Connection November 2021 by Connection Magazine

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Artist Spotlight Elizabeth Wallsmith Picture It Pete Rauch Farmers full circle Enriching agriculture through research

NOVEMBER 2021

Unlocking the mystery of history

Engineer

in Reverse

Thankfully blessed The Saylors’ story

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO THE OZARKS ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 1

2 | November 2021

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 3

Editorial

Comfort… How do you define it?

omfort: caring, observant, mindful, friendly, obliging, responsible, tactful. A state or situation in which you are relaxed and do not have any physically unpleasant feelings caused by pain, heat, cold, etc. A state or feeling of being less worried, upset, frightened, etc., during a time of trouble or emotional pain. Comfort often helps people to be happier, and when people are happy, they tend to handle situations around them better. Another way of looking at comfort is associating it with a person, your “Comfort Person.” Once in a while, a special type of person will come into your life and that person is your comfort person. This person is able to stop even the worst anxiety right in its tracks. Hearing their voice or even reading a text from them is like being wrapped in the warmest, softest blanket. You immediately feel the relief. If you are a fan of Grey’s Anatomy you definitely know the meaning of having “My Person,” with Meredith Grey who has had a few of them. This would be a very good time of year to identify a comfort person, as this is when a lot of people experience depression, mental health problems, loss of a family member or friend, illness, loss of employment and for some reason it seems like there are more homes that are burned during this time and families lose their long-time possessions. I am not trying to be depressing, but I would like to stress to all that it is important to open your hearts and express as much comfort to those who are needing it. Not just this time of the year but all year long. It does seem that during this time of year the need for others’ comfort is more extreme. Showing comfort is not always the easiest thing to do. I will admit that I sometimes have trouble giving it and accepting it, depending on the situation. I will confess that I let the daily tasks get in the way of expressing my feelings to others in need, to be honest sometimes it is laziness and other times it is just the lack of understanding what to do in a situation.

4 | November 2021

I have stated this in other columns, but just extending yourself is a positive effort. Letting them know that you are just a phone call away. But always follow up with a “how are you doing” phone call so they know you are sincere. Drop a card in the mail so they know you have not forgot them. And I know this is not for everyone, but when I get what I call the “feels” I text a Bible verse to someone, especially to my children. I always get a “thanks mom, I love you too.” I guess basically I am trying to say that it is very important for us to be there for each other, somehow, in some way, even if you do not have a major disaster, a loss or some type of mental health problem, it is still nice to have someone there to comfort you. Sit down and have a cup of coffee and chat it up for a few hours. That sometimes does wonders for our outlook in the crazy world we live in right now. November is the month of giving thanks, and I give thanks for all of our readers. You are all blessings. I hope you have a very wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and can enjoy the comfort you will receive when you gather together and hold hands around that table.

Lisa Craft

General Manager, Connection Magazine Lisa Craft is General Manager of Connection Magazine, The Monett Times and Cassville Democrat. She can be reached at monettcommunity@gmail.com or connection@monett-times.com

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO SOUTHWEST MISSOURIANS

GENERAL MANAGER Lisa Craft monettcommunity@gmail.com EDITOR Kyle Troutman editor@cassville-democrat.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Vicky Abraham Marion Chrysler CONTRIBUTORS Meagan Ruffing Darlene Wierman Melonie Roberts Susan Funkhouser Pam Wormington Jordan Troutman Christa Stout Cheryl Williams Sierra Gunter Jennifer Conner Annie Lisenby Smith Mike Gervais PHOTOGRAPHERS Chuck Nickle Jamie Brownlee Amy Sampson DISTRIBUTION Greg Gilliam Kevin Funcannon TO ADVERTISE 417-847-2610 - Cassville 417-235-3135 - Monett Send email inquiries to connection@monett-times.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 40, Monett, MO 65708 Connection is published monthly and distributed free in Cassville, Monett, Exeter, Washburn, Pierce City, Mt. Vernon, Aurora, Verona, Roaring River, Eagle Rock, Shell Knob, Purdy, Wheaton, Freistatt, Marionville, Seligman, Golden and other surrounding areas. Connection is a publication of the Cassville Democrat, The Monett Times and Rust Communications.

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CONNECTIONMO.COM

Artist Spotlight Elizabeth Wallsmith Picture It Pete Rauch Farmers full circle Enriching agriculture through research

NOVEMBER 2021

Unlocking the mystery of history

Engineer

in Reverse

Thankfully blessed The Saylors’ story

A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO THE OZARKS ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 1

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From left, Joe Johnson prepares to begin work on one of four rams for the Taneycomo dam as Brad Harris and Mike Renfrow of Monett Metals, Inc., look on. Renfrow said he is consistently impressed with the quality of work and immense knowledge that can be found at Aurora Motor and Machine.

CONTENTS 21 Parenting Column: Say ‘thank you’ everyday 23 Cutest Kid

29 Mental Health Column 41 Date Night 44 Cutest Pet

45 Rescued, My Favorite Breed 47 Familiar Faces 50 Parting Shot

Have an idea for a story you would like to see in Connection Magazine? Email it to connection@monett-times.com Facebook.com/MyConnectionMo

S 9 | SPARK TANK Great young minds offered inspiration

and training to pursue entrepreneurial dreams

12 | REVERSE ENGINEERING FEAT

Mike Renfrow and Aurora Motor and Machine draw from experience and high-tech precision to fix the oldest hydro-electric dam in Missouri

16 | ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Elizabeth Wallsmith of Monett finds inspiration to color our world from the great surrealist and nature itself

25 | PICTURE IT

Pete Rauch examines his love of the lens and the world around us

30 | FARMERS HELPING FARMERS

Southwest Research Center contributes to longterm success of regional farmers

35 | KIDS OF OUR HEROES ADVENTURE CAMP

Giving back to the sacrifice of soldiers and their families, a Barry County couple creates community for kid campers

38 | MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR

The Saylor family endured to the edge of hope to find great gratitude for the ordinary

N O V E M B E R 2021 ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 7

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Spark Tank Igniting student ingenuity

wo lucky high school students will win up to $2,000 for their business proposals during the inaugural Spark Tank: Monett After School Edition competition. The premise of the competition came about following discussions between Jeff Meredith, executive director of the Monett Chamber of Commerce, and David Williams, former high school principal at Monett. “We applied for and received a $5,000 grant through After School Network,” Meredith said. “We decided to give the money away.” The contest saw seven potential business opportunities for youth, but two decided their proposals did not fit the contest criteria and dropped out, leaving five to vie for the win. “Of those five, two already have their own businesses,” Meredith said. “Those two are looking to expand their exiting businesses to the next level.” The other contestants are refining their proposals and preparing them for presentation.

