Sharing dairy with those in need

COURTLAND, Minn. — Giving back to his community is what drives 13-year-old Aiden Schroeder.

Earlier this year, Aiden, a seventh grader at Immanuel Lutheran School, donated 427 pounds of dairy products to the New Ulm Area Emergency Food Shelf.

“It makes me feel good to do this because we used to milk cows and I wanted to give back to the community because some people aren’t as fortunate as we are,” Aiden said. “Since I show dairy cattle, I wanted to do something dairy related.”

Aiden and his parents, Jason and Michele, and siblings, Alex and April, raise heifers near Courtland. They also own heifers and a few cows that are housed at their farm and a friend’s. Jason and Michele also hold jobs off the farm.

The idea for the project started in November 2025. Aiden, with the help of his parents, applied for a Thrivent Action Team grant and asked the Nicollet County American Dairy Association and the Nicollet-Sibley Corn and Soybean Growers Association for a donation. In the end, Aiden collected $550 to purchase dairy products.

“Dairy products are the most requested item at the food shelf,” Aiden said.

From December 2025 through March, Aiden and Michele made the monthly trip to ALDI in New Ulm to purchase products, then they drove straight to the food shelf in New Ulm. Since the products are perishable, the Schroeders had to show the receipt to prove that the items were purchased the same day as the donation, Aiden said.

“The first time we went, Aiden was a little unsure of what to do, but then when we got to the food shelf, some of the workers he recognized from our church, and that made him more comfortable,” Michele said. “We lucked out each time we went shopping that cheese was on sale, so we were able to get it for a really good deal and, therefore, buy more.”

Once items were dropped off at the food shelf, they were weighed and then stocked in the refrigerated section.

“Aiden got to know the staff so well that they let him help unload and organize the items inside the refrigerator at the food shelf,” Michele said. “Even the food shelf employees were surprised by how much support he had gotten and how much he was able to donate.”

Aside from the first shopping trip, Aiden and Michele called the food shelf ahead of time to ask what items they were most in need of. Each of the four shopping trips, Aiden and his mom purchased an array of products, including sliced cheese, shredded cheese, block cheese, yogurt, Go-GURT, sour cream, cottage cheese, as well as white and chocolate milk.

“Aiden got milk in gallons and half gallons to accommodate different family sizes,” Michele said.

The February shopping trip day was one to remember for Aiden, as one of their show animals had a calf.

“After we got off the bus, my sister went down to the farm and (saw) a heifer had a calf,” Aiden said. “We brought the calf to the hog barn and showered it off with warm water because it was so cold out. Then, I had to run back to the house so we could go shopping.”

This endeavor was not Aiden’s first service project that impacted his community. In 2024, Aiden applied for a Thrivent Action Team grant and received $250 to buy winter gear for the Coats for Kids program through the Pro Kinship for Kids in New Ulm. That year, Aiden donated 11 coats, two stocking hats and four snow pants.

Aiden made a display board of his project and exhibited it at the Brown County Fair and brought it to his 4-H club to encourage them to donate to the cause. Outside of 4-H, Aiden is also in basketball and a member of the Minnesota Junior Holstein Association. Aiden intends to make a display board of his project to bring to the MJHA display board contest in March 2026.

“(This project) went even better than I thought it would,” Aiden said. “We are talking about doing it again next winter. I also hope to be a farmer when I grow up.”