For 25 years CURE has worked from many angles to protect and restore water quality in Minnesota, especially in the highly agricultural watersheds of the Minnesota River Basin. Results are mixed, but it’s clear that we cannot claim success. Forty Percent of Minnesota’s surface waters tested to date fail to meet protective water quality standards. […]
Governor’s Office to Host 25 by ’25 Town Hall Meetings Read More »
Darby Nelson is a man as unique as his name, and that’s a good thing. In a recent interview with Darby, his wife and lifelong adventure partner, Geri, joked, “If he had been named Dave I don’t think I’d have married him!” Thankfully, his mother heard another mother calling down the streets of Tower, MN
Darby & Geri Nelson are CURE’s 2016 RiverKeepers Read More »
Did you know that tallgrass prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world with less than one percent of virgin, untilled prairie left? Or that we have some of the best remaining swathes of prairie right here in Pope County, MN? On the rolling hills at Glacial Lakes State Park, nearly
2017 BioBlitz brought 150 to the Tallgrass Prairie Read More »
CURE is honored to lift up members Carmen and Sally Fernholz as they host a Kernza Field Day at their farm in Madison. Through both organic and sustainable farming practices, the Fernholz family have been role models of land stewardship in the watershed. CURE is reaching out to our network to invite you to take
Join Us! Kernza Field Day at A-Frame Farm, Thursday, August 10, 2017 Read More »
On Saturday, July 15, CURE members Jim & LeeAnn VanDerPol of Pastures A Plenty and Marv & Judi Boike of Boike Farm are sponsoring a field day featuring their solar and wind installations. The event begins at 1:00 pm with a presentation by Solar Farm’s James Darabi at Pastures a Plenty (4077 and 4075 110th
Join Us! Solar & Wind Field Day, Saturday, July 15, 2017 Read More »
On Wednesday, April 19, 2017, more than thirty members of CURE (Clean Up the River Environment) and the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) boarded a bus heading to the State Capitol from southwest MN to take part in Water Action Day. Rural Minnesota was well represented, as members boarded the bus from Clarkfield, Appleton, Olivia, Montevideo, Marshall,
Water Action Day at the State Capitol Read More »
H.F. 234 eliminates all member/customer protections by eliminating third party oversight of member disputes that are currently under review by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), making co-op boards judge, jury, and jailer of co-op members. Jim Nichols, Lincoln County Farmer and wind turbine owner, has said Rural Electric Co-ops do not fairly consider co-op
Minnesota’s Rural Electric Co-ops are Waging War on Solar Read More »
My name is Erik Hatlestad and I’m a Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) sustaining member, and on staff as the Energy Program Associate. I’ve always lived in Western Minnesota. I love it here. I love our communities and the landscapes that embrace us. Of all of the places in the world I could call home,
I Give to CURE…to Build Civic Leaders Across Rural Minnesota Read More »
My name is Katie Laughlin. I am CURE’s Communications & Program Associate and I am a sustaining member of CURE. If you’ll give me a moment of your time, I’d like to tell you a story… When I was ten, my family moved to a farm. I remember the grove in our backyard most clearly
I Give to CURE…to Build Communities of Environmental Stewards Read More »
On Thursday, Oct. 6 a campaign that CURE has worked on for five years nearly came to a close. CURE staff joined partners from Sierra Club, Fresh Energy, MPIRG, and Climate Generation to watch the final Public Utilities Commission proceedings over Xcel Energy’s 2016-2030 Resource Plan. A plan which would close the Sherburne County Generating
CURE joins allies to celebrate Sherco closure 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!
