Breakfast on the Farm

With Dairy Month, county fairs, and budding farm fields all around the corner, several Minnesota farms are preparing for their county’s annual “Breakfast on the Farm” event.

Breakfast on the Farm events feature select farms, menus chock full of hearty local breakfast fare, activities, and more. Because each individual county organizes their respective breakfast event, the date, location, price, and other details vary by county.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s coming, and where:

Clay County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, June 1, 2013, 7 a.m.-Noon
Western MN Steam Threshers Grounds, Rollag, Minn.

Cost: Free
Menu: Scrambled eggs, pancakes, strawberries, breakfast sausage, coffee, milk, and ice cream
Activities: Kids pedal tractor pull, farm commodity booths, farm animal zoo, spring planting, barrel train rides, horse drawn wagon rides, tractor wagon rides, merry-go-round, and entertainment

Stearns County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, June 1, 2013, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Groetsch Dairy, Albany, Minn.

Cost: Adults $5, children 5 and under free
Menu: Pancakes, eggs, sausage, milk, and coffee
Activities: Farm tours, children’s barnyard, Princess Kay of the Milky Way, Vikings cheerleaders, live radio broadcasts, educational booths, and ice cream cones

Waseca County “Breakfast” on the Farm
Thursday, June 6, 2013, 4-8 p.m.
Greg and Sue Harguth Farm, 31723 State Hwy 13, Waseca, Minn.

Cost: Free
Menu: Hamburgers and pork burgers
Activities: Magician, DJ Grain Simmons, kids activities, farm tours, and information booths

Wright County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, June 15, 2013, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
Goldview Farms, Waverly, Minn.

Cost: Adults $3, children 5 and under free
Menu: Chris Cakes pancakes, sausage, milk, and coffee
Activities: Farm tour, cheese and ice cream samples, wagon rides, educational agriculture booths, petting zoo

Mower County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, June 22, 2013 7:30-11:30 a.m.
Jim and Connie Sathre Farm, Adams, Minn.

Cost: Adults $3, children 6 and under free
Menu: Chris Cakes pancakes, sausage, coffee, orange juice, and milk
Activities: Farm equipment on display, farm safety display, organization displays, horse wagon rides, and kiddie barnyard

Wadena County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, June 22, 2013 8am-Noon
Dan and Rosie Middendorf Farm, Verndale, Minn.

Cost: Farmer’s share or free will offering
Menu: Pancakes, sausage, strawberries, ice cream, coffee and milk

Olmsted County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, June 29, 2013, 6:30-11:30 a.m.
Ed and Sherri Twohey Farm, Stewartville, Minn.

Take the bus from the Olmsted County Fairgrounds. Bus ride is free providing at least one member of your party is wearing a $5 Rochesterfest Button.
Cost: Adults $6, children 5-12 $3, under 5 free
Menu: Chris Cakes pancakes, sausage, milk juice, cheese, and coffee
Activities: Horse-drawn wagon rides, free petting zoo, educational agricultural displays, and exhibits

Cass County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, June 29, 2013, 9-11 a.m.
4-H Food Stand, Cass County Fairgrounds, Pine River, Minn.

Cost: Farmers share

Washington-Ramsey County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, June 29, 2013, 1-4 p.m.
Autumnwood Farm, Forest Lake, Minn.

Cost: Free
Menu: Lunch while supplies last
Activities: Farm tours, product samples, and farm animals

Beltrami County Breakfast on the Farm
Sunday, June 30, 2013, 8:30 a.m.-Noon
Beltrami County Fairgrounds
, Bemidji, Minn.
Cost: $5 suggested donation (100% of proceeds will go to agricultural youth programs via 4-H and FFA)
Menu: Pancakes, ice cream, strawberries, sausage, ham, coffee, and milk
Activities: Wagon rides, animal exhibits, and informational booth

Clearwater County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, July 6, 2013, 7-11 a.m.
DuWayne and Laura Holm Farm, Shevlin, Minn.

Cost: Free
Menu: Pancakes, strawberries, whipped cream, sausage, coffee, and milk
Activities: Farm activities and agricultural educational sessions

Nicollet/Brown County Breakfast on the Farm
Saturday, July 13, 2013, 7-10:30 a.m.
Perry Meyer and Jason Enter Farm, New Ulm, Minn.

Menu: Pancakes, eggs, sausage, milk, and coffee

Rice County Breakfast on the Farm
Wednesday, July 17, 2013, 7:30-9 a.m.
Rice County Fairgrounds, Faribault, Minn.

Cost: Free to first 175 people
Menu: Eggs, sausage, fruit, rolls, coffee, orange juice

The cost for some breakfasts is listed as “farmer’s share.” Pam Dahlman, public relations staff at the MN Farm Bureau, explained that this pricing strategy brings attention to how much a farmer or rancher earns per dollar spent on food. The price at those events will be adjusted according to the current market’s farmer’s share, or 16%.

“Currently, farmers and ranchers receive $.16 on average for every food dollar that consumers spend on food,” explained Dahlman. “It shows that there are a lot of different factors that go into the price of food.”

Check the MN Farm Bureau website for event updates and more information, including driving directions.