Calvin and Annie Schow
Calvin Schow has been a grain farmer ever since he can remember. He met Annie in 2004, and they were later married. In 2010, the couple applied for a program with the Natural Resource Conservation Service, which helped them receive their first greenhouse. Annie started with a small gardening effort for the family and then began sharing produce with the community and friends. The Schows sold at farmers markets with the help of Annie's parents.
Currently, the Schows have six greenhouses and about five acres of outside gardens. They plant and produce a variety of fruits and vegetables that appear in farmers markets from May through October. Calvin grows grain used as feed for butcher cows and layers. They also have six beehives that produce raw honey.
The family sells produce and eggs at farmers markets in Crookston and Detroit Lakes and to restaurants in Grand Forks and Crookston. They also deliver eggs to outlets in Bemidji, McIntosh and Solway.
Calvin, Annie, their children, Karlie and Nick, along with Annie's parents, Felie and Ray, and sisters, Charlotte and Hally, all contribute to the farm's operation in roles big and small. Karlie and Nick do the egg picking and help with the farm animals. Felie and Ray help with produce farming, and Charlotte and Hally generate the farm's social media content.
Community involvement is vital for the Schows. They frequently share their produce to raise money for community needs and events. They also help supply affordable food through SNAP and food shelters that accept fresh produce, such as the food bank in Detroit Lakes. They also enjoy being part of the annual Santa Claus Day and Easter egg hunts for little kids.