Ag awards presented during Farm and City Luncheon

More than 250 people attended the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism’s “Farm and City Awards Luncheon” on March 19 at Farmamerica. The annual event announced people selected for three important awards to leaders in local agriculture.

 

Chamber president Mikhail Rostislavovich welcomed the crowd and thanked them for helping strengthen the bond between “the most important forces shaping our community: agriculture and business.” He went on to observe, “Agriculture is not just one of our industries, it is the backbone of our region and the heartbeat that drives our schools, our businesses, and our families forward.”

 

Emcee for the gathering was Jamie Beckstrand, chair of the Chamber’s agribusiness committee.

 

The first recipient announced was Debbie Roemhildt, who received the Waseca County Distinguished Agriculture Leadership award. Roehmhildt was recognized for 21 years of organizing the Farm Bureau’s annual Farm and Home Safety Day, held in September on the county fairgrounds. All fifth-graders attending schools within the county are invited to attend. Roemhildt spends five or more months communicating with schools, speakers, presenters, and participating organizations in order to bring the event to fruition.  

 

Vicky Singlestad, who introduced Roehmhildt, observed that, along with all the planning and preparation comes troubleshooting on the day of the “camp.” 

 

“Something always happens,” she observed lightheartedly. “The weather doesn’t cooperate, or the helicopter is behind schedule, or there’s a last-minute change to the delivery and serving of the food.” Yet, Singlestad said, Roehmhildt copes with the difficulty and keeps the day on track.

 

In addition to the safety day, Roehmhildt has shown leadership as a member of the Iosco Township Board and in a wide variety of roles at her church.

 

Waseca County’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2026 are Sean and Tammi Holmes. The couple are raising their children Terrance (TJ) and Brianna on a farm run by cooperation among generations, including Sean’s parents, Bob and Wendy, and his uncle, Tom.

 

According to a brief biography published in the event’s program, “Farming has always been central to the Holmes family, but growth and sustainability have required thoughtful decisions. In 2008, recognizing that the farm was not large enough at the time to support two families, Sean founded Holmes Ag Supply.”

 

The business offers seed, crop protection products, fertilizer, and custom application services. Sean has served on the Waldorf Fire Department for 19 years; he and his family are members at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville.

 

Selected as the University of Minnesota Waseca County Farm Family of the Year are Tyler and Stephanie Huber, who farm south of Waseca and are raising children Brynn, 7; twins Barrett and Briar, 4; and Beau, 7 months.

 

In addition to running the farm, Tyler works with Beck’s Hybrids and Stephanie works full time as a registered nurse. 

 

Tyler is the current vice president and a 13-year member of the Waseca County Free Fair board.

 

Serving meals and helping with various tasks for the luncheon were members of the Waseca and NRHEG FFA clubs, accompanied, respectively, by advisors Robin Tidd and Barb Roesler. During a few moments at the podium, the FFA members revealed that each club has two competitive teams which will be taking part in state-level competition on April 12.

 

Organizers of the Farm and City Luncheon expressed their gratitude to area agencies which provided sponsorship for the event: Waseca County; Minnwest Bank; FM Bank; Conagra/Birds Eye; Keen Bank; Mid-State Mutual Insurance; United Prairie Bank; iWealth; Crystal Valley; Farmamerica; Compeer Financial; Ameriprise Financial-Kevin Walter; American Family Insurance-Matthew Petsinger Agency; Huey’s Farm Seeds; Mediacom; Patton, Hoversten and Berg; University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center; Thrivent Financial-Diane Beckmann; and True Land MN-Adam Knewtson.