MINNESOTA RIVER

Welcome to the Minnesota River Chapter

The Minnesota River Chapter of SFA encompasses sustainable farmers, producers and like-minded consumers in south central Minnesota. Our chapter is focused on strengthening the local food system in our region, improving the water quality of the Minnesota River and building a farmer network to share knowledge that furthers sustainable farming practices.

• Like the Minnesota River Chapter page on Facebook
• Email mnriver@sfa-mn.org with any questions, or to connect!
• Call us at 844.922.5573 Ext. 721

Upcoming Events

More events to be announced soon.

Grant and Scholarship Opportunities for SFA Members

→ NEW! $500 Mini-Grants Available for SFA Minnesota River Chapter Members

We're excited to announce that mini-grants of up to $500 are now available for active chapter members to support sustainability and regenerative farming projects on your farm! Applications will open on Monday, June 1.

WHAT ARE THE GRANTS FOR?

These funds are designed to help farmers enhance sustainability, soil health, conservation, climate resiliency, and regenerative practices. Projects should directly benefit your farming operation and community.

GRANT DETAILS

• Amount: Up to $500 per household
• First round is first-come, first-served 
• Funds are issued as a flat check to cover project costs.

TO APPLY, YOU WILL NEED TO:

• Be an active Minnesota River Sustainable Farming Association member
• Complete the online application (link below)
• Submit a brief project summary
• Submit a project budget at time of application

IMPORTANT DATES

• Applications Open: June 1, 2026
• Application Deadline: June 30, 2026 (or until funds are exhausted — don't wait!)
• Awards Announced: First week of July 2026
• Funds Distributed: 3–4 weeks from approval
• Project Completion & Final Reports Due: October 15, 2026

AFTER YOUR PROJECT IS COMPLETE, YOU'LL SUBMIT:

• Final impact report (via Google Form)
• Receipts
• At least one photo of your completed project

WHAT IS NOT FUNDED:

Events such as festivals, farm tours, socials, and similar gatherings are not eligible.

SAMPLE PROJECT IDEAS

Not sure what qualifies? Here are some examples to spark ideas:

• Portable solar fencing for adaptive/rotational grazing
• Seed mix to improve pasture health
• Cover crop seed for soil health
• Water systems (portable tanks, frost-free hydrants)
• High tunnel or hoop house materials
• Composting or manure management improvements
• Pollinator habitat (native seed mixes)
• Livestock handling equipment
• Cold storage components
• Soil testing and amendment inputs
• Beekeeping equipment
• Energy efficiency upgrades (LED barn lighting)
• And much more — we're open to unique ideas!

Not sure if your project qualifies? Email Sabri (sabri@rndc.org ) or Leah (leah@greatheritagefarm.com) before applying — we're happy to help. We believe this is a meaningful opportunity to move resources directly onto farms and demonstrate real impact. We can't wait to see what you do with it.

→ Region Nine Conference Scholarships

Region Nine is offering conference scholarships to local sustainable farmers in the region that will reimburse you for the full cost of attending:

• the SFA Annual Conference,
• the Midwest Grazing and Soil Health Summit,
• and 2/3 of the registration for the Marbleseed Conference (formerly MOSES).

If interested, email Sabri Fair requesting a conference scholarship form. Then complete the form and email it with your proof of registration/payment back to Sabri.

Region Nine can cover the cost of other conferences that may be more relevant to your farm, just ask before registering to make sure it is eligible.

→ Free Grant Support

Over the next 4 years Region Nine will have a staff member devoted to supporting a stronger local food system. An important part of their role is helping farmers and other food system stakeholders like grocers, schools, and meat processors secure additional funding to make access to locally grown and produced foods easier.

If you are interested in utilizing this support, please email Sabri Fair to schedule a conversation about your project goals. If you are looking for grant opportunities take a look at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture page to see what opportunities might interest you: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/funding