Families and growers from across Minnesota will be represented as the University of Minnesota honors them in the 2025 Farm Family of the Year ceremony at 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at the annual Minnesota Farmfest near Redwood Falls. The event will be held on the Gilfillan Estate in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center. Those chosen cover a wide spectrum of farming, from traditional crops and livestock to community-based ventures and operations producing an array of fruit, vegetables, and flowers. They were selected by local University of Minnesota Extension committees based on the honorees’ demonstrated commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture.
“This year’s 86 Farm Families of the Year reflect the breadth and variety of agriculture in our state,” said Extension Dean Bev Durgan. “The University of Minnesota is proud to honor these families and their innovation and dedication to Minnesota agriculture.”
Below are six examples of farm families and their contributions to agriculture. All the 2025 families — one in nearly every county in the state — are featured at z.umn.edu/farm-families-2025.
Fischer Family | Brown County
Craig and Elizabeth Fischer’s bison ranching began with a spark of inspiration at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair. Their curiosity about the species once abundant in Minnesota has grown into Sleepy Bison Acres, now home to the fourth and fifth generations of the Alfred “Fritz” Fischer farm. Over the years, Craig and Elizabeth have created a vertically integrated operation producing bison, corn, soybeans, small grains, pasture-raised pigs, egg-laying chickens, guinea fowl, and occasionally, pasture-raised turkeys and broiler chickens.
The Fischer family blends old wisdom with new techniques. They use adaptive rotational grazing, cover cropping, and no-till farming, doing what Craig’s great-grandfather did, but with modern tools. They were early adopters of the Minnesota Ag Water Certification Program. The farm serves as both a production and education space. They host field days, school groups, 4-H clubs, and annual customer events. The Fischers sell at farmers markets in Mankato, Prior Lake, and St. Paul, reaching tens of thousands yearly. Elizabeth operates Sleepy Bison Grill, a food trailer serving farm-fresh bison at state fairs, rodeos, powwows, and business events across the Midwest. Customers also buy from their website or partner stores. Their children Bryce, Logan and Gavin own livestock and help with farm operations. Craig farms with father Steve, brother Keith and uncle Mike Seitz. Elizabeth’s parents Duane and Mary help as needed.
The Fischers are members of the Minnesota Bison Association, the National Bison Association, Minnesota Grown, Minnesota Farmers Union, Practical Farmers of Iowa, The Land Stewardship Project, and the National Independent Concessionaires Association. Elizabeth leads the Stark Happy Hustlers 4-H club and their family is involved with youth baseball in Stark.
Fordham’s High Plain Tree Farm | Itasca County
In 1974, Greg and Ruth Fordham bought 40 acres near Wabana Lake in Grand Rapids. In the beginning, the land had been abandoned and overgrown, but they saw its potential. They spent the next three years clearing brush, picking rocks, and preparing the soil. Then came the first seedlings, spruce and Norway pine. They planted more every year, and by 1986, they were selling their first Christmas trees.
As the farm grew, they purchased another 30 acres and got the whole family involved. Their children, Kelli, Kristine, Jenny, and Jim, helped build what became a well-known spot for retail, wholesale, and “Choose & Cut” Christmas trees. After Greg passed in 2019, Jim and his wife, Sarah, stepped in to carry things forward. They brought new energy and ideas. Jim reopened old fields, started offering landscape trees with a tree spade, and Sarah added wreath-making. In 2020, they made the Christmas season more memorable by adding hot cocoa, a campfire, s’mores, and photo spots for families.
Their daughters, Alice and Kate, help out with planting, mowing, and sales. Jenny and her husband Mitch pitch in, and Ruth helps where she can. The Fordhams plant thousands of trees each spring and are active members of the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association, donating to local fundraisers and events year-round.
Becker Family | McLeod County
What started as a small goat project nearly two decades ago has grown into a unique and well-loved family operation. For the past 20 years, Ed and Tracy Becker have raised goats, and in 2013, they found the perfect place to continue that work. They purchased a five-acre farm that’s now home to 100 goats.
Over the past eight years, the Becker family has found fulfillment beyond their animals’ role as livestock. They have shared their herd with the community through goat therapy, snuggle sessions and goat yoga, bringing joy and connection to people of all ages.
Their children, Eddie, Jack, Emma, and Sam, grew up with chores and 4-H shows. While most have moved on to their own careers, the farm still draws them back. Eddie travels with the Budweiser Clydesdales, but jumps in on herd checks and genetics when he’s home. Jack and his wife Bethany, along with their kids Luka and Anna, handle some of the hay production. Luka is now learning how to help with the daily chores. Emma and her husband Justin live in North Carolina, where Emma runs her own electrical business. They both still contribute to the farm when they are home. Sam, the youngest, still lives at home and is gearing up to start school for diesel mechanics, though he continues to be a steady hand on the farm.
