The stories told of rural communities and agriculture are building a foundation for legislative support.

GreenStone’s outreach to legislators and partnering with other similarly minded agricultural organizations on legislative matters continues to bring focus on ensuring the future of rural communities and agriculture, and the Farm Credit System is bright. Communicating this is an important responsibility of all members and it is built through the open and ongoing conversations.

At the state level, in Michigan and Wisconsin, over 35 meetings have taken place with state Senators and Representatives at the capital or out in the districts. Disbursements are also being completed to provide support to elected officials running for the Legislature this year. The majority of the meetings have focused on demonstrating the connection between GreenStone and the urban and rural districts of elected officials. In addition, time has been spent asking and getting an understanding of what rural and agricultural tours would be helpful to continue the education of our elected officials.

The Farm Credit PAC continues to support federal elected legislators both in Michigan and Wisconsin. Over 20 meetings have taken place with Senators and Representatives this year, both in state and in Washington D.C. The discussion has centered around the Farm Bill conversation and the need for it to provide a level of certainty for farmers and ranchers. Communication is direct: producers are facing a more challenging economic environment, and conditions are expected to continue deteriorating. An update on the growing season and stories of how GreenStone is fulfilling our mission to support rural communities and agriculture to 28,000 members is also provided.

Our elected officials continue to receive the Farm Credit message as the impact of rural communities and agriculture stretches far beyond the rural parts of Michigan and Wisconsin. Those that represent our rural communities and agriculture recognize the great responsibility, and we continue to build relationships with those that do not for the sake of prosperous futures for everyone. The relationships being built establish GreenStone and our members as reliable sources of grassroots information and resources. None of this could be done successfully without active engagement, and your involvement is essential.

Thank you for helping build the voice of rural communities and agriculture!

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

Are you ready for the new year? While fall may still be in full swing, it’s never too early to start thinking about your year-end financial documents.

Year-end financial documents not only provide an overview of your finances from the previous year but can also help you plan for the coming year. Planning ahead will help alleviate the stress of making future financial decisions by giving you a baseline of your financial progress so you can make better and more informed decisions.

Keeping track of your financial progress allows you to see any trends that have developed over the past year and can provide insight into what your budget for the next year should be. Did you experience a significant increase or decrease in the cash flow and balances over the past year? Were there any unexpected expenses that popped up, or do you have plans that require financing in the coming year? These are all factors that help determine your financial progress and can help you focus on making the best decisions for you and your operation.

For our GreenStone members, this year we’ve made some exciting improvements that will help make the process of submitting your year-end financial documents even faster and more efficient. You will now be able to submit your balance sheet through our online customer portal, My Access. This will allow you to upload your balance sheet separately from other year-end financial documents. While your balance sheet can be submitted through the portal at any time, it is important your balance sheet includes the most up to date and accurate snapshot of your finances going into the new year and therefore may be best to wait as close to yearend as possible to ensure it captures all yearend income and purchases.

What can you do now to start preparing to submit your year-end financial documents? Follow this checklist of items to ensure stress-free financial documentation:

• If you do not already have a My Access account, scan the QR code to view the My Access enrollment guide and create your account.
• Navigate to My Access and familiarize yourself with the new My Financials feature. This is where you can access a digital balance sheet and provide updated information regarding your current assets, current liabilities, non-current assets, non-current liabilities, and debt schedule by navigating the 6 tabs.
• Start gathering and preparing necessary information for your year-end financial documents, such as your balance sheet, tax returns, cash flow statement, etc.
• Be on the lookout for your end of year financial packet that will be mailed around December 20th.
• Input your balance sheet information using the digital interface through the My Financials tool in My Access as close to the end of the calendar year as possible.
• Be sure to have all year-end financial documentation submitted by the deadline in January 2025.

Submitting your year-end financial documents in a timely manner provides you with the peace of mind you need to make informed decisions about your finances going into the new year. Should you have any questions regarding your My Access account, or how to submit your digital balance sheet, please contact your financial services officer for more information.

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

What is the best time of the year for someone who loves the outdoors? Speaking as someone who loves to hunt and fish, and who has had the privilege of going all around our great state, this simple question is rather hard to answer. For sportsmen and women around Michigan, each season is special and unique.

