Author: Katelyn Winberg
A five-acre farmstead near Hudson in southeastern South Dakota is dedicated to sowing meaningful lives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Katie and Chris Zuraff purchased the farmstead they turned into an agritourism venture and an educational nonprofit known as The Specialty Crop in 2021, but the dream began decades earlier. The initial inspiration came from Katie’s sister, Shaina Strong, who had an intellectual disability.
As the sisters grew up in their St. Paul home, Katie knew she wanted to dedicate her life to individuals with disabilities. In high school, she worked at a Montessori school located on a farm. It was from that setting that she knew exactly what she wanted to create: a space like that Montessori farm, but for older teenagers and adults with disabilities.
Katie attended Augustana University in Sioux Falls, earning degrees in elementary education and special education. There, she met her husband, Chris Zuraff.
“He’s always been my biggest cheerleader,” Katie said. “He’s also pretty handy and likes to research.”
The first part of the dream came in the form of The Specialty Crop LLC. The LLC focuses on agritourism. The farmstead offers two camper sites, a tent camping site and a log cabin, where guests can stay at the farm for $25 to $75 a night.
The LLC also hosts events like Second Saturdays, a monthly open house where the public is invited to tour the grounds, play games and meet the farm animals. Another monthly event is the summer concert series; August’s concert will take place on the 16th, featuring songwriter Ben Gage.
The Specialty Crop already sells eggs from its on-site hens and is working to set up a farm stand, using funds from a grant from Poet. The farm stand will feature fresh produce grown by The Specialty Crop farmers during the summer session, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, fresh flowers and The Specialty Crop merchandise.
Sustainability is top of mind for the Zuraffs. Their crops are grown organically, and stewardship of the land is central to the farm’s philosophy, Katie said.
The farmers at The Specialty Crop grow actual specialty crops, ranging from tomatoes to corn. The farm’s name reflects both these crops and its core mission: special education.
“The garden belongs to both the LLC and the nonprofit,” Katie said.
The nonprofit, known as The Specialty Crop Collaborative, was established in the spring of 2024 and focuses on education. The fee-based program includes the Sow Program for ages 5 to 18, the Grow Program for adults, and the Reap Program for individuals who have completed the Grow Program and return as mentor farmers.
These programs are the backbone of the farm. They teach job and life skills to individuals of all abilities, especially those who may be overlooked after high school.
“Often, these individuals graduate from high school and aren’t given meaningful work,” Katie said. “When given high expectations and a high-value activity, they exceed expectations.”
The Specialty Crop is the only farm in South Dakota that is a part of the Care Farming Network, a national organization of farms that integrate agricultural practices with therapeutic interventions to promote health, well-being and belonging for people with intellectual and development disabilities, veterans, trauma survivors and those in recovery.
While the Zuraffs bring these values to the farm, the most important remains family. The couple resides on the farm with their four children, and extended family often helps with operations.
In the quiet northwest corner of the farm, the Zuraffs and their extended family recently installed a memorial to the person who first inspired Katie’s dream: her sister, Shaina. Shaina passed away in June 2024.
Her spirit lives on through The Specialty Crop. The Zuraffs have big dreams for the future, including full-time educational programs, more animals beyond their chickens, cats and dog, and even a sauna.
The Specialty Crop welcomes volunteers and donations. Scholarship assistance is available for those who qualify. For more information, visit thespecialtycrop.com.
In the meantime, the Zuraffs plan to keep practicing what they call radical hospitality.
“We want to make an inclusive space for everybody,” Katie said.
