The mission of Prairie Oaks Institute is to cultivate ways of living and leading that affirm the interdependence of all living things and connect self, spirit, community and earth for a resilient, renewed future.

In 1905, Herman and Christina Schmidt acquired a 240-acre farm and farmhouse that still stand in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. Edward, the youngest son, eventually took over the farm. During his time, he was recognized for his outstanding water and soil conservation efforts. Around 1960, Marilyn (Schmidt) and her husband Roger Devine moved onto the land, continuing the family’s land conservation and preservation efforts. In 1999, having farmed the 240 acres in the Minnesota River Valley for nearly a hundred years, the Devine family saw the need to re-imagine the purpose of this precious acreage while continuing the legacy of sustainability begun by Edward Schmidt and further cultivated by Roger Devine.

Much of the farm consists of the last remnants of native sand-hill prairie in the region. On its way to the Minnesota River, Robert Creek meanders through uniquely pristine landscapes that transition from oak savannah to sand-hill prairie.

In the face of encroaching development that threatened to destroy the serenity and biodiversity of the land, Tammy Devine had a vision for a retreat center on the farm where hermitages would provide places free of distraction for those in search of solitude and settings where they could pray, think and wander. Devine Valley Renewal Ministries was incorporated in 2002 to advance this vision.

The untimely deaths of Roger (in 2003) and Marilyn (in 2004) shifted the focus away from hermitage construction to consideration of how their home could be utilized for retreat activities. Their home, now called Harvest House, was readied for use as a guest house for those seeking a place for rest and renewal. A donated granary, which had been converted into a recreational shelter that sits in a pasture overlooking the ravine, now serves as a place for fellowship and reflection.

In 2008, Devine Valley was renamed Prairie Oaks Institute at Robert Creek and 501(c)3 status was established. Its vision and mission were redefined to focus on ecological sustainability and rejuvenation, education and leadership, and retreat and renewal.

Today, the last two members of the Devine family—Tammy and Kimberly—wish to see Prairie Oaks Institute acquire and steward the land in a way that will allow it to speak to future generations just as it has spoken to the Devine/Schmidt family.