beginning farmers

LSP Supporters Talk ‘Farm to Kids,’ Land Access & Soil Health During 20th Family Farm Breakfast at the Capitol

Farmers Join MN Lt. Governor & Attorney General as Featured Speakers

March 18, 2025

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Getting healthy, local food to Minnesota’s children, providing support for emerging farmers and building resilient soil were the topics of conversation when over 170 Land Stewardship Project (LSP) members and allies gathered in Saint Paul March 13 for the 20th iteration of the Family Farm Breakfast at the Capitol. Minnesota Lieutenant… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: beginning farmers • emerging farmers • Family Farm Breakfast • farm-to-school • land access • Minnesota Department of Agriculture • Minnesota Legislature • soil health • state policy

Sign-On to Support New Farmers on the Land

Tell Lawmakers We Need Changes to the MN Down Payment Assistance Grant

February 18, 2025

Between 2012 and 2022, Minnesota lost 9,011 farms — on average 900 farms per year. During that same period, the average size of a Minnesota farm went from 349 acres to 388 acres. The average age of Minnesota farmers has reached an all-time high of 57.1 years. Ninety-nine percent of all farmland in Minnesota is… Read More →

Category: Action Alerts

Tags: beginning farmers • Down Payment Assistance Grant Program • emerging farmers • farm transition • Minnesota Legislature • state policy

Land Line: Small Grains, Manure, Soil Carbon, Rural Empowerment, Regenerative Generation

Feb. 3: An LSP Round-up of News Covering Land, People & Communities

By Brian DeVore

February 3, 2025

Growing Small Grains Market in Albert Lea Attracting Attention from Farmers (1/28/25) KAAL-TV reports on a Land Stewardship Project workshop where over 150 people gathered to talk about ways of bringing small grains back to Minnesota. Highlights: After being mostly replaced by corn and soybeans during the past several decades, small grains such as oats… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: beginning farmers • CAFOs • factory farms • feedlot permits • grassroots organizing • Land Line • manure • nitrogen • oats • small grains • soil carbon • soil health

A Sense of Where You Are: Red Dresses & Magic Management

Part 2 in a Series

By Brian DeVore

January 20, 2025

Note: This is the 2nd installment in the 12-part “A Sense of Where You Are” series. One of the ways Rachelle and Jordan Meyer keep things in context is to avoid being distracted by what they call “the woman in the red dress.” Is a new enterprise a good fit for the farm, or is… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: A Sense of Where You Are • beginning farmers • managed rotational grazing • pasture walks • pasture-based livestock • soil health

Youth Movement

From Tilling an Old Soccer Field to Helping Teens Kick-off Better Communities

By Brian DeVore

January 2, 2025

When it comes to youth programs centered around gardening and farming, a common mantra is, “We’re teaching kids about where their food comes from.” Sounds laudable, but to Marcos Giossi, such a feel-good goal is too limiting when it comes to exposing young people to the realities of the farm and food system that dominates.… Read More →

Category: Farm Beginnings Profiles

Tags: beginning farmers • Farm Beginnings • Marcos Giossi • urban agriculture • Urban Roots • youth enrichment

LSP Winter Farm Transition Planning Course Launches Jan. 28 Online

Sessions to be Led by Farmers & Financial Professionals

November 29, 2024

LEWISTON, Minn. — Are you a farmer or landowner thinking about the next steps for your farm and land? Or do you know someone who is? The Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Transition Planning Course provides a holistic opportunity to dig into important topics and learn from experienced farmers and professionals. The online course will be held… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: beginning farmers • estate planning • farm transition • next generation

Oats & The 3-Legged Stool of Farm Resiliency

This Humble Grain Represents One Commonsense Approach to Diversifying the Landscape

By Shea-Lynn Ramthun

November 16, 2024

In case you haven’t noticed, the humble oat is having a bit of a moment. After decades of declines in oat plantings in Minnesota, acreage increased this year. Market demand for the small grain is up, a group of farmers are attempting to pull together funding for a major processing plant in southern Minnesota, and… Read More →

Category: Blog

Tags: beginning farmers • crop diversity • integrating livestock • nitrates • oats • rural economic development • small grains • soil health • water quality

Ear to the Ground 355: Silver Buckshot

Father-son team Joe and Matthew Fitzgerald are quite willing to share their insights with other farmers on how to get started in organic crop production. First piece of advice: sell your fishing boat. More Information • Fitzgerald Organic Mad Agriculture Video • Organic Agronomy Training Service • LSP Soil Health Web Page You can find LSP… Read More →

Ear to the Ground 348: Urban Agrarian

Elyssa Eull’s tiny farm is tucked between railroad tracks and an empty lot in the heart of a major metropolitan area, but its city soil is producing food on a commercial scale. More Information • LSP’s Farm Beginnings Course • California Street Farm • Twin Cities Metro Growers Network • USDA Urban Agriculture Programs at a Glance… Read More →

