Longtime farm families and 4-H recognized at Dakota County Fair

Aug. 12, 2026

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners celebrated farm families and highlighted the state’s largest 4-H program during its annual special meeting Aug. 11 at the Dakota County Fair in Farmington.

Dakota County is one of only a few county boards in Minnesota to meet at its county fair.

Commissioners recognized the Radman family of Randolph as the University of Minnesota Extension’s Farm Family of the Year for Dakota County. Charlie and Leah Radman operate a fifth-generation century farm. They grow corn and soybeans using no-till and strip-till conservation practices. They also raise meat goats for youth development and shows. Their daughters, Katie and Ellen, help with the family farm.

The board also honored local farms that have been in operation for more than 100 and 150 years:

• The Andrew R. Johnson and Peter C. Johnson farm in Lakeville, which dates to 1859, was named a Minnesota Farm Bureau Sesquicentennial Farm. Andrew Johnson’s daughters, Elli and Emma, are the eighth generation to live on the farm.
• The Doug Wille farm in Randolph, a fourth-generation operation, was named a Century Farm. The 80-acre farm dates to 1909.
• The Greg and Sandi Fox farm in Rosemount, a 490-acre operation that dates to 1925, was named a Century Farm. The Foxes are the fourth-generation operators.

The county board also recognized 4-H participants who are showing animals, exhibiting projects and participating in the fair in other ways. Dakota County has the largest 4-H enrollment in the state.

Youth who were highlighted included Annika Mary of Farmington, Kushal Bathala of Lakeville, Regan Dee of Farmington, Olivia Spors of Lakeville, Ben Deuel of Elko New Market and Rowan Markson of Lakeville.

Library featured at the fair

During this year’s fair, Dakota County Library is featured in the Government Building, located at Dakota Way and Third Street. Fairgoers can learn about library locations and services, get library resources, enjoy art activities and get other county information.

The Dakota County Fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 16.