The Farm Friends Barn project has cleared one major hurdle this spring, and a second important phase will be achieved next month, according to FFB Chairperson Jean Johnson.

 

Earlier this month, the Sherburne County Board approved a lease agreement for five acres of land near the Sherburne History Center (SHC) in Becker, with an option for a further 10 acres to be used for as yet unnamed future projects and demonstrations, as needed, Johnson said. Once the structure is built, the group will donate it to the county, which will then lease the facility back to the FFB.

 

Early next month, three St. Cloud State University business students will present a three-part business model to an invited audience of city and county officials at the SHC.  The three business/marketing students are creating and presenting the models as their class project for a course being taught by SCSU Small Business Development Center regional director Barry Kirchoff.

 

The presentations will be conducted on a professional business level, Kirchoff had commented earlier, and the students grades will represent the fees they will receive when they make similar presentations during their business careers.  The three-member student group includes Renee Graff, Kristi Noble and Aaron Hofschulte-Beck.

 

The students and their instructor have already conducted several meetings with Johnson and FFB board members Bill Bronder and Mike Brubaker, discussing a wide variety of topics ranging from the location, cost and uses of the structure, potential marketing approaches, community and governmental supports and the history of fund-raising and marketing already done by the FFB membership in advance of the presentations.

 

Fund-raising has brought in around $30,000 for the non-profit organization, Johnson said, with a final goal of $250,000 in mind to complete the 40’ x 40’ structure and provide heating and cooling and electricity to the structure, which the group plans to use for programs and presentations every month of the year going forward.  The structure will include space for classes, presentations and other functions, Johnson said, and will be available for rental by other agencies and for private parties.  There will be a children’s library, and interactive agriculture-related activity stations. 

 

The group has a fund-raiser planned for Sept. 10 at Wild Marsh Sporting Clays, and will have representatives at the Sherburne County Fair, Becker’s Freedom Days event and the annual Palmer Day parade and festival, Johnson said.