PHOTO BY JAKOB KOUNKEL
A crop sprouts at the Brown Family Farm July 9 in Oak Park. While it is going to be some time before the crop is ready to be picked, Ben and Jodi check on it regularly.
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SERVING RURAL BENTON, MORRISON, MILLE LACS AND KANABEC COUNTIES
Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, July 17, 2021
By University of Minnesota Extension A Minnesota tradition returns this year as 81 families from throughout Minnesota are being honored in person as 2021 Farm Families of the Year by the University of Minnesota. The farm families will be recognized in ceremonies beginning at 1:15 p.m. Aug. 5 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. The program will include remarks by University of Minnesota President Joan Gabel. The families were chosen, one per county, by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on their demonstrated commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture and their communities. “The University of Minnesota takes pride in honoring these families,” said Bev Durgan, Extension dean. “The farm families receiving this year’s honors exemplify what makes Minnesota agriculture strong. They bring innovation, science and hard work to farming. They care greatly about the land and animals and delivering quality products to consumers worldwide.”
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Farm families page 3B
cultivate for 450 families
Brown Family Farm built on hard work, determination
PHOTO SUBMITTED
The Brown family – Karli, 7, Jodi, William, 8, and Ben holding Kelsi, 5 – walk through a field in Zimmerman. They have since moved to Oak Park, farming on 12 acres. BY JAKOB KOUNKEL STAFF WRITER
OAK PARK – Tilling 12 acres of land on their farm in Oak Park, the Brown family cultivates over 100 varieties of crops for 450 families through community supported agriculture, a somewhat new and emerging style of farming. They moved to Oak Park in April 2020 and started planting two days later. Through CSA, the Brown Family Farm sells shares of their harvest to families in exchange for a box of diverse, locally cultivated fruits, vegetables and herbs. Families that purchase a share receive a box per week for 16 weeks between mid-June and early October.
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Having been in the CSA business for nine years, Ben and Jodi established a balance between work in the soil and the office. Ben assesses the land and de“There are different termines what it needs while Jodi takes of the administrative and office duscenarios every year care ties, though she spends most of her days in the fields, but the packing and delivering shares. They both have a determination to members are what succeed through a more personal style matter.” of farming. “You don’t just walk into this busi- Jodi Brown ness and have it ready and waiting for The green thumb of the operation, you,” Jodi said. “We started with 18 Ben Brown, has a degree in horticulture CSA members, and some of those folks from Central Lakes College in Brain- are still with us, too.” erd, where he met his wife and self-proclaimed black thumb of the operation, Jodi Brown, who has a degree in natural Brown family page 2B resources. Features a 1/2” thick High Density Solid Poly Floor and 3/4” thick Solid Poly sides for easy cleaning and minimal freeze up. Box flares and side panel retainers are made of SAE 304 Stainless Steel that resists rust and corrosion. This box is built to last!
VB280 Spreader
2) Frontier ier & H&S 8 Wheel Rakes
JD 446 round baler
coming in and in very good condition
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U of M salutes Farm Families of the Year
Community supported agriculturalists
COME UP AN LOOK AT THEM! 1960-2021 Celebrating 61 years!
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