FAMILIES AND GROWERS FROM ACROSS MINNESOTA WILL BE REPRESENTED AS THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HONORS THEM IN THE 2026 FARM FAMILY OF THE YEAR CEREMONY AT 1:15 P.M. THURSDAY, AUG. 6, AT THE ANNUAL MINNESOTA FARMFEST NEAR REDWOOD FALLS.
“THIS YEAR’S FARM FAMILIES OF THE YEAR REFLECT THE IMPRESSIVE STRENGTH — AND INCREDIBLE VARIETY — OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE,” SAID EXTENSION DEAN BEV DURGAN. “THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IS PROUD TO HONOR THESE FAMILIES AND THEIR INNOVATION AND DEDICATION TO MINNESOTA AGRICULTURE.”
THE OLAFSON FAMILY FARM IS A FIFTH-GENERATION OPERATION THAT BEGAN IN 1893 WHEN OLE AND BERTA OLAFSON HOMESTEADED 160 ACRES, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON LIVESTOCK. THE SECOND GENERATION WAS LED BY OLAF AND ERMA OLAFSON, FOLLOWED BY GORDON AND MARTHA OLAFSON AS THE THIRD GENERATION.
TODAY, MARK AND MARYANN OLAFSON FARM ALONGSIDE THEIR SON AARON OLAFSON, DAUGHTER BRITTANY HEPPNER, SON-IN-LAW JOE HEPPNER AND NEPHEW IVAN OLAFSON. THE OPERATION HAS EXPANDED TO 3,000 ACRES OF WHEAT, CORN, SOYBEANS AND CEREAL RYE.
WE WILL HIGHLIGHT ADDITIONAL FARM FAMILIES FROM NEIGHBORING COUNTIES THIS WEEK.
INEWZ.TV REPORTED YESTERDAY ON A REPORTED VEHICLE CRASH BETWEEN A PASSENGER CAR AND SEMI THAT HAPPENED SOUTHEAST OF ROSEAU. THAT WAS AT COUNTY ROAD 2 AND 450TH AVENUE EAST. ALL THEY HAD AT THE TIME WAS THE CAR REPORTEDLY HAD TWO OCCUPANTS.
THE MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR ALS WALK/RUN WAS HELD ON SATURDAY AT ROSEAU’S CITY PARK. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ANNOUNCED FUNDRAISING TOTALS FROM VARIOUS METHODS AT OVER $38,000. THE CONTINUE TO OFFER RAFFLE TICKETS FOR A POLARIS RANGER AND THEIR ALS RAFFLE CALENDARS.
THE NORTHERN MINNESOTA ROBOTICS CONFERENCE (NMRC) IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE OFFICIAL RIBBON CUTTING AND OPEN HOUSE OF THE NORTH STAR CENTER. THAT WILL BE SITUATED ON THE BELTRAMI COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN BEMIDJI AND SERVE AS A REGIONAL HUB FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AUTOMATION, AND ROBOTICS EDUCATION, COLLABORATION, AND INNOVATION THROUGHOUT NORTHERN MINNESOTA. CEREMONY AND OPEN HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026, AT 2:00 P.M.
THE NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ARTS COUNCIL (NWMAC) IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE A CALL FOR ART FOR OUR UPCOMING FOLK ART EXHIBIT. FOLK ART REFLECTS CULTURE, HISTORY, AND DAILY LIFE. IT EMBODIES THE HISTORY, HERITAGE, TRADITIONS, OR IDENTITY OF A COMMUNITY, REGION, OR COUNTRY. A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS ARE ACCEPTED. SUBMISSIONS DUE BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 21. ART WILL BE DROPPED OFF AT OUR GALLERY IN THIEF RIVER FALLS ON AUGUST 31, SEPTEMBER 1, OR SEPTEMBER 2. THE EXHIBIT WILL OPEN SEPTEMBER 3 UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER AT OUR NWMAC GALLERY AT NORTHLAND COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN THIEF RIVER FALLS.
POLARIS IS HAVING A RIBBON CUTTING AND GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW EXPERIENCE CENTER, NOW LOCATED WITHIN THE POLARIS FACILITY IN ROSEAU. THEY’LL OFFER PLATN TOURS, SEE THE NEW EXPERIENCE CENTER SPACE, AND THEY’LL SERVE A FREE COMMUNITY PICNIC.
ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON THERE WAS A DEATH ON LAKE VERMILLION, WHEN A YOUNG MAN WAS ELECTROCUTED WHILE SWIMMING. THE 39 YEAR DIED AT THE SCENE. WITNESSES SAY HE HAD GRABBED ONTO A DOCKED BOAT, WHOSE ELECTRIC SYSTEMS WERE PLUGGED INTO A NEARBY BOATHOUSE. AN INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
BILLIONAIRE PHILANTHROPIST T. DENNY SANFORD HAS PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 90. HIS DONATIONS LED TO THE CREATION OF SANFORD HEALTH, WHICH THROUGH MERGERS HAS BECOME THE LARGEST RURAL HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER IN THE COUNTRY. HE IS ALSO THE NAMESAKE OF ANY NUMBER OF CLINICS AND SPORTS FACILITIES, NOTABLY THE T DENNY SANFORD CENTER IN SIOUX FALLS. HE’S ORGINALLY A ST PAUL NATIVE. ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF HIS PASSING WERE NOT RELEASED.
Last modified: 07/20/2026
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