By Janee Kale The title of this article are words spoken by a young man who has spent a significant amount of time in his life breeding, raising and showing pigs. Jacob Welch of Spring Valley owns and operates JW Show Pigs with his fiancée Olivia. Together they run a 10 head show pig sow operation, consisting of Durocs, Spots, and Crossbreds. They farrow two times a … [Read more...]
Safely Sharing the Road During Fall Harvest Season
MnDOT asks motorists and farm equipment operators to safely share the road during fall harvest season. Motorists traveling on Minnesota roads this fall should be aware of large farm equipment transporting crops to markets, grain elevators and processing plants, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Crash data shows there were 446 crashes involving … [Read more...]
2024-2025 Local Land Rent Survey Now Available
By Katie Drewitz The Fillmore and Houston County Extension offices are currently collecting responses to the 2024-2025 Fillmore and Houston County land rent surveys. If you are a land owner in Fillmore or Houston County you may see a paper copy of the survey arrive in the mail. University of Minnesota Extension greatly appreciates everyone who takes the time to respond to … [Read more...]
Get on Board with Pork
Culinary options multiply when individuals and families are open to trying different foods and recipes. There are many protein sources individuals can consider, and pork ranks highly among them. Pork is consumed worldwide and, when enjoyed in moderation, can be part of a healthy diet. Pork has roughly 297 calories for a 3.4-ounce serving. One such serving of pork offers … [Read more...]
Treat Fellow Football Fans to Slow-Cooked Ribs and Homemade Sauce
Football and food go are a perfect and popular pairing. Though fans may not need to eat while watching their favorite team play, adding food to the football festivities certainly makes fall weekends more enjoyable. Certain foods have become Saturday and Sunday afternoon staples once football season kicks off. Few fans will turn down a plate of wings or walk away from a tray … [Read more...]
Steichen Home – Built for Enjoyment and Accessibility
Ray and Marie Steichen’s Rushford Village home is a spacious open home with 17-foot ceilings in the living room, kitchen and dining area. The zero-step entry home that is completely handicap accessible was completely designed by Marie from scratch. The couple had moved in and cared for Ray’s parents in their later years; Marie remembered her grandmother caring for her parents … [Read more...]
Storing Tender Bulbs
By Katie Drewitz The only thing I do not like about autumn is that some of my favorite flowers reach the end of the bloom cycle. The important thing to remember is that if these are tender bulbs, they need to be put into proper storage. This will ensure that you will be able to enjoy some of your favorite flowers and save some money next spring. Tender bulbs include tuberous … [Read more...]
Manfull Home — Full of Comfort and Charm
When Beth and Doug Manfull’s son Shane wanted to move back to live in the area, they offered him a choice. He could live in their house and they’d build a new one or he could build a new house on their property. Shane and his wife Heather picked the already-built house, leaving Beth and Doug to design and build a new house on the same property located in the country between … [Read more...]
Farm Safety Advice From a Man Who Knows Firsthand the Dangers
Caledonia resident Jim Hoscheit, who knows firsthand the importance of farm safety, offers two key pieces of advice, “Respect the equipment; they are very powerful pieces of machinery.” Continuing, Jim added, “Don’t be in a rush even though you might have a shortcut for something that takes that extra 10 seconds, five seconds, two seconds. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way.” … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department Training in Jiu Jitsu
Sheriff John DeGeorge, a long-time MMA fan had toyed with the idea of taking Jiu Jitsu classes for a while; he waited until after the election in November 2022 so he’d have a little more time to devote to it. He called his experience the first time he attended a session “profound.” He explained, “It was like learning a new language that you’d never even heard before! You … [Read more...]
Houston County Fair Board
Youth Can Find Their Spark in 4-H!
Since 1902, 4-H has served and engaged young people in every part of Minnesota. The 4-H program empowers youth to be true leaders. Through learning and leadership experiences and with the support of caring adults, youth in 4-H discover their sparks (or passions) and build the skills they need for a lifetime. Minnesota 4-H Mission To engage youth, in partnership with adults, … [Read more...]
All in the Family
A 4-H family includes not only the immediate members – mom, dad, and siblings – but also extends to the family’s relatives, fellow 4-H club members and their families and the community. Meet the Horihan family of Hokah, Minn.: dad Nick, mom Holly, 14-year-old Evan, who will be entering the ninth grade, and 12-year-old Carson who will be starting sixth grade. Holly, originally … [Read more...]
Tessmers Named Houston County Farm Family of the Year
The David and Sara Tessmer family of Caledonia has been named Houston County’s “2024 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota. The Tessmer farm was founded in the 1870s and is a fifth-generation farm. David and Sara are taking over the family farm from David’s father, Eugene. The Tessmers have a corn, soybean and hay cash crop operation, do custom harvesting, … [Read more...]
Rob and Bettie Bunke Celebrate 75th Anniversary
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 was the Bunkes’ wedding verse when they got married 75 years ago. They have lived by that verse all these years. Rob declared, “I tell the Lord everyday how thankful I am for Bettie!” Rob and Bettie first met when Rob, a farm boy from Hart, came to town for a basketball game. Bettie, a town girl who lived in … [Read more...]