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 »
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 »
CURE members and constituents are encouraged to provide input and feedback regarding any and all concerns that they have with the Chippewa River Watershed. This is an opportunity for a public voice to be heard. The Chippewa River Watershed stands out as a prime example of surface water pollution issues in greater Minnesota, and how
MPCA seeks public comment on Chippewa Watershed 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!
