Nearly 240 people from 52 communities across the region joined us during our Summer Social Series. Hosted at local wineries throughout southwest Minnesota, the events were an opportunity to connect and learn about Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF), our local work and partnerships. Here’s a snapshot of the spots we visited in July and August.
The SWIF Summer Socials kicked off at Jomas Hill Vineyard and Winery near Darwin. Owners Joyce and Thomas Carlson operate the winery with their son and daughter-in-law, Luke and Angela Carlson. At the event, Tom and Luke talked about the vision to use their land to grow something beyond crops: At Jomas Hill, it’s not only about harvesting grapes and making wine, it’s about building community. They have space for kids to run around and play outdoor games, and we were happy to have lots of families enjoy the evening with us.
Our second stop on the Summer Social tour was the Madison Mercantile. Kris Shelstad launched the Madison Mercantile to build a home for art, innovation, creativity and community for the people of Madison and the surrounding region. Kris is a member of the Southwest Initiative Foundation-supported Initiators Fellowship. During the social, she shared her message of hope for the community and what led to her starting this social enterprise in her hometown. While “The Merc” is obviously not a winery, the evening included a selection of local wines for guests.
Next, we headed to Belview in the heart of the breathtaking Minnesota River Valley, where Grandview Valley Winery began with Wayne and Kari Rigge seated around a kitchen table with their son, John, and his wife, Laura, discussing a dream. The first vines were planted in 2008 on land that has been in the family for four generations, and the winery opened in 2012. Guests at the Summer Social got to sample a wide variety of the pizzas the winery is known for, and we were treated to a site tour with winemaker John Rigge, who talked about the setbacks and successes the winery has faced.
Scott and Jenny Ellenbecker hosted us at Round Lake Vineyards for our fourth event. Started in 2007, today the winery has more than 19,000 vines across four vineyards. The social aspect of the winery has always appealed to the Ellenbeckers, who also liked how their kids—who were teenagers when they started the winery—could learn about responsibility while enjoying a family hobby. At the Summer Social, guests heard from Scott Ellenbecker while taking in the scenic waterfront view of Round Lake and the lush 70-acre estate surrounding it in the southeast corner of Nobles County.
We ended our Summer Social series surrounded by prairie, farmland and water at Painted Prairie Vineyard near Currie. Owners Andy and Krista Kopperud were born and raised in southwest Minnesota and deeply value supporting local business. There are grapevines on site, but they also purchase local grapes and apples grown within an hour of Painted Prairie to make their wines. They have décor from local businesses and showcase food from local vendors, too. Krista and Andy talked with us about the importance of rural and local in the vision for their business.
Thanks to everyone who branched out to join us at a Summer Social — donors, community partners, grantees, volunteers, community champions, fund partners, entrepreneurs and more. We enjoyed connecting with you! Together, we’re building a stronger southwest Minnesota where all people can thrive.
Miss the Summer Social series but still want to show your love for southwest Minnesota? Email us to get a special souvenir sticker. *While supplies last
