GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Pioneer PBS’s Compass will feature a public meeting about returning land to the Upper Sioux Community and an installment from “Minnesota’s Alt-Meat Revolution” on its upcoming episode. This program will air on Thursday, May 11 at 9 p.m.
This episode will also feature a recent teacher collaborative learning summit. MACCRAY Public Schools superintendent Sherri Broderius explains that her school district is thinking intentionally about learning and student development. In January, members of the SWWC North Educational Coop gathered at MACCRAY High School for a SWWC North collaborative day. The goal of the day was to better understand how to get students to think deeply and to think differently about teaching. Stream this story.
Then, on Wednesday, April 5, Minnesota Senator Gary Dahms and Representative Chris Swedzinski hosted a meeting at Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Granite Falls. The meeting was to hear public comment on a proposed bill (S.F. No. 2250) to return roughly 1,400 acres of the Upper Sioux Agency State Park land to the Pezihutazizi Oyate/Upper Sioux Community. Panelists available to answer questions were Upper Sioux Community Chairman Kenvin Jensvold; Scott Roemhildt and Ann Pierce from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Ben Leonard and David Kelliher from the Minnesota Historical Society; Granite Falls Mayor Dave Smiglewski; and John Berends, Yellow Medicine County District 2 commissioner. Stream this story.
The final segment in this episode is part of a year-long digital-first series called “Minnesota’s Alt-Meat Revolution,” which will examine plant protein development in the Midwest and Minnesota. The first episode in this series looks at the history of plant-based processing in Dawson. Soybean processing in Dawson began in 1951 with the opening of the Tri-County Cooperative Soybean Processing Association. In 1969 the plant changed its name to Dawson Mills and started thinking about how it could get more economic value out of their soybeans. Dawson Mills built a new facility for this effort, but was unable to successfully market their product. Dawson Mills ceased this branch of their operations in 1981.
From 1983 to 2012, the newly built facility was owned by the Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI), the largest cheese cooperative in the United States. The current owner of the building is a company called PURIS, Inc., which manufactures a yellow pea protein. Expansion into the facility in Dawson has allowed PURIS to more than double their processing capacity. PURIS’ protein is used in a variety of products including the well known meat substitute, Beyond Meat.
This project is a partnership between Pioneer PBS, West Central Tribune and WORLD, with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Learn more about www.pioneer.org/altmeat. Stream this story.
People in Pioneer PBS’s viewing area can livestream this episode at www.pioneer.org/live on Thursday, May 11 at 9 p.m. The program will also be available to stream at www.pioneer.org/compass and on Compass’ YouTube page at www.youtube.com/@CompassOnPioneerPBS.
Viewers with story ideas and issues they would like to see discussed on Compass are encouraged to contact Pioneer PBS via email at yourtv@pioneer.org or call the station at 1-800-726-3178.
About Compass
Produced by Pioneer PBS, Compass is an award-winning, solutions journalism-centered series that features current topics relevant to communities in Pioneer PBS's viewing area. Stories are digital-first, meaning they're available onCompass' Facebook and YouTube pages and website before being compiled into monthly broadcasts. The program is produced by Amanda Anderson, with videography and editing done by Amanda Anderson and Esmeralda Ziemer. The 2023 season is made possible by funding from Shalom Hill Farm, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and members of Pioneer PBS.
About Pioneer PBS
Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station, dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. For more information visit: www.pioneer.org.
