FARIBAULT, Minn. — A grassroots effort of a handful of volunteers showing up to lend a hand to farmers has now grown into a network of more than 300 people supporting small-scale farms across Minnesota.

Farm Buds, a volunteer-driven organization, recently celebrated its 100th farm trip — a milestone that reflects both the demand for labor on small farms and the appetite for community connection around food and farming.

For Mason Berube, Farm Buds offered a lifeline early in his farming journey. He first encountered the group in 2022 as an apprentice at Prairie Rose Farm near Moorhead.

“I was the only apprentice at this farm at the time, so all of the help was really welcome,” he said. “We were able to do a whole lot of awesome farm work in one day, and then I got to meet a whole bunch o

See Full Page