(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by Lupulin Brewery.)

Lupulin Brewing has teamed up with Johnny Fish, a.k.a. Fish Sunflowers, to bring an additional sunflower field to Big Lake, MN. 

Fish Sunflowers has been planting sunflower fields in Minnesota for a few years now. It is his goal to “Spread the Sunshine” and give back to the communities he grew up in. His hope is to be able to bring communities together to feel the warmth of the sunshine, positivity and joy to share together. Johnny does all of this out of his own pocket or with the help of donors or sponsors. Coming from a farming family, for him, this is how he chooses to honor his grandfathers and carry on the farming legacy.

Looking to “Spread the Sunshine” and connect to a special community near and dear to the Zierdt family, Lupulin has partnered with Fish Sunflowers to dedicate a field to the JZ Cancer Fund, in honor of Jeff’s late brother who lost his battle to prostate cancer. The hope is to create a place for cancer patients, survivors and all of their friends and family to come feel “FULLY ALIVE” as Jonathan, Jeff’s brother, used to say.

Fish Sunflowers, Lupulin Brewing Company and the JZ Cancer Fund would like to thank the following people for their involvement in bringing this field to life: The City of Big Lake; Seth Hansen and Nick Christenson and The Big Lake Fire Department; Annie Stein and the Fish Realty Team; Tim Dolan with Decklan Group; Garrett Williams with GandM Outdoor Services LLC; Brad Bischof with Nutrient Ag Solutions; Noah and Nate Youngs; BCI Construction Inc.; Bob’s Towing and Recovery Inc.; Justin Coleman Films; John Bauer with Freedom Isn’t Free Inc.; artists Laura Geiselman and Olga Dovgopola; and Gene Decker. None of this would be possible without their hard work and support.

To help raise funds, Lupulin Brewing Company has created some exclusive “Spreading the Sunshine” t-shirts with a portion of the proceeds going back to Fish Sunflowers. In addition, Lupulin and Johnny brewed a sunflower seed tart wheat ale beer with honey, appropriately named “Spread the Sunshine,” which will be available on tap beginning August 11th. One dollar from each pour and two dollars from each crowler sale will be donated to Fish Sunflowers to help support Johnny Fish and his sunflower projects.

Please join Lupulin Brewing, Fish Sunflowers and the JZ Cancer Fund in enjoying the sunflower field, but also please remember this is all done through volunteer effort and to be respectful ofmothers and the field. A full list of all of the sunflower field locations for 2021 is available at FishSunflowers.com.