Big River Farms

05/22/2026

📣 Holiday Closure Notice: Our offices and programs will be closed on Monday, May 25th, in observance of Memorial Day. We honor the memory of those who served and wish everyone a safe, restful weekend. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, May 26th.

05/20/2026

Our annual land blessing earlier this month felt like a massive family reunion bringing together new and returning farmers, staff, families, and partners in community. Thank you to everyone who joined us to share stories, learn from Elder LeMoine, and remind us that true resilience is as much about receiving joy and love as it is about giving. We are so grateful for this beautiful community. Looking forward to another growing season. 🌱✨

05/15/2026

Farm Aid featuring voices of farmers, one of which is our Associate Farm Director, Pearce Jensen. 🥳

05/01/2026

Thank you to Congresswoman Craig and the rest of the Minnesota delegates who voted no on a Farm Bill that does little to support Minnesota families. A good farm bill supports local farmers, restores cuts to SNAP and allows access to a variety of hot foods, not just chicken. We urge the Senate to pass a Farm Bill that better reflects what Minnesotans need and deserve. Congresswoman Angie Craig

05/01/2026

For many aspiring farmers, the high cost of land is a barrier. That’s why The Food Group has partnered with US Solar to offer free, long-term leases to three farms at our Solar Farm in Big Lake, Minnesota. The Food Group Executive Director Sophia Lenarz-Coy sat down with Yale Climate Connections to talk about the agrisolar program and how it increases land access for emerging farmers, strengthening our food system. Get the full coverage here: https://ow.ly/OE3850YTskH

At the Big Lake solar installation, farmers grow crops between rows of solar panels.

04/30/2026

📣 CALLS FOR PROPOSALS DEADLINE EXTENDED 📣

We are looking for sessions led by farmers or co-presented with farmers to lead interactive, visual, and live-demonstration sessions that help our community grow—literally and figuratively. 🌱

Submit a session here: https://ow.ly/EKFt50YHaXc

🚩 Extended deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, May 8th, 2026.

04/22/2026

Earth Day encourages us to look beyond the present to our collective future. Big River Farms, a program of The Food Group is committed to creating food for today and change for tomorrow. We believe that sustainable farming practices and wise land stewardship will ignite lasting change in our food system for decades to come. 🌎

04/10/2026

At the Emerging Farmers Conference, we believe the best teachers are the ones out in the fields every day. 👩‍🌾🌾

We are looking for sessions led by farmers or co-presented with farmers to lead interactive, visual, and live-demonstration sessions that help our community grow—literally and figuratively.

Submit a session here: https://ow.ly/EKFt50YHaXc

📣 The deadline to submit proposals is Friday May 1, 2026.

04/02/2026

Anyone else ready for spring? ☀️
Our farmers are already busy in the greenhouse, seeding and prepping for a successful season. But how do you decide what to grow? Whether you’re planting to share with your community, experimenting with new crops, or just learning the process—growing is a powerful way to stay rooted in the food we eat.

Drop a comment: What’s on your planting list this year? 🌱

03/13/2026

We're about a week away! Will you be joining us? 🌱

Get your ticket for 2026 New Farmer U —our immersive weekend for beginning farmers and aspiring growers from all across the Midwest, and brought to you by Renewing the Countryside, Marbleseed, and Big River Farms.

This year’s lineup is shaping up to be incredible! Featured presenters and panelists include:
Paul Dietmann (Senior Lending Officer at Compeer Financial and a well-known farm author), Erik Heimark (Farm Business Management Specialist at Renewing the Countryside), Heidi Eger (Radicle Heart Farm), Natalie Hoidal (University of Minnesota Extension Educator), Stephen Carpenter (Farmers’ Legal Action Group), Chris Barth (10th Street Farm & Market), Relyndis Tegomoh (Kisheri Farm), Peter Kraus (General Manager at Iowa Food Hub), and more!
📍 Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
📅 March 21–22, 2026
⏰ Sat 10 AM – Sun 3 PM
👉 Register now: www.tinyurl.com/2026-NFU