Jason Schwarz knows farming is a tough business. The Preston native is the owner of JMS Agronomics, a local company working to assist farms in reaching their greatest potential. Along with agronomy, Schwarz maintains a Pioneer sales rep agency, selling a full line of seed products. “With Pioneer, where we’re at in the industry is seed treatment. It’s a fully customizable … [Read more...]
Kirsten Zoellner
Reporter
kirsten@fillmorecountyjournal.com
Kirsten has been a reporter for Fillmore County Journal since 2008. No awards to date, but her mother finds her articles riveting. She enjoys shining a light on the great people and events in the county and has aspirations to someday write a novel about them. A native of Rushford, she is a member of Root River Community Church, co-founder of Odyssey Homeschool Association, and was the founder for the Rushford-Peterson Valley Farmers' Market.
When not writing, Kirsten happily spends her time raising a family alongside Joel, her husband of 18 years. She homeschools their six children (Evin, Lauren, Logan, Ada, Kathleen, and Emelia) and does her best to ensure domestic bliss. Kirsten is an advocate for conservation and homesteading and operates Liten Dal Farm, where the family raises dairy goats, pastured poultry and hogs, alpacas, a few steers, and horses. Hobbies other than juggling include the outdoors, reading, vegetable gardening, cheesemaking, fermenting various things in Ball jars, and making everything from scratch despite the fact that it probably costs more.
Kirsten and her family proudly reside in rural Fountain on her great-great-grandfather's farm.
You can follow more about Kirsten on the family's Facebook page, Liten Dal Farm, or their blog: ourprairienest.wordpress.com.
End may be in sight for Rushford’s municipal liquor store woes
At the October 10 Rushford Council meeting, an offer to purchase the city’s former municipal liquor store building, located at 409 South Elm Street, was presented by real estate agent Rodney Darr. The offer, from Destiny Life Church, was the first solid offer the city has had on the site, which has stood vacant for years. The strange saga of the store started with the flood of … [Read more...]
Farmers Coop Elevator and Farmers Win Cooperative courting merger idea
Some big changes may be happening in the near future for long-time area business Farmers Coop Elevator. Finding itself in between general managers, the board of directors announced in May that it would begin investigating the option of a possible merger with a neighboring cooperative. Six cooperatives were looked at and met with. This past summer, after two joint meetings … [Read more...]
Peterson frustration grows with unpaid utilities; considers disconnects
The Wednesday, October 11 Peterson Council meeting was a rapid fire 17-minute review of a bulk of old business. Included was brief discussion of the reclamation and repair of Park Street and River Street, purchase of a city truck, and the 2018 budget. Mayor Tim Hallum suggested the council wait until the first of the year to discuss the truck and it was determined that budget … [Read more...]
Burdey’s Cafe owner passionate about building customer relationships
Rushford native Kristin Burdey always had a soft spot for the idea of owning a little eatery, but never really gave the concept any detailed planning. Instead she dove into work for a franchise restaurant and excelled in her position. Throughout her time there, she saw little things she would do differently if she ever owned her own place. “I met my husband in the restaurant … [Read more...]
Rushford finds surprise in planning for levy
City of Rushford staff recently discovered a neglected notation in the schedule for the 2016 Project that provides a surprising reduction in the city’s proposed levy for 2017. The new find will allow for a reduction in required debt service levy and will amend the levy increase needed from 8.19% to 5.3%. The total savings is $31,000. City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Zacher and City … [Read more...]
Fountain able to dissolve plan with Pollution Control
The City of Fountain received some welcome news at the Wednesday, October 4 council meeting. After achieving six consecutive months of compliance at the wastewater treatment plant, the city has the option to dissolve it’s corrective action plan with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). A meeting was recently held between representatives from the city and the state … [Read more...]
Rushford Village reaffirms decision
Rushford Village Council has made it clear: the Village Hall is not a commercial property for rent. Inquiries in 2016 and again this year led to several discussions about repeat rental of the community center space, specifically long-term rental. “We’re not set up for that, on a regular basis,” cautioned Councilor Dennis Overland. “There are other places for rent for those … [Read more...]
Area youth ready for premier 4-H stock show
For more than 100 years, the 4-H organization has consistently turned out youth excelling in leadership and agriculture. It’s estimated that there are more than six million youth members; roughly one in every three youth in the heartland states of Minnesota, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Through the years, … [Read more...]
Rushford finds new partner in business push
The City of Rushford is already a full-service community with a thriving business atmosphere, but that hasn’t slowed the Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) push for expanding the potential for existing and new businesses. At the Monday, September 25 meeting, the council reviewed and approved a recommendation from the EDA to enter into an agreement with EsseX Capital, … [Read more...]