The owner of a central Minnesota dairy farm is facing racketeering and wage theft charges accusing him of criminally mistreating hundreds of workers who are mostly undocumented migrants.

Keith Lawrence Schaefer, 57, of Richmond, owner of Evergreen Acres Dairy LLC, was charged in Stearns County District Court, according to a Tuesday news release from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office.

Schaefer is accused of depriving Evergreen Dairy workers of their earned wages and subjecting them to abuse and threats of physical violence and death, according to the news release.

The felony racketeering charge calls for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million, or both, according to the criminal complaint. The four counts of wage theft over $5,000 are felonies. The maximum sentence, if convicted, is 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.

The Attorney General’s Office charged Schaefer upon a referral from Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall, according to the news release.

In October, Evergreen Dairy Farm agreed to a settlement with the state of Minnesota over charges of wage theft and substandard housing. The Paynesville farm agreed to pay $250,000 in back wages to workers, as well as bring employee housing up to standard, Ellison’s office said at the time.

Ellison’s office filed suit against the farm in January 2024 after dozens of complaints from workers regarding wage theft and abysmal worker housing. The suit alleged that Evergreen failed to pay at least $3 million of vulnerable workers’ earned wages, illegally charged rent for squalid housing, and maintained a culture of fear and violence.

As part of that settlement, the Attorney General’s Office will monitor Evergreen for three years, and attorney general staff will be allowed to inspect employee housing and obtain various wage-and-hour records. A violation of any of the terms of the settlement would subject Evergreen to a civil penalty of an additional $250,000.

Schaefer’s next hearing in Stearns County District Court is scheduled for March 17, according to court records.

— Forum News Service

Federal courts pair crop art and justice

Yes, the State Fair is still months away, but an upcoming exhibition is seeking Fair-style art using seeds and other natural materials to highlight justice and civic engagement.

The show, appropriately called “Seeds of Justice,” will run April 3 to July 31 at the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Minneapolis.

Artworks can be submitted for consideration through Feb. 28. Then, the court’s outreach committee, composed of both district and magistrate judges and staffers, will select 15 pieces to be included in the final exhibition. Attendees at the opening reception for the show, on April 3, will also select a people’s choice winner.

Crop art entries should address themes including community growth, resilience or the connection between land and justice, organizers say.

In addition to a photo of the artwork, entrants should also include a 100-word artist statement that outlines how the work fits into the justice-oriented theme and a list of all crop/seed materials used. Each entrant may only submit one artwork and must adhere to the Minnesota State Fair’s crop art guidelines. Artists may choose whether or not to offer their works for sale during the exhibition.

The courthouse regularly displays public art, but this is its first seed art exhibition, court spokesperson Rebeccah Parks said.

Entry form is at bit.ly/CropArt2025.

— Jared Kaufman

‘Winter Walk to School’ today promotes safety

Hundreds of students

around the state will walk to class Wednesday to promote safe routes to school as part of the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s annual Winter Walk to School Day.

Part of the Minnesota Safe Routes to School program, the event is intended to increase physical activity, reduce traffic congestion around schools and practice pedestrian and bicycle safety. Community members are encouraged to think about their neighborhoods’ accessibility to pedestrians and bikers and to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice.

More than 50 schools are expected to participate, including those in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Richfield, Duluth and Rochester.

Participating St. Paul schools include EXPO Elementary, Bruce Vento Elementary, Riverview Spanish/English Dual Immersion and Mississippi Creative Arts School.

Schools can submit stories and photos to saferoutes.dot@state.mn.us by Feb. 16 to compete for the event’s Golden Snow Boot Award.

Schools can learn more about Walk to School Day at mnsaferoutestoschool.org/news-events/winter-walk-to-school-day/.

— Imani Cruzen

DNR sued over fatal state park landslide

A wrongful death suit alleges the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources failed to warn visitors about landslide risks at Minneopa State Park before a 19-year-old’s death in 2023.

Filed on behalf of the family of Jack Robert Loso, a Robbinsdale teen who was attending Minnesota State University at the time of the Dec. 2, 2023, landslide, the lawsuit seeks multiple monetary judgments in excess of $50,000. The suit was filed Wednesday in Blue Earth County District Court.

A statement from the Storms Dworak law firm described Loso’s death as tragic and preventable.

“This was an easily preventable tragedy,” said Storms Dworak partner Jeffrey Storms, who filed the lawsuit along with Storms Dworak attorney Joseph Heegaard. “The State knowingly directed families like the Losos to a foreseeable and deadly danger without warning.”

The DNR provided a statement in response to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

“Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with the family and loved ones of Jack Loso following this tragic loss,” the statement read. “Given the active litigation, we cannot comment further at this time.”

The lawsuit accuses the DNR of directing and encouraging visitors to go beneath Minneopa Falls despite knowing there were landslide risks in the area.

— Free Press of Mankato