Inspire(d) Fall 2024

Inspire(d)

Inspire(d)

DRIFTLESS

AN EXPERIMENT IN POSITIVE NEWS

Aryn Henning Nichols / Editor-in-Chief + Designer

Benji Nichols / Head of Logistics + Advertising Sales (& husband, distributor, writer)

Sara Walters / writer

Sara Friedl-Putnam / writer

Steve Harris / writer

Renee Brincks / writer

Laura Barlament / writer

Olivia Lynn Schnur / mental health writer

Jason Ray Photography / center spread photographer

Val Miller / cover artist

Roxie Nichols / Future Focused essay

Lynsey D. Moritz / social meda rockstar

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Interested in becoming a contributor? Email work samples to Aryn at aryn@iloveinspired.com, and we’ll chat!

Inspire(d) Driftless Magazine is headquartered & created in Decorah, Iowa. We cover communities located in the NE IA, SE MN, and W WI area of the Driftless Region. Email aryn@iloveinspired.com to learn about Community Partnership opportunities in the future - we’ve got some fun ideas!

JOIN THE POSITIVE NEWS MOVEMENT

1. Buy local - We couldn’t make this magazine without our amazing advertisers and partners. Visit or shop with one (or many) of our advertisers, and let them know you saw them in Inspire(d)!

2. Become an Inspire(d) Member at iloveinspired.com/membership

3. Sign up for our Positive News Newsletter by scanning the QR code here ----- :

4. Visit us online – website and social – and share with your friends and family!

5. Listen to our “Rhymes With...” podcast at http://decorah.fun find the gnome...

G-Gnome is hiding somewhere in this magazine! The first five people (no previous winners please) to send us his page location through our contact form at iloveinspired.com/contact-inspired gets a free Inspire(d) 7-Year Pen in the mail!

iloveinspired.com facebook.com/iloveinspired @iloveinspired

What’s the name mean?

Inspire(d) – pronounced in-spy-erd... you know: inspired – stands for inspire and be inspired. The idea is that person one inspires person two. That person is now inspired. Then that person inspires person three (or person one again), who is now inspired. Then the cycle continues! That’s what those arrows around the (d) are about! We’re here to remind folks that people are good! Our mission is, ultimately, to change the world… starting with our own community. We like to call it an experiment in positive news.

Inspire(d) Magazine is published quarterly by Inspire(d) Media, LLC, 412 Oak Street, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. This issue is dated Fall 2024, issue 78, volume 18, Copyright 2024 by Inspire(d) Magazine.

Support Inspire(d)

We want Inspire(d) to be accessible for all, which is why it is free on stands across the Driftless! But you can support Inspire(d) through Membership! We’ll send the magazine in the mail, to you or a loved one, for $35/year. Visit the Membership page at iloveinspired.com for details, or send a check for $35 to Inspire(d) Magazine, 412 Oak St., Decorah, Iowa 52101. Thank you for your support, and for joining the positive news movement!

Want to make a comment about something you read in the magazine? Email aryn@iloveinspired.com.

Welcome to the 78th issue of Inspire(d) Magazine! We’ve been making this publication for 17 years, y’all! That’s bananas. It’s been a joy – and yes, an inspiration – to bring positive news to our region all these years.

But just like any business, it’s taken a lot of resilience to keep at it, and there have definitely been times we’ve needed a little encouragement. Thus, we’ve made an issue dedicated to encouraging you all to find hope and resilience, so you can keep working toward all you believe in.

Our cover was created by well-known local artist Val Miller. She and her husband, Josh, moved to Val’s hometown of Waukon, Iowa, and created Steel Cow two decades ago. We have been inspired by this fellow married couple over and over again as they navigate the ups and downs of life, art, and entrepreneurship. And we have admired their resilience and willingness to keep standing back up and working toward their dreams.

