Post Consumer Brands Donates 30 Acres To St. Olaf College

NORTHFIELD, MN — Post Consumer Brands, Lakeville-based cereal company, announced that it is donating 30 acres of land to St. Olaf College.

The land is located along the far west side of the Post Consumer Brand’s north and south distribution centers at 1550 Industrial Drive and will be used by the college for research for its environmental studies programs, the company said.

The hiking trails on the property will still be open and maintained for visitors, the company said.

Post Consumer Brands and St. Olaf College have been neighbors since 1927 when production of Malt-O-Meal hot cereal was moved to Northfield, the company said.

The land donation was identified by both parties when discussing their future operations, the company said.

“This was an excellent opportunity for St. Olaf College, the city of Northfield and our team here in Northfield to make the best use of the land and further improve our community,” Henry Albers, Post Consumer Brands manufacturing manager at Campbell Mill, said. “We’re looking forward to seeing how St. Olaf students and city residents use the space, both academically and recreationally.”

St. Olaf will begin to restore and enhance the land in the coming year, Post Consumer Brands said.

"We look forward to using this area as part of our educational program at St. Olaf. In addition to providing the opportunity to study and manage local forest and stream ecosystems, this beautiful area will serve as a space for exercise and spiritual and emotional renewal," Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Kathy Shea said.