ST. PAUL, MN – As teachers and students adjust to new ways of learning in 2021, Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC) is responding to changing needs for K-12 education with the launch of Minnesota AgMag’s new stand-alone website. Long available to kindergarten through sixth grade students as a print publication, Minnesota AgMag now shares the story of agriculture … [Read more...]
Preston to advertise for bids for 2021 street and utility project
Brett Grabau detailed potential cost issues with the planned street and utility project at the Preston City Council’s February 1 meeting. Grabau explained that with the redesigned roadways, drainage is not what it should be. Drainage doesn’t necessarily need to be underground. Grabau suggested the use of six foot wide valley gutters, shallow concrete troughs, across seven … [Read more...]
Thank you for celebrating 100 years of Houston County 4-H!
Although COVID has taken up much of the last year, it didn’t stop Houston County 4-H from celebrating our 100-year anniversary! We began the new 4-H year (October 1, 2019) with a new event: a Fall Festival at the Fairgrounds! It was a lot of fun and very well attended! Then we had a survey contest and the top three winning clubs (Wilmington Gophers, Sheldon Spartans and the … [Read more...]
Schultz takes on new role with Journal
In January of 2021, Sherry Hines retired as an advertising sales representative with the Fillmore County Journal after serving customers in Southeast Minnesota and Northeast Iowa for 35 years. With Hines retiring from the Journal, Sara Schultz has taken over her territory. Schultz started her career as a graphic designer with the newspaper in October of 2019. With … [Read more...]
Online beef quality assurance and secure beef supply training scheduled
SLAYTON, MN., January 21, 2021 — University of Minnesota Extension, along with Minnesota Beef Council, will host several online Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and Secure Beef Supply (SBS) training sessions starting in February through April. Producers only need to attend one of these free workshops to receive a three-year BQA certification, and they will also learn the steps … [Read more...]
Father and son committed to continuing personalized service at Harmony lumberyard
In 1975, a father and son, Jim and Joe Hahn, started Hahn Lumber in Harmony. At the end of 2020, another father and son joined forces to invest in that same lumberyard to continue a tradition of small-town service, offering a full range of building supplies. Gary Nolan and his son Will have purchased the lumberyard and have aptly named their new business Nolan Lumber. While … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Board issues solar CUP
Fillmore County Solar Project, LLC is one step closer to constructing a 45 MW Solar Farm in section 14 of Beaver Township. Commissioners unanimously approved the conditional use permit with nine conditions at their January 26 meeting. The road to this point has been long and there are still more steps for the project before construction can begin. That is why one condition … [Read more...]
Soil health case studies share farmer experiences
GOODHUE, MN., JANUARY 11, 2021 – Farmers and landowners can learn about the soil health journeys of 10 Minnesota farmers in a new report, “Soil Health Case Studies Vol 3.” Jared Luhman, Soil Health Lead for the Sustainable Farming Association, visited 10 farms across southeast Minnesota and interviewed the farmers. He then used those conversations to develop case studies … [Read more...]
Organization and goal setting for the SWCD
The Fillmore SWCD (Soil and Water Conservation District) met via a hybrid of in-person and Zoom on January 21, 2021. Board members, including new members Eunice Biel and Dwayne Ostrem, were sworn in and officers were elected: Travis Willford, chair; Tim Gossman, vice chair; Kathy Tesmer, secretary; and Dwayne Ostrem, treasurer. Members then were appointed to committees as … [Read more...]
Mark Holmen joins Lanesboro school board
The Lanesboro School Board opened their January 21 meeting by seating re-elected board members Christine Troendle and Sarah Peterson and new board member, Mark Holmen. The board meetings will continue to be held on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in the elementary library. Merchants Bank of Lanesboro was approved as the district depository and Fillmore County … [Read more...]