EAGAN, Minn. — The Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year Award honors the hard-working female farmers all across Minnesota who selflessly give their time to growing the crops and raising the livestock needed to feed the world. And for that commitment, we want to say thank you.
2023 Top 5 Finalists
Congratulations to the top five finalists for the Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year award. Read on for more details on these five amazing women!
Join us at Farmfest on Aug. 3 for the Women in Ag Event to honor our top 5 finalists and name the Woman Farmer of the Year!
Kari Olson, Hawley, MN
Kari Olson grew up along with her two sisters on the family farm that her, her father Rob, and their team member, Owen, operate today. She attended North Dakota State University to study agricultural economics and crop and weed science before returning home to the family farm. Since Kari returned to the farm, she’s been working alongside her parents to transition the operation and decision making to the next generation. She is the fourth generation on Robert Olson Farms and looks forward to continuing her family’s farming and conservation legacy.
As a fourth-generation farmer, Kari is essential to the longevity of her family’s farm. Under her lead, the farm is in the process of entering the livestock industry to graze cover crops, helping them achieve the next level of soil health on their operation. Introducing cattle into the operation is an example of how Kari is building upon the foundation created by generations of her family before her.
Kari’s dedication to continuing the conservation farming legacy started by her grandparents and parents will allow her to ensure the land she cares for continues to prosper and develop resiliency. One example of the farm’s conservation legacy is their participation in the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program.
She is an excellent example and spokesperson for young women in Minnesota agriculture. She’s been featured by numerous media outlets, spoken at events like the Conservation Tillage Conference, and worked with researchers to better understand soil health practices and how to apply them on her operation. She is doing so much more than taking over her family’s farm – she’s helping it grow and set an example for other farmers across the state. Seeing the role she assumes in Minnesota agriculture and soil health spaces is a reminder and encouragement to other young women that women absolutely can and should be decision makers in agriculture.
Kari represents the best of the next generation of Minnesota agriculture. Farmers like her are essential to the future success of Minnesota’s agricultural industry and resiliency of Minnesota’s agricultural lands.
Alma Kubat, Owatonna, MN
Alma was born in Owatonna, MN in 1940 and was raised on her parent’s family farm in rural Deerfield Township. Mom attended a one-room Country School. She graduated from Owatonna High School in 1958. Shortly after graduation, she met a man on a blind date and they were united in marriage in 1961. Alma immediately quit her full-time job as a telephone operator shortly after marriage, and at that point, became a driven, dedicated full-time farm wife. Together, they raised 5 children on the farm.
After her husband’s passing in 1994, Alma continued running the farm operation. At the age of 83, she takes care of her chicks/chickens, feeds steers and hogs, and turns on/shuts off bin fans after closely monitoring the weather and humidity. She always wants to be helpful and demands to be included in daily labor farm operations. In most months of the year, she’s rarely found in the house, instead doing chores throughout the farm in some capacity.
Alma also takes care of all bills, financing and permits, as well as income tax preparations and orders fuel along with being instrumental in grain sales, pricing, and marketing.
Alma is intelligent, kind, strong, and is an inspiration to all who are blessed to know her. She has long been known as the hardest working farm wife in the county (and has the hands to prove it).
Alma does a weekly live radio broadcast with her son, Brad called the “Thursday Morning Almanac with Brad’s Mom” at 8:45 am.
Alma is the hardest working and most devoted person. She is selfless and always puts others first. Her favorite place on Earth has always been right on the farm. Any money ever made from the farm gets invested back into the farm in the form of pattern-tiling, building maintenance, machinery purchases, repairs, and updates.
Her son Brad says of his mother, “Mom was born to be a farmer. She lives, breaths and will die a farmer. She is a great steward of the land, and her faith in God runs deep. She is very proud of the heritage of our family farm and loves to tell it’s extensive story of good times and bad.”
Debbie Morrison, Mora, MN
Debbie grew up in the Twin Cities. She attended the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus, where she met her husband. Her husband was an officer in the Navy, and they lived in all four corners of the United States within six years. After returning to the Cities, Debbie worked in advertising agencies for the next 30 years. She and her husband camped on the land they purchased for three years and decided to build their home in 2000. The first project was to restore 40 acres of dormant hayfields into native prairie working together with the USDA NRCS. This first step catapulted further interests in more farming opportunities such as beekeeping and a CSA farm. In 2012, She quit the corporate world to work full-time on the farm.
Due to the fact Debbie excels in marketing, she has been able to use her talents to market their taproom/cidery business encouraging the public to come and spend time at the farm. The public is encouraged to walk the 172 acre farm to see the growing operation, native habitat, and how the two work together. The bluebird houses, martin houses, the wetlands, the bee houses and more display how conservation and the natural environment of the farm all work together for the production of the farm. They have been certified as an organic farm since 2008.
