By Maddie Smith 1 (800) 273-8255... This is what Fillmore County dairy farmers read on the bottom of their milk checks each time they sell their freshest shipment of milk — the suicide hotline number. As striking as this fact seems, few people consider the significance of the mental health of farmers. Anxiety, depression, and suicide are serious concerns for farmers … [Read more...]

By Anna Erickson On a farm outside of Mabel, Minn., a team of Belgian draft horses rose to fame earlier this winter after a video of them went viral on the internet. Molly and Prince are a 13-year-old brother and sister who are very well accustomed to pulling heavy loads. In December 2018, truck driver Josie Swartzentruber’s semi truck became stuck when the slippery road … [Read more...]

By Leah Himlie Everyone has things of which they are scared. Some people are terrified of spiders, while others cannot bear the thought of elevators. It’s different for everyone. Despite everyone being different, most people are afraid of being rejected for who they really are. This is a fear many members of the LGBT+ community face every day. Coming out is one of the … [Read more...]

By Pailey Gordon Hegemonic masculinity has become a pressing problem that I have seen since I have entered high school. Every day it seems to be pushed upon the male population that certain things mean you are weak and certain things make you strong; even though some things do not necessarily mean you are weak, it means you are compassionate and caring. So, what even is … [Read more...]

By Katrina Bergey My mom frequently is reminding me of a simple quote by Abraham Lincoln. “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” That saying is incredibly true and I try to regularly remind myself of this. I think most people would agree that in the end you remember the things that bring you … [Read more...]

By Hannah Schneekcloth In the span of a year, there will be two million people in the United States that will be infected with a bacteria that has developed resistance to antibiotics. At least 23,000 will die from the infection each year. Some of the different types of bacterias are: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL) … [Read more...]

By Maddie Smith A  businessman who is in his mid-30s and alone is retiring and living in his mansion. An ex-con who has been released from prison has organized a homeless shelter for dozens of people. A comedian who struggles to display an honest smile brings waves of endless laughter to a local club every Friday night. A farmer who struggles to keep his head above water … [Read more...]

By Anna Erickson Miniature horses are somewhat of a rarity in southern Minnesota, but their delicate appearance and charm is sure to win over any heart, which is how I ended up with seven of them. The morning of September 7 started the same as any other day. I was up by sunrise carrying out my daily chores of tending to my horses, when I noticed that one mare was absent. I … [Read more...]

By Leah Himlie It is estimated that 1-2% of the human population has red hair. The same percentage is estimated for the number of people who have green eyes, and lastly, the same percentage is estimated for the number of people who identify as asexual. Despite the first two statistics being perceived as valid, true statements, many people invalidate or are ignorant of … [Read more...]

By Pailey Gordon All over the news, we hear about politics, war, celebrity drama, natural disasters, and sometimes we even receive a happy story about how a child overcame some sort of challenge he was facing. Rarely do we see news on a concerning pandemic that is developing more and more every day: human trafficking. Human trafficking is the action or practice of illegally … [Read more...]