AARON VEHLING T.W. BUDIG ANDY ROGERS
Spooky hot sauces, drink mixes proving popular 5A Horner aims to broaden sales tax, cut budget 10A Lacrosse store maintains healthy presence in Rosemount 44A
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DATE ##,26, 2009 AUGUST 2010
VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 31, NUMBER 26
Dakota County Tribune Since 1884
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Organic farm hopes to raise money for grass roots educational program
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INSIDE BIZ FORUM
Mark Dayton, the tax man, needs a reality check. It seems impossible for him to convince legislators to pass such increases. PHIL KRINKIE 4A
Fund raising dinner set for Sept. 11; portion of proceeds will also go toward food shelves
BUSINESS 101
by Jessica Harper DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
For the past two years, Gardens of Eagan, an organic cooperative farm in Farmington, has been working to educate the public about the benefits of organic cultivation through a nonprofit program called Organic Field School. The only problem is the school is struggling to find funding. The solution — a Farm Fresh Dinner on Saturday Sept. 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the 100-acre farm at 25494 Highview Ave. in Farmington to raise funds for the school. “Raising awareness is as important as raising money,” said Linda Halley, farm manager at Gardens of Eagan. “Most people think organic farming is just about farming without chemicals ... but the main message is that organic farming is better for the ecosystem, not just your personal health.” The event will include a multi-course dinner that will consist of produce from Gardens of Eagan as well as other local organic farms and will be prepared by chefs from the Red Stag Supperclub and Barbette in Minneapolis. The event, which costs $75 per person and is tax deductible, will also include wine and beer tasting, music by Jack Klatt & the Cat Swingers, and a tasting tour in which people can taste fresh vegetables straight from the fields. The Organic Field School is still in its infancy. So far, its programs have been provided
Getting everyone on the same page is vital to effectively managing a team. Move beyond personal agendas to help attain this. HAROLD TORRENCE 6A Photos by Jessica Harper
Gardens of Eagan grows certified organic fruits and vegetables at its 100acre farm in Farmington.
Photo by Jessica Harper
Katie Greene searches for ripe tomatoes at Gardens of Eagan in Farmington. Produce grown and harvested at the farm is sold at cooperatives in the metro.
In Brief
Gardens of Eagan, a certified organic farm, will be hosting a fund raising dinner on Sept. 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. at 25494 Highview Ave. in Farmington. The event costs $75 and is tax-deductible. Proceeds will go toward the Organic Field School, a nonprofit that aims to educate the public about organic farming, and the Emergency Foodshelf Network, which serves families in the Twin Cities area.
through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations such as the Lands Stewardship Project and the Midwest Food Connec-
tion, which are nonprofits that promote sustainable agriculture. The goal of the fund raiser is to raise enough money to pro-
vide training and formal internship programs for apprentices at Gardens of Eagan, Halley said. Funds will also go toward providing tours of the farm for local school children, she said. “It’s important for them to learn where their food comes from,” Halley said. “Kids, more than anyone, shouldn’t be exposed to chemicals, and need to see how an organic farm works.” In addition to raising funds for the Organic Field School, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the E m e rg e n c y Fo o d s h e l f
FINANCIAL SENSE
There needs to be an enormous shift in investors’ minds as they prepare for retirement in the current and future economy. PETER MCCLELLAN 6A BEST PRACTICES
See Gardens, Page 2A
When attending a networking event, you want to meet new people, but talking to those you already know also generates leads. ANNETTE MARQUEZ 43A
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Beyond business: Chamber foundation provides education, too by Derrick Williams DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
For business leaders in Lakeville, education and business go hand in hand. At the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce, executive director Todd Bornhauser said he’s always
Lakeville Area Chamber Foundation is a nonprofit arm of Lakeville’s chamber of commerce that offers funds for leadership, educational programs for citizens, children trying to reach out to students and teachers. “We have to realize tomorrow’s work force comes from today’s schools,” he said.
And it’s that mentality that helped pave the way for one of Dakota County’s most important chamber programs: the Lakeville Area Chamber Founda-
tion. The foundation serves as the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce’s charitable arm, according to chamber member and
foundation chair Roz Peterson. “We fund-raise and then utilize the money to go toward business education programs,” she said.
This year, the foundation hopes to raise around $5,000, Peterson said. The money goes to programs such as Leadership Lakeville, a training program offering citizens an opportunity to learn about See Foundation, Page 2A