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Alan Perish’s Passion for Local Democracy

 'If you can’t control things locally, somebody else is going to control them for you...'

By Brian DeVore
May 19, 2025

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When Alan Perish passed away May 14, we lost a stalwart advocate for  family farming and local democracy.

Alan, a fourth-generation farmer, milked cows in central Minnesota’s Todd County for many years and he was a longtime Land Stewardship Project and Minnesota Farmers Union member. Over the years, I had several opportunities to talk with him about the key role a family farm form of agriculture can play in healthy rural communities and our food system in general. No matter if he was talking to a neighbor, a roomful of legislators, or the media, Alan made one thing clear: a vibrant, economically-viable system of farming and strong local democracy are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they go hand-in-hand.

That’s why, up until his death, he served as president and manager of Hartford Township in Todd County. And it’s why he chose to be so integral to the Land Stewardship Project’s work related to protecting and strengthening local democracy on the township and county level. He served on LSP’s State Policy Steering Committee, and helped develop policy positions related to local democracy and support of small and medium-sized farms, among other issues. In his straightforward, no-nonsense manner, Alan often spoke in public about the importance of local control in rural communities. At one point, as the image below shows, he was featured in an LSP campaign advocating for protection of township rights. 

Being so public about an issue like this in Rural America is significant, given that the common narrative generated by the backers of a corporate-controlled form of economic activity is that communities cannot thrive when local residents have a say in what kinds of development — whether it be a CAFO, frac sand mining operation, or housing subdivision — takes place there. They’ve often used this narrative to silence those who feel that the people who live and work in a community are the ones who should have a say in what kind of activity drives the economy and dominates the landscape. Big Ag, in particular, has been extremely effective at promulgating the concept that if one questions any aspect of crop and livestock production, then one is attacking all forms of farming.

Alan saw such an argument for what it was: a form of bullying meant to advance the interests of a select few while sucking wealth out of rural communities and putting small and medium-sized farms out of business. This humble farmer taught me a lot about the importance of speaking up, even when the powers that be are propagating a myth that no one else shares your view of the world.

Sometime back, I had the opportunity to interview Alan for LSP’s 40th anniversary oral history, Making Change from the Ground Up. Despite being quite ill at time, his fiery passion for local democracy and family farming still shined through during our conversation. Here’s what he shared with me:

If you can’t control things locally, somebody else is going to control them for you, and their ideas are often about who can make the most money the fastest. And the only way to make money fast is to not filter it down to the local people who live in the community. If the size of the operations gets too big, the communities suffer, they suffer a lot. All you have to do is drive through any of these small communities and see all the boarded-up stores. Or in several of these small communities, one person may own two or three businesses or more, or the owner of that business lives out of town in another community. But if you’ve got 10 businesses in town, and you’ve got 10 owners of those businesses in town, they’re all contributing to the welfare of the community.

Working with LSP organizers like Paul Sobocinski and Bobby King, I had a chance to testify on local control at the Minnesota Legislature. I did it more than once, but I know on one particular day I made a difference. I didn’t necessarily change some minds, but they kind of figured out they couldn’t have it their way as far as weakening local township and county government. Of course, there were segments of the Legislature that wanted to eliminate local control and local planning and zoning and people’s ability to control what’s going on in their own communities. But I think some of the lawmakers were surprised at how much support there was for local control because they didn’t have any good firsthand knowledge of the situation. People from the Minnesota Association of Townships were in the hearing room also, and they were really impressed. They said, “By golly, maybe we need to have you come down and do some more testifying for us.” Local control is still under fire, but today the opponents are using different tactics — they’re accomplishing their goals by putting people out of business.

I also served on LSP’s State Policy Committee for awhile. We had good, thoughtful discussions and helped the organization stay on track with their lobbying efforts and policy and such. There was quite a variety of people on that committee, and I think we helped keep the organization true to the roots where it belonged. Local control was one of the big issues. Frac sand mining came into play right at the end of my time on the committee, and that’s basically a local control issue.

When people ask what local democracy looks like in Minnesota, I think of people like Alan Perish.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Alan will take place on Thursday, May 22, at 11 a.m., at the Christ the King Catholic Church in Browerville, Minn. Details are here.

Brian DeVore is LSP’s managing editor.

