Dedication to an Approach
30 Years of Featherstone Farm
Featherstone Farm’s Commitments:
Featherstone Farm is dedicated to building soil, protecting resources, creating renewable energy, and enhancing the rural environment in which it operates.
Featherstone Farm is committed to being a fair, transparent, and accountable agricultural employer and to making farm work a safe, respected, and personally sustainable profession.
Featherstone Farm is dedicated to placing good regional food at the center of a vital rural-urban community of people.
There is much to be said about being connected to one’s food. Where it comes from, how it’s made, and who the people are behind the (brand/farm) label are certainly important considerations. But beyond the obvious lies a simple yet even more impactful question: why?
Why does someone set forth to do something difficult? Why take the more laborious path in doing something? Why do they keep doing it despite environmental setbacks or shifting market dynamics?
Late this summer, we took a trip to Featherstone Farm near Rushford, MN, with these questions in mind, looking for answers as to why Featherstone is what it is. What we discovered was a group (some might say family) of people dedicated to one another, connected to the land, and driven by the power of good food.
After working on farms in other parts of the country for years, Jack Hedin and Jenni McHugh founded Featherstone Farm in Winona in 1994. They later relocated near Rushford after the devastating floods they experienced in 2007. As early adopters of organic farming, the choice of the new location proved to be extremely supportive of their practices. The incredible fertility of the soil and the metaphorical fertility of shoppers’ desire for fresh, organic fruits and vegetables has allowed Featherstone to thrive for three decades. As they say, timing is everything.
The essence of food goes far beyond taste and nutrition. It’s about connection -- connecting to the land, the people who tend to it, and ultimately, with each other. As an Eastside owner and shopper, you actively support growers, producers, and makers who champion product quality and business integrity. Every time you choose local, you’re not just filling your plate; you’re investing in a community, supporting those who pour their hearts into what they grow.
For farmers like Jack and his team at Featherstone, your commitment to “eating local” does more than signal your family’s morals or preferences. When you buy foods that come from Featherstone, you are sustaining the livelihoods of both the farmer and the farm. You’re participating in a story that has roots deep in the soil of Minnesota, where passion and perseverance flourish alongside the produce. So, as you savor each bite of fresh, organic goodness, remember that you’re a part of something bigger. You’re nurturing not just your family but the very fabric of our local community.