Over the years, She has worked with Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, USA (WWOOF USA) to mentor aspiring farmers, students, and others interested in agriculture and farming from all over the world. Garden Clubs, the Osprey Wilds Environmental Center, and other organizations tour the farm regularly to learn more about farming and what they have done to integrate the natural environment into their farming practices. Each of this comes together every weekend as groups and families visit the farm each week. She belongs to the Farm Bureau, the Sustainable Farming Association, and the Minnesota Farmers Union as well as the Cider Guild.
She is a creative thinker. She found a way to bring the community, and people from around the country to their 172 acre farm in Kanabec County using a variety of marketing methods and a lot of hard work. Her out of the box thinking allowed her to grow ginger, a crop not traditionally grown or seen in our area. She has created a fun, family atmosphere which has become a very popular place to gather in Kanabec County. The Cidery Barn is busy on weekends throughout the year with a very kid-friendly atmosphere. The arts community and local food talent love the venue and the opportunity to demonstrate their own talents. She feels most successful because she has provided space for others to learn and grow just as She and her husband have done on their journey to build their business, a successful non-traditional farming operation.
Rachelle Krienke, Lester Prairie, MN
Rachelle learned the value of hard work and dedication growing up on a hobby farm near Winsted, the third of five children. She was active in the Winsted Jolly Juniors 4-H Club and McLeod County 4-H, including showing beef cattle. After graduating from Holy Trinity High School, she took courses at St. Cloud State University. She fell in love with and married a farmer – and despite never having so much as milked a cow, she dove feet first into dairy farming.
As Prairie Dairy has grown over the years, Rachelle has been invaluable to helping the management of the business evolve. She keeps the farm’s books, recruits and schedules employees and takes an active role in participating in the Dairy Profitability Enhancement Program and Farm Business Management with her husband. She has taken farm-specific Spanish language classes to help support the dairy’s largely Hispanic workforce. She goes the extra mile with little things that improve the work environment.
In addition to management and business functions, She is part of daily production operations. Calf care is her area of expertise, and she works to stay current on best practices and help the farm’s youngest animals thrive right from the start.
She is a member of the board of education at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, recently helping lead the search for a new Director of Christian Education in addition to regular duties supporting Sunday School and religious education programming. She has been a member of the Howard Lake Waverly Winsted FFA Alumni group since 2017, playing a supporting role in fundraisers like the annual alumni auction and tractor pull. She is a past 4-H Club Leader for the Winsted Jolly Juniors 4-H Club. Ever the dairy producer, you can count on her to provide a dairy snack or beverage at church or other local community events.
Farming is nonstop, and so is She. In her farming career, She has done more than 600 herd checks. She has worked all hours of the day and night in the barn, behind the wheel of the tractor, in front of the computer while raising three kids and supporting her community.
She doesn’t just care for the animals on the farm. She’s a dedicated mother who is there for band concerts, soccer games, FFA awards night and every single day of the McLeod County Fair. She’s spent at least two decades packing lunches, trekking to orthodontist appointments and helping with class projects for her three kids. She’s also a devoted wife, daughter, sister and auntie (and always brings the best food to family potlucks).
From her nominator: “I’m always amazed by her tenacity and her commitment to the farm and her family. Whatever life throws at her, she keeps showing up and giving it her best.”
Rachel Gray, Blackduck, MN
Rachel grew up on the same farm she runs today. Many changes have been made since she took over including the heifer development business.
She began her work experience as a teacher in Blackduck, MN. After teacher for many years she decided to go back to farming which was her true passion.
She runs the breeding and genetic program on her ranch. She chooses the genetics for other private ranches and does the custom breeding of those animals. Her approach to the business is innovative and fresh. Her bred heifers bring top dollar and are sought out by ranchers across the country.
While doing all this, she is teaching her son and grandchildren the business. This is her legacy for them.
Rachel is not just a rancher. She has continued as an educator without even trying. She has been an important part of me starting my ag program and continues to allow me to bring my classes to her farm and ranch to learn skills they would otherwise just read about in a textbook.
She is also a part of the Cattleman’s Association, Soil and Water Conservation board, the Kelliher FFA Alumni, and other local organizations that improve the community.
Rachel is an influential woman and rancher in the industry. Her approach to her business and to her life are inspiring to those around her. She is a leader inthe beef industry and in the community.
Have a conversation with her and you will be inspired to do more and be more. Rachel has been a great influence for me as a person and as a teacher.
— Minnesota Farmfest
