AGRICULTURE & LOCAL FOODS
Increasing economic opportunity and improving quality of life.
Food is at the heart of every community. It brings families and neighbors together, defines and blends culture, nourishes health, and fuels life. And the system of producing, processing and distributing food creates jobs, engenders opportunity, drives innovation and productivity, and facilitates creative expression, especially in underserved rural and urban areas. Visit The Good Food Access Program to learn more about food access point technical assistance. Other food and agriculture-related programs we currently have are the AgVet Program, and Agricultural Mental Health Program.
Meat Processing Train & Retain Program
Through a grant from Minnesota Department of Agriculture, R5DC partnered with Central Lakes College Staples Campus to offer free tuition for 22 students enrolling in the Meat Cutting & Butchery
program during the 2025–2026 academic year.
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This program supports:
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A growing need for trained meat processors in rural Minnesota
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Local food systems and small businesses
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Career pathways in a high-demand, hands-on skilled trade
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Questions about this program? Contact:
Region Five Development Commission
Staci Headley, Regional Planner & Program Coordinator sheadley@regionfive.org | 218-831-0137 | regionfive.org
Central Lakes College – Staples Campus
Cory Detloff, Director of Ag & Energy/FBM
cory.detloff@clcmn.edu | 218-894-5134 | clcmn.edu
Agricultural Mental Health Program
This free and confidential program connects individuals, couples, and families in agriculture with experienced counselors who understand farm life and are here to help—by phone, Zoom, or in person, anywhere in Minnesota.
Agricultural Mental Health Providers
Monica McConkey, MA, LPC
(218) 280-7785
Monica brings over 30 years of experience in the rural mental health sector, working with both youth and adults across a broad spectrum of emotional and psychological challenges. Raised on a farm herself, she has a deep understanding of the unique pressures faced by those in agriculture. Monica is deeply committed to supporting farmers, their families, and agricultural industry partners in recognizing, managing, and navigating the stresses associated with life and work in the agricultural sector.
Tracie Rutherford Self, PhD, LPCC-S
(507) 514-7057
Tracie brings 25+ years of mental health experience, focusing on trauma, stress, and suicide prevention in rural communities. Raised in West Virginia and rooted in Midwest farm life, she collaborates with farmers, agricultural groups, and first responders to deliver real-world mental health support across rural Minnesota.
Jennifer Vaughn, MS, LMFT
(218) 820-6626
Jennifer has been providing mental health services in rural communities to individuals, families, and couples since 2009. She has experience with youth and adults who have had a wide variety of experiences, backgrounds, and needs. She looks forward to collaborating with farmers and agricultural communities.
Mobile Meat Processing
The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded the Minnesota Farmers Union Foundation a $2.9 million grant to purchase mobile meat slaughtering and processing equipment that will be used to facilitate workforce training and meet meat processing needs in central Minnesota. The project launches in 2023 in partnership with; Cass County, Community Development Morrison County, Happy Dancing Turtle, Central Lakes College, the Small Business Development Center, Agriculture Utilization Research Institute and EDA. In support of the agricultural economy, and alongside others, R5DC assisted with the application and communication with EDA and the North Central Economic Development Association (the private sector led lending arm of R5DC) assisted the MN Farmers Union project with $300,000.00 loan to make this important project a reality. To learn more see: http://www.clcmn.edu/meat-cutting-and-butchery/
North Central Regional USDA Food Business Center
The North Central USDA Regional Food Business Center focuses on expanding small and mid-sized agricultural value chains in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Center activities include technical assistance to create new value chain connections, expanding supply and demand to and from new and existing markets, improving viability and increasing market value of products, and boosting Upper Midwest regional food systems
AGVET Program
Sprout, in partnership with Region Five Development Commission (R5DC), will offer Veterans in the region opportunities to explore agricultural careers with hands-on learning opportunities through apprenticeships, fellowships, and cohort peer-to-peer learning. These opportunities are fully funded by the AgVet grant, funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and will be delivered in conjunction with local institutions and partners to provide Veterans career curriculum and development certifications, and technical assistance programming as many of our Veterans embark on agricultural career exploration and transitions.
This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Program, project 1029231 and will be implemented over a three-year period.
ACRE Program
AgriCulture Rural Exploration/Education
Through a USDA grant, students from Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties participated in an agriculture career exploration program. The initiative, led by the Region Five Development Commission, in collaboration with Central Lakes College, and Sprout, aims to foster innovation in agriculture, offer internships, and boost small farmers' economic opportunities. Students visited local farms to learn advanced agricultural methods and explore career opportunities at Central Lakes College, including robotics and drone operation. Additionally, students applied for funding to implement creative projects inspired by their experiences, such as starting school gardens or acquiring kitchen equipment to support local food procurement.
RxCSA
Community mental health practitioners and community-based healthcare providers refer patients to a CSA prescription, augmented with ancillary programming. Health care professionals, county public health, and ancillary team members work together to refer residents to the program.
The CSA food is aggregated from over 80 low-income local growers by Sprout MN, the regional food hub and delivered to progam participants bi-monthly, adding value to regional businesses and the agricultural economy.
Chefs and U of M Extension nutrition educators deliver cooking classes and education in a relaxed setting. We understand that just because you get a rutabaga in a CSA does not mean you know how to cook it or why you should eat it. This approach offers new life-long skills that change behaviors, new adaptation skills, self-esteem, a greater well-being. Learn more about RxCSA.
We are proud of our partnership with Sprout MN to bring these local foods initiatives to our region.
Read more about Sprout MN and its impact on the community by reviewing the WealthWorks Report.
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"These projects are direct outcomes of the ways agencies and organizations are thinking differently due to the evolution of Sprout and the local foods, culture, arts work. These act as pollinators to help create systems change across sectors in our region.”
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Cheryal Lee Hills
Executive Director
Region Five Development Commission
To learn more about local foods initiatives, please connect with Staci Headley.