Submitted Photo Deb and Kevin Reinowski hold their award as community supporters recognized in the NorthStar Genetics Community Star program.

ANAMOOSE – For Kevin and his wife Deb Reinowski, giving back to the community in which Kevin grew up is growing great rewards.

In addition to their many contributions to their rural community, the Reinowskis, who farm four miles north of Anamoose, give of their time and even land to support the Anamoose-Drake Public School’s Garden After School Program. Their selfless support and contribution to their community has led to their selection for recognition in the NorthStar Genetics Community Star program.

The program donates $1,000 to the charity of the winner’s choice. The Reinowskis will donate their charitable allocation to the Anamoose-Drake Public School’s After School Program.

Open to students from kindergarten to grade 6, the elementary After School Program is now in its sixth year, and according to Steven Heim, the school’s superintendent, the Reinowskis’ After School Garden is the most popular of the After School Programs.

“Of the 97 students in our school, 30 students take part in the Garden After School Program,” Heim said. “The kids line up to take part and are really proud of it. We are lucky to have people like the Reinowskis supporting experiences and opportunities for the children in our community.”

For the garden project, the Reinowskis set aside three-quarters of an acre of their land, and Deb Reinowski spends a lot of her time planning the garden and working alongside the children, providing hands-on help and supportive learning.

“The garden grows all types of vegetables, from peas to corn to potatoes, in all different types of varieties. The kids are responsible for planting, weeding and harvesting the garden. It helps bridge the gap and connection to where their food comes from and that is important,” Kevin Reinowski said.

Produce from the After School Garden project is used to supplement the school’s hot lunch program, and the kids involved with the program are also allowed to take some of their home-grown efforts home to their own kitchen table.

“The other benefit too,” said Heim, “is the fact that the program even gets the kids excited about eating their vegetables, or at least willing to try some that they haven’t eaten before.”

Kevin Reinowski and his brother are the next generation on the family farm, actively farming 2,500 acres of soybeans, wheat, barley and canola.

The seed company NorthStar Genetics initiated the Community Star program to recognize and award farmers residing and working in the agricultural industry throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa for giving back to their agricultural communities. Kevin and Deb Reinowski are among four winners in the program.