LAFAYETTE — Lafayette crop manager and firefighter Logan VanDeest filed for one of two open Lafayette City Council seats.

He’s been working for Wakefield Pork since 2011. He was a herds-person, managed a sow unit, and moved to corn and bean planting and harvesting last year.

VanDeest grew up in Lafayette, bought a house there and has been on the fire department for 10 years.

“I just thought I should try to get on the city council to help make the town better. We’ve got a new park. I’d like to keep running with that and help get things to draw people to town and help it grow,” he said.

“We’ve got new park equipment including dugouts, scoreboard and other improvements. The fields are kept up pretty well,” VanDeest said.

“I remember growing up, watching my dad Larkin play softball. Hearing people cheering at the field was the greatest thing. I’d chase down a softball and get a lolly pop. I thought it was the greatest thing,” he added.

VanDeest said he’s seeing youth softball and baseball teams playing in the Lafayette park.

He said he enjoys hanging out with his family that includes a nine-month old daughter plus hunting and fishing.

A number of candidates have filed for office in several area communities.

Sanborn Mayor Edward Cohrs and city council-member Mary Fennern and have refiled for office. Nathan Roiger filed for an open city council seat in Sanborn.

Redwood Falls Ward 1 councilor Denise Kerkhoff refiled for office. Shannon Guetter and Don Hazen filed for council member at large seats.

Red Rock Central School Board members Thomas Kuehl and Alex Pankonin refiled for office.

Cedar Mountain School Board member Christine Sherman refiled for office.

Sibley East School Board member Avery Grochow refiled for office.