A Hot Dog Competes and is a Wiener When investing in ethanol was first proposed to state officials and bankers, many balked and questioned whether farmer-owned plants could compete with huge agribusiness processors. Despite the skepticism Prairie Farmers Cooperative built their own processing facility. Still, they wondered how could a family farmer hot dog compete […]
Liberty, Land and Livestock
“On the Farm” Located in Hutchinson, Minnesota, The Lamb Shoppe is what owners Connie Karstens and Doug Rathke call their “on the farm” retail outlet for specialty meat from their farm Liberty, Land, and Livestock. Liberty, Land and Livestock is a 180-acre farm that allows Dorset sheep and Jersey cattle to graze freely on pasture […]
Minnesota Wild
Like Grandma Used to Make Jay Erckenbrack is the owner of Minnesota Wild in McGregor, Minnesota where his company’s line of fruit jams and syrups evoke the sensory memory of a visit to grandma’s. “Both my grandmothers made tremendous breads and rolls and I remember the fresh hot bread coming out of the oven and […]
Ridenour Ranch: Two Businesses in One
Located in the heart of Wyoming farm and ranch county, the 1,280 acre Ridenour Ranch, owned by Cindy and Mike Ridenour, offers grass-fed beef, non-certified organic vegetables and “Love-Me-Tender” pork. To set their high-quality products apart, they sell their food products under the banner, Meadow Maid Foods, to reflect the care they take in growing […]


