MINNEAPOLIS – A number of southern Minnesota farms and agricultural businesses were among 654 USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable and Energy Efficiency Program awardees announced Oct. 18. Southern Minnesota Projects funding include a $120,721 project at ...

SLEEPY EYE — Practice makes perfect. Sleepy Eye High School junior Kayden Klein finished fourth in the National FFA Convention Quiz Bowl Contest at the 97th national convention Oct. 22-26 in Indianapolis. This year, he won it, answering 16 more questions correctly than the national ...

Kayla and Dalton Werkman are happy raising their two sons on the family’s Century Farm 10 miles northwest of Russell. Their two children are Brayden, 12, and Corson, 9, and they’ve gotten involved with agriculture this year by growing their own beans. The boys rented 40 acres from ...

Dr. Sharon Augenstein recalls fondly growing up on the family’s Century Farm in Lincoln County, east of Lake Benton. “I remember playing outside a lot. The next farm had five kids and we just made our own fun — there were no computers. I helped dad with the animals, and would help with ...

MARSHALL — Caring for the land and for family have been a big part of life for Bruce and Sherry DeVos. Four generations of the DeVos family have worked to help their farm in rural Fairview Township thrive. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been rewarding, they said. “We’ve ...

STARK TOWNSHIP, Brown County — A 174-acre Stark Township farm owned by brothers Joel and Randy Schroepfer is a 2024 Brown County Century Farm. The farm began 140 years ago when Franz Schroepfer bought 160 acres for $7.50 an acre after immigrating to the U.S. from Austria. Franz Schroepfer ...