Many a chain restaurant that serves breakfast will use the term “farm fresh” on the menu to describe the eggs, bacon and sausage.
On August 16, a busload of hungry diners from the Twin Cities will travel deep into farm country and tuck into a heaping plateful of breakfast that will truly live up to the “farm fresh” boast.
They will break their fast at the actual farm near Starbuck, Mn in rural Pope County. The tables will be set up near where the chickens laid the eggs, the cows produced the milk and the raspberries ripened in the summer sun.
“I’ve never been on a farm where they are producing food. I’m taking two of my boys because I want them to see and realize the work it takes,” said Josephine Martinez of Woodbury. “In the last few years we made a move to go to farmers markets and do a little gardening. It helps them make healthier choices.”
The breakfast will be curated by The Crowded Table, a husband-and-wife business and labor of love owned by Matthew and Amber Jensen. The Crowded Table regularly brings city and country folks together for locally sourced farm-to-table meals and unique agricultural experiences in rural areas across Minnesota.
“We noticed there’s a big disconnect in consumers about where their food actually comes from. Minnesota farmers are raising amazing products all over our state. By bringing guests out to them, we can educate them and foster those connections,” Matthew said. “The freshness, the flavors, it’s amazing.”
The August 16 field trip to Starbuck will be hosted by WCCO Radio host and entrepreneur Sheletta Brundidge. Through her media and marketing company ShelettaMkesMeLaugh.com, Brundidge writes a daily “newsletta” that is distributed to thousands of readers via email.
Sheletta’s NewsLetta is a forum for her upbeat and funny take on the world, from the news of the day to her own foibles and stories about raising her four children.
“I’m a business owner so I know how important it is to support local businesses,” Brundidge said. “My readers support me and my sponsors and so I wanted to give back and show them how much I appreciate them.”
When she learned about the farm-to-fork meals hosted by The Crowded Table, Brundidge became so enthusiastic that she decided to charter a bus and offer free tickets to 50 of her regular readers free of charge.
When they arrive at the It All Makes Sense Farm operated by the Schmidt family in Starbuck, the guests will dine on scrambled eggs, homemade sausage, pancakes and toast made from locally milled flour and maple syrup, honey and fruit produced on nearby farms.
The final part of the daily Newsletta is Brundidge’s inspirational feature “Lessons from the Farm.” Brundidge and her family live in Cottage Grove, where her subdevelopment adjoins a farm owned for several generations by the Tank family. Brundidge’s friendship and regular visits with the farmers led to her view their work as relevant to many aspects of her life.
“I’m a woman of faith and I see so many analogies in agriculture. I hear God’s voice in what they tell me,” she said. “I grew up in church learning Bible stories about seed time and harvest time, but watching the seasons on the farm has really nourished my spirit.”
Rochelle Gianino is a loyal subscriber who looks forward to opening the Newsletta because “Sheletta is funny every day. She puts a pep in my step.”
Gianino, of North Minneapolis, was quick to sign up for the bus trip for herself and her nine-year-old twins. She’s said she is looking forward to spending time with Brundidge and making memories with her children.
“It’s summer time. We are always looking for activities and ways to explore. The world is so crazy, I want them to experience the good in the world,” Gianino said. “They are curious, they ask curious questions. I want them to understand more about the food they are putting in their bodies.”
Gianino said that she hoped there would be animals to meet on the farm, and she won’t be disappointed. As part of the outing, the group will troop into the farm’s century old barn and watch as the farmers milk the dairy herd.
“When I was growing up, I always looked forward to a field trip. Loved going on the bus to someplace new,” Brundidge said. “I want to bring back some fun times. And get a big old breakfast while bonding with my fans and the folks who read my newsletta and my new farming friends all at the same time!”