Our dreams are what gives us hope. Mental health writer Olivia Lynn Schnur asks us, “What is your reason for waking up in the morning?” as she helps us discover our “why” – what gives us hope and pushes us to be resilient.

Our daughter, Roxie, always gives us hope. We asked her to write another Future Focused essay before she heads into sixth grade this year. This one is about what inspiration means to her. It felt right to have her perspective in this fall anniversary issue especially, as this publication has been a family affair from the very beginning.

You can see some highlights of the Inspire(d) timeline in a fun retrospective I put together – and then, if you’re willing, we’d love for you to take our survey (info on page 49) so we can learn more about you all and what you’re looking to read in future Inspire(d)s.

We will always keep featuring community builders in the region, though, because creating a community where others feel a sense of connection and belonging is one of the most important things we can do in this life. We’ve got a great line-up this issue.

Back-to-school time makes it feel extra fitting to feature Decorah music educators and community builders Matt & Nicole Cody. They not only lead local students in musical endeavors, they have also created a space for community members to engage their musical passions through the Oneota Valley Community Orchestra.

Dave Dudek in Chatfield, Minnesota, has been cutting hair and keeping up with community conversations for many years in his barber shop, Dave’s Barber.

Paul Reardon loves how bikes bring people together. While he lives in La Crosse, Wisconsin, he’s launching a new gravel ride across the river in Hokah, Minnesota. The Old Fashioned Gravel ride is sure to be some old-fashioned fun.

We have also been inspired by Laree Schouweiler’s work that combines community and movement at Driftless Yoga Center. You can learn more about her evolving path through entrepreneurship in this issue’s Sum of Your Business.

And we cap it all off with a warm, fuzzy piece about Socktoberfest at Fox River Mills in Osage, Iowa. Writer Renee Brincks chatted with Decorah’s Erin Ryan to learn the best ways to sock-up, er…stock-up…on socks this season…and experience an out-of-theordinary fall outing that could just become a family favorite.

The days might be getting shorter this season, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get brighter. Here’s to finding that light, and that hope.

Thanks for reading, friends. We appreciate you.

Looking forward,

It’s a region in the Midwest – Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin, and a wee bit of Northwest Illinois – that was skipped by the glaciers in the last ice age, leaving the area “lacking glacial drift” – i.e. Driftless. The gist of that is we get to enjoy bluffs, valleys, coulees, and other fun geographical features that don’t typically occur in other parts of our states (the Mississippi River contributes greatly to the geography as well). It’s a lovely place to live and visit, and we’re happy you’re here!

cover, featuring Eddie the Fox with Dahlias, was created by Waukon, Iowa, artist Val Miller, of Steel Cow. Read more about Val & her work on page 18.

Aryn Henning Nichols

What We’re Loving right now

A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS

REGION THIS FALL...

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF ONEOTA CO-OP!

Here at Inspire(d), we are huge fans of the Oneota Community Food Co-op. From grocery staples to amazing local produce, bulk goods to after school treats, the Co-op is a favorite downtown stop for many – and has been now for 50 years! Indeed, 2024 marks 50 years of the Oneota Community Co-op providing not only topnotch products, but a welcoming community environment for all shoppers. Started in 1972 as an informal buying club, the Coop opened its first storefront in 1974 on Paine Street in Decorah. In 1978 the Co-op moved into the historic Armory building in Downtown Decorah (on the 2nd floor!) but made its way onto the street level by 1984. Three moves later, the Co-op found its amazing current home at 312 West Water Street in 2008 and has been a beacon of Downtown Decorah ever since.

at Inspire(d) HQ include quick takeaway lunches, fun bakery items (Roxie loves the chocolate croissants!) and amazing local produce. And while being a member of the Co-op does have some advantages (monthly discounts, quarterly member sales, voting, and more), all are welcome to wander and shop the beautiful aisles of the Co-op.

