Stuedemann, 2026 Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year
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GILFILLAN ESTATE -- Meg Stuedemann was named the 2026 Woman Farmer of the Year Thursday morning during an award ceremony at the annual Farmfest exposition in Redwood County.
Stuedemann, who co-owns and operates Dairydale Farm in Belle Plaine, was selected from five finalists recognized for agricultural leadership, land stewardship and community impact.
The recognition coincides with the United Nations' designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Federal agricultural statistics indicate that women represent 36% of all U.S. agricultural producers, accounting for more than 1.2 million farmers managing 407 million acres nationwide.
“Never did I ever imagine that I would be here,” Stuedemann said during her acceptance speech on stage. “Never did I imagine that I would be a dairy farmer in the state of Minnesota. I am deeply grateful to the Minnesota Farmers Union, which nominated me for this award.”
Stepping off the platform after receiving the award, Stuedemann expressed initial disbelief at the announcement.
“I thought this was a mistake," Studemann said. "This has got to be a mistake."
Stuedemann began her agricultural career after serving in the Peace Corps in rural Thailand, where she observed connections between local farming practices, food access and community resilience.
She later earned a master's degree in agronomy from the University of Minnesota before entering full-time dairy production.
Today, Stuedemann manages livestock healthcare, pasture rotation, crop operations and organic certification requirements at Dairydale Farm.
She also works with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to expand mental health and financial support initiatives, including the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline.
Coming into dairy production without a traditional farming background meant mastering the gritty, unglamorous mechanics of daily farm labor from scratch.
Stuedemann credited neighborly mentorship with teaching her the vital, hands-on competencies needed to run an operation, from greasing a zerk fitting on heavy machinery to keep bearings running smoothly, to pulling a calf during a difficult birth, administering herd vaccinations, or unclogging a hay-jammed swather in the field.
Opening the morning program, keynote speaker Andrea Flemming, a southwest Minnesota farmer and online content creator known as “That Fit Agvocate,” addressed the crowd on mental health, personal boundaries, and resilience.
Flemming shared her experience with anxiety, navigating early career rejections, and coping with personal loss, encouraging producers to prioritize their well-being amid demanding schedules.
“If you don’t nourish yourself, you’re not going to get any results that you love,” Flemming said.
She said that finding small moments throughout the day to stay grounded makes a significant difference for farm families.
Flemming also urged attendees to set healthy boundaries around their time and energy. “In rural America, specifically with ‘Minnesota nice,’ we suck at saying no,” Flemming said. “When you say no to something you don’t have the capacity for, you leave space and energy for something that truly aligns and serves you.”
The program spotlighted four additional finalists from across Minnesota. Erica Sawatzke of Willowdale Turkey Farm near Kensington, a sixth-generation turkey producer, raises approximately 132,000 birds annually with her husband, Eric.
Sawatzke guided her family operation through the 2023 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak, previously served as president of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health and teaches poultry courses.
Christina Traeger of Traeger Farm near Avon operates a regenerative farm focused on soil fertility, land restoration and managed intensive grazing.
Traeger mentors producers on livestock nutrition and stewardship while direct-marketing products to urban consumers.
Trisha Zachman of Feathered Acres Learning Farm near Belgrade founded an agritourism operation combining livestock production with free educational field trips for local school children.
Zachman also travels to Washington, D.C., to advocate for family farm policy.
Mary Joyer of Waldoch Farm in Lino Lakes operates the century-old family homestead featuring a pick-your-own produce operation, garden center and educational tours that host more than 5,000 students annually.
Event sponsors highlighted various supporting programs available to regional producers.
Megan Mullen of the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program noted that voluntary conservation practices have certified over 800 farms and 1.3 million acres statewide, saving an estimated 168,000 tons of topsoil annually.
Michelle Neitzke of Farm Bureau Financial Services emphasized the importance of local relationships in supporting farm families through unexpected challenges.
Gail Donkers, chair of the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, spoke on checkoff investments driving research, global market promotion and agricultural education.
Kim Newman of AgCountry Farm Credit Services noted that women hold roughly one-third of executive leadership roles within their association, reflecting broader industry growth.
Reflecting on her work, Stuedemann said her dual commitments to farm management and public service strengthen one another.
“I really feel like being a farmer has helped me be a more effective public servant on behalf of agricultural farmers in the state,” Stuedemann said. “And certainly that job, those friendships, and that knowledge is helping me be a better farmer.”