Networking Event for Farmers Invested in Soil Health & Sustainable Practices Aug. 22 in Austin Area

August 6, 2024

AUSTIN, Minn. — Farmers in the Austin area are invited to a special networking event Thursday, Aug. 22, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Lightly Farm (22238 880th Ave., Oakland, Minn.). This Land Stewardship Project (LSP) event is free and attendees are invited to bring a dish to share and a lawn chair. LSP… Read More →

Category: News Releases

Tags: beginning farmers • community • soil health • sustainable agriculture

Upcoming Events

April 2025

Wednesday April 30

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: May Day Teach-In: Minneapolis, Minn.
Wednesday April 30
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
May Day Teach-In: Minneapolis, Minn.
Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo, 3521 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55406, USA
Join the Land Stewardship Project and the Immigrant Defense Network for a powerful teach-in to learn about the origins of International Workers’ Day, the 1886 Chicago protests, and how the struggle continues today for immigrant workers across Minnesota. Then, take action with us to change the narrative!

• We’ll assemble May Day Worker Defense baskets filled with resources, reports, and tools for worker protection.

• Gain talking points to explain why immigrants are essential to industries like agriculture, food processing, and other sectors.

• Together, we’ll encourage employers and companies to acknowledge the real impact of enforcement actions and take steps to protect our community.

Confirmed teach-in events:

• Minneapolis May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo
3521 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55406
Dinner provided

• Rochester May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
1210 ½ 7th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Dinner provided

• Mankato May Day Teach-In
Thursday, May 1
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Shared Spaces
127 S. 2nd St. #100 Mankato, MN 56001
Breakfast provided

For more information, contact LSP’s Nick Olson at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org.
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: May Day Teach-In: Rochester, Minn.
Wednesday April 30
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
May Day Teach-In: Rochester, Minn.
2 7th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901, USA

Join the Land Stewardship Project and the Immigrant Defense Network for a powerful teach-in to learn about the origins of International Workers’ Day, the 1886 Chicago protests, and how the struggle continues today for immigrant workers across Minnesota. Then, take action with us to change the narrative!

• We’ll assemble May Day Worker Defense baskets filled with resources, reports, and tools for worker protection.

• Gain talking points to explain why immigrants are essential to industries like agriculture, food processing, and other sectors.

• Together, we’ll encourage employers and companies to acknowledge the real impact of enforcement actions and take steps to protect our community.

Confirmed teach-in events:

• Minneapolis May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo
3521 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55406
Dinner provided

• Rochester May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
1210 ½ 7th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Dinner provided

• Mankato May Day Teach-In
Thursday, May 1
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Shared Spaces
127 S. 2nd St. #100 Mankato, MN 56001
Breakfast provided

For more information, contact LSP’s Nick Olson at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org.

May 2025

Thursday May 1

9:00 am – 10:00 am: May Day Teach-In: Mankato, Minn.
Thursday May 1
9:00 am – 10:00 am
May Day Teach-In: Mankato, Minn.
Shared Spaces, 127 S 2nd St, Mankato, MN 56001, USA

Join the Land Stewardship Project and the Immigrant Defense Network for a powerful teach-in to learn about the origins of International Workers’ Day, the 1886 Chicago protests, and how the struggle continues today for immigrant workers across Minnesota. Then, take action with us to change the narrative!

• We’ll assemble May Day Worker Defense baskets filled with resources, reports, and tools for worker protection.

• Gain talking points to explain why immigrants are essential to industries like agriculture, food processing, and other sectors.

• Together, we’ll encourage employers and companies to acknowledge the real impact of enforcement actions and take steps to protect our community.

Confirmed teach-in events:

• Minneapolis May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Centro de Trabajadores Primero de Mayo
3521 E. Lake St. Minneapolis, MN 55406
Dinner provided

• Rochester May Day Teach-In
Wednesday, April 30
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
1210 ½ 7th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Dinner provided

• Mankato May Day Teach-In
Thursday, May 1
9 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Shared Spaces
127 S. 2nd St. #100 Mankato, MN 56001
Breakfast provided

For more information, contact LSP’s Nick Olson at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org.

Thursday May 29

9:00 am – 12:30 pm: Storytelling for Sales: Digital Marketing for Sustainable Farmers
Thursday May 29
9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Storytelling for Sales: Digital Marketing for Sustainable Farmers
Zoom Online
Storytelling for Sales: Digital Marketing Best Practices to Get Your Farm’s Next Customer is designed to help farmers grow their customer base by sharpening their storytelling and digital marketing skills—whether they’re selling through farmers’ markets, CSAs, or direct-to-retail. This Greener Pastures and Meet the Minnesota Makers workshop will cover how websites and social media can actually convert viewers into buyers to creating content that builds community loyalty.

This workshop is also designed for ag educators, professionals, and partner organizational staff who support farmers directly and want to be well-versed on the marketing best practices to support direct-to-consumer farms.

For details and to register, click here.

June 2025

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.

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