ST CLOUD, Minn. — The Minnesota Dairy Initiative (MDI) will be hosting two farm couple retreats that will be available to dairy farmers across the state of Minnesota. These farm couple retreats will also be open for other farming entity types.
The dates and locations of the farm couple retreats are February 5-6, 2021 in Alexandria, MN at the Holiday Inn (5637 Highway 29 South Alexandria, MN 56308) and February 12-13, 2021 in Rochester at the Hampton Inn & Suites (2870 59th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901).
The purpose of the retreat is to have couples come together to enjoy a mini vacation away from the farm with each other. The focuses of the retreat will include communication with your partner, communication with family, relationship building, handling stress, managing personalities, problem solving, action planning, and learning about additional resources. The retreat will also include opportunities to network with other farming couples, short lecture, group activities, and partner exercises.
Monica Kramer McConkey, Rural Mental Health Specialist with MDA will be presenting and facilitating the retreat. Emily Krekelberg, University of Minnesota Farm Safety and Health Extension Educator, and Jim Salfer, University of Minnesota Extension Educator – Dairy, will also be presenting.
Farm couple retreats are limited to the first ten couples that sign up per location. All lodging, meals, refreshments, and materials are included in registration. Registrations are being covered by the Minnesota Dairy Initiative and other business and organization sponsorships. Please contact Leah Bischof for a registration form and further details regarding the retreats.
MDI helps existing and potential dairy producers succeed through team-based on-farm education, resources and networking. MDI’s mission is energizing a healthy and vibrant dairy industry in Minnesota and is funded by grants administered through the MN Department of Agriculture. MDI is made up of 6 geographical regions across the state as well as Sustainable Farming Association.
The executive committee includes Chair – Merri Post, Vice Chair – Barry Visser, Secretary – Jim Salfer, and Treasurer – Theresa Keaveny.
For couples interesting in learning more information or would like to register for a farm couple retreat, please contact Leah Bischof, MDI State Director, at (320) 429-0611 or leahbischof@gmail.com.
— Leah Bischof, MDI State Director, Minnesota Dairy Initiative, University of Minnesota Extension
For more news from Minnesota, click here.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
HURON, S.D. — When their three boys were young, Bryan Spiel splurged on a 1969 Chrysler boat. It was $1,000 and came with everything needed to water-ski. Bryan said, “That’s all the boys wanted to do. Not go to town or the movies, they wanted to go to the water – all the neighbor’s kids […]
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Higher biomass, less water and more fruit are the results of the first year in a Texas A&M AgriLife Research study comparing mobile drip irrigation, MDI, to low-elevation sprinkler application, LESA, irrigation systems. The project comparing types of irrigation and irrigation scheduling is led by Charlie Rush, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant […]
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) encourages farmers and ranchers to consider attending one of three free upcoming couples’ retreats scheduled for early 2022. “Farm stress can take a terrible toll on marriages and partnerships, and likewise, relationship stress can destroy farms,” said Minnesota Dairy Initiative (MDI) State Director Leah Bischof, who […]
ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Minnesota Dairy Initiative (MDI) will be hosting three farm couple retreats that will be available to farmers across the state of Minnesota. These farm couple retreats will be open for dairy and other farming entity types. The dates and locations of the farm couple retreats are January 21-22, 2022, in […]
ITHACA, N.Y. — How do we feed and care for ourselves while we feed others? What types of practices and connections support us to be our best selves in the challenging work of managing a farm business? The Cornell Small Farms Program’s Be Well Farming project invites you to join us this December for a farmer-centered […]
