Spring is the time for new foals being born and spring vaccines for your horses.

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners guidelines, every horse should receive core vaccines against Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus, tetanus, and rabies, diseases present in this region that can be rapidly fatal. Two doses are necessary for animals that have never been vaccinated. We see these cases every year, so vaccination offers prevention against these potentially devastating diseases. Foals depend first on high-quality colostrum from properly vaccinated mares, then on a structured vaccine series starting around 4–6 months of age.

Remember the 1-2-3 rule: the foal should stand within 1 hour of being born, the foal should nurse within 2 hours of being born, and the mare should pass the placenta and the foal should have its first bowel movement within 3 hours of being born. Have a great spring!

This content was provided by The Harmony Veterinary Clinic Team located in Harmony, MN. For more information, contact 507-886-6321.

Many homeowners face this question when they begin thinking about downsizing. The best approach is to start early and take it one step at a time.

Begin by going through your home and sorting belongings into four categories: Keep, Gift, Donate, and Discard. Start with drawers, closets, and storage areas to make the process manageable. Create a legacy box for meaningful keepsakes like photos and family mementos and organizing important papers.

Next, begin researching potential places to move. Consider location, proximity to medical care, shopping, family, and friends.

Finally, review your financials so you understand what resources you have available for your next move.

If you or a loved one are considering downsizing, feel free to reach out for guidance through the process.

Professional guidance makes your move smoother and less stressful, reach out with your real estate questions to: Roxannejohnson@remax.net Roxanne Johnson, Harmony, MN Ph: 507-458-6110

We all know someone who bought a used car, and it turned out to be a lemon. There are several steps we can take to prevent this from happening.

First, do your research. Once you know what type of vehicle you are interested in, search online for common problems with that type of vehicle. If a vehicle is prone to having transmission problems for example, you will be able to find that out with some quick online searches.

Second, obtain service history for the car. This can be done by asking the current owner or using a service like CARFAX. You should see history of regular maintenance and repairs.

Third, bring the vehicle to a trusted repair shop for a pre-purchase inspection. A thorough inspection will help you know what kind of shape a vehicle is in and if there may be any upcoming maintenance or repairs needed. Remember, all vehicles will need maintenance and repairs, but with these steps you can minimize the chances of ending up with a lemon.

This content was provided by James Hagen at Total Care Care located in rural Preston, MN. For more information, call or text 507-322-4057 or visit www.yourtotalcarcare.com.

Yes! Mold toxicity is a serious health risk. Never disturb black mold. Many types of mold release mycotoxins.

Most think of mold in basements but it can also be in your HVAC system where it is dark, warm and moist: the perfect environment. Air filtration that relies on a filter like HEPA only traps some of what is released in the air. The rest continues to circulate. The worst part of the HEPA is that the toxins are still alive within the filter. NASA inspired technology is filterless, nullifies mold and pathogens in air and surfaces, sending the solution to the pollution. No worries about the spread! No filters to change! Combating mold and other toxins in your home or workplace is key to healthy living.

For your breath of fresh air, contact Clavonne today at 507-254-1121. Website: drivetohealth.com – Email: drivetohealth@gmail.com

If you’ll soon retire — or recently have — market volatility may feel especially unsettling. At this point in your life, market downturns can have an outsized impact on your financial security.

For instance, could you stay retired if the value of your portfolio dropped by 20% tomorrow and stayed there for a while? Now is a good time to stress-test your retirement income. Start by confirming how much you rely on your portfolio for income and how a market drop may affect your short-term needs.

Then consider whether you have enough in an emergency fund to help you through. Three to six months’ worth of essential expenses is a standard rule of thumb. And think about where you could adjust your spending, and if you need to reduce your exposure to riskier assets such as stocks.

A financial advisor can help you stress-test your retirement income plan, evaluate your options and stay focused on your long-term goals — even when the markets are anything but steady.

This content was provided by Edward Jones for use by Maggie Schoepski, your Edward Jones financial advisor at 507-867-1460. Member SIPC

This is one of the most common frustrations dog owners face – and it comes down to environment, not stubbornness. Inside your home, distractions are low and predictable. Your dog knows the space, feels safe, and it’s easier to focus on you. Outside, everything changes. New smells, sights, sounds, and movement compete for your dog’s attention, often making you the least interesting thing in the environment.

If your dog “ignores” you outside, it usually means their training hasn’t been fully generalized yet. Dogs don’t automatically apply what they’ve learned in one setting to another—you have to teach them that commands still matter everywhere.

Start by practicing in low-distraction outdoor areas, then gradually build up to more stimulating environments. Keep expectations realistic, use clear communication, and make yourself relevant through consistency and follow-through. When your dog understands that listening applies everywhere—not just at home—you’ll start to see reliable behavior no matter the setting.