Winners of contest will get a boost to start business Story by Melonie Roberts

Students didn’t go into the projects without a little help. Meredith said the course had six sessions covering entrepreneurship, how to start a business, finance, marketing, communication and practicing their pitches to local judges. Key elements in the program are refining the kinds of business the students want to embark upon, what equipment is needed, how much the equipment will cost, the variable costs per item or customer, recurring fixed costs, how many customers are in the service area, how often they will want or need the product or service, how much the product or service will sell for, and if the business is going to be profitable. Students also had to fill out ques-

tionnaires on what type of business they hoped to start, if they could make money, who else was offering similar products or services, and the need for special licenses to pursue the opportunity. Additionally, they were asked if this was a full time or part time endeavor, if they could work the business from home, what the initial costs would entail, a possible marketing plan using social or traditional methods, how many people would “need” the product or service, and if they would have to hire additional employees to meet the potential demand. Along the way, students have heard from Joe Guerra, who owns Stay Clean Window Cleaning service in Monett,

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 9

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and Jason Kurima, who owns iPhone Restorations in Monett; from the director of entrepreneurship at Missouri Southern State University on how to start a business, fixed costs, variables and overhead; Jeff Meredith Kurt Krueger, CPA, and Randy Henderson, president of First State Bank of Purdy on how to get financing and the importance of record-keeping; Doug Hunt, director of entrepreneurship at Joplin Chamber of Commerce and former owner of a marketing company, knowing the product, knowing the customers or target audience, and knowing the message. In addition, Rebecca Merriman, Monett High School GOCAPS coordinator, on how to communicate to an audience, and then students spent their final session practicing their product or service pitches with Meredith before their final presentation to decision makers on Oct. 25. “So, we are giving two winners up to $2,000 in assets for their start-up business, to help fund their ventures,” Meredith said. “It is our intention to purchase the assets for the students.” There are plans for a future Spark Tank contest as well. “We don’t know yet if we will open that up to adults or not,” Meredith said. “Two years ago, I had a young gentleman come in with his mother for information on how to start a business. We worked out the plan and when it came down to it, the $1,800 start-up costs were insurmountable for them at the time. When the opportunity came about to assist students with their business plans, I jumped at it. Two of five students now have the opportunity to walk way as winners in this contest. We wish them all the best of luck.” n

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Joe Johnson shows the difference between a standardsized cutter and a custom cutter he had made to complete the ram for the Lake Taneycomo dam project.

Aurora Motor and Machine has more than 100 years of history in the community. Inside the shop, Catherine Hukill shows off a set of her grandfather’s boxing gloves. That man, Omer Hukill, opened the business in 1919. At that time, the phone number was 130. 12 | November 2021

History meets technology:

A tale of teamwork P ast and present are coming together in the way of a local project with historical significance. Aurora Motor and Machine, one of the oldest family-owned businesses, and the oldest continuously-owned family business in Aurora began work on a project this past spring to replace important components that regulate the water flow in the historic Lake Taneycomo hydro-electric dam – the oldest hydro-electric dam in Missouri. At first look, it seemed like a typical job for a business that takes on all sorts of machining work and a staff that can fix or make just about anything from small engine repairs to ornate rod iron gates. But digging a little deeper, it became clear that working with parts made more than 100 years ago would present some new challenges. The parts that need replaced were first installed in the dam in 1913. The wear and tear of more than 100 years of use meant the team at Aurora Motor and Machine couldn’t simply repair the large metal rams, and would need to have new components made. In the past, the business had worked with Monett’s Mike Renfrow of Monett Metals, Inc., so it was an easy call to reach out to have new rams created from scratch in Monett. But again, with 100 years between the original pieces being manufactured until now, simply recreating the originals wasn’t an option. “There are now drawings for this,” Renfrow said. “Typically, we are supplied

Story by Mike Gervais

with a cast and a model for a job, but some experience working at the dam in we were essentially tasked with reverse his early years. It was clear when he got engineering a worn-out part that needs his hands on the ram and compared it to precise dimensions to work right. We the original part, that he’d need more than have an engineer that’s working to bridge standard shop tools to finish the job. 1913 technology to today.” Using high-tech computer programs, Monett Metals, Inc., was able to generate a model of the replacement ram and map the flow of molten metal that would be poured into a cast to see exactly how the metal will cool and how strong the resulting part would become. Monett Metals is a small job shop with approximately 75 employees that can create anything from car parts to industrial augers. But to say Aurora Motor Two of the four rams made by Monett Metals, Inc., and Machine’s project was just await final machining by Aurora Motor and Machine another run-of-the-mill assign- before they can be re-installed. ment would be an understate“There’s nothing on this thing that is ment. As engineers worked out how to rec- standard,” Joe said about the measurereate the ram, they marveled at how en- ments for bore holes and rack teeth that gineers from days past were able to com- would fit into gears. “We had to have cutters ground down plete the same work without the aid of to the right size to make that rack,” Joe computers or even calculators. Using high-tech science, Monett Met- said. “To get the bore size right, we als got the work done, and by summer, bought a four-inch reamer and it turned the first of four rams was shipped to Au- out that wasn’t standard. It was 55 thourora, where the new-school technologies sandths of an inch under four inches.” Renfrow speculated that the original used to create the ram would encounter old-school experience that would refine piece was bored out with an old, worn the hunk of metal into a working part of reamer in 1913. Joe agreed, with the caveat that with more than 100 years gone the hydro-electric dam. Joe Johnson of Aurora Motor and by, they’d never know for sure why the Machine took the project on, having measurements were what they were. ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 13

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What he does know, however, is that he has to match the original rams exactly. And that means precision. While the team at Monett Metal Works showed impressive skill with 3-D renderings of the ram they cast, watching Joe rattle off the math he worked out to machine the ram down to the exact dimensions of the original part was a different kind of skill. “It’s artisan work,” Renfrow said. “You have a lot of machine operators out there, but you don’t have a lot of machinists like this. They can do almost anything, and if you look around the shop here, you can see something new every time you’re here.” Once Joe finished work on the first ram, it was taken to the dam and installed. When it worked, Renfrow and Monett Metals went to work casting the next three parts, which were delivered to Aurora in late September. With the needed tools already made or purchased, Joe said he’ll make short work of machining the next three units, and he expects it’ll be another 100-plus years before they have to be replaced again. “Hopefully it won’t be me next time,” he said. Aurora Motor and Machine has been around almost as long as the Lake Taneycomo dam, opening in 1919 by Omer Hukill. Bud Hukill took over in the 1960s, and continues to run the operation today. His daughter, Catherine Hukill operates the office side of the operation, and said jobs like the Taneycomo project are their specialty. “You just can’t find this anymore,” she said. “There’s always something different, you never know what’s going to come through the door. “One day we’re putting a flat bed on a truck, then we’re making racks for Alpine Lumber. If somebody comes to us with something that breaks all the time, we’re going to fix it so it’s going to last. We want it done right. We don’t want to have to see you again,” she said with a smile. n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 15

Artist Spotlight:

In Wallsmith’s mural, bees are important because they are recognized as Missouri’s official insect.

Elizabeth Wallsmith

Wallsmith - an art teacher at Monett High School - is an accomplished artist, and her work can be found in many places. 16 | November 2021

Elizabeth Wallsmith

ell known surrealist painter Salvador Dali said, “A true artist is not one who is inspired, but one who inspires others.” In our world today we are surrounded by visual arts, whether it’s a mural painted in a small town downtown or advertisements that flash across our television screens. Art surrounds us. It inspires us. It provides beauty to a world that can be confusing. One local artist is sharing her talents to beautify the community. Elizabeth Wallsmith was born and raised in Oklahoma in the Tulsa area, but currently is an art teacher at Monett High School. After completing her degree in art education at Pittsburg State University, she continued her education and has earned a master’s degree also in art education. Her first years teaching were at Carl Junction Junior High. In her time teaching at Carl Junction Junior High, Wallsmith was awarded the Junior High Teacher of the Year award in 2015 and the Joplin Globe Teacher Hoot Award in 2014.

