Minnesota Seeds Help Green Super Bowl Field

Northern Excellence Seed supplied ryegrass for the playing surface at Levi's Stadium.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Northern Excellence Seed, a cooperative of 53 regional growers in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota, supplied the ryegrass used to overseed the Bermuda grass playing field for Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in California. The ryegrass blend came from three local Minnesota farms and helped create the lush green playing surface that was seen by over 100 million viewers.

Why it matters

The use of Minnesota-grown seed on the Super Bowl field highlights the important role that local agriculture plays in major sporting events. It validates the hard work of regional farmers and showcases the high-quality products they are able to produce.

The details

West Coast Turf in California grew the sod for the Super Bowl field, using a Bermuda grass variety designed for player safety. However, Bermuda grass goes dormant in the winter, so it was overseeded with a three-way perennial ryegrass blend sourced from three local Minnesota farms: Heggedal Farms and Howell Farms in Badger, Minn., and Hasbargen Farms near the eastern border of Lake of the Woods County. Northern Excellence Seed, a cooperative of 53 regional growers, supplied this ryegrass blend, which makes up between 1 million and 2 million pounds of their annual production.

  • Northern Excellence Seed has been in operation since 2002.
  • Super Bowl LX was played on February 11, 2026.

The players

Northern Excellence Seed

A cooperative of 53 regional growers in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota that supplied the ryegrass used to overseed the Super Bowl field.

West Coast Turf

The California company that grew the sod for the Super Bowl field, using a Bermuda grass variety designed for player safety.

Heggedal Farms

One of the three Minnesota farms that grew the ryegrass blend used to overseed the Super Bowl field.

Howell Farms

One of the three Minnesota farms that grew the ryegrass blend used to overseed the Super Bowl field.

Hasbargen Farms

One of the three Minnesota farms that grew the ryegrass blend used to overseed the Super Bowl field.

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What they’re saying

“We are always preaching quality.”

— Brent Benike, Northern Excellence Seed (inforum.com)

“You don't have sod if you don't have seed, it all starts from seed.”

— Brent Benike, Northern Excellence Seed (inforum.com)

“I am not sure you can get on a more famous field than a Super Bowl field.”

— Brent Benike, Northern Excellence Seed (inforum.com)

What’s next

With the successful use of Minnesota-grown seed on the Super Bowl field, Northern Excellence Seed and the local farms involved will likely continue to supply high-quality ryegrass for future major sporting events.

The takeaway

The inclusion of Minnesota-grown seed on the Super Bowl field showcases the important role that regional agriculture plays in supporting major sporting events. It highlights the quality and expertise of local farmers and validates their hard work on a national stage.