This content was provided by Carla Ladd at Ladd K9 located in Preston, MN. For more information, contact 507-951-7398 or visit www.LaddK9.com.

Craniosacral therapy is a very gentle, hands-on approach that works with the body’s natural ability to regulate and reorganize itself.

Instead of forcing muscles or joints to move, the practitioner uses light touch to listen to subtle patterns of tension and motion in the body—especially around the head, spine, and nervous system.

When the nervous system feels safe enough to settle, something remarkable happens: the body begins to reorganize and complete what is unfinished on its own.

Tight areas soften. Breathing deepens. Old patterns of strain release. Sometimes a headache fades, a joint aligns, or a person feels deep relief they didn’t realize they needed. The practitioner isn’t “fixing” the body. They’re creating conditions where it can remember what it was designed to do. Your body already knows how to move toward balance. Sometimes it simply needs quiet support to get there.

This content was provided by Bethany Grace at Waniya Healing located in Lanesboro, MN. For more information, contact 612-790-7101 or visit www.waniyahealing.com.

There a number of important things that come from a funeral or memorial service. The biggest value is the actual “gathering” and “remembering” of the one we lost. This planned gathering gives an invitation to other family, friends, co-workers, and the community and provides a specific time, place and purpose. This gathering, which of course is beneficial for many reasons, sets a “time” for the remembrance. This allows people to come together, to support the family, to share stories and to begin the grief journey…both in their own way and yet also together. One other benefit is it helps people process the loss of this loved one. There are so many options now for this and whether you are looking at a traditional funeral, a memorial, or a celebration of life – the important thing is to gather and remember.

This content was provided by Ashley Hoff-Czaplewski at Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service located in Lanesboro, Rushford, Chatfield, Winona, Houston, St Charles and Lewiston, MN. For more information, contact 507-467-2130 or hofffuneral.com.

After 11+ years in the car business, I’ve learned what to buy and what to avoid.

There are vehicles I won’t even consider at auction. For example, I stay away from Hyundais from 2010–2018. I’ve seen too many with serious engine issues. No warning signs, just sudden, catastrophic failure.

I also avoid vehicles with CVT transmissions. Not all are bad, but I’ve seen enough failures to know the risk is high and repairs are very expensive.

When I’m buying inventory, I’m not just looking at what looks good on the lot, I’m thinking about long-term reliability for my customers. Because it’s not about if something goes wrong… it’s when. And I’d rather avoid the problem before it ever reaches my lot.

This content was provided by Josh Lewis at Top Gear Auto Sales located in LeRoy, MN. For more information, contact 507-324-1800 or visit www.topgearautosalesllc.com.

Spring plumbing and heating maintenance is important for preventing water damage and preparing your home for warmer weather. Taking a few minutes to check key areas now can help avoid costly repairs later.

If you have a sump pump in the basement, make sure it is working properly. Check the breaker in your electrical panel and the outlet it’s plugged into to ensure it hasn’t tripped.

Inspect outdoor faucets (hose bibs) for cracks, breaks, or leaks. If a hose was left connected during the winter and froze, the faucet may have cracked. When you turn it on this spring, it could spray water inside the wall or into the basement area.

Clean debris from gutters and downspouts so water drains away from your home’s foundation. Also remove leaves and debris around your outdoor AC unit to allow proper airflow.

Spring is the perfect time to schedule an AC service check before the summer heat arrives.

If you need help with spring maintenance, call VIS Plumbing & Heating at 507-467-2240 or 507-886-2008.

Nitrates are a common concern in agricultural areas and can enter private wells through fertilizer runoff or natural soil conditions. Unlike iron or hardness, you can’t see, taste, or smell nitrates in water — which makes testing especially important.

High nitrate levels are most concerning for infants and pregnant women, as they can interfere with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. That’s why routine testing is recommended for private well owners.

If nitrates are detected above recommended levels, treatment options such as reverse osmosis systems can effectively reduce them for drinking and cooking water.

The key is knowing what’s in your water. Regular testing helps ensure your family’s water is safe and gives you confidence in what you’re drinking every day.

This content was provided by Nate Van Loon at Culligan Water located in Winona, MN. For more information, contact 507-452-3600.

Absolutely, when business owners plan to sell their business, they want to show a good profit for prospective buyers.

One common mistake business owners make is cutting back on their marketing. When you cut back on your marketing, you actually make your business less visible. When prospective buyers don’t see the brand of the business they want to buy visible in the marketplace, they may question the value of that brand or company. When you cut back on advertising, you may actually diminish the value (and visibility) of your business. Instead, sharpen your marketing and branding efforts to make sure you are Brand A — the premiere brand in the marketplace. Along with showing prospects a history of solid profits, you’ll be able to demand a higher price based on the perceived value you have created.