A Little History
On September 13 and 14, 2023, a fledgling group of soil enthusiasts gathered at the Sinsinawa Mound in southwestern Wisconsin, inspired by the vision of the late no-till legend and “godfather” of soil health, David Brandt, who had begun exploring the possibility of creating a new farmer-led learning center at the Mound.
After that successful visioning event, a steering committee and core team were formed and Fields of Sinsinawa was born. Since then, the group has begun developing ideas and a plan for the center to become a unique, vibrant, accessible hub where resources, demonstrations, community building and farmer-led learning connect healthy soil, healthy food, healthy people, and a healthy planet together.
David Brandt, a nationally known mentor among soil enthusiasts, has made a lasting impact on farmers around the world with his passion for sharing the good news of healthy soil for a healthy planet. In a 2023 visit to Sinsinawa Mound, where the Sinsinawa River begins its 21-mile journey to the Mighty Mississippi, he recognized the Mound as a place where his message of holistic land stewardship and soil care practices would flourish. He planted the seed. This vision has taken root at Sinsinawa Mound in Southwest Wisconsin. Fields of Sinsinawa: A Farmer-Led Learning Center brings the message of healthy soil for a healthy planet to the Midwest and beyond.
Why Sinsinawa Mound?
There is something special here. Long before the Dominican Sisters came, our Indigenous ancestors called this place Manitoumie, “a place where the Spirit dwells.” In 1847, the Spirit called for something new. Young women of the area were invited to come together by the lone Catholic Missionary of the area, Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, OP, to teach the children of the immigrant families struggling for a new life in this lead-mining region. This was the beginning of the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa.
Sinsinawa Mound continues to be the home and Motherhouse for these sisters. They have treasured this land for its beauty and nourishment for over 177 years. The Sisters farmed some of their land to provide for their own needs, milked their cows, and tended their woods and understood that tending the fields and nurturing the land was an important part of their mission. They became rooted in this driftless region along with those whose ancestors were among the immigrant families they had taught in their early years.
Today, in this time of ecological crises, the Spirit of Sinsinawa calls again: Earth is suffering. Soon she will not be able to provide for her children. The Sisters of Sinsinawa heard that call. The Fields of Sinsinawa will continue their mission of education and service to the community. It is a response to the Spirit’s call to attend to our suffering earth by providing opportunities for others to deepen a commitment to the well-being of present and future generations.
Because we recognize Sinsinawa Mound as a sacred place entrusted to our care, our land will be available for spiritual, ecological, agricultural, and educational programs and will be preserved as much as possible for future generations.
Guiding Principle for Sinsinawa Land, 2017
Why Farmer-Led?
- Farmers trust the experience of other farmers.
- Those who have a passion for caring for the land have knowledge, and their skills are essential for the future.
- This Center will facilitate genuine sharing and learning about beneficial soil care practices.
- This Center will be a hub for networking, connections, tools and information to promote economic and environmental health and sustainability for the future of agriculture.
Fields of Sinsinawa Farmer-Led Group Spotlight
The organizers for the first Dodge County Farmers Healthy Soil & Healthy Water event were expecting 50 attendees. They had 250! This success didn’t come out of nowhere.
The Dodge County board had given a group of citizens a year to meet and come up with solutions to agricultural run-off concerns relative to the three lake associations in the area. Twenty individuals met monthly. Participants included farmers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Wisconsin DNR, NRCS and lake association representatives. One outcome of these discussions was the formation of the Dodge County farmer-led group with the mission of “Improving our community’s soil and water through conservation practices and education.”
That first event, held in February of 2017, established the group’s reputation for good information and good food: Ray Archuleta spoke and Chef Chance prepared the meal. The group now has 50 paying members and hosts regular field days and other events throughout the year. Co-chairs Tony Peirick and Marty Weiss provide leadership, but what makes the group work is the fact that the participating farmers are coming together to learn from each other.
The changes that producers are making aren’t easy, but by working with each other and sharing questions and experiences, progress is being made. The Dodge County Farmers group serves as a model for others trying to do the same – in Wisconsin and beyond.
The Organizing Group
Fields of Sinsinawa has established a Steering Committee consisting of representatives from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, plus three sisters from the Dominicans of Sinsinawa and several people representing national soil health groups. Several working groups have sprouted from the Steering Committee and have been meeting faithfully since September 2023 building this organization. There are active working groups in each of the following areas: Land, Facilities, Staffing, Program, Business, and Fund Development. A Core Team as well as an Administrative Team help to facilitate coordination and communication.
Organizing Group
Farming on the Mound
Bernard Runde
Simon Runde
Aaron Leibfried
Troy Leibfried
The amazing tenants who farm on the Mound have been leasing the land since 2009. Two father-and-son teams — Bernard and Simon Runde and Aaron and Troy Leibfried — share the lease on the crop land and pastures. Organic dairy farmers, the Rundes and Leibfrieds use all the crops they grow at the Mound to feed their herds of Holsteins, and they produce milk for Organic Valley.
Bernie has been farming organically since 2003 and Aaron since 2007. Bernie and Aaron were asked separately to take on the Sinsinawa Mound farmland when the sisters wanted to switch the farm over to organic production. They decided to farm it together as it was too much land for either operation individually at the time.
Aaron says the partnership has worked out really well.
“The Sinsinawa acres are our most productive land, and it’s nice to work it together,” he says, adding that one of the advantages to farming the Mound is that they’re able to grow wheat there.
“We can’t grow wheat our home farm because of the rotation,” he says. “So that’s why it works out so well there.”
Both operations have received various awards and recognition over the years. Bernie Runde received the Milk Quality Award from Organic Valley in 2008. In 2021, the Leibfrieds were named the Telegraph Herald Farm Family of the Year in the organic farm category.
For Troy, the Sinsinawa land is just part of his lifelong landscape.
“We’ve been farming that land since I was seven years old, so I guess I just consider it part of the farm,” he says.
Troy began diversifying his responsibilities in 2023 when he purchased a beef operation. It had been part of a relative’s farm and his parents helped him until he was able to secure financing. At 23 years old, he says he knows he’s fortunate to have had the opportunity to take on a new enterprise.
“When I was in school, there were a lot of 21-year-olds who would have loved to be doing what I’m doing, but they didn’t have anyone in the industry.”
The Rundes and Leibfrieds are very excited about the interaction they’ve been having with the Fields of Sinsinawa. They’ve been working closely with Rick Bieber, who was brought on in early 2024 to consult with the tenant farmers and take a holistic view of the entire property to identify opportunities for trying new practices, such as the adaptive management grazing they’ve been doing with their bred heifers on pastures at the Mound.
“It’s working out great, and I’m excited for what we’re doing now,” Aaron says. “We’re implementing the ideas of the Fields of Sinsinawa on our own operation, Rick has been giving Troy advice, and we’re rotationally grazing around here now also since we started it with the heifers.”
Sinsinawa Mound Collaborative Farm
In addition to the farmland, the Mound also encompasses the Sinsinawa Mound Collaborative Farm, which offers land, education, infrastructure, and mentorship to beginning farmers. By eliminating some of the biggest barriers beginning farmers face, we make it possible for them to explore a career in agriculture with little financial risk or up-front capital investment. Farmers are able to build their capacity, develop a farm business, and contribute to a thriving local food system.