Every artist has someone who inspired them to pursue the study and practice of art. For Wallsmith, that was her father who was an artist in downtown Tulsa. “I watched as he created inspiring pieces, works that awakened a desire to tap into my own artistic ability,” Wallsmith said. “Today, I strive for my work to show my unique style and my love for creating art.” Wallsmith creates art using the mediums of pottery, glass art, and acrylic and watercolor painting. The thing Wallsmith enjoys as much as creating art is teaching it. “I love teaching art,” Wallsmith said. “For me, teaching becomes an art form, and the reward is in watching my students develop their own artistic style, while learning to express their voice through art. Art plays an essential role in defining who we are.” In her work as an artist, Wallsmith has been able to share her talents in many places in the four-state area. These include a fish sculpture paint-

Story by Annie Lisenby Smith

Found in downtown Neosho is Wallsmith’s mural celebrating the Missouri bicentennial and local natural elements. ing at Fuzzy’s Tacos in Overland Park, Kansas; a mural at 5th and Broadway in downtown Pittsburg, Kansas; a “larger than life” coal bucket decorated for the SEK Art Festival currently located at Pinamonti Orthodontics in Pittsburg, Kansas; and previous exhibits in the Downtown Joplin Arts Walks and in local shows and the art galleries Art Central and Spiva Center for the Arts. A project Wallsmith is proud of is a mural she recently completed in downtown Neosho. In July 2020, the Neosho Arts Council put an “all call” out seeking artists’ mural submissions to paint two buildings at the Scenic Park on Main Street. “I put in a bid and submission showing my design and cost,” Wallsmith said. “My submission was selected, but due to COVID, the project was put on hold until June 2021. This summer Wallsmith spent over 200 hours completing the mural project. “As the artist, I wanted to showcase local flora and nature throughout the theme of each building,” Wallsmith said

Wallsmith’s mural has much to see. Look closely and find a three-toed box turtle native to Missouri.

describing her mural. “I included local plants inspired by the community that is now for the ‘Largest Flower Box.’ I painted larger than life flowers and animals to make the mural inviting and fun to look at since it is at a park with playgrounds.” Wallsmith’s mural titled “Nature’s Treasures” is a single mural spanning two buildings. With a focus on nature and the celebration of Missouri’s bicentennial, Wallsmith incorporated in the mural specific details native to Missouri. “The mural includes rudbuckia, known as the coneflower in Missouri; the honey bee, which became the Missouri official state insect in 1985; the three-toed box turtle is the Missouri state reptile; and the Neosho dogwood trees.” Those elements of the mural and others can be found by visitors to the park and playground. The Neosho Arts Council has published a coloring book that includes drawings from Wallsmith’s mural, which can be purchased for $5.00.

More information Facebook page:

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 17

Wallsmith’s painted fish found at Fuzzy’s Tacos in Overland Park, Kansas.

Proceeds from coloring book sales go toward the restoration of Thomas Hart Benton’s murals in the area. More information can be found at www.neoshoarts.net. Outside of the honor of providing the mural in Neosho, Wallsmith has won numerous awards and been chosen to contribute to art festivals for her paintings and sculptures throughout southwest Missouri. For anyone interested in exploring the arts, Wallsmith said, “Go for it! Never give up. Create art because you like to. Don’t allow the opinion of others to determine whether you create art or not.” Wallsmith has also used her artistic talents and role as a teacher to raise funds and awareness for charitable organizations. “Using art to influence, impact, and inspire others allowed me to stay active as an artist to serve my community through art,” Wallsmith said. “My students have raised funds through their espresso paintings for the SEK Humane society, collected canned goods during an Andy Warhol assignment for a local food pantry, and decorated over twelve 18 | November 2021

hammers for the Hearts for Hammers project, a fundraiser that supported Joplin in rebuilding five new homes destroyed by the 2011 tornado. In 2014, my junior high art students made over 150 bowls out of clay that were sold at an event called Empty Bowls, which was a fundraiser for local food pantries and homeless shelters in the Joplin area.” n

Artist Elizabeth Wallsmith contributed her art to the Neosho Arts Councils coloring book being sold to raise money to aid in the restoration of Thomas Hart Benton’s murals in Missouri.

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Parenting Column By Meagan Ruffing

November is National Gratitude Month

ot only is it one of the best times of the year with Thanksgiving being this month, but it is also National Gratitude Month. Writing down what we’re grateful for helps shift our focus from negative thought patterns to more positive ones. When we are able to think more positively, our behavior changes.

We start to see the glass half full. This month, I wanted to create a fun calendar for you to use. Tear it out of the magazine, write on it, and hang it up somewhere so you can see it and add to it. Think of it as your working document that brings awareness to all the things you are grateful for this month.

Meagan Ruffing is a freelance parenting journalist who works on cultivating gratitude in her home whenever she can. Join her in working through this calendar and having loads of fun.

November 2021 Surprise a friend or neighbor with a bouquet of flowers

Volunteer at a food bank

Offer to babysit your Make a meal for a Send a card in the Donate to a charity friends’ kids friend or neighbor and mail to tell them you of your choice drop it off are thinking of them

Rake someone’s leaves

Surprise your kids with their favorite dessert

Call a friend to tell them how much you appreciate them

Bake cookies for a friend or neighbor

Invite a friend over for dinner

Try not to complain today

Take your significant other out on a date

Make a list of all the things you are grateful for

Return all the grocery carts to their stalls

Say thank you to Offer to run an someone who does errand for a friend something nice for you

Give your kids foot massages

Make a list of all the people you are grateful for

Donate food and Call someone and devote time to really blankets to a local animal shelter listen to them

Give someone a hug

Post sticky notes throughout for family to see

Help your kids clean their rooms

Cheers to a grateful November!

Invite a friend over for Thanksgiving

Donate unwanted items and clothes to a donation center

Give someone a compliment

Buy yourself a coffee and treat your friend to one

Tell someone they’re Make Blessing Bags doing a good job and pass them out to homeless people

ConnectionMO.com/Parenting Column | Connection Magazine | 21

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Cutest Kids Four-year-old Henry Horner with his little sister, one-year-old Lillian Horner. Parents are Abigail and Jake Horner, of Monett

Email your child’s photo to:

connection@monett-times.com Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your child’s name, parent’s name, age, city and your contact information. The contest is open to children ages 10 and younger. The photos submitted will be used for the sole purpose of this contest.

CONGRATS Henry & Lillian ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 23

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In a case of accidental art, Pete said he was out taking shots of the epic ice storm of 2007 when he captured this postal worker living up to the mantra of “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Fun with photography

ongtime Monett resident Pete Rauch has turned a hobby into a lifetime of memories captured through the lens of his cameras. Rauch, who holds a geology degree, worked as Monett’s utilities general manager for a number of years. Though he holds the title of geologist and retired utilities director, his passion for photography has been a constant, whether shooting the desert landscapes of the west while working in the oil industry, or chronicling the ever changing landscape of Monett. Dating back to elementary school,

when he could often be found with a camera, photographing his friends and surroundings, Pete said he’s seen much of his life through the lens of his camera, and has captured lasting images that he treasures. “I took my first pictures when I was in early grade school, first or second grade,” Pete said. Since that time, he has taken thousands of photographs and slides. He said he has taken shots of everything from portraits to landscapes and wildlife, and has a growing interest in astrophotography. While photography has never been

a career choice or profession, Pete has traveled the world, shooting in Germany, across the U.S. and other parts of Europe. One of his most memorable outings was a trip to Nebraska in 2017 to witness a total solar eclipse. Pete was equipped with a special filter for his camera lens that allowed him to photograph the sun as the moon passed between it and earth. “I was only going to take a couple of shots, but I just kept shooting and shooting. When totality hit, I had to rush to take the filter off. It still kind of gives me goosebumps,” he said.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 25

Of all the shots he’s taken, Rauch said he loves photographing the moon. While full moon photos are iconic, he said partial moons are more dynamic and capture more textures as light passes across the moon’s face.