The Oneota Community Co-op will be hosting their 50th Anniversary Fall Frolic on Saturday, September 28 at Luna Valley Farm, just outside of Decorah. All are welcome to enjoy the event, but pre-registration is required by September 23. Luna Valley Farm Pizza will be served from 5-7:30, and music will be provided by Switchback from 7-9 pm. Tickets for the meal and music are $15 for adults, and $5 for ages 10-17 and must be purchased in advance at the Oneota Community Food Co-op or online at www.oneotacoop. com Here’s to 50 years of the Oneota Community Co-op!

FALL FOR ART!

Fall brings some of the most beautiful days to enjoy our region, with unique opportunities to take in the scenery - and the artists that are inspired by it! Check out these regional road trips and start planning your adventures to explore the backroads, artists’ studios, and festivals across the Driftless. **You can even check out our guide to mastering the fall art road trip with our handy “Art Tour Primer” – found online at iloveinspired.com/art-tour-primer/ (Note: As with all good adventures, Inspire(d) encourages you to check ahead to confirm details.)

20 Years of the Driftless Area Art Festival! September 21-22

The 6,000-square-foot store features a large selection of local, organic, and natural products, such as fresh produce, meat, cheese, bulk, packaged, and frozen foods, nutritional supplements, body care items, books, gifts, and a delicious deli. Some of our favorites

The village of Soldiers Grove sits just along the scenic Kickapoo River in Crawford County, Wisconsin, and comes alive each fall with the Driftless Area Art Festival. With a population of just 600, Soldiers Grove embraces this annual gathering of painters, potters, woodworkers, weavers, metal smiths, musicians, vintners, and brewmasters. 2024 Marks the 20th annual Driftless Area Art Festival, with exhibitors showing their work from 10-5 on Saturday, and 10-4 on Sunday. Take in the scenery, stroll the exhibits, taste local fare, sip local beverages, all while listening to great local musicians. Perfect fall day? Sounds like it to us! Find all the details: www.driftlessareaartfestival.com

Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour - October 11-13

For over 25 years the Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour has been showcasing artists’ studios tucked away amongst the beautiful scenery of Northeast Iowa! Get a glimpse into these working spaces October 11-13, 2024. The Studio Tour features 32 stops, with more than 40 award-winning artists displaying and selling pottery, paintings, woodcuts, baskets, jewelry, woodworking, sculpture, collage, fiber arts, and more.

The Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour is Iowa’s first and longestrunning tour of artists’ studios in the state, proudly showcasing the artists that call our region home. The tour is free of charge, with Decorah acting as the hub with scenic adventures up to 40 miles in all directions. Spaces will be open daily from 10-5, and participants can set their own pace while driving from studio to studio.

Full details are available at www.iowaarttour.com, including an interactive Google map to studios. Separate download-to-print, letter-size maps, GPS coordinates, and lodging/dining are available as web downloads.

Worm Farm Art DTour

Sauk County, Wisconsin, and the Wormfarm Institute bring large scale art to the countryside with their annual Art DTour October 5-14, 2024. This unique, rural art exhibit brings temporarily installed artworks to various locations on a 50-mile route around Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Visitors can expect to experience large scale installations, roadside poetry, local food markets, pasture performances, educational Field Notes, “Mystery Spots,” and more while traveling along scenic and winding roads.

Starting in mid-September, the official paper DTour Map will be available with all the DTails about the 40+ Stops along this year’s route – find it at either the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce or Kraemer Library & Community Center or online (www. wormfarminstitute.org)! DTour organizers say “We have plenty of land & sky here in rural Wisconsin, but phone reception can be spotty. You’ll want the big paper map, trust us!”

Save the date for this this unique, free event. The DTour brings thousands to appreciate the art of what farmers do every day, inviting visitors to come closer to the land that supports us all. www. wormfarminstitute.org

‘HAND ME DOWN THE FIDDLE’

“Hand Me Down the Fiddle,” a celebration of the fiddle in Scandinavian Folk Music and immigrant life, is now on exhibit through Spring 2025 at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum in Decorah.

