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Hennepin County honors 50 years of investment service, awards Sudanese Farming Group and spotlights small businesses
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Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting the Hennepin County Board commended volunteer Richard Beadolfson for 50 years supporting county investments, recognized the Sudanese Farming Group as the county's 2025 Farm Family of the Year, and heard how Elevate Hennepin helped two local entrepreneurs weather COVID and expand.
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 18 honored Richard Beadolfson for five decades of service advising the county's investment program and heard local community highlights that ranged from immigrant farming to small‑business recovery programs.
The board unanimously approved a commendation recognizing Beadolfson's “50 years of uninterrupted stewardship and generous contribution of his expertise and maintaining the financial well‑being of Hennepin County.” Joe Matthews, the county's chief financial officer, and John Valerius, the county's investment officer, both described Beadolfson's role in building long‑term practices that helped the county secure and benefit from high‑quality, liquid investments. Valerius said Beadolfson's approach “produced healthy earnings that offset property taxes” and helped the county through years before it achieved its AAA bond rating.
The board also presented the University of Minnesota Extension's Farm Family of the Year award to the Sudanese Farming Group, which operates a half‑acre community farm in New Hope. Extension educator Leah Spagnolo said the group preserves cultural crops such as okra and Egyptian spinach while providing youth education and market opportunities. Founder Khalid El Hassan told commissioners that the recognition signals that “we're not just a side group, but this is a welcoming environment” and that farming helps families remain connected amid civil war in their homeland.
The meeting highlighted Elevate Hennepin, the county's small business support program. Patricia Fitzgerald introduced two local entrepreneurs who credited the program with practical help during critical phases of growth. Rajesh Silvaraj, founder of Pizza Karma, said Elevate Hennepin "connects you with all kinds of knowledge" and helped him avoid costly trial‑and‑error as the business expanded. Jackie Lee, CEO of Silver Screen Printing, described cohort support that led to an optimization project completed under budget and ahead of schedule.
The recognitions and presentations preceded routine business; commissioners praised the awardees and noted the ways county programs aim to translate public investments into community benefit.
What's next: The board moved on to consent and progress items after the presentations; the commendation and awards were ceremonial recognitions without regulatory or budgetary effect.