One of Rauch’s favorite trips was to witness the total solar eclipse of 2017 in Nebraska. He said his plan was to take a few photos during each phase of the eclipse, but found himself fascinated with the phenomena and unable to stop shooting.

26 | November 2021

Pete Rauch, at right, sets up a photo of his cousin George Schaab in Mittershausen, Germany. Rauch said he is planning a follow-up visit to Germany next year.

Another favorite trip was a vacation to Europe following his 2016 retirement from the City of Monett. During that trip, Pete visited family living in Germany and saw sights in Hungary and Austria. “The neatest stuff I shot was around the old place south of Frankfurt (Germany), Mittershausen, a small, Freistatt-sized town where my family is from,” Pete said. While visiting family there, Rauch had an opportunity to meet with distant relations at the old family homestead. “Next door there is an old mill that serves as a museum now. It hadn’t operated since World War II, and it has been in the same family for 350 years,” he said. “If you’re a photographer, you know it’s about interesting light, and in that mill there was an old workshop with a workbench with

a bunch of old tools, and the way the light came in the window, it was just a great shot.” Locally, Pete said he shoots everything from Roaring River and Jolly Mill to local trails and hikes. “I probably have pictures of Jolly Mill back before there was a park there, back when there was nothing,” he said. In fact, Rauch said he has taken so many photos over the years that he will likely never get them all filed and organized into a digital format. “I have taken photos and slides, and I have thousands and thousands of slides, and I’ve digitized about 1 percent of them,” he said. “I have photos that I like, but my kids, I don’t expect them to keep them all around. If I find something interesting I photograph it. I spend a lot of time outside so I have a lot of landscapes.”

Pete Rauch said lighting is a key element to photography, and one of his favorite examples is a photo he took in the small German town his family came from, where he found an old mill with equipment that could be 100 years old illuminated through ancient glass panes.

Pete Rauch’s family hales from Mittershausen, Germany. Following his retirement, he was able to take a trip to the small town, and captured some memorable shots of the European village.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 27

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But his photography habit is more than just an artistic outlet. As a city worker in Monett, Pete said he has documented huge moments in time during the development of the city and historic events, ranging from the construction of Lowe’s, to the addition of water towers and the disastrous ice storm of 2007. “I just documented timelines and projects when I worked for the city,” he said. “I found it interesting to photograph it.” Rauch has submitted a number of photos to Connection magazine over the years, and has matted several of his favorites to decorate his home, but maintains that photography is a hobby, not a job or career, which ensures it stays fun and interesting. “Sometimes I’ll post my photos on Facebook, and if people enjoy them and like them, it’s a back pat for me.” Over the years, Pete said he has seen some amazing advancements in photography, ranging from his first camera, an old 1930s or 1940s bellows, to modern digital cameras, to phones, which can capture larger, clearer images than most old film cameras. He said he has kept nearly every camera he has owned, and still enjoys old film cameras. For those who want to break into the industry, or who simply enjoy photography like Rauch, he said the important part is having decent equipment and practicing. “Just get the best camera you can afford, and even today, what people can do with their phones is great,” he said. “Then just go out and do it. That’s the best thing about shooting digital, you don’t have to send it in and wait, and you can just keep shooting.” n

Mental Health Column

Have Thanks

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.” —Zig Ziglar

his time of year, we commonly see or hear the phrase “give thanks.” And, why not? We have so much for which to be thankful. To the readers who would suggest they have nothing to be thankful for, I want to point out that you can see and read this article. A few years ago, I read something floating around social media that was thought-provoking; it was later quoted in an article by Doug Showalter of The Republic.

up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture or the horrible pangs of starvation, you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering. If you can read this message, you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.”

“If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of the world. If you have money in your bank, your wallet, and some spare change, you are among 8 percent of the world’s wealthy. If you woke

I want to remind that you cannot give away what you do not possess. You cannot give thanks if you do not have it. One cannot genuinely voice thanks without first having an attitude of gratitude. Oh, and having this attitude which leads to the expression of thanks is

By Brad Ridenour

CEO of Clark Community Mental Health Center and a Licensed Professional Counselor

beneficial to your mental health. When we give and receive thanks, our brains respond by releasing the neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin) crucial for causing one to feel positive emotion and happiness. Parts of the brain responsible for controlling emotions are activated. A 2014 study by Zahn, Garrido, Moll and Grafman found that people who are more thankful have more grey matter in a portion of their brains. As we make thankfulness a common practice in our lives, we can build neural pathways in the brain that can lead to improved mood and a healthier mind. This month and every month think about what you have and then give thanks for all your blessings.

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 29

The University of Missouri Southwest Research Center:

Farmers Helping Farmers

Important research in forage occurs throughout the year at the farm. This includes growing, harvesting and processing. 30 | November 2021

e are a farming community. With that, comes unique challenges to farming livestock and crops specific to this area. Here to help farmers, future farmers, and inquisitive locals is the University of Missouri Southwest Extension and Education Center. Located outside Mt. Vernon, this 893-acre farm is a center for scientific research whose results directly impact local farmers. As someone who’s lived in the area for a while, I was curious of the purpose and projects at the research center. When I spoke with Reagan Bluel, interim superintendent, I was surprised to learn all that happens on the farm. “The farm was established in 1959,” said Bluel. “This is one of the only Agriculture Experiment Stations that has been purchased. It was purchased because of all the unique types of soil we have here. The different soil types are representative of the Ozarks.” The three goals of the farm are research, education, and outreach. These goals are important in Missouri because agriculture is the number one industry in the state and the biggest economic driver adding $88 billion to the state’s economy. On the research side, there are many projects surrounding livestock cattle. “Lawrence County is known for beef,” Bluel said. “From the beef herd we have all kinds of research: reproduction and its importance to the profitability of the

Story by Annie Lisenby Smith

herd, genetic improvement, efficiency, stockers, rotational grazing, and forage management.” The ultimate goal is to research methods that will help farmers raise the best beef with little complication. One issue local farmers face is the type of forage, grass feed, for their herds. “Kentucky 31 is a fescue grass with an internal fungus that gives it a competitive growth advantage,” Bluel said. “The fungus allows it to compete. But that strand of fungus

can make cows very sick. We have tested different fescue varieties with novel or friendly strains of the fungus (called endophyes) to see if they have the same resilience while not making the cattle sick.” “We have worked with cattle producers looking to learn more about feed efficiency. We measured feed intake and growth over time to determine which heifer could do more with less,” Bluel explained that this kind of research has been done for years on the sire side, but researching heifers is uncommon because of the cost. “We hope to help identify the best heifers to raise the next best seed stock bulls,” Bluel said. “When both sides of the genetic equation are understood, we can accelerate genetic progress.” We research management of calves, following weaning, to determine the best way to put on growth between 500 and 700 pounds. “We believe that

stocker operations have the potential to be a great financial stepping stone for those people wanting to get into agriculture,” Bluel said. “In a growth season of maybe a hundred days, you can grow the animals and put weight on them creating some financial solvency.” The farm’s research looks at the economic return on these kinds of investments in farming. Rotational grazing is demonstrated at the farm too. The focus is to determine how to effectively rotate animals around the farm to grow more grass. There is a lot of forage research so that the grass can ultimately provide for the beef herd. Bluel pointed out that forage research can also be used as a cash enterprise — hay production. The most recent census stated that Missouri is one of the United State’s highest hay producers, only behind Texas. This industry further supports the state’s economy and local farmers.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 31

