Brown County Sheriff Jason Seidl served as the guest speaker, giving a presentation in the BCHS Annex on this history of his office.

Sheriff Seidl took attendees on a journey through time, tracing the department’s origins from its first appointed sheriff, Jacob Brust, in 1856, to himself. Seidl began serving as Sheriff in 2019.

He also shared insights into the first Brown County courthouse, built in 1865, and the development of the current sheriff’s office and jail, constructed in 1994.

The presentation included stories of some of the most notable sheriffs who served the county, shedding light on their impact and legacy. The county itself, Seidl noted, was named after Joseph Renshaw Brown, a key historical figure in Minnesota.

Sheriff Jason Seidl describes the history and significance of the fourth Brown County Sheriff’s Office building.

In attendance were descendants of former sheriffs and previous sheriff’s office employees, adding a personal touch to the event.

Sarah Sveine, program coordinator for the Brown County Historical Society, said the “Lunch with a Bite” series runs from May through October. “We asked Jason to speak on the history of the sheriff’s office, and it was a great turnout,” she said.

Sheriff Seidl expressed his gratitude to the society, stating, “Thank you to the historical society for allowing me to put on this presentation. I hope to share this history with other counties in the region.”

The next presentation of “Lunch with a Bite of History” will take place on July 17, featuring speaker Dan Backer. Backer will share the story of his great-great-grandfather, Hans Langseth, the world record holder for the longest beard ever grown–now preserved in the Smithsonian Museum.