Preconditioning — weaning calves, vaccinating against respiratory and clostridial diseases, deworming, and bunk-breaking them for 30 to 60 days before sale — is one of the most effective ways cow-calf producers can add value before calves leave the farm. Buyers pay a premium because these calves arrive healthier and better adapted to feed. This typically reduces the number of sick calves by 50-60% and death loss by 30-35%, often due to the stress of weaning, transport, and comingling with other groups of calves with an unknown backgrounding history.

A 2024 Oklahoma State University Extension analysis, “Calf Preconditioning: A Comprehensive Overview,” compared preconditioned and non-preconditioned calf budgets and found preconditioned calves produced an average net return of $94.38 per calf. That return makes preconditioning a strong option for producers weighing extra weeks of ownership against the payoff at sale.

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

My advice: Make the offer rather than wait for a price reduction—and here’s why:

• A price reduction may happen later, but another buyer could come along first, and you could miss out on the property altogether.

• Your offer gives the seller an opportunity to respond. They may reject it, but attractive terms, a flexible closing date, or other conditions may encourage them to consider your offer or counter.

Work with your Realtor to present a fair, well-supported offer. If appropriate, be flexible on terms that may be valuable to the seller. A letter showing your financial capability will also demonstrate that you are a serious buyer.

You won’t know if you don’t ask. Inviting the seller to respond can open the door to successful negotiations and help both sides determine the next move.

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

With winter coming, you should be thinking about your tires. No one wants to go into that first snowstorm on bald tires. Tire tread is measured in 32nds of an inch. Depending on the type of tire, new tires typically start around 9-12/32”. As your tires wear, it’s important to have them checked on a regular basis and rotated if necessary. That way if there is any abnormal wear, it can be corrected before it becomes a safety concern. Abnormal wear can be caused by alignment issues, or loose suspension components. Paying attention to your tires will keep them from wearing out prematurely, giving you as many miles as possible from your tires. Once a tire wears down to 3/32”, we start recommending replacing them. And remember, a tire is only as good as the thinnest part of the tread. We have seen tires with acceptable tread on one side and worn down to nothing on the other side causing a blowout.

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.

September is Peak Asthma Season for ER visits, according to the AAFA. Where we live and where we spend our time contribute to triggers and severity of an asthma attack.

While we can’t control every environment, we can be aware of our own indoor environment. Start with one room where you spend the most time. Pay attention to three things:

1. Is there outdoor pollen or smoke, dust, moisture, cooking particles, fragrances, cleaning products, or material brought in by people and pets?

2. How does air move through air pathways like vents, fans, doors, windows?

3. What habits happen throughout the day? Cooking, cleaning, entertaining guests?

The goal is to observe the space and raise your awareness.

Want help assessing your indoor environment? Give me a call.

For your breath of fresh air, contact Clavonne today at 507-254-1121.

Website: drivetohealth.com

Email: drivetohealth@gmail.com

Feeling financially fulfilled means so much more than the number in your bank account. It’s being able to take your family out to dinner without calculating whether you can afford it. It means sleeping soundly on a Sunday night, knowing that if the water heater gives out tomorrow, you can handle it.

Yet true fulfillment is surprisingly rare. Only 16% of Americans consider themselves financially fulfilled, according to a 2026 study by Edward Jones and Gallup. But it’s more achievable than you might think.

Financially fulfilled people tend to share five habits: • One: They build an emergency fund. • Two: They create a retirement financial plan. • Three: They save intentionally for major milestones. • Four: They put an estate plan in place. • And five: They work with a financial advisor.

These aren’t complicated steps. They’re foundational, putting you in control. And when you take them, money can stop feeling like a source of stress and start supporting the life you want.

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

Dogs don’t automatically know how to relax while the family is busy—they have to learn it! Teaching your dog to settle is an important skill that can make everyday life much easier.

Start by choosing a comfortable spot, such as a bed or mat. Reward your dog for calmly staying there, gradually increasing the amount of time between rewards. Begin in a quiet environment and slowly practice while you add distractions like the kids playing, dinner being prepared, or people moving around the house.

Be careful not to only send your dog to their place when they are being “bad.” Make it a positive, familiar space where calm behavior is regularly rewarded.

The goal isn’t to keep your dog separated from the family. It’s to teach them that being part of the family sometimes means participating—and sometimes means relaxing nearby.

With consistency and practice, settling can become a natural part of your dog’s daily routine.

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.

Think about where you carry a backpack, hoist a child, or shoulder a heavy load. Our backs and shoulders are remarkably well designed for carrying—and when life feels heavy, many of us brace in those same places.