Winter

The frozen lakes that call us out onto the hard water are for sure special. Chasing smelt on Higgins Lake, or one of the many other ice fishing opportunities around the state, are a favorite. The annual pilgrimage to Black Lake, in hopes of spearing a sturgeon, is another highlight for many Michiganders. There’s also lots of hunting options during the winter, as fresh snowfalls create ideal tracking opportunities. Winter is a special time for the outdoor lover, no doubt.

Spring – Spring could clearly be made the favorite for many as the woods and water awake from their winter slumber. The rivers are ready for the trout fisherman and the spring turkey woods are full of thundering gobbles around both of our peninsulas. For those who are looking for excellent table fare, the morel mushrooms are also popping this time of year. Spring has a certain smell and feel, the promise of hope and things yet to come are all a part of this special season.

Summer

Is there anywhere on earth as great as a Michigan summer? I think not. We as Michiganders have a few month window of perfection. Fishing for salmon, walleye, and bass on the Great Lakes is a destination for folks around the world during the summer months. Our large inland lakes like Burt, Mullett, Houghton, Hubbard and Higgins are also popular destinations for anglers and families alike. There’s just so many places to see and experience, so many beaches to enjoy. Summer, although to short, has to be in the running for the best time of the year.

Fall

Winter, spring, and summer all have their redeeming qualities but there is one season that steals the show. The first cool breeze in early September reminds the sportsmen and women of what is about to happen again. It starts with some early waterfowling, followed shortly by the opening of small game season, bear season, and the youth deer season. By mid-September, rivers around the state will be full of thousands and thousands of salmon providing an incredible opportunity for anglers to target them however they choose! Deer season isn’t far behind and once October 1st rolls around, bowhunters flock to the woods hoping to fill a tag. Grouse and woodcock hunting also picks up this time of year, accompanied by the changing colors of leaves. The amount of things that fall brings the sportsmen is almost too much to handle. It is like drinking from a firehose! So much to do, if only October could be 90 days!

This fall is just starting to take shape, and as much as it’s hard to say goodbye to summer it’s so good to say hello to what has to be the best time of the year! To those of you who love the winter, she will be here soon enough. For the lover of the spring, her green will soon be back, we know. For the one who loves the summer, we get it, and we can’t wait to see her again. But – FALL, you have won the hearts of many. Fall brings out our best, its color and crispy leaves under foot reminds us of days gone by, and yet paints the pictures of days to come and adventures we have yet to have!

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

There’s no doubt time spent in the great outdoors is therapeutic. But when Allan Lutes and his lifelong friend Rick Briggs set out to invest in recreational property, they didn’t know how much of an impact they would have on the lives of those who have served our country.

Finding the Perfect Property

Nestled in the hardwood forests of the remote town of Brooklyn, MI, sits Camp Liberty. Spanning just under 140 acres, the property has become a haven for veterans and their families to enjoy a multitude of outdoor recreational activities.

“I consider it my personal mission to help other people, and this is just a way that I am able to give back,” says Allan Lutes, president and co-founder of Camp Liberty. “When Rick and I were initially looking at the property, we felt that if we were going to make such a significant investment that it would be wise to figure out a way to use it to help people and have them enjoy it too.”

Having served in the Air Force as a Major and working closely with the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, Rick recognized the need for more veteran rehabilitation programs in the area.

“We founded Camp Liberty and our charity as a way to thank veterans for their service, and outdoor recreation was a way educate on traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders,” said Allan. “Since then, we’ve been able to counsel and assist many veterans in seeking treatment for those injuries. And we’ve also been able to provide them with a place of refuge to spend time with their families and find support from other veterans.”

Allan and Rick selected the property because of its location. The camp is in close proximity to a large hospital in Ann Arbor, MI, and as well one of the most progressive brain injury and treatment facilities in the country. With the Detroit Metro Airport also nearby, the location of Camp Liberty was ideal.

“It really was an ideal property. It has over half a mile of river frontage, as well as hardwood forests and open fields that make it perfect for a variety of recreational activities.”

Creating a Place of Refuge

The property also boasts over two miles of groomed trails that are accessible to those with mobility challenges, as well as eight wildlife viewing blinds of which three are fully handicap accessible. There is an archery range on site, and plenty of opportunities for fishing. The camp also provides equipment and gear to visitors for hunting and fishing if needed. The on-site lodge can be rented out for different events or family getaways and features a fully accessible terrace and fire pit.

