Balancing work and life is a challenge many women face, but Courtney Bergey Swanson has found her path through creativity. For many women, juggling responsibilities like childcare, sick kids, and figuring out dinner – beyond frozen chicken nuggets – can be overwhelming. “It’s a huge balance,” Courtney emphasized. Courtney lives in Rochester, Minn., with her husband James, … [Read more...]
Pigs are More Than Just an Animal, They are a Learning Tool
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...]