Dairy farmers Bob and Jeanette Kappers can tell you where nearly each ounce of milk and hour of each day on their farm has gone. They are down-to-earth, welcoming, and eager to share their love for an industry and a way of life. While Bob grew up ona dairy farm in Spring Valley, Jeanette was a townie, raised in Chatfield. After getting married, they stumbled upon a … [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.
Karst Brewing gears up to serve the perfect pint
Craft breweries have exploded all over the region as connoisseurs try their hand at creating their ideal tastes while riding the rejuvenated local foods movement. According to data, craft breweries in Minnesota have increased from 19 in 2010 to over 100 in 2017. In Rochester, a city known for its foodie culture, Kinney Creek, LTS, Grand Rounds, and Forager have all put their … [Read more...]
Rushford audit; what will be done with fund, facility
The 2016 audit, by Smith Schafer & Associates, is completed and Rushford has received good news regarding several efforts. General fund reserves, as a percentage of general fund expenditures are now sitting at 67%, a marked improvement since 2011 when the figure had dropped to just 11%. The city had been cautioned previously that reserves had dropped too low and in the five … [Read more...]
Rushford-Peterson in the home stretch on new school
“They are tracking a little ahead of schedule.” Those were the words of Tim Robertson of ICS Consulting at the Monday, May 22 school board meeting. “Thing are clipping along nice.” The project is now estimated at 75-78 days until completion and it’s slated to be move-in ready after the 4th of July and by contract is turnkey by August 15. Superintendent Ehler asked Roberston … [Read more...]
Rushford Village looking to wrap up project
The May 16 Rushford Village meeting was brisk; just 14 minutes. In that time though, the Village made it known that they want to wrap up their 2016 utility and road improvement project, with or without the contractor. The frustrations felt by the Village have been stated on numerous occasions by Mayor Gordon Johnson, members of the council, and Public Works Supervisor Travis … [Read more...]
Rushford plans for upcoming projects
Preliminary cost estimates for capital improvement projects are in and the city of Rushford is in the early steps of planning for them. A cost summary was provided to the council at the brisk, Monday, May 8 meeting. The summary was drafted last September and contains more than 40 recommended improvement projects. While the listing may look daunting, the recommendations are a … [Read more...]
Peterson approves zoning code; moves to draft legal papers
The city of Peterson’s Planning and Zoning Board has spent the last several years reviewing the zoning code and ordinances. At the Wednesday, May 10 council meeting, Zoning Board member Karlin Symons presented some changes to the council. In regards to conditional use permits, Symons indicated that the permits are issued based on the request so long as it meets code and that … [Read more...]
Rushford Village will support trail system
The Tuesday, May 2, Rushford Village Council included an update from representatives of the Bluff Country ATV Club. The club has talked about the development of a Bluff Trax trail system for several years and an in-depth concept was developed in the last five. Now, the club is getting closer to making a scenic, family-friendly trail a reality. “There are about seven steps we … [Read more...]
Good news for Fountain’s Waste Plant woes
“Are we in compliance? We’re knocking it out of the park right now,” said Rick Whitney. Whitney serves as the front man for the Wastewater Treatment Plant through PeopleService, whom the city contracted with in September 2012 in effort to help mitigate problems with its aging plant. The city has been out of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) compliance since October … [Read more...]
Rushford EDA zeroing in on goals
At the Monday, April 24 city council meeting, more than six items of recommendation were presented to the council by the Economic Development Authority (EDA). Among them a Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development report and details of Micro Grant Funds and Revolving Loan Fund activity. Most notable in the recommendation was a four-page document detailing the … [Read more...]