Episode 6: Hunter Harvested Venison Donation with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Episode 6: Hunter Harvested Venison Donation with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Each year, deer hunters in Minnesota can opt to donate whole deer to the Hunter-Harvested Venison Donation Program. The program, co-run by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, helps bring venison to food shelves across the state. On this Harvest North, Jennifer Stephes, a meat inspection supervisor for the MDA, talks about the program, how donation works, and what may be contributing to the sharp jump in donations the MDA saw in 2025. This episode of Harvest North was hosted and produced by Kirsten Wisniewski for North Shore Community Radio. Original music was composed by AZ LeGare and was recorded and produced by Zack Baltich.

Episode 5: Deer season

We're back with a new episode of Harvest North! With fall in full swing, this episode focuses on deer season. Kalli tells us all about her experience in the deer stand this year, and what wild harvested food means to her. Harvest North is hosted by Kalli Hawkins and Kirsten Wisniewski, and produced by Kirsten Wisniewski for North Shore Community Radio. Original music was composed by AZ LeGare and was recorded and produced by Zack Baltich.

Episode 4: State support for new farmers

On this episode of Harvest North, we hear from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture about support for beginning farmers. There are are over 1 million farmers in the U.S. who are within their first 10 years in the industry, and the 29,000 in Minnesota make up about a quarter of the state's total farmers. Kirsten spoke with Assistant Commissioner Patrice Bailey about how a new grant program showed the demand for funding of equipment and infrastructure projects for beginning farmers in Minnesota.  Harvest North is hosted by Kalli Hawkins and Kirsten Wisniewski, and produced by Kirsten Wisniewski for North Shore Community Radio, with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Original music was composed by AZ LeGare and was recorded and produced by Zack Baltich.

Harvest North Short: The brooder box

In this Harvest North Short, Kirsten tells Kalli about a brooder box set-up. Any human-raised poultry will need a brooder box after they hatch, and until they are fully feathered out and able to thermoregulate. Kirsten keeps quails for their eggs, but the general setup for a brooder box is consistent across poultry types. Harvest North is hosted and produced by Kalli Hawkins and Kirsten Wisniewski for North Shore Community Radio, with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Original music was composed by AZ LeGare and was recorded and produced by Zack Baltich.

Harvest North Short: Starting a hatch

In this Harvest North Short, Kirsten talks Kalli through selecting eggs for a hatch and setting up an incubator. Kirsten keeps quails for their eggs, but the hatch process is similar across domestic poultry. Check back for an update on the hatch! Harvest North is hosted and produced by Kalli Hawkins and Kirsten Wisniewski for North Shore Community Radio, with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Original music was composed by AZ LeGare and was recorded and produced by Zack Baltich.