Farm Aid Fridays: Bonnie & Vance Haugen, LeeAnn & Jim VanDerPol

From Farm Aid’s YouTube Channel:

Dairy farmers Bonnie and Vance Haugen talk about the disappearance of farms and neighbors in their community in the wake of expanding factory farms nearby. They explain the need for people to come together and create policies that are made to work for all farmers, not just the biggest ones. LeeAnn and Jim VanDerPol raise animals on pasture and sell directly to consumers, showing a different way of making their farm work despite being in an area where water and resources are stretched thin by giant mega-dairies.

Appearing in this video:

Bonnie & Vance Haugen
Springside Farm
Canton, Minn.

LeeAnn & Jim VanDerPol
Pastures A Plenty
Kerkhoven, Minn.

Video produced and directed by Susan Steiner.

This video aired during the press event which took place on-stage before Farm Aid 40 on Sept. 20, 2025. Learn more about Farm Aid 40 here.

Upcoming Events

December 2025

Saturday December 20

10:00 am – 12:30 pm

ICE Out of Minnesota! March & Rally

Saturday December 20

10:00 am – 12:30 pm

ICE Out of Minnesota! March & Rally

3521 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406, USA

As federal deportation tactics are escalating around Minnesota, folks from all walks of life are coming together to stand up for neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers who are under threat of being illegally, and sometimes violently, separated from their loved ones by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.

The Land Stewardship Project is a member of the Immigrant Defense Network (IDN), a network of over 90 Minnesota organizations dedicated to protecting and advancing the constitutional rights of immigrant communities across Minnesota. At LSP, we know we all depend upon immigrants’ contributions to a robust food and agriculture economy in this country and we will not have a sustainable farm and food system until it is sustainable for everyone.

Which is why we are reaching out to share an opportunity to stand with our immigrant neighbors and show what a strong and united community looks like. We hope you can join LSP as part of IDN’s delegation at the ICE OUT OF MN! March and Rally on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 11:30 a.m., in South Minneapolis.

March Details (more details can be found on the registration form):

IDN is asking people to please register ahead of time.
Meet at 10 a.m. at COPAL Worker’s Center, located at 3521 E. Lake St., Minneapolis, MN 55406.
- Transportation will be provided to the march starting point as well as return transportation to Worker’s Center at the end of the march.
March begins at 11:30 a.m.
Route: Lake Street & Bloomington to Pillsbury Ave. & Lake Street
- Please be prepared to walk outdoors for approximately 30 minutes.

REGISTER HERE
- We’re asking LSP members who are interested in participating to register ahead of time and answer Yes to the question asking organization participation. You can indicate Land Stewardship Project on the registration form. This will let the organizers know how many organizations are being represented at this event.

Monday December 22

All Day

Beginning Famer Tax Credit Webinar

Monday December 22

Beginning Famer Tax Credit Webinar

Zoom online

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) will start accepting applications for the 2026 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit on Jan. 1. This is an annual program available to landlords and sellers (asset owners) who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.

This webinar will provide basic information on the program and how to apply for it. To register, click here.

9:00 am – 11:30 am

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

Monday December 22

9:00 am – 11:30 am

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

Zoom online

In December and January, the Organic Fruit Growers Association is offering a series of climate resilience workshops. Workshop goals are to learn about the changing climate in our region and the expected impacts on fruit farmers and to select climate resilience practices which are suited to your farm’s goals and values. The outcome of the workshops will be a written climate resilience plan with actionable steps to make your farm more resilient to changing climate.

Workshops will be led by University of Minnesota extension educators Katie Black and Madeline Wimmer and include times for farmer-to-farmer discussion. This series includes the following four meetings. Expect to spend an additional 4-10 hours outside the meetings developing your farm’s climate resilience plan:

Wednesday Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Monday, Dec. 22, discussion (online via Zoom — optional but encouraged)
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (in-person workshop in La Crosse, Wis. Lunch provided, and you can be reimbursed for mileage traveling to and from the meeting.)

For details and to register, click here.

January 2026

Thursday January 1

All Day: Minnesota Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Applications
Thursday January 1
Minnesota Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Applications
Online
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Rural Finance Authority (RFA) will start accepting applications for the 2026 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit on Jan. 1. This is an annual program available to landlords and sellers (asset owners) who rent or sell farmland, equipment, livestock, and other agricultural assets to beginning farmers.

On Dec. 22, a webinar will provide basic information on the program and how to apply for it. To register, click here.

Wednesday January 7

10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

Wednesday January 7

10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Organic Fruit Growers Climate Resilience Workshop

La Crosse, Wis.

n December and January, the Organic Fruit Growers Association is offering a series of climate resilience workshops. Workshop goals are to learn about the changing climate in our region and the expected impacts on fruit farmers and to select climate resilience practices which are suited to your farm’s goals and values. The outcome of the workshops will be a written climate resilience plan with actionable steps to make your farm more resilient to changing climate.

Workshops will be led by University of Minnesota extension educators Katie Black and Madeline Wimmer and include times for farmer-to-farmer discussion. This series includes the following four meetings. Expect to spend an additional 4-10 hours outside the meetings developing your farm’s climate resilience plan:

Wednesday Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (online via Zoom)
Monday, Dec. 22, discussion (online via Zoom — optional but encouraged)
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (in-person workshop in La Crosse, Wis. Lunch provided, and you can be reimbursed for mileage traveling to and from the meeting.)

For details and to register, click here.

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