Citizen of the Year award goes to local food shelf champion

Kerry Fjerstad was totally duped into thinking her brother-in-law Rich Fjerstad was set to win the Hayfield Citizen of the Year Award when she attended a February Chamber of Commerce banquet. Then she discovered she was actually the one being honored.

“I thought we were there for the award to go to my brother-in-law, and so it made sense why our whole family was there,” she said. “Then he introduced me and that’s when I went, Oh boy. Yeah, it was definitely a surprise. I wasn’t expecting the award at all.”

She feels she’s a new community spark plug, having jumpstarted a food shelf in Hayfield only 2 ? years ago and also having helped with the Share Christmas Committee. But others must disagree as she had several people nominate her for Citizen of the Year.

“There were several nominations,” Fjerstad said. “It was nice. My brother-in-law nominated me and then several people who help out and volunteer at the food pantry. And a couple of friends who know of my involvement in the community”

Fjerstad is married to husband Ron, and has one son, Isaac, a high school junior. She works for Mayo Clinic from her Hayfield home, and is right next door to the food pantry.

She’s able to duck out over her lunch break to help unload food from Hayfield Community Food Pantry’s delivery trucks. The pantry is located next door at Cedar Creek Church.

Fjerstad has lived in Hayfield for about 16 years. Her husband grew up there.

She said she loves “everything” about her little town, especially the community-minded volunteers, the steady stream of donations to the food shelf and the generosity of givers to the Christmas fundraiser. “People just want to contribute,” she said. “It’s awesome.”

“I’m a worker bee behind the scenes usually, so the award was a shock,” she said. “And when I had to give a speech … I could talk about the food shelf and Share Christmas for a long time. I’m grateful this is highlighting some of what our community has to offer.”

In December 2020 the food shelf officially became affiliated with Channel One. For Share Christmas, they partner with Toys for Tots in southeast Minnesota.

Via Share Christmas, kids receive necessary clothing such as socks, underwear and pjs.

Fjerstad said she can’t say she’s “always been a giver. I would say it’s been walking with God more, and realizing just how much people are in need and having eyes to see need.”

Rich Fjerstad, Hayfield mayor, said his sister-in-law is a powerhouse in the community. He’s known her for 25 years, and has always been impressed by her, he said.

Kerry Fjerstad has been nominated for Hayfield Citizen of the Year previous years, and just this year was selected for the prestigious honor.

“Everyone in Hayfield wants to be Citizen of the Year, right?” Rich Fjerstad asked. “Most of the winners, they’re very humble. They just do stuff to get stuff done. We are very blessed in our community. Kerry has historically been one of those people to get stuff done.”

Rich Fjerstad said it’s Kerry’s humble nature that he’s most drawn to. “I believe people in leadership positions need to get things done, but also be humble enough to work with other people who have great ideas. She is very focused when she starts something.”

Nancy Dahlen of Hayfield also nominated Kerry Fjerstad for Hayfield Citizen of the Year, and said she did so because Kerry saw a need during the pandemic to help those suffering from food insecurity. “People were furloughed and having difficulty making ends meet,” she said. “It’s no fun to go hungry or wonder when your next meal will be.”

“Kerry had a vision that our community could provide for people in need,” Dahlen wrote in her nomination of Kerry Fjerstad for the annual Chamber honor. “She called upon members of all the local congregations to spark an interest. Kerry kept being persistent and filled out numerous applications for grants to support the mission.

“She dedicated time to research and learned what could be done and what needed to be done to start a community food pantry. She evoked volunteers from surrounding churches and called a meeting, generating ideas and a willingness to serve. Not only did this program flourish to meet the needs of so many people, but it also pulled our community closer by the big hearts of so many volunteers.”

Dahlen wrote that the food shelf gave her community of Hayfield a “sense of purpose: to help those in need! Whether it’s unloading a truck, donating space, donating items, donating time to help during pantry hours. The outpouring has been tremendous.”

Families receive food and hygiene items, household goods and clothing to keep their feet, heads and hands warm. No one is turned away, Dahlen wrote.

“I have asked Kerry, how do you accomplish this?” she said. “Her response is, ‘I lay awake at night thinking about everything, trying to problem solve and I come up with some of the best ideas then!’” To Dahlen, Kerry Fjerstad is dedicated and devoted to “a greater good.”