Renewing the Countryside

05/31/2026

Join us for Renewing the Countryside’s Summer Celebration & Fundraiser on Thursday, June 25, from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the beautiful Dodge Nature Center in West St. Paul!

Enjoy an evening of great local food, complimentary beverages, live music, and the chance to connect with friends, colleagues, and supporters of Renewing the Countryside. We’ll also have optional games, a silent auction, and opportunities to learn more about RTC’s impact and vision for the future.

Last year’s event was such a success—and so much fun—that we’re making this an annual tradition!

🎉 Thursday, June 25
📍 Dodge Nature Center, West St. Paul, MN
⏰ 5:30–8:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $50 and include delicious local food and a complimentary drink. Families are welcome, and children under 12 attend free.

If you plan to join us, please consider purchasing your tickets this week to help with event planning. We’d love to see you there—and feel free to share this invitation with others who may be interested!

05/29/2026

The other week, we stopped by the Midwest Elderberry Cooperative’s annual Field Day at the Minnesota Regional Production Hub in Montrose.

It was a great opportunity to hear from cooperative members as they shared their successes, challenges, lessons learned, and ideas for the future. Events like this can help strengthen our connections to one another and create a space for growers to learn from one another as a community.

One highlight from the day was the debut of MEC’s new custom-built flower destemmer. (shown in the video above) This was designed and built specifically for the cooperative. The new machine is a major improvement in efficiency. While the previous destemmer processed about 300–400 pounds per hour with a four person crew, the new system can process 1,000–2,000 pounds per hour with just two people.

It's exciting to see innovation like this supporting growers and helping build a stronger regional elderberry industry. 🌿

05/29/2026

Please join all the staff by supporting, Renewing the Countryside, at our Annual Fundraiser on Thursday, June 25 to celebrate the work of fostering just, vibrant, and sustainable communities!

Enjoy great food, drinks, a specialty cocktail made from local spirits and tonics, music, a silent auction of local experiences and goods, an art station where you can make your own prints, games, and more! Connect with others around this meaningful work.

Learn more and get tickets at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/renewingthecountryside/2191121

05/20/2026

We're putting the FUN in fundraiser on June 25th! RTC's summer fundraising event isn't your grandma's gala of uncomfortable formal wear, dry chicken, and even drier speeches. It's a lively get-together filled with games (wine bottle ring toss, anyone?), great conversation and delicious farm-to-table hors d'oeuvres and libations.

We'll share stories, play games, and bid on unique items like beekeeping and on-farm glamping excursions on REAL farms—all in the name of raising funds to support vibrant and sustainable communities.

Mark your calendars for Thursday evening, June 25th and plan to join us at the Dodge Nature Center in West Saint Paul as we celebrate the impact you've helped RTC make in the past 20+ years.

Reserve your seat today! https://www.tickettailor.com/events/renewingthecountryside/2191121

05/11/2026

We’re here to answer any and all questions you might have on your TMEF Micro-Grants Program application. Don’t miss this chance for a virtual 1:1 office hour next week - sign up now on our webpage! https://www.renewingthecountryside.org/tmef-micro-grants

04/30/2026

News Fit to Crow About - April 2026 is online! Read about program updates in Farmland Access, The Market Entry Fund, FEAST! and events coming up! https://www.renewingthecountryside.org/april_2026_newsletter

04/29/2026

Don't miss this great learning opportunity put on by University of Minnesota Extension!

W**ds are a fact of life in vegetable farming, but there are mechanical tools and techniques that farms of all sizes can use to manage weeds...

04/28/2026

Renewing the Countryside staff at the DBAN conference in Alabama… Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network where they are learning all about supporting farmers with their financial decisions. What an incredible opportunity to be a part of.

Want to talk finances with our team? We can help! Reach out to us at [email protected] and we will get you connected.

04/28/2026

Thinking about farming? Check out this fun video for some food for thought, pun intended! At Renewing the Countryside, we believe these stories matter—because they spark action, connection, and possibility.

🎥 Watch and share if it inspires you:

2 likes, 1 comment. "Why Starting a Farm Feels Out of Reach for a New Generation"