Featherstone Farm

Jack Hedin and Jenni McHugh founded the farm in 1994 after working on various organic farms across the United States. Initially located in the Zephyr Valley Community Land Co-operative, the farm relocated to its current location near Rushford, Minnesota, after the devastating floods of 2007. The farm has grown to become a well-known source of certified organic produce for retail outlets and over 1,000 households through its customizable CSA program. The farm's name and environmental focus are inspired by Jack's great-grandfather's homestead in Featherstone Township.

The farm has been certified organic by MOSA since its first season in 1997. It emphasizes building soil health, protecting natural resources, and creating renewable energy. The farm's rich soil, deposited by the Root River over thousands of years, provides excellent conditions for vegetable farming. The farm balances mechanized operations with hand planting and harvesting to maintain high-quality produce. It also participates in the federal H2A visa program to employ seasonal farmworkers from Mexico.

The farm offers a unique CSA program where members can personalize their boxes based on preferences and seasonal availability. Members receive weekly e-newsletters with storage tips and recipes, and can follow daily updates on social media. The farm hosts an annual CSA Strawberry Social and invites members to visit throughout the season. The farm's soil conditions have attracted academic interest, with University of Minnesota researchers studying the unique soils since 2017.