We want to be entirely transparent: At no point during our extensive negotiations were we ever informed that the land was being considered for a data center.

Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm is a third-generation family legacy, built literally from the ground up. When Jerry and Sue Untiedt moved to Waverly in 1972, it was so Sue could begin her teaching career, and Jerry could venture into agriculture. Over the last 54 years, we have experienced both failures and successes. Failures often outnumbering the successful endeavors. Through sheer perseverance, we grew into the farm we are today.

However, as our farm grew, so did the communities around Wright County. Growth isn’t a bad thing, but it can add challenges. Over the decades, residential developments have steadily crept closer, and this proximity has made modern farming increasingly more difficult and complex.

The Growing Challenges of Modern Farming

The truth is, as the gap between the general public and agriculture widens, local producers face unprecedented hurdles. Our daily operations now clash with suburban expectations. We have faced friction over the necessary smell of turkey litter used for fertilizer, the vital spraying required to protect a season's harvest, and even the noise required for bird control. (When blackbirds descend on a sweet corn field, they can destroy an entire crop in hours; we use noise deterrents to scare them away because consumers do not want bird-damaged corn).

Compounding these operational friction points are rising instances of trespassing and theft, alongside the ever-present, uncontrollable challenges dealt by Mother Nature. We are facing a stark reality: a decreased public understanding of agriculture has piled unsustainable pressure onto our daily operations.

The Decision and the Reality of the Sale

In the spring of 2024, a period of severe economic hardship for agricultural producers across Minnesota and the entire country, Untiedt’s was approached by a development company.

We want to be entirely transparent: At no point during our extensive negotiations were we ever informed that the land was being considered for a data center. We spent countless hours in meetings trying to understand the intended end-use of the property, but that specific use was never disclosed to us. We entered into a purchase agreement completely unaware of this controversial plan.

Farmers have a profound, soul-deep connection to the land they till, care for, and nurture. Giving up land cherished by Jerry, Paul, and Trent has been an incredibly painful and difficult process. But as housing developments continue to border our fields, it became clear that our ability to farm this specific location was reaching a natural end due to urbanization.

Looking to the Future

While a purchase agreement has been signed, there is no guarantee the transaction will close. This was not an easy choice, but it was a strategic, necessary decision made with one clear goal in mind: to secure the financial viability of Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm so we can keep our family business operating for decades to come.

We have always viewed ourselves as stewards of the earth, holding this land in trust for future generations. We will continue to passionately care for all the land we farm. As we navigate this transition, we encourage our neighbors and community members to take the time to truly learn about the immense challenges facing local farmers across the United States today.