Located in Jackson County, Camp Liberty provides veterans with the opportunity to hunt in one of the most sought-after locations in the state. With more trophy bucks taken in Jackson County than in any other county in Michigan, the Camp Liberty deer hunting program is by far the most popular activity offered on the property. The deer hunts offered in September and October are also exclusive to disabled veterans. Deer aren’t the only thing harvested at the camp, however. Visitors to Camp Liberty can also participate in spring turkey hunts, coyote hunting, and pheasant hunting.

Currently, there are around 100 volunteers who help run the Camp Liberty charity, serve on their board of directors, and help maintain the property and groom the trails among many other things.

“It’s important for people to know that none of us are getting paid to do this. We do this purely because we want to,” says Allan. “The biggest payoff is when we get to have a disabled veteran come out to our property and see them be successful in their hunt, or just impact their life in a positive way.”

Supporting our Local Communities and Veterans

Having already been familiar with GreenStone, Allan knew they were one of the few lenders who would offer financing for recreational vacant land. “I served on the board of directors for our local builders and remodelers association with Ashlee, who later helped us get the financing we needed for the vacant land from GreenStone,” said Allan. “Ashlee is very knowledgeable about rural land loans and the value of agricultural property. GreenStone was very supportive of our efforts, and worked with us to ensure we received the best interest rate possible so more dollars could go towards our program and helping veterans.”

“Allan has a vast understanding of the building industry, in addition to what the needs of our veterans are,” remarked Ashlee Guerrero, vice president of lending at GreenStone. “I’m grateful I’ve had the opportunity to work with Allan on this cause and support those who have served our country.”

“With the relationship that we’ve built with GreenStone, we really have no reason to look elsewhere to different lenders,” says Allan. “Our mission is to keep supporting our local communities and continue to broaden our outreach to veterans who are seeking the unique tranquility of the great outdoors.”

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

The air is getting colder, the leaves are starting to fall, and the kids are back in school. For most, fall is traditionally seen as a time to start slowing down after a summer of bustling activities. But for apple growers here in Michigan, that’s not the case at all.

Forging their own Future

Between being out in the orchard and hauling truckloads of apples throughout northern Michigan, there’s no such thing as a slow day for Keaton Foster, owner of Brixstone Farms located in Bear Lake, Michigan.

“It’s crazy busy here for about eight weeks during the harvest, but after that it will go back to normal,” Keaton says. He and his wife Liz, and their 10-15 seasonal employees that work during the harvest time are responsible for nearly 200 acres of fruit trees and maples trees. They produce over 25 varieties of apples and peaches and tap over 2,000 maple trees for homemade maple syrup every year.

Growing up working in maple syrup production with his parents, Keaton knew that he had a passion for farming since the beginning. He attended Michigan State University where he studied Agribusiness Management and met his wife Liz who was studying to be a nurse practitioner. Having also been raised on a farm in Southwest Michigan, Liz was more than supportive of Keaton’s dream to pursue farming.

Although Keaton had a background in maple syrup production, their geographic location proved to be ideal for fruit production. Located minutes from the shores of Lake Michigan, Brixstone Farms has the ideal climate for not only making maple syrup but growing apples and peaches as well.

When they bought the farm from its previous owner, Keaton admitted it was a bit of a new business venture. “I didn’t know that much about growing fruit, but the farm’s previous owner acted as a mentor for us and worked with us to help us be successful in taking over the orchard,” said Keaton.

Protecting their Livelihood

When Keaton and Liz took over the farm, some of the advice from the previous owner was to invest in crop insurance. He had worked with GreenStone for years, and when he transferred ownership of the farm over to them, they also took on the existing crop insurance policy.

“Our crop insurance specialist at the time, Cory Blumerick, worked with us when we first took over the farm, and helped explain what was necessary and what wasn’t,” said Keaton.

The crop insurance policy they kept on their fruit trees that first year ended up paying off big time, however. “Our first year on the farm, we ended up getting a big freeze as well as a hailstorm that ended up taking out some of our trees,” Keaton explained. “If it wasn’t for our coverage through the existing policy, I think things would have turned out a lot different for us that first year.”

After working with Cory for a number of years, he was promoted and they were introduced to their current crop insurance specialist at GreenStone, Trevor Gernaat. “When we started working with Trevor the transition was really seamless. We really appreciated the help both Cory and Trevor gave us, and we never felt like they were trying to sell us something we didn’t need,” said Keaton.

