For the seventh consecutive season, the Village Agricultural Cooperative is closing its harvest with a community celebration. This year's F.A.R.M. Fest, scheduled for September 28 from 2-6 p.m. at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, promises more than just produce-it's a vibrant showcase of cultural heritage, local food systems, and immigrant leadership in farming.

Started in 2019, the Village now manages six farms across Rochester, covering roughly 22 acres of production. The cooperative represents 250 families from around 30 different countries, bringing a mosaic of global agricultural knowledge to southeastern Minnesota.

"We're trying to inspire a cultural shift," said Amanda Nigon-Crowley, the cooperative's executive director. "It's about getting people to choose markets for their food-not just for health and sustainability, but to keep money in the local community."

The cooperative's weekly markets-Tuesdays at the History Center of Olmsted County and Sundays at RDMLKJ Park-run from June through October. F.A.R.M. Fest expands on that model, offering live music, art, hands-on demonstrations, craft vendors, and food trucks. A new partnership with Renewing the Countryside has helped grow the event, adding funding for expanded arts programming and community engagement.

"We want to use art to amplify the importance of local food," said Brett Olson, co-founder of the partnering organization.

For Rasmi Alou Lee, market manager of the Sunday market, walking among blooming rows of dahlias, zinnias, and strawflowers recalls her roots in Laos. Alongside fellow farmers Mi Moua and Pha Lee, she harvests flowers and fall produce to sell at the Village's evening market. The experience, Lee says, has not only reconnected her to farming, but also provided a sense of purpose and belonging.

"I love being part of this community," said Lee. "Even if some Sundays are slow, I tell our vendors-don't give up. Keep showing up. We'll grow this together."

The cooperative's reach is also expanding. With financial backing from the Mayo Clinic, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, and Rochester Area Foundation, the Village opened a new market site this year, requiring the onboarding of a new market manager and support staff. Incentives help vendors participate while customer numbers grow.

"Farming is labor-intensive, and we need reliable market outlets to make this work for our growers," Nigon-Crowley emphasized. "Having strong local support from our institutions has been critical."

Now in its fourth year at the History Center, the Village's original market continues to grow in both attendance and community engagement. Nigon-Crowley hopes the northeast market will follow a similar trajectory.

Ultimately, F.A.R.M. Fest is about more than harvest-it's a celebration of the local food movement, cultural exchange, and the role of immigrant farmers in feeding communities. As conversations around food sovereignty, supply chain resilience, and equity in agriculture continue nationally, Rochester's Village Agricultural Cooperative offers a working model grounded in cooperation, care, and cultural pride.