By Janette Dragvold Cycling along the picturesque bike trails of Southeastern Minnesota is a leisure sport for most people, but Canton resident Shane Birch has taken his love of cycling way beyond that. He purchased his first full suspension mountain bike while in college, participated in his first mountain bike races, and was hooked. “I loved it,” states … [Read more...]
Minnesota farmers can nominate schools for $15,000 STEM grants
The America’s Farmers programs, sponsored by Bayer Fund, are back for another year to strengthen farming communities across Minnesota. Beginning January 1, America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education is partnering with farmers across the country to help strengthen rural public school districts through $15,000 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) grants. Since 2010, … [Read more...]
Sesquicentennial farm applications due March 2
Minnesota Farm Bureau’s Sesquicentennial Farm program will honor Minnesota families who have owned their farms for at least 150 years. Since the Sesquicentennial Farm program began in 2008, over 371 farms have been recognized. The Sesquicentennial Farm program recognizes family farms according to the following qualifications: 1) The farm must be at least 150 years old this … [Read more...]
Applications now open for Harvest Entrepreneur Network (HEN) in Greater Minnesota
Entrepreneurs in rural Minnesota are invited to apply to join the Harvest Entrepreneur Network (HEN), a new program led by Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA). CEDA is a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization dedicated to innovative community development practices and business growth in small towns. Through HEN, CEDA’s professional staff will 1) provide … [Read more...]
State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation accepting century farm applications
Minnesota families who have owned their farms for 100 years or more are invited to apply for the 2020 Century Farm Program. Produced by the Minnesota State Fair in conjunction with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, the Century Farm Program was created to promote agriculture and honor historic family farms in the state. More than 10,500 Minnesota farms have been honored … [Read more...]
AcenTek awarded grant to bring fiber to rural Houston
Rural residents of Houston, Minn., will benefit from a grant awarded to AcenTek by the Border-to-Border grant program. On Tuesday, January 21, Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz, announced that AcenTek was among the 30 recipients across the state to receive a grant. This is big news for AcenTek since the cost to the rural Houston fiber project is greater than any previous fiber … [Read more...]
Brett A. Corson recertified as Criminal Law Specialist
The Minnesota State Bar Association announces the recertification of Brett A. Corson, Fillmore County Attorney’s Office, as an MSBA Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist. This Certification program is administered by the MSBA and approved by the State Board of Legal Certification. The certified specialist designation is earned by leading attorneys who have completed a … [Read more...]
Minnesota unemployment rate holds steady at 3.3%
Year-over-year job gains up 0.1% while labor force participation rate held at 70.3% ST. PAUL – Minnesota’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained a steady 3.3% during December, according to data released today by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December also held a steady … [Read more...]
Noxious weeds spread to eight new Minnesota counties
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) confirmed in 2019 five species of weeds on the state’s Noxious Weed Prohibited Eradicate List for the first time in eight counties. Weeds categorized as Prohibited Eradicate are the worst types of weeds. The law requires species on this list to have all above- and below-ground plant parts destroyed because the weeds may be … [Read more...]
Lanesboro fills empty school board seat
At the January 23 Lanesboro School Board meeting, Sarah Peterson was sworn in as the newest member of the board. Peterson will fill the empty seat until the next election. Dave Lawstuen was elected as the board chair, Steve Snyder as the vice chair, Chris Troendle as the clerk, and Steve Storhoff as the treasurer. The board meetings will continue to be held on the third … [Read more...]