Ole Bull, Ole Hendricks, Johan Arndt Mostad, Thea Arndt Clark, Bill Sherburne, Hans Fykerud, Dagny Andrea Quisling, Ellen Blagen, and Elmo Wick – who are they? Find out about these Norwegian and Norwegian-American fiddlers, as well as fiddle makers and tune collectors from Norwegian-American communities in the Upper Midwest. The exhibition includes music made on Hardanger fiddles

What We’re Loving right now

and flat fiddles, as well as musical styles from Norway and America. It shares stories through artifacts, instruments, photographs, recordings, and video from Vesterheim’s collection, other organizations, and the community.

The project consultant and guest curator for the exhibition is Decorah fiddler and music historian Beth Hoven Rotto, perhaps known best for her fiddling work with local Scandinavian folk group Foot-Notes. Her work with the group has helped preserve generations of old time and traditional dance tunes that are now being shared with future generations. Multiple online class opportunities will also be available from December 2024 to March 2025 as part of Beth Hoven Rotto’s

“Lost and Found: Norwegian-American Fiddle Tunes” Classes. Online registration is available at Vesterheim.org

Visitors to the exhibit at Vesterheim (and online!) have the opportunity to connect with the culture and experiences of exceptional, everyday musicians from the recent past to the present. In addition to the exhibit, Vesterheim presents in-person and online events that showcase this unique musical heritage.

Special Events Include:

September 13 – Foot-Notes Dance in Vesterheim Commons, 7 pm

October 4 –“Svartefela” Black Fiddle Lecture & Performance with Paul Sveinall and Nina Byttingsmyr, 7 pm

November 2 – Traditional Fiddle Tunes from Agder online Class with Gard Nergard, 10-11:30 am (Class description and registration online at Vesterheim.org)

December 7 – Hardanger Fiddle Concert w/ Eden Ehm and Fiddle Making Demonstration w/ Karen Rebholz, as part of Vesterheim Norwegian Christmas. Find all the details at www.vesterheim.org

‘BARONS’ AUSTIN FRERICK IN CONVERSATION

Join The Oneota Literary Foundation and Dragonfly Books for a fascinating conversation with author Austin Frerick. Inspire(d)’s Benji Nichols will help host the conversation in the front room of Pulpit Rock Brewery on Tuesday, September 24, at 7pm.

“Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry” is the story of seven titans of the food industry, their rise to power, and the consequences for farmers, workers, eaters, climate, health, and taste. Written by Iowa native Austin Frerick, the book gives a unique view into how our industrial food systems have

NICHOLAS C. ROWLEY

COURTNEY ROWLEY DOMINIC PECHOTA LAURA THOMPSON KAREN ZAHKA

come to be under the ownership of just a few large corporations, many with paths to Iowa and the Midwest.

Austin Frerick is a 7th generation Iowan with ties to Northeast Iowa. His mother Kathy managed a beauty salon in his hometown of Cedar Rapids before opening her own bakery and his father Scott delivered and merchandised beer for a local, family-owned beer distributor. Austin’s passion for agriculture comes from spending weekends working with his Grandpa Frerick, and traces part of his family’s lineage to rural Winneshiek County. He attended Grinnell College where he wrote two theses on corporate power in Iowa’s slaughterhouse communities before becoming the first in his family to graduate from college. Austin attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for graduate school and is a Fellow of the Thurman Arnold Project at Yale University. He has since held positions at the Congressional Research Service and at the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Tax Analysis, where he published research on the growth of concentration in the American Economy.

“Barons” has been heralded for shining a light on the challenges of our food systems and their impact on farmers, producers, retailers, and consumers. “Austin Frerick shows just how much consolidation has devastated family farmers. But what makes Barons so good is how clearly he explains how those changes were caused by policies that benefit Wall Street and corporate America at the expense of everyone else,” says Rob Larew, President of the National Farmers Union. More information can be found at www.austinfrerick.com and www. dragonflybooks.com.

