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What Makes a Welcoming Community?

By Sam Streukens
October 18, 2021

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Dana, “Big Mike,” and Mike Seifert.

I became a member-leader of the Land Stewardship Project to help achieve justice for the people and the land. By identifying our self-interest, listening to our neighbors, and acting on our values, I also believe that we can become a welcoming community. Doug Nopar,who worked for many years as a rural LSP organizer, believes that communities are stronger when people with separate backgrounds but common values come together. “When farmers and others who share similar interests engage in conversation, real change begins to happen,” he says.

Throughout its history, LSP has connected farmers to sustainable farming methods, grown the support of non-farmers, and stood with community members opposing injustices such as factory farms. The unified voice of LSP’s members holds those in power accountable to our values — stewardship, justice, democracy, health, and community — which are outlined in LSP’s five-year plan. Putting our mission — fostering an ethic of stewardship for farmland, promoting sustainable agriculture, and developing sustainable communities — into practice is accomplished through the voices of our members.

In recent years, an issue that keeps rising up is racial justice and what it means for our rural communities and agriculture. LSP has long understood the importance of standing up to unjust systems; after all, it stood shoulder-to-shoulder with family farmers during the 1980s farm crisis. I am sharing this blog because I believe that LSP’s history of fighting for rural communities can help support future generations. Moreover, when we have conversations with each other, we build welcoming and thriving communities.

I recently spent time with a few LSP members talking to them about their role (and the role of LSP) in fighting racism in the food and farming system and supporting Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) folks within our rural communities.

Community Connections

Mike and Dana Seifert’s operation, Ravenview Farm, is in Jordan, Minn., 35 miles southwest of Minneapolis, where calls for racial justice were magnified after George Floyd’s murder in May 2020. The farm has been in Mike’s family for approximately seven generations, and before that it was stewarded by the Wahpekute Tribe. The owner and fellow operator, “Big Mike,” who is Mike Seifert’s father, started farming in 1975 and toughed it out during the 1980s farm crisis. “The prices were awful, you could not make a living, you could not make a profit,” recalls the older farmer.

Big Mike recognizes the economic and ecological benefits of building soil health by transitioning the farm back to small grains and cover crops. As a result, Dana and Mike, who started farming in 2015, have been helping put in place such soil-building practices as no-till, diverse rotations, and cover crops. “These are two pretty sharp cookies,” says Big Mike proudly.

The Seiferts live in a tight-knit community surrounded by family. They are keenly aware of how George Floyd’s murder raised tensions between law enforcement and many community members, particularly in Minneapolis. “The perception of the police force in a town like Jordan is totally different,” says Mike. “They’re members of the community; they’re involved.”

The couple use their curiosity and deeply held values of family, hard work, and respect for the land to understand that the disconnect/division between groups of people develops from systemic discrimination. Dana believes that we can build a strong community by listening, asking questions, and fighting alongside our neighbors. “If we acknowledge that there’s wrong, we can use that to motivate change, then I think there’s real potential and real hope for improvement,” she says.

The systemic injustices that LSP members faced during the farm crisis relates to the experience of BIPOC folks. For example, many urban, suburban, and town residents grew up in segregated communities because of restrictive covenants between municipal governments and banks that denied Black folks access to certain housing markets. Additionally, many banks engaged in “redlining,” where they would deny loans to Black families in certain communities regardless of income. At the same time, Black farmers faced discrimination in purchasing farmland and were systematically denied operating loans by the USDA. All of these discriminatory practices prohibit investment and the creation of generational wealth. As was clear when LSP farmers struggled with the shutdown of meatpacking plants, both farmers and meatpacking workers, many of whom were people of color, were being harmed (and still are) by the same dysfunctional system that treats people as commodities to be used.

We have a duty to heal the divisions created long before we came onto the scene. We can do this by identifying our self-interest and learning from our neighbors. “You can hopefully get past the guilt and acknowledge that it’s not my fault, but it’s my responsibility,” explains Dana. Mike, who works as a carpenter with his dad, describes what drew him into the conversation: “You see a lot of interconnections when you work on the farm. You realize that the world is not just your little bubble, because everything is connected to everything.”

Additionally, according to Dana and Mike, when we highlight the voices of those that are exploited within our communities with whom we have a connection, we are drawn to action due to humans’ natural tendency towards empathy.