In October, black walnuts were ready to harvest. The farm opened its doors to share techniques on growing and harvesting

“I roll out of bed and get excited every day because I’m giving back to the state of Missouri and giving back to the bigger picture.” Research in grafting techniques is applied to chambourcin grapes grown on the farm. “The goal is to ultimately create a sustainable farm, which makes a profit for farmers to be able to provide for their families,” Bluel said. “Farmers are passionate about food production. We need to be sustainable both ecologically and financially. This is good for Missouri because it’s the number one enterprise for our state. I roll out of bed and get excited every day because I’m giving back to the state of Missouri and giving back to the bigger picture.” The other side of research at the research center is in horticulture, especially native vegetation. Research crops include: black walnuts, pecans, elderberries, grapes, tomatoes, and paw paws, the official Missouri state fruit tree. Projects include grafting plants, such as black walnut trees, grapes, and 32 | November 2021

— Reagan Bluel, interim superintendent of The University of Missouri Southwest Missouri Research Center tomatoes. It’s another way the farm focuses on efficiency of plants and their water utilization. “We will begin our organic grant this fall,” Bluel said describing projects. “We’ll research the cost of converting to organic farming and the challenges that might come with it. It sets us up after three years of the project to have 12 acres designated organic and opens doors to more grants for organic farming.” One of the newest and most exciting projects is research on elderberries. Under the direction of Andrew Thomas, research assistant professor, the farm has applied for a significant grant. Thomas is no stranger to elderberries. In fact, when the COVID pandemic hit, many people were seeking out elderberry juice for its natural

antiviral properties. But there was no purity standard set by the U.S. Government, and some non-Missouri processors added fillers, but still marketed the juice as pure. The federal government reached out to Thomas to help develop standards that can form the foundation for certifying juice products as pure and un-adulterated. With his upcoming research, Thomas is growing elderberry crops and processing them. The effects of the elderberries will be studied on their ability to fuel human nutrition and also the potential mental impacts of elderberries on people with early onset dementia. Another goal of the research center is to educate the community in farming and farming practices. Each year the farm is opened up for Field Day, also

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known as FFA Career Exploration Day. In August 2021, 900 local high school students visited the farm and traveled to 22 different educational stops. Working with the health department, Bluel and her team focused on keeping the students in community groups that would prevent intermingling and potential COVID spread. The farm also offered tomato school in March and black walnut school in October, just to name a few. Master Gardeners have worked alongside staff at the farm to help trellis tomatoes. Their work helped the farm prepare for the season and gave the Master Gardeners hands-on training. “Our goal is to host at least one event per month to engage the community in a variety of diverse learning opportunities,” Bluel said. “We also work with GOCAPS high school students in the agriculture strain,” Bluel said. The farm hosts the agricultural business strand of the program. “This year, at least weekly, they get exposure to the farm. They have been critical in helping with some manual labor during the harvest season too.” The team at the Southwest Research Center works with local people, local crops, and local livestock to help educate farmers on best practices for their farms. Because of the support from the university, they can take risks and conduct research in ways that would not be cost-effective on a working family farm. “The goal of the College of Agriculture is to give back to the state,” Bluel said. So, if you’re looking for information on best forage for your livestock or how to grow paw paw trees, check out the University of Missouri Southwest Research Center. The team is full of experts who are happy to share their knowledge to help local farmers succeed. You can connect with the research center on their Facebook page: MU Southwest Research Center. n

11/11/11

he eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918 was the armistice between the allied nations and Germany that eventually led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles and the end of “The Great War” or World War I. Effectively, Nov. 11, 1918, is known as the end of “the war to end all wars,” and has been subsequently celebrated every year as Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day. While celebrating the holiday on Nov. 11 has significant ties to the his-

A camp for the children of the brave U.S. veterans Story by Jordan Troutman

torical date regarding World War I, the true purpose of the holiday is to honor America’s veterans. These military veterans, who have served in the United States Armed Forces, put their lives on the line for the American people. With approximately 19 million U.S. veterans, or 10 percent of the adult U.S. population, 39 percent of active duty members are married and have children. According to americaspromise.org, these 1,983,236 family members are left behind while their loved ones go off to fight for them. Fighting the battles and the wars that keep their loved ones safe sometimes means they don’t make it back home to them. The children left after an active duty parent is lost in service are often

Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp campers in 2021 took part in many activities, including zip lining to help build a skill set to help them cope with emotions well after camp has ended.

More information Facebook page:

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 35

Camp owners seek to help at-risk kids CW3 Darrell Hovland and Col. Michele Hovland have over 50 years of combined military experience, and together have dedicated their future focus on at-risk kids.

confused, angry, lonely and desperately need a connection to others who understand their pain. CW3 Darrell Hovland and his wife, Col. Michele Hovland, decided to build a place for those children to go. Darrell and Michele are the owners of Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp in Barry County. The camp began in 2013 and is a place for children ages 11-17 who have lost a loved one, sibling or parent in service. The couple, both retired, believes that these children are at-risk kids who need a community to help them cope with their loss. Michele said they have always wanted to work with at-risk kids and this camp allows for one-on-one attention for each child. The $1,200 tuition is covered for each child by donations. The tuition covers the multitude activities the campers do throughout the week. In 36 | November 2021

addition to adventures, the campers are given counseling, which align with the activities to help the children to learn to cope with their loss. Darrell and Michele have a combined 50 years of service to the nation. During that time, they have seen too many of their fellow military heroes unable to return to their families. “We’ve seen kids in the front row at funerals we have attended,” Darrell said. “We see that lost look and know they are asking where to go from here. We want to be there to help in that transition.” In addition to the Hovlands being veterans, the board is made up of veterans and a counseling staff made up of combat veterans, this mix of military, police, EMS and firefighters with master’s degrees in counseling, every year children of the same experience a week of adventure, coping skills and community. “Our goal is to let kids know they

Campers at Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp 2021 learning to face their fears and gaining coping skills for the future. are not alone, that we all come from the same war-torn community,” Michele said. “By reaching out, we can help them start their journey of healing and they won’t be alone.” Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp is located alongside Flat Creek in Jenkins. The primitive camping sites have the children sleeping on cots in tents, which are accessed by a 150-foot suspended bridge, experiencing outdoor cooking, with no electronic devices allowed, solar shower facilities and openair dining in a pavilion. All counselors are licensed or have a master’s degree in counseling, as well as a background in service. “I have been with these kids from the start in [2013],” said Megan Schiller, camp counselor. “I met the Hovlands and became fast friends. We shared the same goals and mission of helping children of other veterans.” Allie Hoehn, a summer 2021 camp-

Campers of the 2021 Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp visited the Veterans Memorial Museum in Branson during the 2021 camp week.

er, said she came all the way to southwest Missouri for the Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp from Palmyra, Ind. “This is the first time I have come,” she said. “My mom just kind of told me I was going to be doing it this summer. My dad is still active, he has been serving for about 6-1/2 years.” Hoehn said she feels a sense of community at camp. As part of the construction of the Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp, a 150-foot suspension bridge on camp property prepares campers, like Allie, for facing their fears and learning other coping skills. “We get a lot of support and understanding,” she said. “They know what we are going through, and we can relate

to each other.” Aside from the counseling aspect of camp, Hoehn said it is a lot of fun. “We are out of the house and away from our phones,” she said. “We are spending time with people in similar situations to our own.” Megan Schiller said the camp usually consists of two separate week-long camps each summer, one in June and one in July, one for campers who have lost a loved one in service and one for campers who have a loved one who returned injured from service. “The whole week, we look at core values and focus on building courage and instilling confidence and resiliency,” she said. “We talk about facing fears and even have an introduction and talk about those fears.”

