Stearns Conservation District and Third Street Brewhouse Announce “Fields of Gold” Initiative to encourage landowners to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

The Stearns Conservation District (SCD) is pleased to announce the new “Fields of Gold” initiative in partnership with Third Street Brewhouse to support and encourage landowners to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). CRP enrollment was completed for 2025 and this addition will recognize those landowners who have recently completed new enrollment—and for new landowners who enroll in future CRP sign-ups as well. These landowners will now receive a sign along with a 12-pack of Third Street’s MN Gold Beer to showcase their efforts to improve water quality and provide wildlife habitat.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program that encourages agricultural producers and landowners to transition environmentally vulnerable and highly erodible land to vegetative cover like native grasses, trees, and riparian buffers. The program helps control soil erosion while also contributing more land to wildlife habitats and protecting groundwater with deep-rooted native plants.

Stearns Conservation District Administrator, John Maile says, “CRP is one tool with many benefits. The deep-rooted diverse plant life helps improve water quality by acting as a natural filtration system. CRP land also helps improve groundwater quality and wildlife habitat along with soil health.”

Maile says there is a significance to the name “Fields of Gold”. “There is nothing more beautiful than seeing the grasses in the CRP fields turn to a beautiful rusty gold color signifying the changing of the seasons.”

The Fields of Gold initiative for landowners who enroll with the Conservation Reserve Program mirrors the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP). Landowners certified with MAWQCP also receive a 12-pack of Third Street’s Beer. The Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is a voluntary opportunity for agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation practices on their land that help protect our water. Landowners who enroll in MAWQCP and work with local certifier staff to assess their farms have access to financial assistance to help implement new water quality practices on their farms. Since program inception in 2014, there have been 107 MAWQCP certified farms in Stearns County and now 4 of those original 10-year certification agreements have renewed their certification working with the Stearns Conservation District staff. This totals 56,554.78 acres of MAWQCP certified land in Stearns County. This land includes CRP, RIM, non-crop perennial acres and more. This program helps ensure certified landowners are using conservation practices that help protect Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and streams. Certified landowners of MAWQCP receive a 12-pack of Third Street’s Minnesota Gold Lager Beer.

The Stearns Conservation District is thankful for the partnership they have created with Third Street Brewhouse. “Not only are we recognizing the importance of CRP but Third Street Brewhouse is realizing its importance as well. Third Street Brewhouse values landowners doing conservation work and wants to reward them, for that we are extremely grateful,” says Maile.

Third Street Brewhouse is located in Cold Spring, MN. It holds a significant place in Minnesota's brewing history as one of its first breweries. Vice President of Operations of Cold Spring Brewing Company, Scott Bender says, “The Conservation Reserve Program plays a vital role in protecting soil and water resources which are the two things we depend on every day. Our commitment to quality beverages goes hand in hand with the responsibility to protect the natural resources that make them possible. We’ve invested in sustainable water quality practices and partnered with local conservation efforts because we believe that environmental stewardship isn’t just good ethics—it’s good business.”

Bender says that they hope the Fields of Gold initiative sparks conversations and encourages more landowners to explore conservation programs like CRP. “This donation is our way of saying thank you to landowners who choose conservation. It’s a small gesture with a big message: good beer starts with good land,” says Bender.