BROOKWOOD FARMS MAKE HISTORY AT THE 2024 MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
T he 2024 Minnesota State Fair was a landmark event for the Hackett family and Brookwood Farms. Competing with three different heifers, they swept the competition, taking home the Supreme Champion Female titles in the 4-H, FFA, and Open Class shows. The Hackett’s weren’t born into a legacy of show cattle champions. Dylan Hackett, along with his siblings— Rylee, Leighton, and Nolan—started showing cattle through 4-H when Dylan was just 10 years
old. He vividly remembers his first experience at the State Fair, entering the ring with a 900-pound bred heifer. Though far from competitive at the time, Dylan, Leighton, and Nolan remained determined, dedicating themselves to improving the genetics of their herd and gaining valuable experience along the way. Grace’s background was quite different. Growing up in town, she was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA, leasing animals like sheep, llamas, dairy cows, rabbits, and pigs—anything she could get involved with.
But her heart was always set on showing beef cattle. At 14, she managed to save enough money to buy her first feedlot heifer, a moment that sparked her passion. She kept her cattle on a farm five miles from town, making the trip twice a day to care for her growing herd. In 2018, Dylan and Grace’s mutual love for cattle brought them together. Eventually, Grace moved to St. Cloud to become more involved in the Hackett family operation. There, she teamed up with Jerry Bauerly of Brookwood Farms. At
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