Meet the Local Leaders & Land Stewardship Project Organizers Working to Stop a Factory Farm Expansion in Winona County
Story and videography by Sarah Carroll
Protecting water, land, and the local economy. That's what community members like Winona County's Karen and Richard Ahrens in Lewiston care most about.
But when Winona County residents learned that a nearby mega-dairy among the largest in the state wanted to nearly triple in size, many community members were concerned about what that would mean for the water they drink, the land they depend on, and smaller farms that form the backbone of their local economy.
And they're not alone- countless communities have had to reckon with the threats that come when a nearby factory farm tries to get even bigger. So Land Stewardship Project Members like the Ahrens rolled up their sleeves to fight back and protect their community.
Land Stewardship Project brought in our team at Greener Pastures to help tell the story of their hero members. Theirs is an inspiring and necessary example of what happens when regular people stand up and help protect land, water, and economies from the threats of factory farms that want to expand.
And their fight isn't over. In the words of local leader Adam Muschler, "The people of Winona County have won these before, and together we can keep protecting our environment into the future." But it'll take more people- people like you- getting involved to make it happen.
Watch their story. And then take action with the Land Stewardship Project to protect water + small farms in Winona County.
