By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The most distinguished ag award given out Thursday at Waseca’s Farm and City Luncheon went to Dan and Lara Zimmerli of Waldorf. Cedar Crate Farms was selected by the Minnesota Extension office as Waseca County’s Farm Family of the Year.
“Thank you so much,” Lara said during her acceptance speech. “We're honored to have a seat at the table. It seems like larger operations tend to get awards, which makes it humbling for our small acres to be selected.”
Cedar Crate is a small-scale, intensive and diversified vegetable farm. They successfully market their products directly to the community through the Mankato Farmers Market and a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The Zimmerli’s grow over 90 varieties of produce on about 3 acres of land. Besides growing the produce, the couple sells their crops directly to community members.
Dan grew up on his parents' farm in Redwood County, while Lara's mother grew up on a farm near Pepin, Wisconsin. Cedar Crate is on land that Dan's maternal grandfather Ron Coy farmed. As with many farming operations, success for Dan and Lara hinges on division of duties. Dan is the head farmer, master planner, and organizer, while Lara is responsible for telling the story via social media and community conversations. Both Dan and Lara plan together about the direction they want the farm to go.
The Zimmerlis are active members of their community. Lara is a special education teacher. The two are members of the Minnesota Farmers Union, the Minnesota River Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association (SFA), the Mankato Area Growers Association, and the Region 9 Growers Network. Dan serves on the board of the Mankato Area Growers Association and does consulting work for SFA. Dan has also served on the board of directors for the Saint Peter Food Co-op.
Moreover, the farm places a priority on community building, regularly inviting CSA members out to learn about agriculture. Cedar Crate Farm is committed to offering fresh, locally grown produce that is healthy for families, economically sustainable, and ecologically responsible. According to the Zimmerlis, Cedar Crate Farm is more than just a farm; it's a community.
“It’s not easy,” Lara admits. “There's a lot of CSA farms that don't make it.”
“We’re very grateful,” Lara concluded. “Thank you.”