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BLUE EARTH-- The Faribault County Board of Commissioners, at their meeting on Tuesday, received their yearly update on the work SMIF (Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation) has been doing in the area.
Benya Kraus, the president and CEO of SMIF, began her presentation by introducing herself to the board.
"I believe this is my first time coming before your board," Kraus commented. "I have an ag background with my dad's side of the family now in its seventh generation. My mom's background is also in agriculture, although a little different since she is from Thailand."
Kraus shared she began her career as a social entrepreneur and was a co-founder of Lead for America, which is a national nonprofit that supports emerging leaders in returning and reinvesting in their hometowns.
"SMIF has been a job and a dream come true for me," Kraus said. "SMIF got its start some 40 years ago during the farm crisis of the 1980s."
She told the commissioners that SMIF focuses on three main areas.
"We work with early childhood education, encouraging entrepreneurship and community vitality," Kraus remarked. "Locally, we have worked with Muir Library in Winnebago on an Early Literacy Grant. The Wells Public Library and the Blue Earth Area schools also received that same grant. Blue Earth Area and United South Central have also received Leaders are Readers Grants through the Mitchell Perrizo Jr. Fund."
Kraus also highlighted an area business, Nutra-Boss Incorporated, which had received a loan and the city of Elmore, which was the recipient of a $10,000 Small Town Grant for sports equipment lockers which are located at the new Wildcat Activity Park.
"For every $1 donation from Faribault County, $12 is invested back into Faribault County communities," Kraus concluded. "We look forward to continue working with you."
The board also passed a resolution opposing the PowerOn Midwest 765kV transmission line project while affirming support for the rights and interests of affected citizens and landowners.
In other business:
-- The board approved the purchase of a 2026 F150 XLT at the price of $48,461 (plus taxes and fees that apply) from Mosaic of Zumbrota. The purchase was a budgeted item for 2026.
-- A training request by Brady Rauenhorst of the Faribault County Assessor's Office for Professional Assessment Certification and Education was approved.