As LSP has done for almost 40 years, by highlighting the stories of farmers and other rural residents, members, supporters, and staff listen and stand alongside those suffering from an unjust food and farming system.

“Communities that have been dealing with this level of system oppression know what they need,” says Dana. Once we identify those that are discriminated against and identify the connection to our interests, we strengthen our voices, which are rooted in our values by taking action.

“You can listen to the story and pass that on to the audience that you have and say, ‘This is something that directly affects us, whether we know it or not,’ says Mike.

To build solidarity with other rural LSP members who were engaged in conversations around social justice issues, Dana and Mike attended LSP trainings on economics and race. They say they appreciated the opportunities to get involved. “The onus cannot be on the oppressed people to dismantle the system that oppressed them,” says Dana. “We’re in a position where I’ve got the bandwidth, I’ve got it mentally, emotionally, financially to spend some time thinking and talking and maybe doing other things as I learn about what those other things may be.”

These opportunities will become more available and accessible through member engagement (see the sidebar for information on upcoming LSP trainings).

Dana and Mike make it clear that we must listen with empathy and curiosity. Our voices are stronger when we build a community where everyone belongs. Again, building healthy soil and a welcoming community are one and the same.

As Big Mike says, “Sustainable farming goes down to the root of it all. If we don’t preserve what we have, nothing else that we discuss here will make any difference.”

Sam Streukens is an LSP member-leader who lives in Winona, Minn. He is on contract to organize with LSP’s Soil Health Team this summer.

Category: Blog
Tags: community • economic justice • racial justice • rural communities • social justice

Upcoming Events

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October 2025

Tuesday October 7

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
Tuesday October 7
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Book Event: We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy
The Landing Market, 211 College Dr, Decorah, IA 52101, USA

The Johnson Center for Land Stewardship Policy is excited to share that one of our its primary pillars of work — a published collection of Paul Johnson’s writings —  is set for release on Oct. 2.  The book features a brief biography and a discussion of Paul’s ideas within the historical and future contexts of private lands conservation. Details on the event are available here.

For details on We Can Do Better: Collected Writings on Land, Conservation, and Public Policy click here.

 

Friday October 10

8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Weaving a Wider Community: Seeing & Countering Racism in Our Backyard
Friday October 10
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Weaving a Wider Community: Seeing & Countering Racism in Our Backyard
111 N 1st St, Montevideo, MN 56265, USA

Join LSP and CURE for a community event at the Land Stewardship Project office in Montevideo (111 N. First St.), from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 10. This event includes lunch catered by El Mana; please register by Oct. 3 to be included in the food count.

You can RSVP here.

The Racial Equity Conference, organized by the Greater Minnesota Partnership of the Facilitating Racial Equity Collaborative, has been specifically designed to bring engaging content to local communities through a unique pairing of online speakers and in-person local sessions. The morning’s online content will include a conversation focused on seeing and countering racism in rural communities, moderated by Eryn Gee Killough, paired with two outstanding keynote speakers, Jenna Grey Eagle and Ron Ferguson, who have experience working in rural communities. 

This online content will be exclusively available to local community gatherings. Each gathering will gear their in-person activity to their specific community with the goal of extending the impact of the conference to others throughout the following year. Join LSP and CURE for this western Minnesota gathering, or if a different location works better for you, check out all the local gatherings on the FREC site,

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. LSP’s Nick Olson can be reached via e-mail at nicko@landstewardshipproject.org.

9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Intensive Small-Scale Market Gardening Bus Tour
Friday October 10
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Intensive Small-Scale Market Gardening Bus Tour
Leatherdale Equine Center, 1801 Dudley Ave, St Paul, MN 55108, USA

Explore profitable small-scale farming (1–5 acres) and soil care. Visit a cooperative incubator farm and a thriving suburban market garden. Learn about cover crops, reduced tillage, high tunnel soil health, and support for growers.

This is the second tour in a three-part soil health bus tour series. Participants can sign up for just one, two, or all three tours. Register at https://z.umn.edu/vegetablebustours. The cost is $15 (flat fee, covers 1, 2, or 3 tours). There are more details in the attached flyer.

Saturday October 11

11:00 am – 2:00 pm
LSP-COPAL Visita a la Granja | Farm Tour
Saturday October 11
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
LSP-COPAL Visita a la Granja | Farm Tour
36919 County 57 Blvd, Dennison, MN 55018, USA

Building off the success of last year’s farm event with COPAL in Austin, Minn., this year Land Stewardship Project and COPAL members and supporters will gather at the Young-Walser Family Farm in Dennison, Minn. for a festive and delicious farm tour on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We invite you to come and meet new folks, learn new skills, and try new food! 
 
