Matt Larson Affirms Ability Through Farming At Farm In The Dell RRV, North Of Moorhead MN

Conrad sits down with Matt Larson, the Executive Director of Farm in the Dell of the Red River Valley, a nonprofit with a simple mission: transforming disabilities into abilities. Matt explains how the farm and garden operation employs adults with disabilities, creating community, vocation, purpose, and a paycheck, while also growing produce that serves the Fargo-Moorhead area. The work is seasonal, ramping up in early May and wrapping in mid-October, and Matt shares how the team is experimenting with winter opportunities to keep people connected and employed, including baking and serving events, with more ideas in development for February.Matt describes the range of disabilities they support, primarily intellectual disabilities with some physical considerations, and how job coaches sometimes accompany employees depending on individual needs. Conrad and Matt also unpack the ecosystem of partner organizations that help adults find employment, including CCRI, Vocational Training Center (VTC), Heartland Industries, CLS, and the Carlson Center, plus how parents can connect directly with the farm.Beyond the farm, the conversation explores what it means to be an executive director at a small nonprofit, the realities of running operations with a lean staff, and Matt’s path from 23 years of teaching at Park Christian School in Moorhead to leading Farm in the Dell. The discussion also goes deep into Matt’s faith journey, the difference between works and grace, and how worldview shapes leadership, resilience, and service. Matt closes with ways to support the mission through Giving Hearts Day, volunteering on the farm, and signing up for their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) produce subscription.