“Keaton is constantly trying to improve their operation, and it’s clear he has a lot of passion for what he does,” says Trevor. “I’m happy to be able to help farmers like him minimize their risk and ensure their operation can continue to run smoothly.”

Just the Beginning for Brixstone Farms

Since 2019, the Fosters have added an additional 12,000 trees to the farm’s property and have expanded the operation by an additional 65 acres. Their apples are sold to commercial packers, processors and vendors throughout the state of Michigan, and used for products such as apple pie filling, juice, and apple sauce in addition to selling the apples wholesale.

Constantly looking to expand their offerings, they continue to add more varieties of apples to the farm. “Our trees take 3-4 years each to mature, so they’re a huge investment,” says Keaton. “It’s just another reason why having crop insurance is so important to us. We need to protect the investments we’re making in these trees in case they’re destroyed before they have a chance to produce any fruit.”

In addition to actively preserving their fruit trees, Brixstone Farms also places a huge emphasis on their sustainability and conservation efforts around the farm. They are MAEAP (Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program) certified, which recognizes farmers in the state of Michigan who take active steps to minimize their agricultural pollution and is a huge point of pride for Keaton and Liz.

Another proud moment for the Fosters? “Anytime people say our apples are the best they’ve ever had,” says Keaton. “We take a lot of pride in the fruit we produce, and our mission at Brixstone is to continue benefitting our community with farm fresh produce while being good stewards of the land.”

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

A fifth-generation farm is a testament to an enduring legacy and resilience, a rare gem in today’s rapidly changing world. With each passing generation, the challenges and complexities of maintaining a family farm also evolve, making the survival and prosperity of such farms an extraordinary achievement. These farms are more than just businesses; they are living histories, where the knowledge and values of those who came before are cultivated alongside the crops.

Reaching the fifth generation is not just a milestone, it’s a celebration of tradition, commitment and the unbreakable bond between a family and its land.

Huehl Acres is a fifth-generation farming operation in Freedom Township, Michigan, which is located between Chelsea and Manchester. It is owned and operated by brothers Gerald and Dennis Huehl and their wives Carol and Susan.

The original farm has been in the family since 1839, when the brothers’ great-great-grandfather, John Huehl, started with 20 acres. The farm has now expanded to 417.5 acres owned and a total of 1,500 acres that are farmed for corn, soybeans, wheat and hay.

The Next Chapter for Huehl Acres 

“Mom sold the cows after our dad passed away, and in 1976, we decided we wanted to get back in the dairy business,” Gerald said. “We milked cows for 41 years.” They produced and sold milk until April 2018 when the last of the cows left.

Previously a dairy farm, Huehl Acres now focuses on cash crops and specialty farming work, such as hauling grain or custom combining for other farms.

Along the way, the brothers have continued to grow the operation into what it has become today.

“We borrowed money from Federal Land Bank, which later became GreenStone, in 1979 to buy the next farm,” Dennis said. “We used to joke that we went in to borrow $100-200, and then rounded it up to the nearest $10,000 and then rounded it up to the next $100,000.”

Working the Figures

The Huehls’ relationship with GreenStone’s tax and accounting team began in 1981—only a few years after the cooperative launched its tax services division.

“Our computer goes back to 1989,” Gerald said. “Before that, we filled out the paperwork and sent it in every month to GreenStone. We always like the fact that we go in and spend a couple hours one morning at GreenStone every year, and other than a form or a phone call, that’s all the time we’ve had to put in to get our taxes done,” Gerald said. “It’s simple and stress-free. We’ve been very happy with it.”

Planning Pays Off 

The Huehls prefer to do tax planning before the end of the year. The brothers also shared that the tax accounting service GreenStone provides is convenient because they are able to share the information with their financial services officer, eliminating one set of paperwork they need to supply.

The brothers said that GreenStone has been especially helpful the last few years as they transitioned to cash crop farming as they were able to do preplanning to minimize the tax burden as much as possible.

The brothers’ sons, Robert, Thomas and Nicholas Huehl, have all shown interest in the farm, which means the next exciting hurdle will be to work the farm into the sixth generation of the Huehl family.

“Farming is more than a livelihood; it’s a legacy,” Gerald said. “One day we’ll pass on the seeds of tradition and let the future harvest be even richer.”

As the Huehls look to the future of the farm, GreenStone is happy to continue to work with them and help ensure the success of their operation.

