Farmers for America Screening

Oh man,

We just got off a crazy busy week. Last week was our county fair. Our three kids, plus three of their friends, showed nine of our cattle at the fair. It has been a circus since May. Two other families came up to me during the fair and ask if their kids could show with us next year. I may actually lose my mind, but it is for a good purpose. Having kids learn about animals and how to care for them is a great life lesson.

So, when this week hit and we no longer had to wash and walk and clip and fit and prepare cattle every day, I thought awesome my calendar is blank. To pass the time I have been washing and folding laundry. arahrahgahgh!!! It is never-ending.

I had almost forgotten about a very important event happening TOMORROW!

If you follow our Facebook page, you know that I have been hinting about a documentary that was being filmed on our farm. Drum roll….. Farmers for America has been about two years in the making, but I am so happy to give you the opportunity to see the film yourself. This film asks the question “who will be our next generation of farmers?” In addition to hearing from dozens of diverse farmers from across the country, Mike Rowe (yah the Dirty Jobs guy) narrates it. So you know it is good. I have seen the film twice!

So now you are asking, “how do I see this awesome film?”

From the Farmers for America website:

Join us for scrumptious locally-sourced food, documentary film and an engaging conversation with local farmers and food advocates.

We’ll start off with food at the Birchwood Café.

From there, we’ll head to the nearby Trylon Cinema to watch the documentary Farmers For America.

Following the film, we’ll have a conversation with Glen Groth of Groth Family Farms, Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin of Main Street Project, Tracy Singleton of Birchwood Café and Emily Zweber of Zweber Farms. The conversation will be moderated by Graham Meriwether, the director of the film.

The Details:

Location #1: Birchwood Café

Address: 3311 East 25th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Food Event- 5:30-6:45pm

Location #2: Trylon Cinema

Address: 2820 E 33rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55406

Film: 7-8:15pm

Panel: 8:15-9pm

Cost:

Dinner at Birchwood & Movie- $25

Just Movie- $10

Tickets can be purchased in advance here.

About the Film:

The average age of the U.S. farmer has reached 60. Half of America’s farmland will change ownership in the next 15 years. Our nation faces a little-known agricultural crisis on an unprecedented scale. Against all odds, this is the story of an eclectic mix of young people- military veterans, bright-eyed idealists, and multi-generational farmers who are accepting the virtuous challenge of feeding us all.

The documentary is narrated by Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs, Returning the Favor) and stars farmers from every region of the United States including national agricultural leaders like Joel Salatin, Eliot Coleman, Blake Hurst and Lindsey Lusher-Shut.

Tim might actually be joining me since he finished third crop hay on Monday. Glen Groth is also a friend of ours. Glen and his wife, Melinda, farm conventionally and will provide a balance to what Tim and I have to say. Both us and the Groths are trying to navigate in the farming business as young farm families. If for some reason Tim cannot make it, Erik, our 11 year old, is going to fill in. Erik is well spoken and I know he will have great insight about being a farm kid and the next, next generation of farmers.