During the 2017 Minnesota legislative session, CURE and our partners fought hard to keep pollinator protections on the radar. Even though legislative leadership worked to kill the pollinator provisions early in the session, pollinators and pesticides stayed in the mix until the end. The Department of Ag, Governor Dayton, and countless citizens that made their […]
The Buzz on MN Pollinators Read More »
In 2009, McDonald’s made a promise to U.S. consumers because of the work of a small group of rural Minnesotans living around RD Offutt’s (RDO) potato fields. McDonald’s promised to cut its use of pesticides on its French fries. Seven years later little has changed in McDonald’s pesticide consumption. Those rural Minnesotans are still sprayed
Toxic Taters Week of Action Read More »
Earlier this summer CURE co-sponsored the Minnesota stop of the Keep Hives Alive Tour at Moonstone Farm in Montevideo. During the stop Minnesota beekeeper James Cook shared with us the risks posed to pollinators (both native and commercial) and food systems as a whole. The tour took 2 million dead bees to the Environmental Protection
Governor Dayton takes action to protect bees and other pollinators Read More »
Moonstone Farm in Montevideo was the backdrop for The Keep the Hives Alive Tour stop in Minnesota River Valley. CURE and partners hosted the event on the Richard Handeen-Audrey Arner farm where diversified, sustainable, and holistic farm management has taken shape as a result of decades of planning and strategic design. Pollinators find refuge on
Keep the Hives Alive Tour Read More »
On May 9th the Pesticide Action Network (PAN), an international network working to replace pesticide use with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives, released a report titled “Kids on the Frontline.” The report, which assesses dozens of independent studies, links pesticide exposure to health impacts such as leukemia, brain cancer, and developmental disorders in both
Pesticide Action Network Report: Kids on the Frontline Read More »
Kelsey Olson (she/her) joined CURE in 2025 as its Director of Environmental Stewardship. As a skilled environmental naturalist, Kelsey’s work focuses broadly on environmental education and advocacy with a keen focus on rural land use and how that use impacts our environment and climate. Working Lands, how land is used to support agriculture and forestry, is a key focus of her work. She brings 15 years’ experience in public communication, environmental education, and rural community engagement – strong communication strategies are core in her work. This includes two terms of service with AmeriCorps in the VISTA program in Oregon and Maryland and a nearly 10-year career as a naturalist followed. She recently worked on communications and marketing for rural economic development.
Kelsey lives in New London, MN, with her young children, husband, dog, and two cats. They enjoy spending time together outside and finding small treasures in nature. Visits to Minneapolis often include visits to one of their favorite historical museums, the Minnesota Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, whether this is canning local produce, making kombucha, or other treats!