From a day focused on patriotism, to communication skill building, these campers are given an arsenal of skill sets to help them move on in a healthy way. “We aim to build the coping skills in these children to take back home with them,” Darrell Hovland said. “Things have changed over the years, and we have figured things out along the way, but overall, that is the main goal. In the future, we would like to expand, but there are a lot of other variables involved in something like that.” The Kids of Our Heroes mission is to help children (ages 11-17) of our Heroes to develop the coping skills of courage, confidence, and resiliency to overcome the fears and challenges of living with and rising above the injury or loss of a parent or family member who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation. At the end of camp, each camper is asked to write a letter to future campers, to share their experiences and give advice on what to expect. One wounded warrior camper in July 2017, said they hope future campers come with an open heart to help have a life changing relationship with their military parent in the future. Another camper said they did things they never expected to do while at Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp. “I learned to face fears through adventures,” they said. “[And] I found hope in art, reading, writing…. and being in nature.” A third letter reminds future campers to bring sunscreen and bug spray, but also, don’t forget to have fun. Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp relies on donations to make it all possible. As well as, children to attend the camp. Do you know a child 11-17 of a Wounded or Fallen Warrior? n

Campers of the Kids of Our Heroes Adventure Camp took a kayaking trip over ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 37 the summer to help build skills like communication and narrative building.

Much To Be Thankful For Verona family unites to heal

s 2021 presses on toward its conclusion, we have the opportunity to express our gratitude this month during Thanksgiving celebrations. Looking back at the year, we can reflect on the blessings and the challenges that have filled our months. One local family has a multitude of thanks to share this year. Having met in college in Tucson, Arizona, Ryan and Candice Saylor decided to move to the Ozarks to be closer to his family in Springfield. In 2017, they were able to move into their own home with land and space to have some small animals for their three children, 14-year-old Zoe, 8-year-old Hunter, and 2-year-old Molly. Candice was new to the area, having grown up in Arizona. After completing service in the United States Army as a Combat Medic (including one deployment to Afghanistan), Ryan was happy to settle his family in a place safer than Tucson. It was an easy decision to move to their

38 | November 2021

farm outside Purdy. “We were tired of the big city and the violence,” Ryan said. “A couple of days before we moved, my car was stolen and used in a gang shooting.” During their first few years in the area, things were going well for the Saylors. Candice was hired to teach middle school English at Verona Middle School. When they had their third child, Molly, Ryan chose to stay home and care for her because the cost of daycare was so high. They had settled into their home, found a church, met their neighbors, and made friends every step of the way. But for the Saylors, 2021 started off difficult. “We bought our house, and along came some of the difficulties of a new home,” Ryan said. “Our basement flooded,” Candice added. “It was a burst pipe, and we had to replace all the flooring. Also, we had to get a new septic tank this winter when ours collapsed.” “We got through that, then we had some calm before the storm,” Ryan said.

That storm would come in the summer when Ryan suffered a major medical incident. “It was a normal day,” Ryan explained. “We were all home and in bed. Next thing I know, I’m waking up and there are paramedics in the room. I had no idea what happened.” What had happened was that Ryan experienced a major seizure. “That day was terrifying,” Candice said. “I didn’t really understand what was going on. He’d had a couple of seizures years ago, but the doctors said it was an anomaly and sent us home with no follow up care.” “At first,” Ryan said, “I refused treatment from the paramedics, but then agreed to go.” “He doesn’t remember much,” Candice added. “But he bit through an artery in his tongue and developed a hematoma that started closing off his airway. He had to be intubated and airlifted to Joplin. He continued to have seizures and declined.” Throughout that first day Candice was shuffled around by doctors that al-

Story by Annie Lisenby Smith

lowed her into Ryan’s room only to usher her immediately back out, as he would begin to seize again. A panic grew in her heart that was followed by many days of unknowns. Ryan was in the ICU at Freeman Hospital in Joplin for a week. He continued to have seizures that the medical team couldn’t control. Testing had to be delayed until he was stable enough for his body to withstand the tests. When they would reduce medications, he would start seizing again or his heart would malfunction. At one point there was concern that his kidneys were not working. “Eventually, they were able to complete the testing to rule out illnesses,” Candice said. “The seizures weren’t 100 percent under control, but they had to bring him out of the coma. They said I needed to be prepared for severe brain damage or that he wouldn’t wake up. I was worried because some of his seizures had lasted 10 minutes long. After five minutes, there is likely brain damage.” The week Ryan was in the ICU was rough for Candice. She stayed at a hotel near the hospital so she could be available anytime she was needed. Their three kids stayed with their grandmother in Springfield. The separation was difficult. At a time when Ryan’s survival was being tested, Candice could only communicate with her children over the phone. When the medications were altered to help Ryan wake up from the induced coma, Candice was by his side. “He had initial damage, unable to use his hands or walk,” Candice said. “At first, I think they thought it was more severe than what it turned out to be. When he first came to, he couldn’t talk because of the stitches in his tongue. Then he was able to answer some questions.” Ryan spent a full month in the hospital. After therapy to regain his strength and learning to perform basic skills again, Ryan’s recovery was described as miraculous. When he was discharged, Ryan continued with physical therapy and a new

combination of medications to control his seizures. With a smile he added, “I’m pretty much fully recovered now. But I’m still working on some of my strength.” Looking back at the whole experience, Candice said that what got her through it all was God and her faith. “Also, the people, and the community,” she continued. “The church — the church family and their prayers. People were sending us cards and bringing us food. Our neighbors, we were friendly but didn’t really know them, but they came over and took care of our animals every day. They offered to get us groceries. At my school, they brought us meals and helped give rides to kids and help with animals. People just came out of the woodwork.” “I’ve never experienced this kind of giving in my life,” Ryan added. “We just couldn’t believe how giving and unconditional it was,” Candice said. “There were so many prayers. They knew we were hurting, and it snowballed.” The snowballing happened just two weeks after Ryan came home from the hospital. Candice had gone back to set up her classroom for the new school year and was only in the building for two of the in-service days before she started to feel ill. What she thought was just a cold hit her very hard and led to a positive COVID diagnosis. Others in the family also tested positive, including Ryan. But Candice’s body, exhausted after caring for Ryan and the children, couldn’t keep up with the virus. “Tuesday night, it hit me hard,” Candice said. “I went to the hospital that weekend.” Having difficulty breathing, Candice was admitted to Cox South and situated in the COVID ICU ward, also referred to as “The Tower.” Candice used one word to describe her experience in the Tower: terrifying. “The nurses and doctors were awesome, but it was terrifying, because they had to wear these suits. When they came in, it was like an astronaut coming in. There

wasn’t a lot of talking because we were all on oxygen, but it was loud because of all the beeping from machines. I was so sick, I couldn’t talk on the phone, so I didn’t communicate with my family for days.” Because Candice was in a designated COVID unit, Ryan and the children couldn’t visit her. “The phone reception was bad at our house, and I’d get disconnected,” Ryan said. “When I called back, I couldn’t connect with her.” During this time, he was also recovering at home from COVID. Their roles had switched. Ryan was the caregiver, and Candice was the patient. During the week Candice spent in the COVID ICU, she witnessed fellow patients lose their battle with the virus. It was heartbreaking and anxiety inducing to overhear the daughter of the patient in the next bed over as she sang a song for her mother knowing it was the last time they’d communicate. “I would cry thinking about her family and my family,” Candice said with fresh tears in her eyes.

