Stordahl retires from University of Minnesota Extension
Tue, 08/16/2016 - 9:49am
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Retirement for Jim Stordahl, the Polk and Clearwater County veteran extension agent may still seem a lot like work as Jim and his wife Roxanne practice organic farming on their rural McIntosh farm. From crops to cows, there is a lot going on at their small farm, which was recently certified organic.
Jim has been a University of Minnesota Extension educator since 1996. He joined the extension office in McIntosh, while running his family dairy operation, on an interim basis and later was offered a permanent position.
His interests include forages, grazing, general crop production, organic crop production and sustainable agriculture issues. He works extensively with organic and conventional producers in Minnesota and is knowledgeable about organic grain and livestock production, including organic dairy.
Jim has had a long-standing commitment to the sustainability of mainstream family farms. As an educator he brings a wealth of experience and a contagious enthusiasm for the ideals of sustainable living to his work and his volunteer efforts.
For 20 years, Jim has been providing anyone who asks with knowledgeable and reliable information. He seems to always find an answer for questions from livestock, to trees and flowers, weather and weeds. In his travels around Polk and Clearwater counties, it seems like everybody knows Jim and his friendly manner. That friendly manner is why he has built relationships with many area farmers, including his great relationship and helpfulness to the Amish community.
The main appeal of his extension job has been the opportunity to help people. Jim says that he finds solving a problem for anyone, from someone who is just maintaining their yard and a small garden to a large scale farming operation, is very gratifying. “Every problem is important to the person who has it because of the emotional issue,” he says.
As we say goodbye to Jim as our extension agent, we will know that he is using his knowledge and skills in his retirement on his own plot of land. He will continue to be around, and help those who he can.