In 1987, New York Mills garnered national attention when authorities conducted a raid on a marijuana growing operation north of town in Homestead Township. Neighbors had alerted law enforcement of reclusive strangers coming and going from the farm, vicious guard dogs, camouflaged individuals staked out along the driveway, sounds of automatic gunfire, and loads of 2x4’s being hauled to the farm. Otter Tail County Sheriff Gary Nelson became even more suspicious when aerial photographs showed rows of green plants standing between rows of brown corn stalks.

Law enforcement secured a search warrant but were unsure on how to conduct it. Nelson decided upon a Trojan horse strategy. Posing as livestock buyers, Nelson and Phil Wagner from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, drove into the farmyard pulling a livestock trailer containing officers. When Nelson got out and removed his hat, it signaled authorities parked along the road to begin the raid.

Ten were arrested on the spot while seven more were caught several days later in Wisconsin.
Based out of Marion County, Kentucky, the infamous Cornbread Mafia had marijuana farms in nine states. More than 40 tons were seized during the Mills operation. Cornbread Mafia leader Johnny Boone who was at the Homestead Township operation, eluded authorities for years until he was finally apprehended in 2016. In March 2018, the 74 year old Boone was sentenced to 57 months in prison. He was released in June 2020 and is back living in Kentucky.
Local stories about the incident always recall the one thing these Cornbread Mafia folks didn’t plan for when moving to New York Mills: the deeply ingrained sense of “Minnesota Nice.” Long before the authorities came to town to raid the farm, local citizens suspicions’ were aroused by the new neighbors’ lack of friendliness. They didn’t wave, smile, or talk about the weather with other residents. In this case, it turned out their suspicions were confirmed!