Ryan in the ICU at Freeman Hospital as doctors worked to control his seizures.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 39

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Once Candice’s breathing, heart rate, blood sugar, and risk of blood clots were all under control, she was discharged to go home on oxygen. “When they told me I could go home, I was thankful. I thought I had made it through and wouldn’t die,” Candice said. “A nurse would come and hold my hand during their shifts and tell me how good I was doing. I had my birthday in the hospital. The nurses made me a sign and sang for me. I was worried that I would decline when I went home. But when I got home, it was such a blessing. I felt bad because Ryan wasn’t 100 percent, and I was totally reliant on someone else to help me.” “Our older daughter had a hard time, but she stepped up and helped around the house in so many ways,” Candice added. “We couldn’t have done this without her.” When considering what they’re thankful for this year, the Saylor’s list is long. Many people continued to support and care for the family through Candice’s illness. The prayers, love, and meals poured in again. “This year, I’m thankful that we’re all intact and alive,” Ryan said. “That we’re all still together.” “That the kids are healthy,” Candice added. “I’m thankful for our church family, family in Springfield and Arizona, the community, and my friends and co-workers at school.” “Every time we receive a card or letter in the mail, any kind of help, it sparks a lot of emotions,” Ryan said. “We are so grateful that we have people in our lives that will do anything to help us even from far away.” “And I’m thankful for the nurses and doctors who got us through,” Candice said. Now that the whole family is home and back together, the Saylors are healing and enjoying the simple parts of life like watching Zoe play in volleyball games. And this year when they sit with family around the Thanksgiving table, their list of thanks will be long and full of joy. n

Treasured memories

Date Night

By Mike Gervais

nthusiasm is great. But waiting your turn when you are brimming with enthusiasm can be a little challenging.

This month, Kat and I were tasked with creating a treasure chest for all our relationship keepsakes like plane tickets, playbills, movie tickets, Valentine’s Day cards and more. We were provided a mid-sized pine box, about the size of a shoebox, a soldering iron, coffee stain and a piece of wood to practice our wood-burning skills. Our task was to decorate the little treasure chest to make it our own. Once again I found myself trying to find a way to pawn the larger, more creative task onto Kat. It’s not laziness. She’s simply a talented artist and I am not. And this is a keepsake we will likely keep for the rest of our lives. For my part, I know what I do well. I can throw a thousand ideas at a wall in under 30 seconds and see if any of them spark inspiration. I also have an affinity for words and quotes. One continues to stand out when we’re tasked with creating a sentimental set piece for our mantel.

Once the stain on our keepsake box dried, we gathered up some sentimental items to store, including playbills, airline tickets from visits before Kat moved to Missouri and photos. I’ve mentioned before that Kat and I share a love for Shakespeare (playbills for the Merchant of Venice, Mid Summer Night’s Dream and Hamlet are already in our keepsake box) and our first Christmas together I purchased a book of The Bard’s Sonnets for her, highlighting Sonnet No. 18. So as I plotted my out in regards to creating an artistic design, I volunteered to burn a quote from the sonnet into the box, leaving the image that takes more skill to Kat.

Burning a Shakespeare quote into a piece of wood turned out to be a much slower, and more delicate process than I had imagined.

We discussed a number of options, including a skull remnant of Hamlet’s famous scene, the Melpomene/Thalia masks, hearts, trees, our initials and much more.

As we discussed our options, we heated the soldering iron and got to work practicing wood burning. The more Kat burned, the more we narrowed down the design, settling on a heart with a banner and our initials. Kat had an ingenious idea to print a stencil for her design. She showed me that she could use a pencil to color the back of the page, then place it on the box and trace the design, transferring the graphite onto the box, providing a perfect design to trace. I thought I’d do the same thing with my quote, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” to get the lettering just right. Boy was I wrong.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 41

We had spent a bit of time practicing our burning skills, and I was pretty sure I could nail the wording and felt just a little bad that Kat was tasked with two swooping lines to make the heart and banner, and shading. I say I felt bad, but once we got to work, I realized I’d made a mistake. It turns out, burning a letter into a piece of wood is a lot more delicate than slamming down the keys on a keyboard or scrawling notes into a notebook.

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42 | November 2021

The end result is a mostly legible quote that looks more than a little bit like a hashtag with no discernible spacing between words. The good news is that we booked a venue for our wedding next June, and now we have a ready-made hashtag for the wedding (I’m assured that is a normal thing people do) #shallIcomparetheetoasummersday. Here’s where patience comes in. Kat and I shared the soldering iron, passing it back and forth as we looked up design ideas and practiced wood burning. But when it came to actually applying the design to our box, we found our hands itching, wanting to get the tool in our hands and make some progress on our share of the project. I found myself doing dishes and cleaning the kitchen to keep from harassing Kat. She got busy during my turn making dinner and checking in periodically to see if I was ready for a break. When it was all said and done, she pointed out that it says something about our relationship that it was clear we each wanted to get our hands on the soldering iron, and we were each able to occupy ourselves and wait our turn. Kat pointed out that the nature of our date nights has not only challenged our creative thinking, but time and again we’ve found ourselves working together extremely well, playing to our strengths and making great memories. This month was an added bonus because we made a box to keep many of those memories in. n

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 43

Cutest Pet

Tripas is a two-year-old chihuahua, fur baby of Johnny Garcia of Marionville.

Tripas If you think your furry or feathered friend is the cutest in the area, let us know! We invite you to share a photo of your pet to be featured in Connection’s Cutest Pet contest. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your pet’s name, city of residence and your contact information. Email your pet’s photo to:

connection@monett-times.com 44 | November 2021

Rescued, My Favorite Breed

POUND PUPPIES Since this month’s column is a general plea for help, rather than specific to one shelter,

By Christa Stout

adding some pictures of When the new petsI amcurrently at the Monett City Pound. They are wonderful dogs wears off, and eager to find their own home. old attitudes darken pet futures

This is a plea on behalf of all of the pet rescues, shelters and pounds in our area and the pets that are finding themselves there. All are asking for help and many aren’t getting it, so let me remind you again and renew their plea. All animal shelters are overflowing with animals. The number of dogs and cats that are turned into these facilities is at an all time high and everyone has run out of room. Why? There are probably several reasons, one is a normal increase in early fall and the other may have more to do with lifestyles during the worst of the pandemic when many animals were adopted. Some of these are now being surrendered, dumped or lack the kind of care that would keep them at home and out of harm’s way. Many adopters have now returned

BUSTER was found

running loose. He’s a friendly boy that would love to have a family of his own to love and protect.

to work at their work place instead of being able to work from home, and the animals are turned lose to fend for themselves, at least during the day and in some instances permanently. But in addition, many of the female pets have had puppies and kittens and the owners are overwhelmed or unable to take care of them. Also, the cute little puppies that were adopted have now grown into young adults and unless they have had at least some training and supervision are turning into teenage ninja dogs and cats with destructive tendencies.

