Sartell Woman Named 2024 Minnesota Farm Fest Woman of the Year for Pioneering Eco-Friendly Farming Practices

(KNSI) — A Sartell woman was named the 2024 Minnesota Farm Fest Woman of the Year for her environmentally friendly approach to agriculture.

Kirsten Udermann helps operate a family farm with 80 milking cows, 300 steers, and 1,000 acres of corn, soybeans and small grains. Udermann told KNSI News they do it all while keeping their environmental footprint as small as possible. “We do that in no-till. We also do some custom under-hauling and custom no-till planting and drilling. Our farm is water quality certified, and we were the first farm in Minnesota to have all five water quality endorsements.”

That special water certification led to her nomination for the award by Daniel Isaacson with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

She is also heavily involved in managing the cattle, kids and land. Udermann was one of five people up for the honor and explained her reaction to hearing her name called. “I was very surprised and very happy. I mean, all those finalists, they were amazing, and they all deserve to win it. It’s definitely a great accomplishment. It’s fun to be involved in the backbone of agriculture and keep things running smooth, especially on our farms.”

She also received a $1,000 prize and a gift basket. Since 2017, Udermann, her husband Alex, and her in-laws have been the fifth generation to plow the ground. She and her husband have three children between the ages of one and four. They are awaiting the arrival of their fourth child next month.

Udermann says she loves working alongside her husband every day and bringing the kids along. She hopes they will become the sixth generation to farm the land.

___