By Katie Drewitz University of Minnesota Extension PRESTON and CALEDONIA, Minn. November 11, 2025 — Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s land rent survey. Survey results indicate a continued increase of average rental rates while the weighted average remained flat in Fillmore County. Houston County saw an increase of both averages this year. Updated … [Read more...]
FFA Team Wins Big at National Convention
Tenth grade twins Charity and Grace Kingsley have been a part of FFA with Fillmore Central for four years now, but this year was their first time attending the FFA National Convention with their team and fellow FFA members. Twenty-three students from the Fillmore Central FFA chapter attended the October 29-November 1 convention in Indianapolis, Indiana this year. Most of the … [Read more...]
Minnesota Cover Crop Selector Tool Updated
By Katie Drewitz University of Minnesota Extension PRESTON and CALEDONIA, MN, October 21, 2025 – Earlier this month, significant updates to the Midwest Cover Crops Council’s cover crop selector tool for Minnesota were published. A group of Minnesota researchers, agency staff, seed dealers, and farmers came together with Midwest Cover Crops Council staff to discuss … [Read more...]
MN Fall Beef Classic Held in Preston
The Fillmore County Fairgrounds was a bustling place October 16-19 as the MN Fall Beef Classic was held in Preston. Usually, this show is held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds; this year, due to construction, a new site needed to be found. Enter a committee that decided to take on the event and hold it at the Fillmore County Fairgrounds. Amanda Bedtke, Autumn Feine, … [Read more...]
SE Asian Farmers Visit Houston Farm
Glen Groth hosted some special visitors at his Houston area farm recently. Guests from Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand visited Groth’s farm as they took part in the NSM (Northern Soy Marketing) Crop Tour on September 29 through October 3. NSM is a collaboration of Minnesota and South Dakota soybean checkoff organizations. Minnesota and South Dakota produce 16% of the soybeans … [Read more...]
Three Generations of Exceptional Service and Dedication in Caledonia
For 50 years, Wiebke Tire has kept Caledonia and the surrounding communities moving, on the road and in the fields. Now entering its third generation of ownership, the business continues to thrive under Chad Wiebke, who works alongside Jon Kruse and a dedicated crew of five: Greysen Prouix, Hunter Augestine, Jim Hauser, Garrett Waldenberger and Gerald Schroeder. Although … [Read more...]
Bonnie Haugen: A Woman of Many Hats
Fillmore County resident Bonnie Haugen wears many hats – wife, mother, grandmother, regenerative grazing dairy farmer, steward of the land, speaker, volunteer, advocate, educator, and more. This story begins with a recent highlight in Haugen’s life before looking back on her many accomplishments as a grazing dairy farmer. Among her life’s memorable moments, being invited to … [Read more...]
Soybean Storage Options
By Katie Drewitz University of Minnesota Extension PRESTON and CALEDONIA, MN — Moisture is key but not the whole story for successful farm storage of soybeans. Soybean yield is typically normalized to 13% moisture and soybean buyers will pay full price for soybeans up to a moisture content of 13%. Also, grain bins will typically store 13% moisture soybeans for up to … [Read more...]
Driftless Dreamers, A Unique 4-H Club
The 4-H Club Driftless Dreamers is unique in that it was created for homeschool families. While other clubs form based on interests, activities or location to a certain school district, this club was established to tie 4-H into the existing homeschool peer groups. Driftless Dreamers held its first meeting in June 2023. The families of the homeschool groups already cooperated … [Read more...]
Wholestone Farms Providing Pork Raised by Your Neighbors
Wholestone Farms was founded in 2018 when CEO Luke Minion met with farmers who shared a vision to produce pork and be competitive with the commercial large pork producers. Wholestone is privately owned by 235 farm families across the Midwest. In Fillmore County, there are four farm families/owners: Smith Farms owned by Greg, Deb and Randy Smith of Rushford, Johnson’s Rolling … [Read more...]