My journey began 13 months ago, when I first came to the Midwest. That first summer I had the opportunity to work on a couple of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms in Iowa, and later attend Iowa State University as an exchange student during the fall. It was during this time that I learned about sustainable agriculture as an alternative to overcome flaws of our current food production systems.

My original plan was to attend Iowa State for the whole academic year. Unfortunately, due to the political and social situation in Mexico, ISU and other universities were forced to stop sending students there, canceling the exchange program with my home university until further notice. It was then that I choose to take this as an opportunity to obtain experience by getting involved in agriculture development projects. This winter, I worked at the Center for Rural Affairs in a Latino farmer outreach project. It was through this work that heard about the Rural Enterprise Center, and it’s unique approach to social issues and sustainable agriculture.

During this first three weeks of work here I’ve been most involved with the construction of the chicken production demonstration site at the Agripreneur Training Center and the development and facilitation of the training program. It has been hard (and muddy) work, but has given me the chance to meet this awesome community and hear about the ideas and the commitment of the people involved in this project. It is rewarding to see the chicken coop being built and the trainees taking it very seriously, making plans to actually start their own business. Bob Kell and Katie Blanchard have been wonderful too, giving me just the right support and making sure I’m having a good time.

Working with Rural Enterprise Center, I’ve been learning not just about the barriers and limitations that the Latino community faces in becoming agricultural producers, but also integral approaches to overcome them. I’ve always believed that I’m in a position to be a mediator between Americans and the Latino community since I deeply understand both cultures and especially the problems that immigrants faced  in Latin America and when they establish here in the US. I’m glad that my work here at REC is helping me develop leadership skills to be a better me a better mediator, while letting me participate in this project.

I will be around for three more weeks, since I need to get ready to begin classes in August. I hope that the success of the Agripreneur Training Program brings along other projects to allow future interns the opportunity to learn about the Latino community and the training and support of beginner farmers

(Katie’s Note: It has been great to have Rafael around, and we are especially thankful for his hard work on the chicken coop. We look forward to many future opportunities for student intern involvement in the Agripreneur Training Program!)

Rural Enterprise Center is eager to invite you to join the conversation at a FREE event co- sponsored with Just Food Co-op and the Northfield Arts Guild.

The event is Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. at the Northfield Arts Guild Theater
(311 W. Third Street, Northfield).

Look Who’s Knockin’, is a new one-act play from Land Stewardship Project, coming to Northfield for one night only. The 45-minute play focuses on a retiring farm couple’s dilemma as they wrestle with the future of their farm.

After the play we’ll have a panel and community discussion moderated by Ken Meter, economist and president of Crossroads Resource Center, with a panel including Melanie Reid, Just Food Co-op general manager and Reginaldo (Regi) Haslett-Marroquin, Rural Enterprise Center director.

Refreshments will provided from Just Food Co-op.

Call (507) 650-0106 or stop by Just Food Co-op to reserve your FREE ticket. Or email us, and we’ll reserve a seat for you!

This is sure to be a wonderful, enlightening evening. Invite friends & neighbors! We look forward to seeing you there!

Organized by the student group Oles to Action, the students have been tabling outside the cafeteria for a “Sponsor A Chicken” program, including chicken coloring book pages and trivia about Latino Agripreneurs.

This weekend, the students are sponsoring a charity rave dance for REC (I proposed we figure out some Latin-dance classes and fiestas with the Apripreneurs in the future).

Oles to Action is a student-led organization that seeks to inform the St. Olaf student body of current social issues in the global community, facilitating a bridge of support between Oles and organizations which are working with these issues. Coordinators Thando and Alyssa told me they became involved with service at St. Olaf through  Haiti relief efforts last year. After attending a film screening about the Invisible Children of Uganda at St. Olaf this fall, they decided to form an organization to  keep on spreading student awareness and support to other efforts, international and at their backdoor. We’re thrilled they chose to work with Rural Enterprise Center this term.

Oles to Action represents one of the great resources Northfield has in its colleges. As a recent Carleton grad, I resonate with the desire of many students to get out of the  respective campus “bubbles” and participate in the local and international community. There are challenges to this, of course, as students are most often temporary residents here and do not always get to dig in very deeply, or commit sufficient time towards understanding and dismantling the structural issues that perpetuate injustice, inequality, and myriad other issues in our communities. But the opportunities for real student engagement with Northfield community issues just continue to deepen, expand, and grow.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to stick around Northfield and dive into this work I could only barely dip my toes into as an overloaded Carleton student. I am overjoyed to work with enthusiastic students like these, who want to put action in education and serve this community that helps make our colleges so great.

So, we had the whole Carleton Football Team with their coach shouting orders and keeping everyone on track down the field yard-by-yard until they covered the whole field. This step will save a lot of the small farming equipment that will be used to work the land to plant a cover crop this fall and delicious fresh vegetables next spring. Some of them, may even end-up at the Carleton cafeteria next year.

Here is a photo show of the event, don’t mind the groups that became obsessed with digging out the large rocks bare hands.