University of MN salutes 2023 Farm Families of the Year

ST. PAUL, Minn. (7/11/2023) — Families and growers from all of Minnesota’s 87 counties will be represented as the University of Minnesota honors them in the 2023 Farm Family of the Year ceremony. This is the first time in recent memory that every county has selected agricultural leaders for this recognition.

The farms will be recognized in a ceremony beginning at 1:15 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 3, at the annual Minnesota Farmfest on the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls. The event is in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center on the estate grounds.

Those honored cover a wide spectrum of farming, from traditional crops and livestock to community-based ventures focused on organics and traditional native foods. They were chosen by county-based local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture.

“This year's Minnesota's Farm Families of the Year reflect the breadth and variety of agriculture in our state," said Extension Dean Bev Durgan. "The University of Minnesota is proud to honor these families and their innovation and dedication to Minnesota agriculture."

A sampling of farmers and their contributions to agriculture follows. All the 2023 families are profiled at extension.umn.edu/farm-families.

Pennington County  

Neal and Nicole Peterson 

Neil and Nicole Peterson’s multi-generational farm consists of 1,100 acres of rotating crops of soybeans, alfalfa, oats, wheat and corn. The Petersons grow 30 to 40 varieties of fruits and vegetables and 60-plus varieties of pumpkins. In 2010, the Petersons began producing canned goods to sell at the Thief River Falls Farmers Market. In 2015 they launched a small community-support agriculture enterprise and five years later, sold their beef herd.

All of the Petersons’ children and their families are involved with the farm; Nicole’s parents also help. Neil has served on the Pennington County Board since 2011, where his duties include serving on the Extension Committee. He devotes his time to a wide range of community service organizations. Nicole coordinates the Red Kettle Campaign for the Salvation Army in Pennington County and takes part in Pennington County One Vegetable Community Group and serves on the county fair board.

Scott County 

Vern and Becky Wick

The Wicks purchased their farm from Vern’s parents in 1990. The current farm consists of 46 Jersey and Holstein milk cows; they also have dry cows and raise their own calves for replacement heifers. They grow corn, alfalfa and oats – all to feed their livestock – on 160 acres. They also raise broiler chickens and laying hens. In 2016, they converted all their acreage to no-till and twin-row planting. They plant winter rye as a cover crop following corn silage and small grains, and they rotationally graze the milking cows, dry cows and heifers on the cereal rye. They were the 2020 Scott County Conservation Leaders of the Year. 

The Wicks have four adult children, all of whom helped on the farm as they grew up. They are Dairy Herd Improvement Association and Minnesota Farm Bureau members, and are very involved with their parish church in Jordan. They also like to harvest maple syrup, garden, explore new holistic and fermented foods, and enjoy deer hunting. 

Big Stone County 

Olson Family

Les and Jessica Olson’s farm was founded by his great-grandparents in 1888. Today, it’s one of two sites that make up Big Stone Garlic Company, where garlic is grown in a reclaimed cattle yard and sold both locally and across the country. With daughters Rosa and Anika, the family does planting, weeding harvesting, processing and sales.  

Les, Jessica, Rosa and Anika are involved in planting, weeding, harvesting, processing, packaging and sales. Rosa handles website administration and Jessica takes care of the bookkeeping. The Olsons work with University of Minnesota Extension and Bonnie’s Hometown Grocery to pioneer a backhauling process that enables small specialty crop farmers to access larger markets with their produce. They’re active in sustainable farming efforts, while the daughters are leaders in their 4-H club. 

Dodge County 

Glenn and Carolyn Hahn

University of Minnesota alum Glenn Hahn and his wife Carolyn started a small dairy in 1993 on a rented farm when their son Brian joined the operation. The Hahns sold their dairy herd in 1997 and expanded the crop side of the business. In 2014, son Brian and his family traded farms with Glenn and Carolyn when Brian took over a major part of the operation in both acres and management. Today, the farm consists of corn, soybeans, canning corn and hay on about 2,000 acres of owned and rented land.

Glenn is a member of the Dodge County Corn and Soybean Growers Association. He served on the Dodge County FSA board for nine years and currently is a Dodge County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor and a member of the county livestock siting committee. Glenn also devotes time as a policy board member on the Root River One Watershed One Plan and is a supervisor for the Vernon Township board. The Hahns are 40-plus-year members of the Minnesota Farmers Union, where Glenn served as county president for more than a decade and Carolyn remains as secretary/treasurer. They are active members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hayfield.

Ramsey County 

Urban Roots 

Over the years, Urban Roots organizers have provided a range of community development services with a common thread of empowerment, engagement and innovation. Since 1996, Urban Roots has provided paid internships to youth on the East Side of St. Paul. Interns develop leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills through the program’s Market Garden, Conservation, and Cook Fresh programs. Each year up to 80 interns, ages 14-24, participate in Urban Roots’ progressive, tiered programming connects to each other and the world around them.

Urban Roots’ Market Garden Program wouldn’t exist without the hard work of its staff: Skyler Hawkins is the farm manager, Jaclyne Jandro serves as the youth program manager, Marcos Giossi is the farm coordinator, Paloma Cardoza is the coordinator of youth programs, Alfredo Alvarado is the group’s market coordinator, and Hayley Ball is the executive director of Urban Roots.