The newspaper office in downtown Brooten gathers news for the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa area and nearby towns and churches.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is proud to announce that Randy Olson, editor and publisher of the Bonanza Valley Voice newspaper in the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa community, has been named the 2025 Agriculture Communicator of the Year.
As the recipient of this award, Olson will be honored on Friday, November 21 during MFBF’s Annual Meeting in Minnetonka.
Olson has built a 22-year long career as a photographer, journalist and storyteller in rural Minnesota. Growing up on his family’s dairy farm in the Bonanza Valley, he gained firsthand experience in agriculture, farming with his parents at their Norway Lake Township dairy farm for 4 years before earning a degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, Morris in 2000. Since joining the journalism field in 2003, he has spent his career providing accurate, timely coverage of local sports, agriculture, small businesses, and family stories, earning respect throughout the communities he serves.
Olson actively shares the stories of Minnesota’s rural communities through photography, writing, and reporting. He has played a key role in the success of Pope County Farm Bureau’s Breakfast on the Farm, helping promote the event and capture its highlights through the use of photos and video. He frequently participates in local events, schools, and community gatherings, ensuring the voices and experiences of residents are represented and celebrated.
A dedicated advocate for agriculture, Olson’s work strengthens connections between farmers, families, and the wider community. Through his reporting and storytelling, he preserves and promotes rural life while inspiring engagement and appreciation for Minnesota agriculture.
About the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation
To ensure Minnesota’s agricultural vitality, the Minnesota Farm Bureau amplifies its members’ voices through engagement, grassroots advocacy, and agricultural awareness. Learn more about our efforts as an advocate for our 30,000 members and 78 county and regional Farm Bureaus at http://www.fbmn.org.
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