Christensen Family Farms of Sleepy

Eye to construct new headquarters

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- The drone of the feed mill cut the air as the first shovels of dirt were dug into the ground Monday at the new Christensen Family Farms headquarters building, site, near the CFF feed mill, east of Sleepy Eye on U.S. Highway 14.

Next March, the 27-year-old firm plans to move out of the three buildings it has occupied in downtown Sleepy Eye for the past decade.

The main purpose of the new, two-story building will be to put all of the firm's components under one roof, according to company president Bob Christensen.

"It was a logical decision to move all company offices together," Christensen said. "It will enable us to make the right decisions faster and easier."

The new wood-frame building with brick wainscoting and a metal roof was designed by architect Michael L. Krager of Paulsen Architectural Design of Mankato.

Christensen Construction will be the general contractor.

Sleepy Eye Mayor Jim Broich said he was sorry to see the firm leave downtown Sleepy Eye, but he was pleased to learn that the new headquarters was to be constructed near Sleepy Eye.

As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, Rep. Jim Clark of New Ulm thanked the firm for building in Brown County and offered congratulations on its growth and success.

CFF will continue to utilize the former bank building on the southwest corner of First Avenue and Main Street in downtown Sleepy Eye.

The firm plans to sell the former grocery store building it currently occupies at 121 First Avenue South.

It is also renting space in a building on the 100 block of East Main Street in Sleepy Eye.