Sometimes the load is quite literal. Forty hours leaning toward a computer can strain a body that wasn’t designed to work that way. Better ergonomics, movement, or bodywork may help redistribute the physical load.

But if your shoulders rise when life gets difficult, ask another question: Is everything I’m carrying actually mine to carry?

Responsibility has weight. But so do outcomes, expectations, other people’s decisions, and futures we cannot control.

There’s a reason surrender is central to so many faith and contemplative practices. Peace requires learning what to carry—and what to put down.

Next time you realize your shoulders are creeping up, notice what you’re bracing against. 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.

You did the hardest thing already: You have made the decision to pre-plan. Believe it or not, that really is the biggest decision.

I would tell you to start by gathering information. Whether you visit our Planning Ahead page on our website, or another funeral homes, you should be able to find checklists or articles that can help. We actually have a free preplanning checklist you can download. I would also encourage you to reach out to a preplanning specialist.

In our case, Lisa Hawkinson is our Preplanning Specialist. She can give you a lot of information, suggestions and has helped hundreds of families. It’s a free, no obligation, conversation. You will want to share your plan with your family, but I can tell you this, you are truly giving a great gift to your family.

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.

When I first got into the car business 12 years ago, I would have told you, “Don’t buy a VSC. I think it’s a waste of money.”

But after 12 years in this business, I’ve changed my mind.

I’ve seen repair costs and shop labor rates increase dramatically. When something major goes wrong with a vehicle, especially an engine or transmission, it doesn’t take long to have a $1,000+ repair bill—and many repairs can cost several thousand dollars.

Today, I look at a VSC differently. I see it as a form of affordable insurance that can help protect you from an unexpected, expensive repair.

A VSC isn’t for everyone, and it’s important to understand what the contract covers, the deductible, and what isn’t covered.

But based on what I’ve seen over the years, I believe a VSC can be a smart way to protect your budget from unexpected vehicle repairs.

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.

September is a great time to start getting your plumbing ready for colder weather. Taking care of a few things now can help prevent frozen pipes and costly repairs later.

Disconnect garden hoses and check outside faucets for leaks or damage. If you have water lines in a garage, crawl space, or other unheated area, make sure they are properly insulated and protected from freezing.

For rural homes, fall is also a good time to check well systems, pressure tanks, and water treatment equipment. If you have a seasonal building, shop, or cabin, make a plan to winterize the plumbing before temperatures drop.

A little preparation this fall can save you a lot of trouble this winter.

Call and schedule an appointment with Vis Plumbing and Heating to see if a heat pump is right for your home. Call at 507-467-2240 or 507-886-2008. We’re always happy to answer your questions and help keep your home’s plumbing running smoothly.

I hear this question a lot. Most people assume salt delivery is simply about not having to pick up and carry those heavy bags of salt. While that’s definitely a nice benefit, I think the real value goes beyond convenience.

Whenever we deliver salt, we also take a few minutes to check over your water softener. We’ll make sure the clock is set correctly, look for any leaks, confirm the system isn’t in bypass, inspect the drain line, and check for salt bridges that can keep the softener from working properly. If you’d like, we can even do a quick hardness test to make sure your system is producing soft water like it should.

These quick checkups often catch small issues before they become bigger, more expensive problems. We’d much rather help you fix something minor during a routine delivery than have you wake up one day wondering why your water suddenly isn’t soft anymore.

Salt delivery isn’t just about dropping off bags of salt. It’s about helping you get the most out of your water softener and giving you confidence that your system is working the way it should. A few extra minutes during each visit can make a big difference.

Schedule a free water consult with Nate at CulliganBetterWater.com or call 452-3600.

Nearly everyone listens to music or podcasts at work, at home or during their commute.

The challenge with advertising on radio is that there are so many options to choose from.

For myself, I listen to Pandora at home and at the office. While driving, I often listen to one of three FM radio stations depending on my mood that day.

Radio and streaming services like Pandora or Spotify have made the broadcast industry very fragmented. There are too many options to reach a mass audience.

I have advertised on broadcast in the past, and I always made a couple of considerations. What is my current customer demographic and who do I want to gain as new customers.

Will the broadcast or streaming option I am choosing connect with current and/or prospective customers?

Just because you like a certain type of music or platform doesn’t mean that is where you advertise. Always consider your target demographics.

As a business owner, if you ever want to chat about marketing, feel free to call me at 507-765-2151 or e-mail me at jason@fillmorecountyjournal.com.