Donna Amundson, age 85, of Chatfield, passed away peacefully at the Chosen Valley Care Center on November 30, 2025. Donna was born July 29, 1940, in Rochester, Minn., to Leo and Florence (Doll) Horan. She grew up on a farm in rural Chatfield and went to country school through eighth grade. In ninth grade she attended Chatfield High School, graduating in 1958. After … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Flashback – Always Go Forward – Preston’s “Two-Headed” Car
By Joanne Hall Preston Historical Society In 1965, LaVern Knoepke, who worked at Jerry’s Body Shop in Preston, was approached by the Preston Booster Club with the idea of making a “clown car” for parades. There were several of the same type of “clown cars” at that time, so they were looking for something a little different. It is not clear who suggested the idea of a … [Read more...]
Hazel Marie Knies
Hazel Marie Knies, 97, of Preston, Minn., passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Traditions of Preston in Preston. Hazel was born November 19, 1928, in rural Allamakee County, Iowa, to Frank and Caroline (Jahn) Ranzenberger. She attended country school in Dorchester, Iowa, and graduated salutatorian of the 1946 class at Spring Grove High School. In 1947, she was united … [Read more...]
Ona Louise Housker
Ona Louise Housker, age 89, passed away on November 29, 2025, at the Gundersen Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove. She was born on a very cold night on January 11, 1936, at home to Clarence and Gelina (Johnson) Moen. She was baptized and confirmed at Faith Lutheran of Black Hammer and was a current member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. She attended grade school in … [Read more...]
No-Till Planting
By Dan Wermager Technician, Root River SWCD No-till planting is a great tool for conventional farmers to use in order to help the environment. No-till planting can reduce erosion, improve infiltration, reduce runoff, and build organic matter. These are all very important things, because eroded soil is the #1 pollutant of surface water in the world. Erosion is an … [Read more...]
Free Manure Sampling and Spreader Calibration
By Bob Scanlan MN Dept. of Agriculture The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Houston County Environmental Services Office are offering free manure sample analysis and manure spreader calibration in certain townships of Houston County. Feedlot operators working in Black Hammer, Caledonia, Mayville, Spring Grove, and Wilmington Townships can take … [Read more...]
Prairie Strips
By Dan Wermager Technician, Root River SWCD An exciting opportunity for prairie strips is now available for area farmers. Prairie strips are a fairly new CRP practice. They reduce erosion, improve water quality, and create insect and bird habitat by establishing strips of native prairie vegetation on a field. They can be placed across a field in one or more contour … [Read more...]
The Many Benefits of Cover Crops
By Dan Wermager Technician, Root River SWCD As you are driving through the area in late fall or early spring, you may notice more green fields than you normally would. If it’s not a hay strip, then the green vegetation you are seeing is likely winter rye that has been planted as a cover crop. Cover crops are gaining a lot of traction in the area in recent years, and … [Read more...]
Tap-In – Free Well Test Kits Available
By Jean Meiners Technician, Root River SWCD The Minnesota Department of Health is offering free well test kits for eligible homes in eight southeast Minnesota counties. Your household may be eligible if: 1) A private well is the main source of drinking water for the place you live, 2) The private well is in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha or … [Read more...]
Potential Opportunity for Feedlot Operators in Houston County
By Bob Scanlan MN Dept. of Agriculture The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is working with farmers and crop advisors located in Houston County townships where 10% or more of the private wells tested over the nitrate Health Risk Limit (HRL) of 10 mg/L. Those townships include Black Hammer, Caledonia, Mayville, Spring Grove, and Wilmington. This pilot program is … [Read more...]