Kara and John Zimmerman of Northfield have been named Rice County’s Farm Family of the Year for 2025. Their farm, a stone's throw from the city limits, is a bustling hub for turkey agriculture, boasting an impressive operation that also dedicates land to growing corn and soybeans. The Zimmermans' birds are in such high demand that two of their turkeys were recently spared the fate of the Thanksgiving table, having been pardoned in a ceremonial tradition by none other than President Joe Biden himself.
While John is the primary force behind the turkey empire, Kara, a full-time CPA, balances the books and their school-aged son, Grant, is known to pitch in across the farm. This family affair extends back to John's mother, Karen, who previously assisted with the operations. The Zimmerman legacy in farming is a tapestry woven through five generations, with roots stretching back to the 1870s. It's also worth noting John's extensive involvement within agricultural leadership circles. He's held key roles including, but not limited to, presiding over the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association and serving on boards for numerous organizations, notably stated by the Rice County announcement.
This accolade isn't just about recognizing a successful business; it's about honoring a family's dedication to the ag industry and their community. The University of Minnesota Farm Family Recognition Program, who announced the Zimmermans' win on July 3rd, underscores the importance of such families and their contributions. Since 1979, this program has actively celebrated the commitment and the quiet toil of families just like the Zimmermans across the state. They will be recognized alongside other honorees at the esteemed Farmfest come August.
The Zimmerman farm, with its storied past, has evolved significantly from its days as a mixed crop and dairy operation. In the 1950s, John's father Chuck made the pivotal switch to focus primarily on raising turkeys. John has since taken up the mantle, becoming the second generation to do so, and seems to only further perfect and expand this legacy. His efforts have not gone unnoticed; alongside his chairmanship at River Country Cooperative and roles within the National Turkey Federation, he's a figure who aims to consistently better not just his enterprise, but also to nurture the industry at large.
Contact details, as provided by Rice County, include reaching out to Ryan Lermon, the U of MN Extension Educator for Ag and Natural Resources for both Rice and Steele counties. The Zimmerman's success story is one of tireless dedication and a testament to the enduring strength of family farming, a tradition that lies at the very heart of rural America's identity and economy.
