PartnerSHIP 4 Health

03/11/2026

Growing Our Regional Food Leadership: A Conversation on Community, Capacity & Funding

📅 Date: Tuesday, April 7
⏰ Time: 4:00–6:00 p.m.
📍 Hybrid Event – Attend at a Site Location Near You

This event is organized by the West Central Minnesota Food Council and will take place simultaneously at several locations across the region, connected through a shared virtual program. Participants are encouraged to attend the site closest to them to connect with others locally while participating in a regional conversation.

Site Locations
• Morris – Morris Public Library, 102 E 6th St, Morris, MN 56267
• Moorhead – Family Service Center, Room 8, 715 11th St N, Moorhead, MN
• Staples – Sourcewell Office, 202 12th St NE, Staples, MN 56479
• St. Cloud / Waite Park – Stearns County Service Center, Room 1104C/D, 3301 County Road 138, Waite Park, MN 56387
• Fergus Falls – Dead Lake Room, Otter Tail County Government Services Center, 560 Fir Ave W, Fergus Falls, MN

A virtual option will also be available for those who prefer to attend online.

During the event, participants will:
• Learn what the Food Council is working on across the region
• Connect with others interested in strengthening our local food system
• Share the opportunities and challenges you’re seeing in your community
• Get a sneak preview of an upcoming training series on using AI tools for funding identification and grant writing

Light food will be provided for the first 20 attendees at each site, so we recommend registering early to confirm your spot.

We welcome farmers, food businesses, nonprofit leaders, educators, public health partners, local government staff, and residents interested in building a stronger regional food system.

The Food Council is also inviting new members, so this is a great opportunity to learn more about how to get involved.

Registration is required:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PWTfmYxUTwCL6fhOV7FVjA #/registration

Even if you plan to attend in person, please register through Zoom so organizers can plan for site locations and follow up with attendees.

Please feel free to share this invitation with others who may be interested.

I hope you can join us!

Best,
Jason Bergstrand

07/29/2025

Frazee and Detroit Lakes are now connected by the Heartland Trail!

https://www.inforum.com/news/minnesota/frazee-celebrates-official-opening-of-heartland-trail-extension

06/23/2025

This event has now switched to online only. Here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LPYD6W5

06/13/2025

Grow West Central immersive local foods experience
Saturday, June 21st, 3-7pm
Prairie Rose Farm / New Roots Farm / Caliton Family Farm

Interested in being a part of a fun afternoon on a farm alongside other folks who engaged in local foods and farming initiatives? Want to connect with and learn more about the people and systems making local foods? Up for getting your hands in the soil?

Consider joining us for this free, immersive event - beginning and ending at Prairie Rose Farm - where you'll get to tour local farmers' Caliton and Honoree's farm as well as New Roots and Prairie Rose Farm, the nearby farms that supported their success. We'll also get a taste of the experience of local food farmers by working collaboratively on light farm projects. The event will be capped with a delicious, locally sourced dinner prepared by Moorhead Public School district Chef, Paul Strand.

Register here today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-roots-farm-grow-west-central-tickets-1345478936719?aff=oddtdtcreator

Space is limited, so register soon!

This effort is part of a larger project titled "Grow West Central," driven by a collaboration between Renewing the Countryside and the West Central Food Council, and is funded through a sustainability and rural isolation grant supported by West Central Initiative.

05/13/2025

KARE 11 came up from the Twin Cities on Friday, April 25 to do a story about Mike Heikes in Fergus Falls! The story also features the bike rodeo at the YMCA!

Since suffering a massive head injury, Mike Heikes has devoted his life to giving bike helmets to children.https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/land-of-...

05/06/2025

Nice article on the Detroit Lakes Bike Rodeo!

After taking a six-year hiatus, the Bike Rodeo returned to the Kent Freeman Arena on Saturday, May 3, to get people excited about biking safely.

05/05/2025

Thank you, everyone who helped and participated at the Detroit Lakes Bike Rodeo at Kent Freeman Arena on Saturday, May 3! (Photo by Karen Nitzkorski.)

04/28/2025

Thank you, everyone who helped and participated at the Fergus Falls Bike Rodeo at the YMCA on Friday, April 25!

02/11/2025

Our very own Patrick Hollister will be speaking at this event! And it's free! Sign up at https://mpha.net/event-6059180 today!

02/07/2025

Three Local Communities Recognized for Bikeability!

On January 28, 2025, the League of American Bicyclists issued 91 Bicycle-Friendly Community awards to cities, towns, and metro areas around the country. Among those were Frazee, Detroit Lakes, and the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area, all of which renewed their Bronze-level awards. You can see the League’s full announcement by visiting https://bikeleague.org/91-places-earned-bicycle-friendly-community-awards-in-2024/

PartnerSHIP 4 Health congratulates Frazee, Detroit Lakes, and the FM Area for this accomplishment. The league gives these awards based on their evaluation of a lengthy application that includes many questions about a community’s current bicycle-friendliness. The questions are divided into five categories, known as the “Five E’s:” Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Evaluation and Planning, and Equity & Accessibility.

Perhaps even more valuable than the award is the written feedback that communities receive from the league providing advice on how to further improve their communities for biking and move up the award ranks (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum).

PartnerSHIP 4 Health has been encouraging communities to apply for the Bicycle-Friendly Community award and offering guidance on the application for almost 15 years. If your community is within Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, or Wilkin counties in Minnesota and you are interested in applying for the Bicycle-Friendly Community award, visit the league’s webpage at https://bikeleague.org/bfa/community/

You are also welcome to contact Patrick Hollister at PartnerSHIP 4 Health at patrick.hollister@claycountymn.gov or 218-329-1809.

PartnerSHIP 4 Health is made possible with support from Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives Statewide Health Improvement Partnership.