Region III
Blackduck, MN
MINNESOTA FARM HONORED FOR OUTSTANDING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Located in northern Minnesota, Little Timber Farms is owned and operated by fourth-generation farmer Rachel Gray and her family. Over the years, the farm transitioned from dairy and crop production to cow-calf and the current heifer development operation. Gray recognized that the nutritious grass would benefit growing heifers through effective rotational grazing. The family also takes protecting the Red Lake Watershed seriously as water eventually flows into Hudson Bay. The farm utilizes a nutrient management plan and restricts animal access to water to help protect the vital resource. Due to the family’s conservation practices, the farm has become a haven for wildlife and waterfowl, and species diversity has increased. Rachel and her family share a passion for communicating with the public about farming and ranching through media interviews, Ag in the Classroom activities, speaking engagements and hosting tours.
“I believe raising beef is a privilege because not only do we get to feed people, but we get to make our environment a better place,” said Rachel Gray with Little Timber Farms. “I want to know that I made a difference and that my grandchildren have something to come back to.”
