By Wanda Hanson The pandemic has caused virtually all of our small town celebrations and fairs to be cancelled; we’ve had to give up a lot of our usual summer activities, but there’s one part of those fairs you can still enjoy! Make your own fair food! I’ve been choosing a different food to make each week. Here are a few of my favorites. Cream puffs are versatile and easy to … [Read more...]
He almost traded a boat for a fiancée
It was a beautiful day for a morning. I was sauntering down a gravel road when a pickup truck towing a boat pulled up. The brakes squeaked in protest. The driver turned off the engine of his dented and duct-taped vehicle. It dieseled for a minute before ending in a loud backfire. The driver of that rusty steed was my neighbor Crandall, who said through an open window … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past; 1901: Houston County steps up, provides for the unfortunate
First of two parts “The present county poor-house is a very poor house indeed... a rickety old affair” said the Caledonia newspaper in 1892. Eighty-nine years later, the Houston County Poorhouse was described as a “model of beauty and utility” when nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. In between those two assessments, the county had decided to replace the … [Read more...]
Historic memories of Fillmore County: A treasured painting resides in Fountain, Minn.
As promised, from last week’s column regarding your having a chance to see at least one of the treasures from Aaron L. Sleyster’s Studio located in Preston, Minn., well over 125 years ago – it actually awaits you just a few miles away, up the road from Preston on Highway 52! Please take a trip soon to the Fillmore County Historical Center in beautiful Fountain, Minnesota and … [Read more...]
Real Bites
Old Barn Resort The Old Barn Resort has it all: golfing, camping, dining, swimming, nature, sunshine. It’s a great place to escape work, technology, and projects at home. And owners Travis Dundore and Eric Brenna (along with their wives) have worked tirelessly to perfect each facet of their operations. They’ve continuously re-invested in every aspect of the business. … [Read more...]
The ratio for career success through higher education
By Maddie Smith National FFA Officer Candidate Think about your senior year of high school. As graduation approaches, what is the one thing most people talk about? Aside from senior pranks and graduation parties, most high school students are probably worrying about what’s next. For me, it hasn’t been too long since I was a high school senior. Two of the biggest things I … [Read more...]
Real Bites
The Locker Have you heard about The Locker in Chatfield, Minn.? If you head down Main Street (Hwy. 52) in Chatfield and turn at the corner by Hangman Blinds onto 2nd Street SW, you’ll see a long-time business known as R Four Meats. Right next door is The Locker — an extension of R Four Meats. This business has been in the Reiner family since 1997. In January of 2020, … [Read more...]
The community impact of agricultural education
By Maddie Smith National FFA Officer Candidate When we talk about education, we usually think about the students and teachers, but what about the community? How do we make classroom content applicable to the “real world”? What does it take to promote a town’s economy and culture? Can certain classes make a difference? Yes — certain classes can make a difference! … [Read more...]
Peering at the Past; Horse races, marching bands, “Lolita in the tank” entertained at the Houston County Fair
The last of a two-part series “The fair was earthy in the old days. It smelled of manure and cigars,” recalled Perk Steffen at the age of 86, in 1982, when talking to writer Ken Pritchard about the Houston County Fair. It may have began as a statehood celebration. After the first two identified fairs in 1858 and 1869, the county fair became an annual autumn harvest … [Read more...]
Making a to-do list is easy when you’re doing nothing
Back in the days when everything was nearly copacetic, we made hay and ground feed. Not all of the hay went into the barn nor did all the feed go into a granary. A lot of it went down my neck, where it became an incessant itch. I have an itch to travel, to go places and make a triumphant return to fanfare at my humble abode. Yet, I welcome being homebound. I accept the … [Read more...]