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science and a lifelong curiosity about food systems, she nudged Tim toward poultry. The turning point came when Tim’ s brother ended up with an extra batch of chicks.
“ We posted online to see if anyone wanted to buy some,” Renae said.“ They were gone just like that.”
Soon they stopped renting out their pasture and added beef cattle. The business grew organically— and quickly.
In 2022, the Brauns took a leap. They purchased the former co-op building in Pease. Tim needed the grain storage. The storefront? It became Braun’ s Market.
The Brauns don’ t just sell food— they tell its story.
Whether at their store or at every farmers market, they’ re there in person, ready to talk about what they raise, how they raise it and why it matters. They’ re transparent about their practices: no hormones, no antibiotics and feed grown only on their own land.
“ People want to know what they’ re feeding their families,” Tim said.“ And when I can look someone in the eye and say,‘ I raised this for you the same way I raise it for my kids,’ that’ s the part that matters to me.”
Customers often say their chicken tastes like what Grandma used to make, or that their beef is richer and more flavorful.
“ Our ground beef comes from one animal,” Tim said.“ It’ s not mixed with trim from cows from other countries. That makes a difference in quality— and in trust.”
Renae said those personal connections are what keep her going.
“ We see a lot of the same people every week,” she said.“ There’ s this gratitude that keeps showing up— and it’ s mutual.”
Behind the meat counter and market tents lies 500 acres of farmland— all managed with an eye toward sustainability.
In recent years, Tim has moved away from full tillage and adopted conservation-focused methods like strip tilling, no-till planting and cover cropping to improve soil health and prevent erosion.
“ I’ ve seen enough soil wash away over the years, and I decided that was going to stop with us,” Tim said.
Tim talks about soil being a living organism— not just dirt.
“ There’ s more life in a teaspoon of soil than there are people on Earth,” he said.“ If we treat it like junk, we lose our most valuable asset.”
His philosophy is shaped both by personal conviction, his educational background as an agronomist and as a member of the Mille Lacs County Soil and Water Conservation District board.
“ There’ s a lot of focus on forestry and lakes, which are important,” he said.
Stories of the Heartland • Sunday, September 21, 2025 Page 9
PLAN TO CELEBRATE YOUR LIFE
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The Brauns raise beef cattle that is sold in their Pease store after butchering and processing. There is a real difference in taste with homegrown beef, Tim Braun says.
Celebrating life for over 150 years.
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