SPOT is a sweet girl who

would love a large fenced yard to run and play in.

These animals are going hungry, are getting injured by cars and require more care at the shelter, if they find one that can take them in. The expense to take them in is much higher than an owner surrendered dog or cat who has had regular shots, vet visits and is spayed or neutered.

SASHA THE HUSKY

Scan the QR Code to read more Rescued, My Favorite Breed online

is a wonderful girl that would love to have another dog (small or large) to play and snuggle with.

ConnectionMO.com/RescuedMyFavoriteBreed | Connection Magazine | 45

So please, if you have one or more animals, make sure they are spayed/neutered. Remember there are several low cost clinics in the area, such as the Joplin Humane Society or Stray Animals Matter in Marionville. There are also low cost and/or free shot clinics. I will post the infor-mation below, but the easiest way to become aware of the clinics is via Facebook. If you are not yet a dog or cat parent, please make sure this is truly what you are willing to do for the life of the animal. It is important to remember that this is a lifetime commitment. A well cared for pet can and will live happily and healthily to be as many as 20 years. So be sure you are willing to take care of the pet for the rest of their life. An animal that is spayed or neutered, is more likely to stay home, and is healthier, with fewer medical problems. The animal needs room to roam, have access to food and water, lots of love from his parents and should be properly socialized with other humans and animals. All of the above will keep your pet off the streets and out of rescues, shelters and pounds. The shelters are all running low on funds and space. They are trying hard to provide for the ani-mals in their care and to take in any pets that need help. But all of this requires involvement of the community. Remember the phrase, “It Takes a Village”? It is very much applicable to the shelter world. So what can you do to help?

46 | November 2021

1. Adopt. If you have decid- 4. Donate. If you can’t ed to make the commitment to adopt, find your pet at a rescue, shel-ter or pound. The initial expense is minimal compared to a pet purchased from a breeder.

2. Foster. Fostering allows

you to meet and take care of an animal, learn all of their attributes and teach them some basic commands. There are usually some basic requirements, so check with your favorite shelter. The best part of fostering is that you can have a pet without the expense, since usually food, medicine, etc. is provided by the shelter.

3. Volunteer. Every

shelter loves and needs to have volunteers who help feed, clean kennels, walk animals, answer phones, do laundry, etc. There are lots of volunteer jobs available at shelters, and there’s something for everyone. Even older children can participate. The com-mitment for volunteering may be as little as an hour or two a month or as much as you are willing or able to give.

Reminder

adopt or volunteer, please donate and encourage your children to save and donate. Even a few dollars are much appreciated and will help keep a pet alive. Your chil-dren will be so proud to have contributed to a pet’s life. Don’t forget, an easy way to get some funds to the shelters, is to place your Amazon orders by selecting your favorite shelter (501c3) from Amazon’s list and starting off your shopping at smile. amazon.com instead of simply am-azon.com. This doesn’t cost you the purchaser anything, but Amazon donates a portion of the purchase price to the charitable organization you selected.

Look around you, contact a shelter and see what their needs are, they generally range from any of the above four to simply providing some dog or cat food of their choice or any supplies need-ed to run the shelter. Many have a wish list on Amazon that will let you know exactly what each shelter’s needs are. n

Just because it is fall doesn’t mean that the fleas and ticks have gone away. Continue to provide your pets with the appropriate medication.

Familiar Faces 1

1. Matt and Kalli Robinson of Mt. Vernon. 2. Vanessa, Chanda, 9, Nate and Preston Kauffman, 5. 3. Stacy Foulks and Judy Marcus. 4. Corinna, Hayden and Harlan Hartley, 3, of Billings. 5. Jason Moulds and Dallas Peterson of Marionville.

Apple Fest Marionville hosted its annual Apple Fest celebration on Saturday, Sept. 18.

Mt. Vernon Apple Butter Faces

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Tiana Walden and Raven Walden Victoria Smith and Jonathan Avila Megan and Alexx Acheson Leslie Julius, Jason Hagg and Blitz Evan Gann and Trisha Stout Seven Valleys Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) members Honey and Little Bobby ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 47

Boots, BBQ and Bingo

hosted by Cassville Community Foundation and held at The Barn at Bear Ridge.

1. Becka and Dr. Chad Johnson 2. Kasey Hall and Skyler Bowman 3. Rachel Freeman and Mindi Atherton

4. Rhonda Stafford and Hilari Stockton 5. Rick and Traci Kerr 6. Will and Laura Holycross

Shakin’ in the Shell 1. Brandon Johnson, Katie Magula, Kolten Magula, 5, Clair Shefty, 3 and Nicole Shefty. 2. Back row, from left, Jennifer Sherwood and Krissy Peters. Front row, from left, Mikaylah Sherwood, 4, Nik Sherwood, 4, Gracelyn Peters, 8 and Mika Sherwood, 12. 3. Sheri Buchanan, Carolyn Ferguson, Robin Ferguson and Dean Ferguson. 4. John Tanner of Granby and Derek Sanders of Neosho. 5. Rich Gerleve and Jerry Davis of Shell Knob.

2 48 | November 2021

Advertiser Index A Beautiful Image................... 42 Aire Serv................................... 51 Barry Lawrence Regional Library . ...............................................3 Bill Vance Marine................... 43 Bruner Pharmacy.................... 15 Carey’s Cassville Florist........ 28 Clark Community Mental Health . ............................................ 29 Coldwell Banker..................... 33 Cox Health............................... 52 CS Bank.................................... 11 Diet Center.............................. 40 Doug’s Pro Lube..................... 20 Dr. Jared Spears, DDS........... 43 Edward Jones.............................5 Factory Mattress Direct...........2 First State Bank of Purdy..... 51 Fohn Funeral Home............... 22 Four Seasons Real Estate..... 11 Freedom Bank of Southern Missouri.................................... 14 Gantt Steel Buildings............. 42 Home N Stead........................ 15 J&J Floor Covering................ 24 Ken’s Collision Center........... 40 Kiddie City............................... 19 Lackey Body Works............... 14 Landscape & Design.............. 42 Larry Arnold............................. 20 Lil Boom Town........................ 28 Missouri Farm Bureau........... 11 My Best Friend’s Closet........ 34 Ozark Methodist Manor....... 40 Peachtree Village.......................8 Peppers and Co. .................... 43 QC Supply, LLC..........................8 Race Brothers......................... 33 Roaring River Health & Rehab.. . ............................................ 10 Roark Family Health.............. 24 Rusty Gate Flea Market........ 22 Security Bank of Southwest Missouri.................................... 22 Shelter Insurance................... 15 Tisha Trotter...............................6 Tomblin’s Jewelry................... 10 Trogdon Marshall................... 34 VisionHealth Eye Center...... 28 White’s Insurance.................. 20 Whitley Pharmacy.................. 19

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Parting Shot

Monett South Park taken by Katie Brittenham

“Pointing to another world will never stop vice among us; shedding light over this world can alone help us.” ― Walt Whitman

50 | November 2021

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52 | November 2021