Farmfest honors county Farm Families of 2026
86 families from across the state recogonized
Attendees gather inside the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center on Thursday near Redwood Falls for the annual University of Minnesota Extension Farm Family Recognition Event. Eighty-six farm families from across the state were honored during the ceremony. (Photo by Amy Zents)
Don and Rhonda Hermanson hold up their Nicollet County Farm Family of the Year award. The Hermanson family of Hermanson Harvesters was named Farm Family of the Year for their leadership in specialty cropping and community education. The Hermanson family frequently hosts educational tours for local school groups and community organizations, fostering a direct understanding of agriculture and local food systems for area youth. Photo by Amy Zents
Members of the Schoenbauer family prepare for their official commemorative photograph in the designated photo area near the sound booth on Thursday. The Schoenbauers were honored as the 2026 Sibley County Farm Family of the Year. (Photo by Amy Zents)
Attendees gather inside the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center on Thursday near Redwood Falls for the annual University of Minnesota Extension Farm Family Recognition Event. Eighty-six farm families from across the state were honored during the ceremony. (Photo by Amy Zents)
Don and Rhonda Hermanson hold up their Nicollet County Farm Family of the Year award. The Hermanson family of Hermanson Harvesters was named Farm Family of the Year for their leadership in specialty cropping and community education. The Hermanson family frequently hosts educational tours for local school groups and community organizations, fostering a direct understanding of agriculture and local food systems for area youth. Photo by Amy Zents
Members of the Schoenbauer family prepare for their official commemorative photograph in the designated photo area near the sound booth on Thursday. The Schoenbauers were honored as the 2026 Sibley County Farm Family of the Year. (Photo by Amy Zents)
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REDWOOD FALLS -- Eighty-six farm families from across Minnesota were recognized for their agricultural leadership and community contributions Thursday at Farmfest.
The annual University of Minnesota Extension Farm Family Recognition Event took place at the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center on the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls.
Agricultural broadcasters Dan Lemke and Jerry Grosskreutz served as emcees to announce and introduce the farm families of the year, representing counties throughout the state.
The Farm Family of the Year program has honored Minnesota farm families for decades, celebrating contributions to the state’s agricultural economy, land stewardship, and rural community life.
Coordinated annually by University of Minnesota Extension, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine, the program highlights families chosen by their respective county Extension committees for their long-standing dedication to farming and community involvement.
University of Minnesota Extension leadership opened the ceremony by thanking the honored families for their ongoing dedication to production agriculture, environmental stewardship, and rural civic leadership.
Family farms were described as serving as the economic and social foundation of rural communities across Minnesota, providing essential leadership on local boards, volunteering in community organizations, and sustaining regional business networks. Also, the ceremony cited that through shifting market conditions, weather challenges, and technological advancements, the 86 honored operations reflect the persistence and adaptability required to maintain modern agricultural production while protecting land resources for future generations.
The Dittbenner family of Spring Creek Dairy was recognized as the 2026 Farm Family of the Year for Brown County. Located outside Sleepy Eye,
Spring Creek Dairy includes 500 acres supporting a herd of 120 milking cows and a 100-head cow-calf operation, utilizing two robotic milkers added in 2016.
Farm families across Brown County embody the spirit of service and land stewardship that keeps local rural communities healthy and vibrant.
In Nicollet County, the Hermanson family of Hermanson Harvesters was named Farm Family of the Year for their leadership in specialty cropping and community education.
Located just across the Minnesota River, the family manages over 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans alongside an intensive produce operation that grows more than 30 varieties of fresh vegetables and sweet potatoes using sustainable soil management practices. Donna Hermanson, a University of Minnesota graduate, operates the farm with family members Rhonda, Gwen, Hannah, and Andrew.
The Hermanson family frequently hosts educational tours for local school groups and community organizations, fostering a direct understanding of agriculture and local food systems for area youth.
Honorees from surrounding counties across the local coverage area were also recognized during the presentation at the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center.
In Redwood County, the Brosig family of Hilltop Harvest was honored for their fifth-generation operation near Redwood Falls.
Originally homesteaded in 1901 by Carl Hilscher, the farm is operated today by Nick and Catherine Brosig, who produce traditional row crops and manage a popular pick-your-own strawberry harvest that welcomes visitors every June.
In Renville County, the Wertish family of Emmet Township was recognized for their fifth-generation grain and livestock operation, which was established in 1945 by John and Dorothy Wertish.
Tom and Jessica Wertish manage the farm alongside Tom’s parents, Gary and Jeanne Wertish. Gary Wertish, who serves as president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, has spent decades advocating for family farmers and supporting local agricultural education programs.
In Blue Earth County, the Hulter family of Good Thunder was celebrated for their successful transition of a historic small dairy into a diversified cattle feedlot and crop enterprise.
Their operation produces corn, soybeans, and oats alongside Red Angus seedstock, supported by an annual bull sale and wean-to-finish beef production that contributes to the regional livestock industry.
In Sibley County, the Schoenbauer family was named Farm Family of the Year for their dedication to livestock management, crop production, and youth agricultural development.
In Watonwan County, the Runge family was recognized for their ongoing land stewardship, civic involvement, and long-standing support of the county’s farming community.
During the formal presentation, Minnesota 4-H Agriculture Ambassador Savannah Selin addressed the audience from the podium on behalf of statewide youth organizations.
Selin said, "It is a privilege to celebrate the farm families whose dedication continues to strengthen agriculture across our state. Their hard work, resilience, and stewardship serve as an inspiration to young people in 4-H and FFA."
She said that through changing seasons and daily operational challenges, these farm families continue to supply the food, fuel, and fiber that form a strong foundation for local communities and across the state.
The annual event serves not only as a celebration of individual farm achievements but also as a reminder of the vital partnership between University of Minnesota Extension and local agricultural producers.
Through collaborative research, conservation programs, and youth development, Extension and local families work together to address emerging agricultural challenges and keep Minnesota’s agricultural sector competitive.
Emcee Dan Lemke of the Linder Farm Network praised the honorees during the ceremony, saying, "These 86 farm families represent the absolute best of Minnesota agriculture."
The statewide recognition at Farmfest highlights the enduring legacy of family agriculture in Minnesota, celebrating decades of shared family labor, generational stewardship, and an ongoing commitment to feeding and supporting communities across the region.