Tri-County News

Local farmer addresses Minnesota farmers raising healthy food


How innovation in agriculture is helping Minnesota farmers raise healthy and nutritious food will be addressed Wednesday, June 10, at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Litchfield.  Minnesota farmer Judy Barka of Forest City Land and Cattle near Watkins, will address the group at 12 p.m. at the Peter?Äôs on Lake Ripley located at 405 W. Pleasure Drive in Litchfield.

Barka?Äôs presentation about Farming Today will share how innovation has improved the quality of food while also improving animal care and protecting the environment.

Judy, her husband Randy, and their children raise beef cattle and grow crops on 550 acres near Watkins. The Barkas started their family farm in 1988. Judy also works in volunteer services at Meeker Memorial Hospital and is the township assessor, while her husband Randy teaches in the Agriculture Department at Ridgewater College in Willmar.

?ÄúFarmers are often called the original recyclers and are committed to continuing that tradition of honoring the land while caring for our animals and growing healthy and abundant food,?Äù said Judy. ?ÄúI?Äôm proud to pass on this tradition to our children, who now farm with us.?Äù

The Barka?Äôs four adult children now work on the family farm, each with separate responsibilities. They believe it?Äôs important to share information about how food is grown.

?ÄúMost people are several generations from the farm with no firsthand knowledge of agriculture,?Äù said Barka. ?ÄúPeople want to know where their food comes from, and I enjoy sharing how innovation is helping us grow healthy food. I appreciate the Litchfield Kiwanis Club for giving me the opportunity to share the story of our family farm.?Äù

Minnesota agriculture contributes $75 billion in economic impact each year while supporting over 340,000 jobs in the state. Minnesota ranks #1 nationally in the production of sugarbeets and turkeys, while ranking #5 in total agriculture production.

The Farming Today program is brought to you by the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation, in partnership with Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Beef Council, and our Farm Credit Partners: AgriBank, AgStar, AgCountry and United

FCS.

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