Category: Blog
Tags: Alan Perish • family farming • local control • local democracy • Minnesota Legislature • rural economic development

Upcoming Events

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June 2025

Tuesday June 17

9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Silvopasture & Brush Management Field Day
Tuesday June 17
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Silvopasture & Brush Management Field Day
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge 16797 289th Ave NW Zimmerman, MN 55398

The Sustainable Farming Association is hosting a field day designed for landowners and managers who find themselves struggling to manage invasive woodland brush. The day will include both indoor presentations and outdoor site tours of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, including a working goat herd. To register for this free event, click here.

Saturday June 21

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Farm-Scale Deep Winter Greenhouse Tour
Saturday June 21
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Farm-Scale Deep Winter Greenhouse Tour
Owl Bluff Farm, 12314 County Road 4 Houston, MN 55943

The University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) and Owl Bluff Farm will co-host an open house to celebrate the completion of the state’s first farm-scale deep winter greenhouse. The event, held on the farm about 45 minutes east of Rochester, is free and open to the public. RSVPs are required at z.umn.edu/OwlBluffOpenHouse.

Wednesday June 25

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
LSP-PFI Grazing Field Day at Hoosier Ridge Ranch
Wednesday June 25
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
LSP-PFI Grazing Field Day at Hoosier Ridge Ranch
Hoosier Ridge Ranch, 15998 Wabasha County Rd 26, Altura, MN 55910, USA

Over the last 50 years, livestock have left many farms. Eric Heins is doing the reverse: bringing cattle – and their poop, pee and hooves – back to his land. Come see how Eric is using his Normande-shorthorn crosses in a variety of grazing situations. During this Land Stewardship Project-Practical Farmers of Iowa field day, you can view permanent pasture, where Eric (like everyone) is battling the cool-season grass takeover. You’ll also learn how Eric is using his cattle in cover crop mixes, prairie and woodlands.

Since purchasing the farm in 2020, Eric has converted the cropland to pasture. He also custom-farms a diverse rotation of crops, covers and small grains on neighboring farms, including an established prairie on Iowa Department of Natural Resources land. A possible bonus: Eric is hoping to have virtual fence collars by the time of the field day, but no guarantees!

A meal featuring Hoosier Ridge Ranch burgers will follow the field day.

See & Discuss

  • Cash-flowing the conversion to pasture on owned versus rented cropland
  • Stockpiling pasture for winter grazing
  • Mechanical buckthorn clearing for silvopasture
  • Grazing agreements on DNR prairie and neighboring cropland
  • A sudangrass mix after a canning pea crop
  • An extended rotation with oats, barley and Kernza

For details and to register, click here.

Saturday June 28

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP's Boots & Roots: A Celebration of Land & People
Saturday June 28
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
LSP's Boots & Roots: A Celebration of Land & People
Dream Acres, Co Hwy 8, Spring Valley, MN 55975, USA

Join Land Stewardship Project members and supporters to kick-start the Driftless summer with an evening of good food, good music, and good times. We’ll have activities for all ages that will get you out in nature, exploring the connection between our region’s farms and your community’s food, land, and water. Bring a side or dessert to share for dinner, and the Dream Acres wood-fired oven will provide locally-sourced pizzas and flat breads. Dinner will be followed by live music and contra dancing by the Crater City String Band.  

To reserve a spot, click here.

Camping sites are available at nearby Masonic Park and Forestville Mystery Cave and Lake Louise State Parks. Camping at Masonic is rustic,first-come-first-serve, free, and does not require a reservation. Fillmore County, who manages the park, only asks that you call the dispatchers at507-765-3874 when you arrive with your vehicle information and phone number in case of emergency. State Park reservations cost $25 a night and can be made online.

July 2025

Saturday July 12

All Day
Fishing, Farming & Food: Rush Creek’s Fish Kill Anniversary & Why it Matters
Saturday July 12
Fishing, Farming & Food: Rush Creek’s Fish Kill Anniversary & Why it Matters
Farmers Community Park, 23274 Arches Road Lewiston, MN 55952

During the Fishing, Farming & Food: Rush Creek’s Fish Kill Anniversary & Why it Matters event, the Land Stewardship Project will mark the three-year anniversary of a major fish kill in southeastern Minnesota that spawned citizen action and led to new public policy around how such events are reported. We will have fly fishing classes, birding opportunities, discussions about how regenerative farming systems can support healthy soil and clean water, good food, and fun music.  

More details are forthcoming. For more information, contact LSP’s Kate Rowe at krowe@landstewardshipproject.org.

View Full Calendar

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