LUTHER COLLEGE CENTER STAGE SERIES 2024-25

The Luther College Center Stage Series has announced the 2024–25 show lineup, bringing world class entertainment to the stage of the Center for Faith and Life in Decorah. Tying the season’s diverse programs together is the theme of migration and the commemoration of the first organized migration from Norway to North America 200 years ago. Luther is the first U.S. college founded by Norwegian immigrants.

“This commemorative year gives us a chance to honor the strength it takes to leave home for the unknown and to better understand the migration of people that continues today,” says Kristen Underwood, director of campus programming. “Whether immersing yourself in the rollicking sounds of Venezuela or Ireland, the colors and perspectives of the American Southwest, or the artistry of the Ailey II dancers, we hope you will find moments of joy and awe.”

What We’re Loving right now

With a voice described as “intoxicating,” Nella (performing Sept. 27) is a Venezuelan jazz singer who won the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist straight out of Berklee College of Music. Another Grammy winner, Imani Winds (Oct. 10), has a well-deserved international reputation for their masterful playing and engaging stage presence. “Grooves and Meditations” will showcase a diverse repertoire ranging from Stevie Wonder covers to a brand-new commission.

The King’s Singers return to Luther (Nov. 12) with a program entitled “The New World,” selected for this season in honor of the 200th anniversary of the first Norwegian immigrants’ arrival. A very special Valentine’s Day performance with Ailey II (Feb. 14) will immerse the audience in the artistry and energy of this beloved dance company from New York.

Danú will bring the best of Ireland with their presentation (March 14) and finish the season with the astonishing string quartet ETHEL in collaboration with multi-Grammy-winning Native American musician and storyteller Robert Mirabal in The Red Willow (April 11).

Tickets and more information about each of the performances can be found at tickets.luther.edu and season subscribers may choose five or six performances, as well as five or six Center Stage Dinners, before September 27 to waive any ticketing fees and receive 15 percent off.

The Center Stage Dinner Series offers a gourmet three-course dinner before each show in the Peace Dining Room, overlooking lower campus and the Upper Iowa River. Beer and wine are available for purchase. Information for the dinner series can be found at tickets.luther.edu, with menus posted two weeks before the corresponding event. Visit tickets.luther.edu or call 563-387-1357 for more information.

CRUNCHY BITS!

Here at Inspire(d) HQ, we love a good little tidbit of fresh tips on fun places in our region - especially when they have to do with food, beverages, getting out and finding fun in our region!

• Live on Winnebago makes its long-awaited return to Winnebago Street in downtown Decorah this fall on Saturday, September 21 from 12-10 pm. The one-day, all-inclusive, free-to-attend music and arts festival is a community celebration, highlighting local and regional artists and musicians. The line-up includes That 1 Guy, Javier Trejo y caballo Cósmico, Mississippi Hot Club, Nola Jazz Band, and Maritza. A juried and community art show and fair will also be part of the festivities, as well as activities for all ages and more! For more information and updates keep an eye out on DecorahNow.com or Facebook “Live on Winnebago”.

Unique Experiences

• While you’re near downtown Decorah, don’t miss the newest addition: Jubilee! This unique home goods store (at 218 W Water Street) is delightfully stocked with “goods for inner elevation” –unique furnishings, art, dishware, and cool stuff like awesome lights, vinyl records, and specialty pantry goods. Owners Kendra and Aaron also specialize in design and creative services, so make sure to chat with them while you check out the store! Check them out on Instagram @jubileedecorah

• One of Decorah’s favorite seasonal summer destinations, Luna Valley (Pizza!) Farm, has announced some fresh mid-day (!) pizza dates for October. Just think of it: A crisp Autumn Day, golden sunshine, and pizza on the farm! Mid-day pizza in October is new for Luna Valley, and details are still being finalized but you can likely expect reservation times to be available from 11-2pm on Saturday, October 5, 12, 19 and 26. Check it all out at lunavalleyfarm.com