This year’s COPAL-LSP farm event offers a little something for everyone: 
 
🍯 Honey sampling and the opportunity to purchase from Homestead Honey Farm. 
 
🍎 Apple cider pressing and tasting. (BTW, we’re still looking for an apple press if you or a farmer friend have one nearby we could borrow for this event!) 
 
🌽 Nixtamalization workshop and fresh, homemade tortillas, made with corn grown by LSP and COPAL members at the Young-Walser Family Farm! 
 
🍅 Salsa making and cricket-eating competitions! Yes, you heard that right —we’ll have the opportunity to sample crickets, a delectable crispy and savory snack commonly enjoyed throughout Mexico and Central America. Stay tuned for details on how to enter either competition. 
 
🥾 A tour of the Young-Walser farm, nestled in the beautiful Sogn Valley not far from Cannon Falls, Minn. Enjoy a tromp through the corn and squash fields and hike in the nearby woods. 
 
🌮 A shared meal and opportunity to hear from LSP and COPAL organizers about our participation in the Immigrant Defense Network. 

Let us know you can make it to ensure we order enough food and supplies! Carpools from Minneapolis and Rochester will be available to all attendees. 

________________________________________________

¡Únete a LSP + COPAL para nuestro recorrido anual comunitario en la granja!
Un espacio divertido para tod@s donde exploraremos la agricultura, aprenderemos sobre el campo y participaremos en actividades prácticas. ¡Uno de los momentos más especiales será hacer tortillas frescas junt@s!

Compartiremos un delicioso almuerzo comunitario, preparando tacos en estilo potluck (tipo convivio). Te invitamos a traer un platillo o acompañamiento para compartir.

También estás invitado@ a llegar temprano (desde las 9 AM) para ayudar a cosechar calabazas que sembramos. Puedes llevarte algunas a casa, y el resto se donará a un banco de alimentos local.

El Land Stewardship Project (LSP) es una organización aliada de COPAL que trabaja por sistemas alimentarios y agrícolas más sostenibles y justos. LSP y COPAL están unidas en su lucha por instituciones democráticas sólidas, comunidades saludables y acogedoras, y una ética de cuidado hacia la tierra y las personas que nos alimentan.

Tuesday October 14

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Birds as Pest Control Allies on the Farm
Tuesday October 14
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Birds as Pest Control Allies on the Farm
Online

This 10-lesson Wild Farm Alliance virtual course teaches agricultural professionals and farmers how to support beneficial birds and manage pest birds on farms. By learning how to assess the farm’s avian needs and opportunities, farms can be designed to provide for a diversity of beneficial birds. 

If pest birds are a problem, they can be discouraged with specific practices during the shorter periods when they cause damage. The sessions cover the latest research, tools and resources, and are given by experts in avian pest control, entomology, ornithology and conservation. While many topics and species are specific to the Midwest, most of the principles discussed are applicable across regions. 

Continuing Education Credits have been requested and are expected to be approved from American Society of Agronomy.

For details and to register, click here. 

The Course Schedule:

LESSON 1

Why Birds Belong on the Farm: Biodiversity, Pest Control & A Thriving Landscape

Tuesday, September 23, 2 p.m. CT


LESSON 2

Birds as Pest Control Allies on the Farm

Tuesday, October 14, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 3

Birds in the Balance: Pest Control Services Across Crop Types

Tuesday, November 4, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 4

Integrating Habitat into Croplands: Prairie Strips and Bird Conservation

Tuesday, December 2, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 5

Birds on the Farm: Balancing Biodiversity and Food Safety

Tuesday, January 13, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 6

Beyond the Crop: Birds, Biodiversity, and the Power of Edge Habitat

Tuesday, February 3, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 7

Bridging Forestry, Farming, and Habitat

Tuesday, February 24, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 8

Perennial Pathways: Agroforestry for Birds and Biodiversity on Farms

Tuesday, March 17, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 9

Birds on the Range: How Grazing Practices Shape Habitat for Grassland Species

Tuesday, April 7, 11 a.m. CT


LESSON 10

Birds at Risk: How Pesticides Shape Safety on Agricultural Lands

Tuesday, April 28, 11 a.m. CT

View Full Calendar

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