Master Gardener volunteer takes the stage at county fair
At the Koochiching County Fair, gardening is a topic of choice, thanks to Janet Tufvander, an Extension Master Gardener. Each year, Janet hosts “Let’s Talk Gardening,” a welcoming space where fairgoers can visit the Garden Park and ask questions about everything from tomato troubles to new kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Whether the visitor is a seasoned grower or just curious about starting a container garden, Tufvander offers practical advice from her experience and research-informed training.
Tufvander’s presence at the fair highlights the value of community-based education and the unique gardening challenges of northern Minnesota. Her deep knowledge and approachable style make her a trusted resource for residents across Koochiching County. By connecting people to the Garden Park and encouraging hands-on learning, she helps grow more than just plants; she cultivates curiosity and a stronger gardening community. “Let’s Talk Gardening” celebrates local expertise and the power of sharing knowledge face to face.
Highlights
- Extension conducted an economic contribution analysis, surveying ATV riders. On average, each ATV rider who visited the region, including Lake, Koochiching and St. Louis counties, spent $144 per day, while local riders spent $38. Roughly 200,000 riders in 2023 spent an estimated $23.4 million at businesses in the region. Koochiching County can use the report to plan for future investments and public promotion of the trails.
- U of M Farm Family of the Year: The Novak family (2026)
- Northome 4-H Robotics is an afterschool partnership of Koochiching County 4-H and the Northome Public School, offering the First Lego League robotics program to youth in grades 4-8.
- After 10 riders participated in the Koochiching County 4-H Horse Show in 2025, two advanced to the Minnesota 4-H State Horse Show.
- Riley Connell of the Northome Northern Lights 4-H Club earned a purple ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair for a sling purse made of denim and pink paisley fabric.
- Sierra Sjerven of Ranier completed an in-person Tier 2 Cottage Food Training. As a result, she realized she could brew and sell kombucha, in addition to the sourdough bread and other treats she wanted to sell at community events.
Koochiching County office
Extension has 14 regional offices supporting all 87 counties in Minnesota.
Koochiching County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community. More about Extension in our county.
About the Minnesota 87 project
Spend time in any Minnesota county, and you will almost certainly encounter University of Minnesota Extension. Our faculty and staff, volunteers, participants, alumni and partners are woven into the fabric of rural, urban and suburban Minnesota life. This project showcases Extension in action through photos, stories and a sampling of the many ways Extension has touched the lives of people in every county.