• Just up the road in Spring Grove, Minnesota, things are poppin’ off at the new Fat Pat’s Brewery. With tasty food and brews served Wednesday - Sundays, this joint has quickly become a regional destination. Thursday evenings feature smoked wings, Fridays are BBQ night, and pizza and burgers are generally available on the rotating menu. Follow along with all the fun @fatpatsbrewery or www.fatpatsbrewery.com

• If you’re looking for a dandy night out in our region, we’re pretty fond of a couple of things that have been happening lately in Viroqua, Wisconsin. The Historic Temple Theatre in downtown Viroqua has been on a string of sweet concerts lately (as well as fun classic films!). Upcoming concerts include Sybarite 5 (Sept 20), Joan Osborne (Oct 25), and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades (Nov 16). Make a night of it and grab a room at the beautifully restored (and easily walkable) Hotel Fortney in downtown Viroqua. We’d suggest Driftless Cafe for dinner and a beer at The Woolly Bear Taphouse, with a late brunch the next day at Maybe Lately’s – but check ahead for hours and reservations.

• Last but not least, the Decorah Gear Exchange is set for September 28-29 at the Pulpit Rock Brewery front room. Are unused kayaks taking up room in your garage? Do you have tents and backpacks collecting dust? Are you storing bikes that are no longer sized correctly for your family? Prepare your treasures for sale –or prepare to find new (to you) outdoor goods at this fun community event! Individuals are allowed to sell and/or buy new or gently used outdoor gear such as kayaks, canoes, tents, backpacks, fishing gear, bicycles, skis, lifejackets, car racks, camp stoves, and more! To note: No firearms or weapons will be accepted. Proceeds will benefit further expanding recreational opportunities and resources in the Decorah area. More details: visitdecorah.com/ decorahgearexchange/

Blooming

DREAMS

Two decades after founding the successful Steel Cow studio in Waukon, Iowa, talented Northeast Iowa artist and entrepreneur Val Miller realizes another dream –growing and painting flowers.

PBY SARA FRIEDL-PUTNAM

aula the Cow thinks it’s high time the Hollywood sign moooooves on over.

The 25-foot-tall cow mural exudes charm and more than a dash of whimsy, and has been welcoming folks to downtown Waukon, Iowa, since artist Val Miller painted her in 2008.

Paula may not be flashy, but she’s fun, and she’s handled the tests of time beautifully. The same could be said of Paula’s creator, Val, who has been painting cow art (and more) through her business, Steel Cow, for two decades.

The artist has been “obsessed” (her word) with cows since the age of 17. Though she was raised in rural Waukon, home to many cows, it was a family trip to Switzerland that instilled the deep appreciation of the creatures. She was riding on the back of a Harley motorcycle when she first heard the jingle of

the

“We

cow bells through

Alps.

A field of lavender at Steel Cow Lavender Farm in rural Waukon. / Photo courtesy of Steel Cow

Paula the Cow mural, painted by artist Val Miller, has been welcoming folks to Waukon since 2008. / Photo by Sara Friedl-Putnam

stopped for a picnic in a meadow, and several giant and gentle Brown Swiss cows came up to us there,” recalls Val, the trip photographer. “They were the most beautiful things I had ever seen, and from that day forward, almost all of the photos I took were of cows!”

The fascination wasn’t fleeting. When Val began her studio art major at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, she started painting cows. That was in 1998, and she hasn’t stopped since (even during her later studies at the University of Iowa to earn a bachelor’s degree in marketing). Today, her original works of cows – each, like Paula, bearing an equally original name – grace the walls of homes, shops, galleries, barns, and street corners across the United States and beyond.

“Twenty years ago, almost no one put pictures of cows on their walls – at least not mainstream, non-farm people anyway,” says Val. “It was fun to paint something that most other image makers overlooked, and I have really liked bringing attention to this amazing animal.”

