Contact Information
Coordinator: Jim Tjepkema
Address: PO Box 128
Clarks Grove, MN 56016
Phone Number: 507-256-4876
Email: jimkt
frontiernet
net (jimktfrontiernetnet)
Note: Annual Meeting set for March 17 in Clarks Grove. More information here: SouthCentralUPDATE
Farmers and other people interested in alternatives to conventional farming formed the South Central Chapter in the late 1980s. Some of the founding members were originally members of the first SFA chapter that met in Lewiston, Minnesota. Also, many of the founding members belonged to the Southern Minnesota and Northern Iowa Ridge Till Club that held its meetings in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The SMNI Ridge Till Club emphasized sharing of information between farmers and helped many farmers convert from conventional tillage to ridge tillage. The chapter also received help in the beginning from a non-profit group, the Land Stewardship Project, which started the first SFA chapter and several other SFA chapters.
SCSFA sponsors educational programs that are common to all SFA chapters including an annual winter meeting with guest speakers, farm tours and field days, and some other farmer-led projects. In late summer we usually gather for a potluck meal followed by a short program on some topic of interest to our members. Our chapter has also organized many small informal meetings in homes or other locations covering many different topics related to sustainable farming. Some of our members are organic farmers and have helped other members convert to organic farming, while other members use sustainable farming methods but are not organic farmers.
Our board meets monthly during most of the year to plan activities and conduct business. We were participants in the SFA Festival of Farms which included a tour of Hope Creamery, the Sunopta specialty grain elevator, and the Wencl organic dairy farm. Our chapter has also helped with the Lutteke organic field day near Wells, Minnesota and provided food for a Weston Price meeting on nutrition. Most of our members reside in Mower, Freeborn, Faribault, Blue Earth, Waseca, Nicollet, and Steele Counties. The membership of our chapter includes small-scale producers of locally marketed food and larger farms devoted to grain and livestock production, as well as some supporters of sustainable farming who are not farmers.
News from the S. Central Chapter of SFA for SFA Connect
Prepared by Jim Tjepkema
April 18, 2011
The South Central Chapter’s annual meeting featured a talk by Paula Westmoreland and Lansing Shepard which covered their vision for improved conservation and land use. Paula and Lansing’s talk was based on their new book “This Perennial Land”. This book draws on a three year study of the Blue Earth River basin which included interviews with many people involved in conservation. The study also included a new map of the region that shows extensive areas within the basin that have considerable potential for improved land use. They hope this map will become a model for mapping other parts of our state. The talk well received and was followed by a lively question and answer period.
Following the talk by Paula and Lansing, we dined on homemade soup and other tasty items provided by our members. As in the past, we enjoyed several kinds of excellent bread baked by Terry Cunningham. A special after diner treat was provided by master storyteller Michael Cotter who entertained and educated us with his stories about farming and rural life. Michael told us that we all have stories to tell and can learn a lot about ourselves by telling our stories. Following Michael’s presentation we broke up into two groups: one on local marketing lead by Jill Louters, and the other on conservation practices led by area conservationist Deanna Pomije.
Dean Goette and Chris Byron, who had just completed three year terms on our board, were reelected to the board at the annual meeting. Kelly Firkins, who is our representative to the state board, was elected to serve on our board for the first time. Katy Wortel, who has taken care of the secretary duties on our board for many years, decided not to run for reelection. Katy’s work on our board was very much appreciated and we will miss her good work on providing secretary reports, reports to the CornerPost, and helping with other things. We especially valued her input and suggestions related to many different aspects of the work of our chapter and will continue to look to her for advice.
Following our board meeting in February we invited our members to a viewing of Farming Forward, the film about SFA. The attendance was low on this very cold winter evening, but our board and a couple of guests enjoyed seeing this film. At our March board meeting Jim Tjepkema was reelected as board President, Dean Goette was reelected as board Vice President, and Tracy Skaar was reelected as board Treasurer. At the April board meeting we will intend to start making plans for the Festival of Farms. Our board has also been working with Kelly Firkins on developing display materials for our chapter and with Pawel Buda on computerizing our mailing and membership list. Earlier this year the board agreed to hire Kelly and Pawel to do this work.
