2023 Century Farm and Rural Business Awards

Catholic Charities and Bishop Patrick Neary of the Diocese of St. Cloud will present the Catholic Century Farm Awards at the annual Diocesan Rural Life Celebration taking place on Sunday, August 20^th, 2023.  

Since 2019, Catholic Charities, along with the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud, has been honoring Catholic families from throughout the diocese who have been farming the same land for at least a hundred years, with these Catholic Century Farm Awards.

The Catholic Century Farm Awards are a way that Catholic Charities and the Bishop of St. Cloud honors those Catholic families who have farmed and nurtured the same land for 100 years or more. Different from the state or county-based century farm registries, the Catholic Century Farm Awards are an opportunity for our whole diocese to recognize the deep connection between our faith and farming traditions, and reflect on our many neighbors who are living out the Catholic social teaching of care for creation through their vocation of farming and stewardship of the earth. The award allows us to share our gratitude for the nourishment they provide to our communities in more ways than one through their faith in God and the work of their hands.

This year, eight farm families will be recognized. Each of these families have cared for God’s creation for more than 100 years. Honorees will be receiving a Catholic Century Farm Award certificate, along with a special gift for their home in recognition of their outstanding legacy in faith-based family farming within our diocese.

The eight families who will be honored this year come from multiple regions of our diocese. The honorees come from six different parish communities within three different counties. Our longest standing farm is 151 years, and three of our “youngest” farm honorees are each celebrating 107 years of farming. Altogether, these eight families have 1,015 years of farming behind them! 

This year’s Catholic Century Farm Award recipients include:

• Kimman Family Farm in Pierz, established 1916
• Gary and Diane Botzet Family Farm in Carlos, established 1874
• Waldvogel Family Century Dairy Farm in Osakis, established 1913
• Koudela Family Farm in Alexandria, established 1886
• Heitzman's Family Farm in Avon, established 1916
• Bruce and Lourdes Botzet Farm in Carlos, established 1876
• Udermann Family Farm in Sartell, established 1916
• Lusty Farm in Miltona, established 1872*

                      * indicates a sesquicentennial (150 years) farm

What 2023 Catholic Century Farm Award Recipients are saying about their farm

When farm families apply for the Catholic Century Farm Awards, they are asked to tell us a little bit about why the farm and farming is important to them.

All our recipients have a strong focus on the importance of family and the legacies created through farming, especially the values as well as the land being passed on to future generations.

Here are a few of the sentiments from the award recipients:

"We can grow food to feed the world!"

"The farm also keeps the family together as we work together on the different farming tasks."

"We have been honored to continue the legacy of dairy farming started 110 years ago. We feel so blessed to be able to [continue operating a dairy and crop farm] and pass it on to the next generation."

"[Farming] is a lifestyle for those who like to work hard and take pride in their work. Working with animals and growing crops is a 24/7 job."

"Being the 4^th generation means a lot. Raising up 4 great children with my wife. We all worked hard for what we have and had good times."

"Farming brings peace and enjoyment, connects us to nature and reliance on God."

"Farming is a lot of work, but very rewarding. What better place to raise your children? They have all learned great work ethic and respect for the animals and land they helped tend to. We all take great pride in what we do! We all do our part to take care of it for the next generation. We are thankful for all God has given us."

"Our family is proud to be farmers on the homestead. It is a wonderful place to raise a family and teach the children good ethics of hard work."

Second annual Rural Business Award

2023 will be the second year that Catholic Charities and the Diocese of St. Cloud have honored a Catholic business owner who lives out their Catholic faith in the ways they run their business and serve their community. Businesses must be within the diocese and are nominated by fellow community members throughout the diocese.

The winner is selected based on the ways they bear witness to their Catholic faith, and show commitment to their rural community, both within their faith community and beyond the church, through involvement in practices of stewardship, advocacy and support for rural life. Businesses must also uphold the dignity of their employees and clients through workplace practices that promote the common good and human flourishing. 

Of the six nominations received in 2023, Roers Family Bakery in Alexandria was selected as this year’s recipient of the Rural Business Award. Nominated by a fellow-parishioner at St. Mary’s Parish in Alexandria, Rory and June Roers were described as active members of their parish, and always giving back. This includes various volunteer roles, as well as donating baked goods to the church at the end of each work week, as a collaborative service project with the youth of the parish. 

“Growing up on a farm and in a large family of 11 children, there was much to be done. After morning chores, Rory would help his mother in the Kitchen. This is where he first started baking.”

The Roers, along with their three children, have owned the business for 28 years. 

“June and Rory truly live their faith and are so generous and humble. I am honored to be a part of shining the light on these people and their business,” their nominator said. “Sharing from their blessings is not only the right thing to do, it’s the ‘sweet’ thing to do!” 

Congratulations Rory and June Roers and family at Roers Family Bakery on your 2023 Rural Business Award!

The Catholic Charities’ Century Farm and Rural Business Award winners will be honored as part of the annual Rural Life Celebration on Sunday, August 20^th, 2023 at St. Nicholas in Carlos.