535 Main Street | PO Box 119 | New Munich, MN
Page 10 Stories of the Heartland • Sunday, September 21, 2025 hometownsource. com / heartland /
“ But I wanted to bring to the board the perspective of a row crop farmer who’ s actively working to rebuild soil health.”
He said his role has sparked conversations and peer-to-peer discussions among farmers.
“ We’ ve had landowners come to us and say,‘ I want you to farm my land because of what you’ re doing,’” he said.“ That’ s a big deal.”
The Brauns are raising more than cattle, hogs and chickens. They’ re raising two sons, ages 2 and 4.
“ Everything we’ re doing is with them in mind,” Renae said.“ We want them to understand this life and feel connected to it, but we also want them to feel free to choose it.”
The boys tag along for chores and farmers markets and ask questions about the animals. Tim said their excitement has reshaped his own feelings about livestock.
“ Now they want to feed the cows, be on the equipment, help with everything,” he said.“ It’ s cool to watch.”
Though Tim’ s own parents once encouraged him to choose another path if he so desired, his journey brought him back— on his own terms and with a renewed sense of purpose.
“ This isn’ t just work anymore,” he said.“ It’ s personal.”
From his soil practices to his market philosophy, Tim Braun is as much a teacher as he is a farmer.
He’ s the one trying new things— even when others joke about the experimental corn and soybean strips they might see along County Road 12 northwest of Princeton.
“ People think I’ m crazy until they ask why I’ m doing it,” he said.“ Then it clicks.”
Whether it’ s carbon capture, water retention or ensuring the next generation inherits more than dust, Tim and Renae Braun are building something lasting— and inviting their neighbors to be part of it.
“ We’ re not trying to feed the world,” Tim said.“ We’ re trying to feed our community. And we’ re doing it in a way that honors the land we’ ve been given.”
Back on those 500 acres the Brauns own or rent in the Milaca, Pease and Princeton areas, Tim Braun’ s boots still press into the soil— but today it’ s not just as a farmer, but as a steward, a husband, a father, and a builder of something lasting.
Jeffrey Hage / Stories of the Heartland
Tim and Renae Braun grow three crops on their Milio Township farm. The photo shows three levels: rye in the foreground, followed by soybeans and corn.
535 Main Street | PO Box 119 | New Munich, MN
Sauk Centre New Munich Long Prairie
320.837.5288 | 320.256.4638
Precast Concrete Services for Ag Products
• Slatted Floors for Barns
• Bunker Silo Walls & Slabs
• J-Style Feed Bunks • H-Style Feed Bunks
Build It. Trusted Construction
• Residential Homes • Garages
• Pole Sheds • Livestock Barns
• Remodeling • Additions