by Dennis Dalman
A Sartell woman, Kirsten Udermann, was recently named the 2024 Minnesota Woman Farmer of the Year, topping four other finalists for that prestigious honor.
The award was given to her by Minnesota Farmfest, a national trade show located between Morgan and Redwood Falls. Farmfest is dedicated to the advancement and improvement of agriculture.
“I was definitely surprised and happy,” Udermann said after being presented with the honor. “All of the women (finalists) sounded impressive, and they all could have won.”
Kirsten won a $1,000 prize for being named “best.”
Udermann lives on “Meadowbrook Dairy,” a fifth-generation farm located about two miles north of the Sartell Compost Site. She farms with her husband, Alex; his brother, Jake; and Alex’s parents, John and Mary Lou Udermann. Alex and Kirsten have three young children: Kallie, Zoey and Aubrey.
To say that Kirsten is a very busy woman is an understatement. As husband Alex put it, “She takes good care of kids and calves.”
At “Meadowbrook Dairy,” there are 80 milking cows, 300 steers and 1,000 acres of crops – corn, soybeans, small grains, alfalfa. Kirsten’s primary duties are feeding the calves, milking cows and overseeing the vaccination and breeding program.
Udermann grew up on a dairy farm and graduated from Ridgewater College with a degree in Dairy Management and a diploma in Ag Management.
She and the others she works with on the farm are strongly dedicated to conservation practices, volunteerism and community connections. Kirsten currently serves on the Young Cooperators Award with the First District Association and was named the 2024 Young Cooperator of the Year.
She received bouquets of praise from Farmfest officials after being named Farm Woman of the Year.
“Kirsten’s dedication to her family and the farm is unparalleled,” it stated in her award citation. “She’s never afraid to push forward innovative approaches and be an early adopter of new practices. She does this and more while raising her and Alex’s growing family, showcasing why women like her are the backbones of the family farms that are so essential to the vitality of Minnesota agriculture.”
Kirsten Udermann
