by Madison Evans
While watching “Green and Gold” in the theaters during its opening weekend on Jan. 31, Paige Coulter of Sartell was filled with pride and gratitude seeing her family farm (“Sawyer Farms”) appear as the movie’s main setting.
“Green and Gold” is a movie about a fictitious Midwest dairy farmer, played by Craig T. Nelson, who risks everything to save his fourth-generation farm from mountains of debt. The movie was mainly filmed on “Sawyer Farms.”
Producers Anders and Davin Lindwall sought out “Sawyer Farms,” which is located in Egg Harbor, Wis. because they wanted to authentically depict Midwestern farming communities. Paige Coulter’s uncle, John Sawyer, now operates the family farm that has been in the family since 1954. He was happy to work with the crew and allow them to film onsite for several months in 2021.
Coulter is a medical oncology core charge nurse at CentraCare. She said seeing her family farm on the big screen made her deeply grateful that she can return to such a breathtaking place for family vacations with her husband, Alex, and their children Rhett, 6, and Brynn, 3.
“I think growing up we took for granted how beautiful the farm was,” Coulter said. “It is up on a bluff and overlooks Lake Michigan. It was more emotional than I thought it would be to see it shown so beautifully. My grandparents would be so proud. It also made me realize how lucky I am that it’s still in the family, and I can go back with my kids, and they can feed calves and learn about farming from their relatives.”
The film’s producers dub the movie “a heartfelt tribute to rural America that aims to showcase the pleasures and hardships rural farmers face.” The producers said they wanted to give Midwestern farmers a voice and highlight the stories of hardworking farmers confronting challenges in today’s economy.
While watching the movie, Coulter said she instantly connected with the emotions the producers intended to evoke, and she remembered the overwhelming, labor-intense hours her mother’s side of the family has dedicated to the farm. As the movie portrays, Coulter said she finds comfort in the brighter side of farming so rich in family traditions and strong work ethics. She said she hopes to continue to pass down those same values to her children.
Sartell farmer Matt Udermann, operator of “Meadowbrook Dairy” farm, echoed the sentiment of the movie that farming is a labor of love often hindered by tight margins, urban development and competition.
“Farmers,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if they are livestock, crop, poultry or hog farmers – they are some of the hardest-working people on the planet in my opinion.
“We get up and work every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and we don’t clock out until the work is done.”
The movie producers hope “Green and Gold” convinces people to support their local farms. Udermann emphasized the importance of supporting Sartell farms who provide healthy, nutritious products for people.
“It is very important to support your local farmers and purchase directly from them,” Udermann said. “Communities thrive when farmers are doing well and are able to re-invest in their community, land and farm by improving water and air quality and reducing soil erosion. All benefit from the farmer being successful.”
“Green and Gold” is now available to watch on Fandango’s digital streaming service.
Rhett Coulter and his father, Alex Coulter, feed a calf on Paige Coulter’s family farm in Egg Harbor, Wis. The farm would later serve as the main setting for the movie “Green and Gold.”
