I am astonished at the success I have had in this fundraiser. My original goal was $250 - I met that within 24 hours of posting. Within a week, we hit $500 on my page! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS MADE THIS A REALITY!
On 2/5 I expanded my goal to $1,000 and I believe we can achieve it.
Our Camp St. Croix Team is over 50% at meeting our goal of $2,500.
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Year after year, I've returned to Camp St. Croix and watched the farm grow—both literally and in purpose. I saw kids celebrate vegetables I didn't even know existed when I was their age. I saw preschoolers experience the "aha!" moment of collecting eggs for the first time and realizing that food doesn’t come from grocery store shelves. I fell in love with food, and the knowledge that it comes from the land, from care, and from community!
When I first started at Camp St. Croix in 2017, the Farm looked nothing like it does today. Much of that transformation is thanks to Anna (Zimmer) Franti. To me, Anna is an unstoppable force—deeply grounded in her passion for the earth, animals, and education. Her vision for the land beside the farmhouse wasn’t just about growing food; it was about growing community, rooted in positivity and inclusion. That lesson—food as fuel and farming as an act of care—has become the farm’s legacy.
Today, the Farm at YMCA Camp St. Croix is the first nearly year-round educational farm in the St. Croix Valley. Through partnerships with organizations like River Valley Charities, the farm grows more than food—it grows access, dignity, and knowledge. In 2024 alone, it provided fresh produce and eggs to more than 52,000 individuals facing food insecurity, donating nearly 8,000 pounds directly to local families. Children learn by planting, harvesting, and cooking; families gain access to nutritious food; and volunteers come together around a shared mission.
This winter, I’m proud to support the farm, and continue to support Anna's vision, through a major fundraising effort to help fuel the 2026 season. One initiative I’m especially excited about is launching a you-pick raspberry patch—an affordable, hands-on way for kids and families to experience farming while taking home fresh fruit.
This farm quite literally feeds people—but it also feeds curiosity, connection, and hope. If you’re able, I invite you to support this work and help the farm continue growing its impact. Thank you for taking the time to read.