Sun Prairie, Wis. – Bloomin’ Farm Cooperative, a family‑run farm on the edge of town, is launching an ambitious community‑ownership campaign. Owner Stan Hinkley is calling on 7,000 people to each pledge $500, a total that would buy him out and give the farm a $1.5 million operating budget for its first two years.
Local roots and a new vision
Hinkley, a former member of the University of Wisconsin‑Madison 1973 NCAA championship hockey team, bought the property when he was 74 with the original intent of building high‑density urban housing. After taking a cooperative‑management class at UW, his vision shifted to preserving the land as a family farm for the next 100 years.
He has already invested between $250,000 and $500,000 in upgrades, including new greenhouses, expanded gardens and a series of community events. “There’s magic in this farm. People that show up here love this farm,” Hinkley said.
How the pledge program works
To reach the first phase, 7,000 pledges must be collected. Each pledge is $500, payable by check mailed to Hinkley’s attention at the U.S. Bank branch on Thompson Road and Highway 19. The checks will be held in the bank’s vault until the goal is met; if the campaign falls short, every check will be voided and returned.
Once the 7,000‑pledge threshold is reached, the farm will transition to a full cooperative. A nine‑member board will be elected the first week of January, and farm manager Jay Hanson will receive a $1.5 million budget to cover operations for the first two years.
Future phases and community events
Hinkley outlined a second phase that would add another 7,000 owners and place $2 million into an investment account, though he cautioned that the fund cannot be guaranteed. A third phase would bring the total to 21,000 owners, turning the farm into a regional destination featuring flowers, pies and other attractions.
In the meantime, Bloomin’ Farm is gearing up for holiday celebrations, including a 12‑Days‑of‑Christmas light show and a “Hallmark Christmas Carols” event scheduled for Dec. 20‑21. Mayor Steve Starker will announce on the final night whether the 7,000‑pledge goal has been met.
Health challenges and community hope
Hinkley, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 12 years ago, says the condition has slowed him down but also sharpened his resolve to find a lasting purpose. “It made me more cantankerous and wanted to find something I could be passionate about in life,” he explained.
He hopes the cooperative model will allow community members to share the workload as his health progresses, ensuring the farm remains a vibrant gathering place for generations to come.
What residents can do
Anyone interested in supporting the cooperative can mail a $500 check to the address listed above. Hinkley emphasized that the campaign is still in its early stages – the first 1,000 pledges have been secured, but momentum is key.
“We’re still on the first 1,000, but momentum is a funny thing,” he said. “Right now, nobody thinks we’ll get 7,000 pledges, but we’re hopeful.”
Original reporting: NBC15 WMTV (Gray) – local — read the source article.
