By Austen Neaton
Staff Writer
Josh Borrell
SFA Crow River Chapter Director
Across the state, there are countless farmers and gardeners who emphasize the importance of sustainable agriculture, whether they practice it themselves or advocate for it, and many of them are members of the Sustainable Farming Association (SFA).
The SFA is a Minnesota-based organization that champions sustainable farming, and later this month, anyone in south central Minnesota interested in learning more about the SFA’s efforts will have the chance to do so at the SFA Crow River Chapter’s annual chapter meeting.
The event is set to take place Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Crow River Winery in Hutchinson from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will be free for SFA members, or $35 for non-members.
The meeting will start with a pizza and salad luncheon which will be followed by two sessions for attendees to participate in.
The first will focus on food hubs, which pool products from multiple farmers and offer them to larger-scale buyers or a group of customers, allowing farmers who don’t have the time or sufficient product on their own to access these markets.
The second will center around hemp production and marketing and will be led by Bridgette Bethke Pinder, owner of Grounded Gardens in Hutchinson. Her operation uses organic farming methods to produce hemp for CBD and THC products.
The Crow River Chapter of SFA extends from roughly the Twin Cities west to Hutchinson, and St. Cloud south to the Minnesota River Valley. Anyone living in this area is welcome to attend the annual chapter meeting.
To become a member of SFA, or to register for the annual chapter meeting, visit www.sfa-mn.org/crow-river.
More on the SFA
The SFA relies on the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) definition of sustainable agriculture to define itself and its intentions.
USDA defines it as an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long-term, satisfy human food and fiber needs, enhance environmental quality, make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources, sustain the economic viability of farm operations, and enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.
The SFA’s self-stated mission is to “transform agriculture one farm at a time,” and it aims to accomplish this change in a variety of agriculture-related fields including agroforestry, crops, dairy, farmer support, fruits and vegetables, livestock integration, soil health, and others.
According to its website, the SFA envisions a vibrant midwest where regenerative farms, rural communities, and the land thrive.
SFA Crow River Chapter Director Josh Borrell said one of the many ways the organization attempts to foster the change it wants to see is through its On-Farm Consulting Program. With it, SFA members get professional feedback on a variety of subjects through a year-long mentorship.
Participants in the program can consult with professionals about many things such as creating a business plan, finding ways to increase efficiency, accessing new markets, and utilizing more sustainable techniques.
Borrell is a Waverly resident on the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted School Board, serving a district with a strong FFA program. He said that another way the SFA advocates for sustainable agriculture is by encouraging farmers and gardeners to use “old-but-new” approaches when growing crops and plants.
“Imagine farming or gardening with minimal plowing, tillage, pesticides, herbicides, or petroleum-based fertilizers; today, in our growing region of central Minnesota, this concept goes against the grain of conventional agricultural wisdom, but the SFA advocates implementing these and other ‘old-but-new’ concepts on your farm or garden for a variety of benefits for the farmer or gardener and our greater community,” Borrell said.
One of SFA’s biggest focuses is soil health and conservation, as chemical fertilizers have negatively impacted the quality of topsoil across the country. Borrell said the organization has six soil health principles central to its efforts.
The first is to keep the soil covered, limiting erosion and evaporation. The second is to minimize physical or chemical disturbances to the soil, allowing natural biological systems to flourish. The third is to build biodiversity within the soil using various methods.
The fourth is to keep living roots in the soil as much as possible to harness the power of the symbiotic relationship between roots, soil, and microbes. The fifth is to integrate livestock to fully cycle nutrients through the soil. Finally, the last principle is ensuring that the other principles are implemented correctly in each unique farming operation.
Getting involved
Borrell said the community-based SFA is always looking for new involvement and members.
“Farming can be a lonely calling, and farming in unconventional ways can be further isolating,” he said. “We encourage anyone interested in sustainable farming to bring their ideas, experiences, and passions to our meetings and events.”
Aside from the annual chapter meeting, the Crow River Chapter hosts various gatherings and events throughout the year, including periodic coffee socials. The next one is set to take place Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 8 to 10 a.m. at Wilbur’s Coffee Café in Delano and will be free for all to attend.
The chapter is also known for hosting the Minnesota Garlic Festival every August at the McLeod County Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.
“It’s family-friendly, fun-filled, and fragrant, and it supports sustainable farming and strong rural communities in our region,” Borrell said.
Those wanting to dive even deeper into SFA can attend the 2025 SFA Annual Conference, which will occur Saturday, Feb. 8 at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph. A variety of topics of interest to individuals involved in agriculture will be discussed at the conference.
Jerry Ford of Living Song Farm, located north of Howard Lake, is the SFA chapter and events coordinator, and those interested in learning more about SFA and the Crow River Chapter can reach out to him by calling 763-244-6659, or by emailing [email protected].
They can also visit the organization’s website at www.sfa-mn.org.
Borrell can also be reached for more information about the local SFA chapter by calling 763-657-9498.