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

As we approach the fall harvest season, we thought it might be a good time to suggest one possible way for farming business owners to save on taxes while also investing in your family’s future – by paying your kids! As a family farm, many of you employ your children on the farm. Not only does it instill excellent work ethic and provide business knowledge, but if you employ your children you can save on taxes and help your children create wealth for later in their lives by using a custodial Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) on their behalf.

How could a Custodial Roth IRA Ensure My Next Generation is a Millionaire?

The S&P 500 has averaged an annualized growth of 10.13% since its inception in 1957 through 2023.

Scenario: If your child earns at least $7,000 annually in wages for work performed on your farming operation between the ages of 12 and 22, and all of those amounts are contributed to a Roth IRA account ($77,000 in total Roth IRA contributions over an 11 year period) – your child could have over $1,000,000 stocked away in a tax-free account for when the child turns 60.

In the above scenario, a Roth IRA account balance for your child at the age of 60 would be greater than $1,000,000 if the account experiences 6.50% in annualized growth. If the account grows 9.50% annually, the account would have close to $4,000,000. Approximate balances at different levels of growth rates over the almost 50 year time period are presented in this example:

Growth Account Balance

6.50% $1,177,880

7.50% 1,771,545

8.50% 2,656,591

9.5% 3,972,240

How does an account grow to this large of a balance off of just $77,000 in contributions? Compound interest! The earlier you start, the longer you have until your retirement age to reap the benefits of your account growing exponentially due to interest more or less building upon itself over time.

So… what is a Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA is a retirement investment account that anyone with earned income can contribute after-tax earnings. Investments in a Roth IRA account grow tax free. A custodial Roth IRA is when a parent or other adult opens one for a minor. At age 18, the child becomes the owner of the account. It should be noted that Roth IRAs can have fees associated with them, so be sure you understand those before opening an account.

A Roth IRA is different than a traditional IRA. With traditional IRAs, you deduct contributions now and pay taxes on withdrawals later, while Roth IRAs allow you to pay taxes on contributions now and get tax-free withdrawals later.

What are the requirements of a Roth IRA?

A single filer with an adjusted gross income under $146,000 per year, regardless of age, is eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA account. Roth IRAs allow anyone with earned income, such as farming wages, to contribute after-tax dollars. People can contribute up to the annual limit ($7,000 for individuals under the age of 50 in 2024) or the total of their earned income, whichever is less. Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible. There is no need to worry about making annual contributions as there is no mandatory funding requirement for Roth IRAs. Note that income and contribution limits adjust annually and vary based on age, and marital status. You can look online at the IRS rules each year to see how the wage and contribution limits change as most years these numbers are adjusted due to inflation.

How is payroll to a child treated?

Your farming business gets a tax deduction for child wage expenses. The deduction reduces your federal income tax bill, your self-employment tax bill, and your state income tax bill, if applicable.

Additionally, your child’s wages when they are under the age of 18 may be exempt from social security taxes, medicare tax, and federal unemployment tax depending on the structure of your business. Your child can ultimately shield up to $14,600 of wages from any federal income taxes during 2024. It should be noted that there will be state income taxes due – but those are taxed at a much lower percentage.

One caveat to cover regarding hiring your child – your child’s wages must be reasonable for the work performed. You need to maintain the same records as you would for any other employee to substantiate the hours worked and duties performed. This includes timesheets, job descriptions and W-9 forms.

Savings vs. 529 vs. Roth IRA

There are other options for you to consider if you are employing your child and have monies you want to save on their behalf – should they simply put their wages into a savings account, a 529 education plan, or the Roth IRA account we have discussed so far?

A traditional place for families to put a child’s earnings is in a savings account. Savings accounts are likely to have a lower rate of return when compared to a 529 or Roth IRA.

A 529 account is a tax-advantage college savings plan. Similar to a Roth IRA, it is an investment account that is likely to earn a higher rate of return than a savings account. 529 accounts have no income limits or annual contribution limits, and anyone can contribute.

Many of you may look at employing your child to help save for their future college expenses. A Roth IRA account can now be used for qualified educational expenses.

Above is a table comparing and contrasting some key attributes of each type of account to help you make a decision. 

Conclusion

Every situation is different and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The scenarios and content of this article may not apply to you. However, if you find yourself in the situation where you are questioning if you should make a farm purchase to offset income and lower your tax payment, you may also want to consider the option of investing in your most valuable asset – your children!

