A Facebook Group To Connect Farmers And People
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA ~~~ June 2, 2020 (LSN) People have asked why I start "Farm Direct Minnesota.“ My answer is simple; To Connect Farmers And People.People have asked why I start "Farm Direct Minnesota.“ My answer is simple; To Connect Farmers And People.
I was seeing all the news of the farmers having to plow under crops, and of the farmer in Idaho who took all his potatoes and dumped them into a field, TONS of potatoes. But then he posted the location of his potatoes to his Facebook account and said that people should come and get them, and come they did. I do believe he got rid of them all!
There was also the milk dumping in Wisconsin - so, so sad. I grew up in Wisconsin. 
My parents and their parents were farmers. My aunts and uncles, farmers... I remember going to my Aunt Fran’s and dipping into the bulk tank to get out cream so we could take it home and my mom and sister Susan (Sue) and I would make butter. I so loved that. I did not grow up on a farm, as my parents had already sold their farm when I was born, but my parent did raise chickens for food. And yup I helped butcher. There is nothing like farm fresh chicken.
With all those memories and seeing all this happening I though "can I do anything"??? I have had facebook pages before and have an understanding of how they run and I am the administer of a number of sites, so this seemed to be right up my alley. I wondered how I could get all these farmers and customers together. I did some research to see if there was anything else out there and I found Farm Direct Wisconsin. That site inspired me to go for it!
What did I hope to achieve when I first started this site? As I said- Just to bring farmers/ranchers and those who would sell at a farmers market together with their customers and allow new customers a way to get food that they are struggling to get. I hope Farm Direct Minnesota can leveling the playing field for farmers and consumers.
The response so far has been overwhelming, but in a GREAT way! As I write this we have had over 41,000+ people who have joined the page which only started May 5th! We have 400+ farmers/ranchers/vendors- include CSA Farms, Farmers Markets, and Cottage Food Producers. I have added two moderators to help me with the shear volume of people coming on the site and posting. I have had a wonderful designer Katie Kovatovich of KKAdvertising.com reach out out to me and do an amazing logo based on some of my ideas.
A web page is currently in the works and I hope to have it up with in the week! Of course I could not do this with out the support of my husband Oskar Granquist; Granquist and Associates, LLC. Oskar works in infrastructure and economic development.
With just a bit under a month under my belt- I look forward to what the next month will bring. Farm Direct Minnesota really restores my faith in humanity.
By Sazzy Calhoun
info@farmdirectminnesota.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FarmDirectMinnesota
Website: www.farmdirectminnesota.com
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