Brownsville Fire and Rescue Jake Danielson, Tony Kath (Assistant Chief) Caledonia Fire Department Pat Jilek, Matt Klug, Randall Ashbacher (Safety Officer) Chatfield Ambulance Leslie Tannahill, Dave Sovinksi Eitzen Fire Department Tim Paus Fillmore County Emergency Manager/Deputy Don Kullot, 25 years of service to Fillmore County, and 35 … [Read more...]
Rawlings/Miken Sports Donates $25,000 to Caledonia Fire Department Following Facility Fire
In a remarkable demonstration of gratitude and community spirit, Rawlings/Miken Sports has donated $25,000 to the Caledonia Fire Department, honoring the heroic efforts of first responders who battled a devastating fire at the company’s Caledonia facility in October 2023. The donation was announced at a special ceremony held at the Miken Sports facilities on Tuesday, June … [Read more...]
Houston County Sheriff’s Office Recognized for Excellence
CALEDONIA, MN, April 28, 2025 – Houston County Sheriff’s Office has been recognized for excellence in policy management and training for Law Enforcement and for Corrections in 2024 by Lexipol, the leading provider of solutions that empower performance excellence in public safety. This is the fifth consecutive year Houston Couty Sheriff’s Office has been recognized for Law … [Read more...]
Against All Odds: Kala Exworthy’s Survival is Nothing Short of a Miracle
On June 30, 2025, what began as an ordinary day on a family farm near Mabel turned into a life-or-death situation, and thanks to the swift actions of first responders, a 16-year-old with a cell phone, and a determined fiancé, Kala Exworthy is alive today. Exworthy was visiting her fiancé Rory Welper’s family farm north of Mabel when a sudden cardiac arrest caused her to … [Read more...]
Fenske’s IBA – A Farm Store that Comes to Your Door
What’s an IBA? No, that’s not a typo — IBA stands for Independent Buyers Association, a company based in Sutton, Mass. Fenske’s IBA, owned by Noah and Emilie Fenske since June 2022, is based in Chatfield. Perhaps you don’t remember noticing the storefront. There’s a reason for that — there isn’t one! Fenske’s has a warehouse in Chatfield which receives items shipped weekly … [Read more...]
Talking Agritourism with University of Minnesota
Summer is a great time to make memories with friends and family outdoors, whether it’s picking berries, horseback riding, eating dinner on a pizza farm or attending a barn wedding. These and other on-farm activities are part of the growing agritourism industry. Extension Educator DeeDee LeMier answers questions about the state of agritourism in Minnesota. Q: What is … [Read more...]
Burroughs Family Enjoys Raising Mini Highlands
“I’ve always been obsessed with cows,” Cody Burroughs said. He and his wife Laura have a small farm just outside of Greenleafton where they raise mini Highlands with their three children, Nora, Waylon and Stetson. They also have chickens, a dairy cow, a retired horse, and a sheep. Highland cattle which were originally from Scotland, are gaining popularity around the world. They … [Read more...]
Highland Cattle Flourish at Flatland Farm
According to 2023 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service data, the Minnesota beef cattle inventory was 360,000 head, including 15,800 head in Fillmore County and just 2,900 across the ‘border’ in Mower County. Just how many of these cattle are the more popular breeds - Black or Red Angus, Hereford, Simmental, or Charolais - doesn’t appear to be published widely, but … [Read more...]
Fillmore County Flashback – Calvin Hoag: A Civil War Story
By Bretta Grabau Fillmore County Historical Society It is always a pleasure for a museum to receive objects that can further explain the story of an artifact already in its collection. Years ago, before the Fillmore County Historical Society had even moved into its present facility in Fountain on County 8 just off of Highway 52 from the courthouse, a picture had been given … [Read more...]
Maynard E. Johnson of Mabel Killed in Action in France, Near the Rhine River
By Gretchen Dahlen Former Mabel resident Maynard E. Johnson was born in 1924 in Newburg (rural Mabel), Minn. He graduated from Mabel High School and entered the University of Minnesota. He was inducted into the Army in June 1943 and sent to Texas, receiving training through the Army Service Training Program (ASTP). Pulled out early, he was assigned to the 66th Infantry … [Read more...]