Reach out to your local GreenStone tax and accounting professional to discuss options for your individual situation or if you need assistance with any financial related services. Our team of experts is ready to help!

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

Fall is the spark of many things, like the leaves and weather changing, but that’s not the only thing. For many families it also means our schedules change too with school, sports, and holidays! Watching your family grow and get busy brings so much joy, but how many of us are wishing we had just that little bit of extra quality time with our family?

With full schedules it’s easy to miss out on some of the little things that can move lower on the priority list as other commitments are added on. Use these easy tips and tricks to get the family a little more intentional within our everyday lives. Whether you have littles or teenagers, these are sure to get the whole family involved!

1. Create a family calendar and find a chunk of time to go for a walk, help with homework, or even do some household chores together. It can be 20 minutes or a few hours, setting this up will give everyone something to look forward to when the schedules are hectic!

2. Watch each other’s favorite movies! With the family calendar, try to set aside an evening where you rotate whose favorite movies you watch with the family. Watching someone’s favorite movie shares a little bit about them and makes everyone feel included.

3. Screen free mealtime – dinner is definitely a good time for everyone to come together and share about their days or week! Setting up a day where everyone can be present and talk about their excitements sets up a good time to visit and be intentional with the time you share

4. Create a holiday tradition like shopping or wrapping gifts together, decorating for each of the holidays, or cooking a meal together. These all give each member of your family something to help with and can create some of the best memories!

5. Write down a couple of questions like “What was the best part of today?” or “What could have made your day better?” and set them up in a high trafficked area of your home. Every time someone goes by they can answer the questions to those in the room and start a conversation with everyone.

As schedules only get busier, we hope that your family can use these tips to increase your quality of the time you do have together. Every moment counts!

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

The holidays are a joyous time of the year, filled with laughter and gifts! With each gift or large family meal there comes a tradeoff, extra waste. During the holiday season plastic, food, and water waste go up drastically. In the spirit of holiday giving, what are ways we can give back to our environment during this time?

1. One of the easiest ways to better your environmental footprint is to conserve energy. Turning off lights, unplugging appliances, and getting light bulbs that save energy are all ways to shave a bit off of your electric bill, especially once family gatherings start!

2. Reduce the use of single use cutlery and plates. When getting the whole family together it can be easy to choose plastic silverware or paper plates as an option of convenience. Take the opportunity this year to choose the reusable option and reduce waste this holiday season.

3. Take leftovers from the gatherings! Food waste is almost inescapable around the holidays, but to limit that you can always take leftovers and reheat them the next day or even freeze it to save the holiday spirit!

4. Buying local products or food helps your local economy. When shopping for gifts or bringing a dish to pass, doing a simple search of locally made products near you helps the local economy and families in your community!

5. Lastly, try to conserve water. This one may be the trickiest, but most beneficial for our planet. “Trapped water” refers to water that never can go back into the environment, meaning leftover water in water bottles, coolers, or any other container. Taking the extra step to dump trapped water or even reusing pasta water for nutritious houseplant water is a great way to conserve your water usage and return water back into the environment.

Keep these eco-footprints in mind this holiday season with these tips as you have large celebrations or small family gatherings. We hope these tips are useful and you have a safe and sustainable holiday season!

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.

Enjoy the flavors of the fall harvest with this hearty wild rice and kale bowl! Made with farm fresh produce from Sullivan Family Farm, this easy and filling dish features a variety of seasonal fruits and veggies that are as delicious as they are healthy!

Ingredients

For the Bowl:

• 5 cups chopped kale
• 1 cup of wild rice blend
• 1 Honeycrisp apple, chopped
• 3 oz of feta cheese, crumbled
• ¼ cup of dried cranberries
• ¼ cup of toasted and sliced almonds

For the White Vinaigrette Dressing:

• ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic

Instructions:

1. Bring a medium-sized pot of water to a boil and add wild rice blend. Let simmer, and cook for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until rice is tender.
2. Whisk together ingredients for your white vinaigrette dressing in a small bowl and set aside.
3. Toast your almonds by placing them in a pan by themselves over medium heat. Toss for 4-5 minutes until they become fragrant.
4. After the rice has cooled, fluff and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add chopped kale, apple, feta cheese, dried cranberries, and toasted almonds.
5. Toss with vinaigrette dressing, serve and enjoy!

Makes 2-3 servings.

To view the fall 2024 issue of Partners magazine in its entirety, click here.