HARVEST HELP - Another Feed a Farmer event took place at the LeSueur River Lutheran Church over the lunch hour on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. Volunteers are pictured from left: Keira Hutchins, Judy Kortz, Stacy and Rob Hutchins, Lori Routh, Sandy and Bobbi Tollefson, Jim Kortz and Jim Tollefson. Star Eagle photo by Ben Revermann
LeSueur River “Feed a Farmer” donates for local flood relief
Thu, 10/08/2026 - 8:15am
The LeSueur River Lutheran Church held its sixth Feed a Farmer event on Sunday, Oct. 4. This was a to-go food service held for farmers in the middle of harvest, with the intent of giving them a chance for a quick and hearty meal out in the field. Event organizer Leanne Hojberg said, once costs were covered, LeSueur River was able to raise more than $2,000 for the New Richland Disaster Response Fund.
The suggested donation for each meal was $16, but many paid more for the sake of a good cause.
Judy Kortz, one of the main organizers for the day, was in the church basement giving directions and pushing out a large order with the assistance of six youthful helpers, children of parishioners. They had something of a production line, passing styrofoam containers along to be filled with roast beef, real mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, dinner rolls and Rice Crispy bars. Said Kortz, “We have 10 volunteers here and six kids helping. That big order we just sent out is going to Randy Lewer; he bought 15 meals for his workers.”
Kortz explained the event is a joint effort between LeSueur River Lutheran and Vista Church. “A large number of the people ordering are from our church, but we do have a lot of non-members ordering as well. By the end of the day, we will have fed over 190 farmers from this area.”
It was close to noon and the kitchen was beginning to prepare a reward of lunch for everyone who was giving their time. There had been some concern as they seemed to be running low on buns, but it looked like they would be okay. A poster board summarized which church members were donating food and the time they had signed up to deliver it. Also visible was a list of volunteers who had signed up to help for the day.
Hojberg said, “Once the cost of the food is covered, then we can donate the rest of the funds to the New Richland flood victims. Usually it goes back to the church, but with the heavy rain, that changed our plans.” While the intent was that meals were “to go,” Kortz mentioned there was space available. The LeSueur River Lutheran Church is located at 16650 250th Ave. Vista Lutheran Church is located at 15035 275th Avenue.
