Northwest Minnesota Juvenile Center, Little Skeeters Daycare earn MDA honors

A juvenile center on the outskirts of Bemidji and a licensed daycare in Bagley were honored this month by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for putting Minnesota-grown food on the table for young people every day.

The Northwestern Minnesota Juvenile Center and Little Skeeters Daycare were listed among the Golden Drumstick honorees in the agency’s 2026 Cream of the Crop Awards, part of the Minnesota Grown program. The awards recognized K-12 school districts, early care centers and family day care providers that promote Minnesota-grown foods, and the 2026 contest was the third year of the program. Applications were due March 20, and the winners were announced May 7.

For Beltrami County and nearby communities, the recognition goes beyond a plaque on the wall. It points to how public-serving institutions decide what to buy, who benefits from those purchases and whether food dollars circulate closer to Minnesota farms and suppliers. In practical terms, that can change what children and teens are served, how often local ingredients show up in meals and how much planning goes into procurement in places where feeding young people is part of the daily mission.

The MDA said Farm to Kids can include school gardens, partnerships with local farmers, community events and menu items featuring Minnesota-grown foods. Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen said there is “no one right way” to do Farm to Kids, framing the program as a way to connect Minnesota youth to local food while supporting regional farmers. Minnesota Grown has connected consumers with local farmers and other agricultural producers for more than 40 years.

The honor is especially notable at the Northwestern Minnesota Juvenile Center, which says it has served greater Minnesota since 1973. The center sits on 80 acres on the outskirts of Bemidji and is licensed through the Minnesota Department of Corrections. That makes its recognition meaningful in a residential setting tied to corrections and youth services, not just in a conventional classroom cafeteria.

Little Skeeters Daycare adds another layer to the story. The Bagley child care home is listed as a licensed provider with a capacity of 12 and meals provided, which means food choices there shape what very young children eat in a small, everyday setting. In that kind of environment, even modest changes in menu planning can affect nutrition, exposure to local foods and the stability of a market for nearby producers.

The broader Minnesota Farm to Kids effort has been growing as well. The MDA’s 2025 annual report described it as part of a statewide alliance effort to expand access to local food, create dependable markets for farmers and connect children with the food system through daily routines. For Bemidji-area institutions, the latest honors show that local agriculture is not only a rural economy story. It is also a public health decision, a procurement decision and, increasingly, a day-to-day part of how children are fed.