Farming has never been a vocation for individuals looking for easy work. Farmers typically work long hours, braving the elements regardless of how unpleasant the weather may be. All that hard work ensures individuals who live in rural, urban and suburban communities have constant, readily available access to healthy foods. Such devotion merits support, and thankfully there … [Read more...]
How to build a better Burger
Backyard barbecue season is starting to heat up. Although many people grill all year long, grilling season kicks into high gear in spring and summer. Burgers will always be quintessential grilling fare. It should come as no surprise that the month of May is National Hamburger Month. That’s likely due to Memorial Day weekend — which many view as the unofficial start of … [Read more...]
USDA is confident that the meat supply is Safe
By Joe Armstrong, DVM University of Minnesota Extension educator May 2, 2024 – USDA said publicly on Monday, April 29, 2024, that they were collecting ground beef samples for testing from states officially affected by H5N1 in cattle. On May 1, 2024, the USDA announced that the initial 30 ground beef samples tested negative using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) … [Read more...]
It’s One for All, All for One with the Morkens
Nathan and Jessica Morken, along with their three children – Izaak, 14, Lynden, 12, and Konnor, 9 – are all actively engaged in the family’s beef operations. This commitment reflects the essence of the “Three Musketeers” motto “One for all, All for one” as explained by the website Brainly.in. “They are loyal to each other and though they all have their own space and place, … [Read more...]
Help is Available for Minnesota Producers Facing Times of Stress MDA offers free, confidential tools to navigate farm challenges
St. Paul, MN For Minnesota farmers and livestock producers experiencing times of stress due to business and financial challenges, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) offers a reminder of free, confidential tools that are available to help. “From low commodity prices and extreme weather to continued threats like highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), Minnesota’s … [Read more...]
Shannon Kochie Teacher of the Year 2024
A person never knows what the day might bring. That was certainly true for Shannon Kochie, a third grade Humanities teacher at Caledonia Elementary School on April 30, 2024. Kochie was not feeling quite up to par that morning and contacted Superintendent Craig Ihrke to request a substitute teacher. Knowing that all the plans were in place to surprise Kochie later that … [Read more...]
Mental Health in Local Schools
Across the nation, there has been a growing concern in schools about student and staff mental health. Six of our area schools shared how they are approaching the challenge of mental health needs – Chatfield, Lanesboro, Caledonia, Houston, Kingsland and Rushford-Peterson. At Chatfield, state money was used for additional staff to help with mental health issues. The high … [Read more...]
Teacher Appreciation Week
Caledonia Area Public Schools Mitchell Bechtel 3 years, HS Social Studies Tami Bennett 1 year, HS Math Katie Block 2 years, MS Math Becky Breeser 26 years, HS Math Bob Burmester 6 years, Elem./MS Physical Education & K-12 DAPE Tori Burmester 6 years, MS Science Sara Buros 13 years, MS/HS Special Education Jennifer … [Read more...]
2024 Volunteer of the Year
Last year’s Volunteer of the Year was Spring Grove Fire Chief Trent Turner. This year, we have another firefighter worthy of this community award. Paul Corcoran. When it comes to emergency response, Paul is the one you want on the scene. He’s a seasoned veteran, serving in both realms of fire department and ambulance service. Paul joined the Rushford Fire … [Read more...]
His Part in Harmony’s History
“Ralph Beastrom, age 81, passed away peacefully at Methodist Hospital in Rochester on Thursday, March 7, 2024, after a difficult battle with cancer.” His obituary shared his life’s story, but sitting down with his wife Carol added to Ralph’s legacy. We usually only share a story about the Volunteer of the Year; not the runner-up. But Ralph’s impact on the community and the … [Read more...]