Tracy also volunteers in their local community with the goats. Most of the time, she is busy on the road, traveling fulltime with the goats to senior facilities or private events to make the farm profitable. For larger events, like those held at wineries or breweries, Ed travels with Tracy to help. The family’s long involvement in 4-H has shaped much of their story, and with Sam in his final year, it marks the end of an era. Even so, the goats, the land, and the community connections continue to keep the farm thriving.
Mr. Ed’s Farm | St. Louis County
Mr. Ed’s Farm LLC can trace its roots to 1985, when Ed Nelson and Gayle Goff bought their first 80 acres near Hibbing (then called Tamarack Meadows.) Ed, who grew up on a dairy farm in Crow Wing County, and Gayle — both graduates of the University of Minnesota Morris — wanted to revive the tradition of small, diverse farms common to the Iron Range. By their first Christmas on the farm, they had already added sheep, chicken,s and a team of Percheron draft horses.
Over the years, Ed balanced farming with a career in history, working for 20 years as the archivist at the Iron Range Research Center in Chisholm and later for the Minnesota Historical Society at the Forest History Center in Grand Rapids. Retiring in 2012, he and Gayle decided to open the farm for visitors, incorporating as Mr. Ed’s Farm LLC in 2013.
Today, their operation spans 160 acres and includes sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, goats, rabbits, pigs and two teams of draft horses. They also grow vegetables, selling fresh produce at the Hibbing Farmers Market.
Their farm operates as an agritourism and education site, offering tours, workshops, and events to teach visitors about farming and local agricultural history. It is open year-round by appointment. On the second Saturday of September, they host the North Star Draft Horse Association Inc. Fall Field Day. In October, they are open to the public on weekends and during the MEA break. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve and throughout the winter, they offer horse-drawn sleigh rides on a wooded trail.
Community involvement is a significant part of their lives. Ed serves as president of the Hibbing Farmers Market, helping write grants to support its educational efforts and public education programs. He served as secretary for the Arrowhead Regional Farm Bureau for several years and remains a strong supporter of its educational and pro-education outreach programs. A past director for the St. Louis County Agricultural Society, he continues to exhibit at the fair. Ed joined the North Star Draft Horse Association in 1986, serving as president and currently as secretary.
Gayle, a retired St. Louis County employee, serves on the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency board. She shares her expertise on gardening and healthy cooking at the Farmers Market. They have one son, Matthew. Mr. Ed’s Farm is a working/educational farm dedicated to helping people learn about farming, where food comes from, and respect for the land, animals, and all living things. The farm welcomes and supports youth groups, including 4H, FFA, Scouts, and school children on field trips.
Sudanese Farming Group | Hennepin County
The Sudanese Farming Group began in 2022 with one goal in mind: Bring people together through agriculture. Most members are only a generation or two removed from farming back in Sudan. Growing food wasn’t just about survival. It was a way of life. Today, on a half-acre plot in New Hope, Minnesota, members are returning to that way of life again.
Twenty to 30 families work the land. They share the responsibilities of planting, weeding, watering and harvesting. Everything grown has meaning: Molokhia, okra, Armenian cucumbers, and purslane are foods that tie them to home. The harvest gets shared among the group or sold to neighbors. Either way, it’s all about community.
There’s no hierarchy here — just a group of people who show up, put in the work, and lead with kindness. They partner with The Food Group and the University of Minnesota Extension, run youth-led farmers market stands, and even have students building solar ovens and electric carts. If you stop by on the right day, you might just get invited to stay for the potluck. Everyone is welcome.
Spinler Family | Cook County
Melinda and Mark Spinler have spent more than 40 years building their homestead in the forests of northern Minnesota. What started as a simple effort to clear land and grow food has turned into a working farm that supports both their family and the surrounding community. Managing life in the Northwoods hasn’t always been easy, since protecting livestock from predators and developing usable soil takes ongoing effort, but they have found creative ways to make it work.
Today, they manage a 12-acre sugarbush where they harvest, process, and sell maple syrup. They grow a variety of non-certified organic vegetables and raise free-range meat chickens, ducks, and geese for both personal use and local sales. Their products are sold on-farm, at the Grand Marais farmers market, and to restaurants and co-ops in the area.
The farm is a full-time effort between the two of them. Mark brings in a strong knowledge from five generations of Minnesota farming, along with a building and engineering skillset. Melinda focuses on crop production and community outreach. Together, they have helped grow local agriculture through mentorship, starting farmers markets, and teaching homesteading and maple syruping classes. Their work continues to strengthen food systems in Cook County.
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Media contact: Sarah Jackson, News Media Manager, U of M Extension, sjacks@umn.edu.
For more news from U of M Extension, visit www.extension.umn.edu/news.