science, crop nutrition, agricultural economics, and policy. A graduate of the University of Maine with a B.S. in Agricultural and Resource Economics and a minor in Plant Sciences, Perry has built his career around strengthening the economic and productive foundations of American agriculture.
Andrew Fridenstine
Vice President
Andrew Fridenstine is a fifth-generation Ohioan whose upbringing on a 255-acre family farm instilled a lifelong appreciation for agriculture, hard work, faith, and service. A graduate of West Coast Baptist College, he spent more than 15 years in pastoral ministry and Christian education. Since moving to the Washington, D.C. area in 2015, Andrew has served in ministry on Capitol Hill, gaining firsthand insight into government while remaining passionate about farming and strengthening America’s agricultural future.
Randy Cook
Senior Advisor
Randy Cook is a Michigan fruit farmer, agricultural researcher, and longtime President of the National Organization for Raw Materials (NORM). A Michigan State University graduate, Randy has spent decades studying agricultural economics, the American System of economics, and policies designed to strengthen producer prosperity and economic stability. He is also the author of numerous Economic Report of the Producers publications and a frequent presenter on agricultural and monetary policy.