Swedes to Visit Minnesota Farms

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit Sweden to study eco-communities. The trip included small and large cities, and also a few farms. We met some Swedes that were interested in continuing the education exchange and visiting Minnesota to learn more about agriculture here. They arrive this Friday. Read the news release below for more information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6 October 2009

Swedes to visit Minnesota Farms
Tours Part of Continued “Green” Education Exchange

From October 9-16, Minnesota will be home to two Swedish visitors interested in learning about agriculture and farming practices.

The visit is a result of a connection made through the Rotary Club’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program. Earlier this year, five Minnesotans were selected to travel to Sweden and live with host families for five weeks. That trip included tours focused on sustainability and eco-communities, including visits to sustainable farms.

The October tour in Minnesota is a collaborative effort of many organizations and communities, including two participants from the recent GSE trip to Sweden. The Minnesota Corn Growers Association and the South Central Chapter of the Sustainable Farming Association will be sponsoring tours, and participants will be staying with host families.

“We saw some really great farms when we were in Sweden,” says Kara Slaughter, GSE participant and board member of the non-profit organization Renewing the Countryside. “So when they decided to visit us here, we wanted to show them examples of great farming in Minnesota.”

This month’s tour will include farms and communities across Minnesota that demonstrate a variety of agriculture and farming practices. Tour participants will visit large-scale farming operations, organic farms, active soybean harvesting and corn hybrid test plots. The tour will likely include a visit to the Morris Biomass Gasification plant and North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory.

“The tour in Sweden was a great exchange of ideas and the people that hosted us were so generous,” says Alison Lindburg, GSE participant and staff member of the Minnesota-based non-profit organization Dovetail Partners. “It is really important that we return the favor.”

The tour is still looking for host families and outing opportunities. For more information, please contact Kara Slaughter at 612-396-7404.

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For more information:
www.mncorn.org
www.sfa-mn.org
www.renewingthecountryside.org
www.dovetailinc.org

Contact: Alison Lindburg, alison@dovetailinc.org, 612-333-0430
Kara Slaughter, 612-396-7404