From the Ground Up – Connecting community with farms
Lonny Becker looks on as Steve Hawkins, president of Project 1590 welcomes guests to the From the Ground Up event.
By Joe Steck – Mankato Times
NORTHRUP, MINN. — Project 1590 brought Farmers and non-agricultural community members from Martin County together on the Lonny Becker farm in rural Fairmont on Thursday in hopes of building a stronger community.
In southern Minnesota, kids from non-rural areas would often contract with local farmers to hand pick weeds, corn tassels and vegetables helping to bring food to the tables throughout the region. The connection between the farm and non-farmers started to slowly die out with the advent of advanced farming techniques and fertilizers, and by the mid 80’s, few if any non-farm kids were employed on our local farms.
In recent years, consumers have once again felt the need to reconnect with our local farmers and learn how are food is grown.
The Ground Up event presented by Project 1590 was the chance for people in Martin County to hear from local farmers and Future Farmers of America (FFA) students from Fairmont, Martin County West, and Truman High Schools.
Over 100 guests were able to see first hand what an active farm looks like – Hog barns, machinery and cornfields. The grand yard was filled with tables, each topped with linen tablecloths. Information booths with exhibits from local FFA students, local Ag producers and Ag related business bordered the tables.
While guests spoke with the different exhibitors, FFA students walked around serving Chilled Sweet Corn Soup. The soup, as with the rest of the meal, was created and executed by Chef Seth Lintelman, owner of Cup N’ Saucer in Sherburn, Minnesota.
Guests were asked to be seated, each table alternated seats between farmers and non-farmers with the intent of guests learning a little more about agriculture in Martin County.
Surrounded by corn fields and barns, guests were treated to an exquisite meal prepared by the Cup N’ Saucer restaurant in Sherburn.
A three course meal was hand served by FFA students. They were conducted by Elizabeth Lintelman, who with a silent hand gesture, signaled for the students to place the dishes down in front of the guests at the same time.
The first course was a local Tomato Caprese Salad made with burrata cheese, local sweet corn-white balsamic vinaigrette, local pea shoots, and truffled bread crumbs.
The second course was a perfectly cooked Pork Tenderloin with pickled watermelon-sunflower sprout salad, corn bread and buttered local beans.
The final course was Panna Cotta. A vanilla poached local rhubarb and crisp topping.
Everything was cooked to perfection and highlighted our local foods and the talents of the Lintelman’s.
Wanda Patsche, a Martin County farmer and Project 1590 committee member spoke about the event.
“Tonight’s event is called From the Ground Up and we picked that name because when you think about it, our work starts from agriculture. That is what we are acknowledging and celebrating, our agriculture,” said Patsche “The event tonight serves two purposes, the first one is a fundraiser with half of the funds raised going to our county FFA groups and the other half going to Project 1590 for a community center in Fairmont.”
The Truman FFA students have a community garden from which the produce is used for lunch during the school year.
The second part of the event is to bring people from both agriculture and non-agriculture together.
“I feel that the two groups need to talk. I feel as a culture we are lacking communication and this event is meant to do that. I can assure you that some of these people, even though they live only a few miles away, have never been on a farm. This is a family farm. If you look around you there are corn fields all around us and hog barns in the back. This is a true family farm.” Patsche added “We wanted to bring people together, have conversations, answer questions that non-farmers may have about agriculture, and to network and talk.”
Larry and Linda Becker originally homesteaded the farm where the event was held and said in two years, it would become a century farm, having been in the family for 100 years.
“We appreciate Project 1590 From the Ground Up for organizing this event, to help with the communication between the city and the farms and showing how important agriculture is to Martin County and Fairmont,” Mr. Becker said “They brought people out to see what it is all about – the farm, livestock, the crops.”
Mr. Becker said that Martin County is the number one hog producing county in Minnesota and is keeping young people in the area.
“We brought our sons into the business after they completed their schooling and college. Our oldest grandson is a senior in college majoring in animal science and he has expressed an interest in joining the business. Probably in three years or so he will be able to join the business.”
Mrs. Becker spoke of how FFA has helped her grand children.
“FFA has been very important to Martin County too because you can see how good these students were tonight,” Said Mr.’s Becker “It has helped our grandchildren blossom. Our two youngest grandkids that live here, they were the fourth and fifth kids of the family so they were quieter, and now because of FFA they have just blossomed. They are leaders and showing leadership tendencies.”
Nicole Griensewic Mickelson, Executive Director of Region Nine Development Commission said she is looking forward to telling the Project 1590 story.
Nicole Griensewic Mickelson, Executive Director of Region Nine Development Commission and Tim Penny, CEO of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) were also at the event to lend support for the From the Ground Up event and Project 1590.
“The great thing about Project 1590 is that it is community led. It is great to see this many people coming together, creating a list of what they would like to see, what other projects and what kind of economic development could happen.,” Griensewic Mickelson said “Where Region Nine can come in and help is with economic development. Whether it is looking at quality of place or quality of life and that could mean trails planning and connectivity with walking and biking trails or beautification projects.”
She continued talking about how Region Nine could help Project 1590 tell their story.
“One the community and everyone involved with Project 1590 are able to zero in and identify what projects rise to the top of the list we can help go out there and get grant funding and help make it as competitive as possible and help tell their story and connect them with other resources whether it is local, state, or federal, depending on the project and what they are looking at doing.”
Penny said that SMIF goes to events throughout the area to see what groups are doing, so the foundation can better help develop a strong region.
“The 1590 group is an example of people who are focused on the future of Fairmont and the greater Fairmont area,” said Penny “Part of that focus is economic development, tourism, and workforce issues. They are identifying things that will take the community into the future.”
Groups can apply for grants to the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation for initiatives they are pursuing.
People continued their conversations while the sun set over the Becker farm.
Steve Hawkins, president of Project 1590 was happy create new relationships and introduce people to 1590.
“I think tonight was a success. Our goal was to celebrate the agriculture community. I think there is a somewhat of a disconnect between our folks who live within the city and the farmers. Even though we may go to a basketball game and we sit next to each other, we don’t talk about what we do for a living and how they feed the community and the world,” Hawkins said “That was really the goal and to create new relationships and to celebrate Martin County and introduce people to 1590.”
“I hope people learned a few things about agriculture and what happens with Ag when it leaves the farm.” Hawkins added
1590 Project has certain projects they are working on in Fairmont and Martin County. The top priority they are working on in a Community Center in Fairmont.
“The city of Fairmont put a one-half percent sales tax on the ballot to help fund the project. We are working on our regional trail system, not just in Fairmont but throughout the county and maybe branching out regionally to other counties and maybe into Iowa.” Hawkins stated.
1590 is an all volunteer organization and works with the City of Fairmont and Martin County to help build a stronger, more attractive community which attracts tourists, new residents, and business while retaining what they have already established.
You can learn more about Project 1590 by visiting their website project1590.com or Facebook page.
For more photos of the event visit the Mankato Times Facebook page.