Posts by SFA of MN
Introducing: the Kazoo Action Networking Group
By Jerry Ford and Katie Feterl (but mostly Jerry) A new SFA Networking Group is assisting researchers from CFANS and the U of M School of Music on developing sustainable practices for the cultivation and marketing of non-GMO traditional kazoos. This effort began when an undergraduate intern was studying the effects on climate change from nesting trumpeter swan farts – commonly called…
Read MoreIntroducing: NW Minnesota Soil & Water Quality Learning Exchange
By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director Next week, SFA is launching a one-of-a-kind event in Northwest Minnesota: the NW Minnesota Soil & Water Quality Learning Exchange. After working on some projects in Northwest Minnesota for more than three years, it has become clear that the region has a unique agricultural and ecological context that deserves…
Read MoreFour New Board Members Elected
The Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota’s (SFA) Board of Directors has elected four new at-large Directors. These four leaders hold diverse experience in farming, food systems, conservation, and public service, bringing valuable skills to strengthen our farmer-led work. With a vision of a vibrant Midwest where regenerative farms, rural communities, and the land thrive, SFA’s mission…
Read MoreSummit to offer connection, new ideas, and challenge
By Jonathan Kilpatrick • Farmer Education Director I was sitting at my desk on a late-August morning, working through the usual pile of emails, calls, and an ever-encroaching calendar when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen—and my heart skipped a beat. Grandin, Temple flashed across the caller ID. As part of my charge under the…
Read MoreDr. Temple Grandin to Keynote the 2026 Midwest Grazing & Soil Health Summit
…and we are simply over the moon about it. Dr. Grandin’s trailblazing work in the beef cattle industry is world-renowned and part and parcel of today’s agriculture. Throughout her career, Dr. Grandin has studied livestock behavior to develop facility designs, handling equipment, and standards that prioritize animal welfare which are utilized by meat processing plants…
Read MoreSFA at Farm Aid 40
SFA is thrilled to be part of Farm Aid’s 40th annual festival — the first one held in Minnesota! From noon to 5 PM, you’ll find us in “The Fertile Ground” neighborhood of HOMEGROWN Village. We’re demonstrating the differences between soil samples from fields managed conventionally and regeneratively using a slake test. We’re really looking forward to chatting…
Read MoreWelcoming Joel Barr
Meet Joel Barr, our new Market Garden & Farm Management Systems Consultant! Joel owns and operates Abraham’s Table Farm in Sandstone, Minn. which produces and direct markets organic vegetables, pasture raised chicken, eggs, and beef. With over a decade of experience and multiple opportunities to start and build farms, Joel has learned what works and…
Read MoreHarvest Festival celebrates with Food, Farmers, Community
By Julie Allen • Lake Superior Chapter Coordinator Celebrate the harvest season at the 31st Annual Lake Superior Harvest Festival on September 6, 2025, brought to you by the Sustainable Farming Association. From 10am-4pm at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, come and enjoy the largest farmers market in the region as well as artisan vendors,…
Read MoreWe’re hiring!
October 15, 2025: The application period for this position has closed. SFA is hiring! We’re looking for an experienced Grazier to join our team as Grazing Education Lead. This full-time position is funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to expand regenerative grazing in the Upper Mississippi Watershed. Our ideal candidate has a solid background…
Read MoreApply for $100 per acre/animal unit to implement conservation practices
By Katie Feterl • Communications Director Farmers, ranchers, and landowners operating in eligible counties are invited to apply to participate in the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture program through July 28, 2025! This program offers selected applicants $100/acre or animal unit to implement common conservation practices: You can apply to implement a practice on a maximum of…
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