We support the development and enhancement of sustainable farming systems through farmer-to-farmer networking, innovation, demonstration, and education
Mary Jo Forbord, Executive Director
29731 302 St.
Starbuck, MN 56381
(866) 760-8732 - Toll free in 320- area code
(320) 760-8732
mforbord@sfa-mn.org
Mary Jo grew up on a diversified farm near Benson and graduated from the University of Minnesota. She is a registered dietitian and a farmer. Mary Jo has experience in many aspects of the food system, including community nutrition education and nutrition counseling, health care planning and administration, governance board development, farmer-owned cooperatives and dairy farming. Mary Jo, her husband Luverne and 3 children farm in the rolling glacial moraine of Pope County. They rotationally graze Lowline Angus and market Prairie Horizons Beef and Eggsquisite Eggs from Happy Hens directly to customers.
Jeremy Lanctot, SFA - Minnesota Dairy Initiative Coordinator
17734 335th St.
Sunburg, MN 56289
(320) 278-2002
mdi@sfa-mn.org
Jeremy grew up on a farm in east-central Minnesota and went on to get a degree from St. Cloud State University in Computer Science. He worked as an engineer at Honeywell for nearly two decades building and testing aircraft navigation and support equipment in the Minneapolis area. He couldn't keep his hands off farming, though. During his tenure at Honeywell, he co-owned a hog farm in southeastern Minnesota before becoming convinced that commodity farming was for the pigs. He now runs a certified organic farm in Pope County with his wife and children.
Anne Borgendale, Communications Consultant
5663 West Bavarian Pass
Fridley, MN 55432
(320) 226-6318
communications@sfa-mn.org
Jerry Ford, Events & Youth Outreach Coordinator
7616 25th St SW
Howard Lake, MN
320 543-3394
jerry@marienne.com
Jerry Ford is the Co-Owner/Operator of Living Song Gardens, a market farming operation, and Co-Owner of Living Song Music, a music and theatrical publishing and production company. Jerry works as an Audio Technician, Paramount Theatre in St. Cloud, and is a Sound Designer for Great River Educational Arts Theatre. He is the chairman the SFA’s Crow River Chapter, and the founder of Minnesota Garlic Festival.
Joel Rosen, Lake Superior/SFA Chair
Mahtowa, MN
(218) 389-3306
plfarm@aol.com
Jerry Ford, Crow River Chapter/SFA Vice Chair
Howard Lake, MN
(320) 543-3394
jerry@marienne.com
Mary Hanks, At large/SFA Secretary
Saint Paul, MN
(651) 201-6277 w
Mary.Hanks@state.mn.us
Chris Barnier, Central Chapter/SFA Treasurer
Little Falls, MN
(320) 632-4691
cbarnier@brainerd.net
Joe Gransee-Bowman
At Large
gransee.bowman@gmail.com
Edgar Hansgen
Southeast Chapter
St. Charles, MN
(507) 932-4219
ejhansgen@hotmail.com
Denise Hemreck
Lake Agassiz Chapter
Warren, MN
(218) 745-4963
paolson@gvtel.com
Chris Kudrna
At Large
St. Cloud, MN
(320) 202-1708
ckudrna@charter.net
Laura Mobry-Bathke
Cannon River/Hiawatha Valley
West Concord, MN
(507) 527-1030
laura.s.bathke@wellsfargo.com
Richard Rolling
Coteau Ridge Chapter
Ivanhoe, MN
John Sluss
Western Chapter
Brooten, MN
(320) 346-2538
jsluss@tds.net
Jim Tjepkema
South Central Chapter
Clarks Grove, MN
(507) 256-4876
jimkt@frontiernet.net
SFA Leadership Bios
Chris Barnier owns and operates a certified organic crop farm in Morrison County, MN, and is a Co-owner of W. R. Grains, Inc., a source of organic and natural livestock feeds in central Minnesota. He serves as SFA Treasurer and is a board member of SFA’s Central Chapter. Chris also serves on the Board of Directors of The Minnesota Project, and serves as their treasurer.
Jerry Ford is the Co-Owner/Operator of Living Song Gardens, a market farming operation, and Co-Owner of Living Song Music, a music and theatrical publishing and production company. Jerry works as an Audio Technician, Paramount Theatre in St. Cloud, and is a Sound Designer for Great River Educational Arts Theatre. He is the chairman the SFA’s Crow River Chapter, and the founder of Minnesota Garlic Festival.
Mary Hanks is a Supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Project, the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Crop Improvement Association; the Mpls. St Paul Archdiocesan Rural Life Advisory Board Member, member of the Soil and Water Conservation Society and a member of SFA’s Cannon River/Hiawatha Chapter.
Edgar Hansgen is a Sustainable farm owner and a farm machinery dealer. Edgar chairs SFA’s Southeast Chapter.
Denise Hemrick is the Co-owner/operator of a farm near Warren, MN and is a director of SFA’s Lake Agassiz Chapter.
Chris Kudrna is the owner of a small management consulting business. His educational and professional background includes finance, economics, customer service and human resources with many years of experience in the financial services industry.
Laura Mobry-Bathke is Owner/operator Tuckahoe Hills, a fiber sheep and goat farm. Laura is an Application System Engineer for Wells Fargo.
Joel Rosen owns and operates Park Lake Farm as a sole proprietorship. He on the board of SFA’s Lake Superior Chapter, and serves SFA as Vice chair.
John Sluss is an Organic Farmer and Grazier, and retired from the US Army. He is a member of the Norwegian Fjord Horse Registry, Midwest Fjord Horse Club, and North Central Draft Horse Club. And a Brooten City Council Member. Jon is a member of the West Central MN Clean Energy Resource Team, and is an alternative energy advocate and a member of the Center for Rural Affairs.
Jim Tjepkema holds a PhD from Purdue University in entomology and nematology. He is an Agricultural consultant, educator and substitute teacher in the Albert Lea Area school district. Member of the Seed Savers Exchange, involved in saving and exchanging rare varieties of cultivated plants. Organic gardener, growing vegetables and fruit for use at home.
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