Over the years, she expanded her subject palette to include an array of other animals, including pigs, chicken, sheep, goats, and various wildlife. “I pick which animal I want to paint next, make an appointment to go find that animal at a farm somewhere, go meet the animal, and take lots of mental notes and photos,” says Val. “Then I bring the photos back to look at, pick the one that speaks to me, make a pencil drawing on my canvas, and start painting.” The unique names come later. “I always give my paintings of animals new names and alter egos, even if they have their own names in real life,” she continues. “And I never name them until the painting is finished and I can see what fits.”

Steel Cow artist Val Miller, who created our current Inspire(d) cover, poses with a bouquet of flowers from her flower farm outside of Waukon, Iowa. / Photo courtesy Steel Cow Continued on next page

Val’s cow ‘obsession’ began when she was 17. She paints other animals now too (see opposite page photo), but these amazing creatures will always top her list. / Photo courtesy Steel Cow

The process may not be quick, but it has worked well for Val, who operates out of a brickand-mortar studio that she and her husband, Josh, a sculptor and cabinetmaker whom she met at Bradley, opened on Allamakee Street. Back then, they worked downstairs in the gorgeous gallery and studio spaces, and lived upstairs in an apartment largely designed by Josh.

The beginning wasn’t easy – “We started Steel Cow scared, before we were ready, at a time when many people said to our faces we shouldn’t start something until we had more experience or we had money in the bank,” she admits – but the couple’s talent, tenacity, grit, and resilience have long since made them a fixture of the small Iowa town. And Val is grateful for that. “I’m so humbled by how our community has embraced us over the years,” she says. “Perhaps the biggest success is knowing that we are home, that we have always been home, that the people who live here are so wonderful, and that we didn’t have to move away to have our dream come true.”

The couple’s resilience and the community’s support clicked into overdrive in April 2021 and again in February 2022, when two successive fires at the studio building (built in the 1920s by Val’s ancestors) threatened to destroy the dream Val and Josh worked so hard to build for one another and their three active sons, Edison, Harrison, and Ellison. Luckily, the family had moved from their downtown apartment to an acreage outside of Waukon in 2018, so they still had a place to lay their heads after long hours working through the damage. The first fire broke out on the main floor of their building and took a solid eight months to “get back to normal.” The second consumed two buildings next door and left theirs with heavy water, smoke, and structural damage that took even longer to repair. “We didn’t know for over a year if our building was even going to be able to stand the test of time or would have to be torn down as the structural stability of our outside wall was in question,” she says. “...It was hard.” And while it would have been easy (and understandable) for Val to live in a victim mentality, she refused. “Navigating the fires and multiple years in a row of their physical, financial, and

Val with a variety of the Steel Cow paintings… and their friends. / Photo courtesy Steel Cow

Val’s husband, Josh Miller, is no stranger to framing up walls. / Photo courtesy Steel Cow

she says.

As she was coping with those unexpected setbacks, Val dove deeper into a passion she and her family had discovered quite unexpectedly in 2020: flowers, both growing and painting them. That summer, as businesses were forced to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic, she decided to take a break from painting to plant flowers and open a self-serve flower cart. Val soon felt far less lonely and far less frustrated, feelings that had been building before the pandemic even started. “While the world was falling apart with Covid and most everyone around me was…getting mad at everyone and everything, I was getting better, loads better, every day,” she says. “I largely ignored what was going on in the outside world around me and listened to podcasts and trainings on mindset while I was out in the garden.”

Flowers became a new obsession – especially pink peonies, which she calls “the perfect flower.”

“When I look at them, I see so much beauty that I never feel sad,” Val explains. “They are fluffy and comfortable. They are exciting and unpredictable. They start off so small and then get so gigantic. The petals look like they are dancing.”

How could she not be inspired by these flowers? She took and studied photos of peonies and other flowers and delved into various resources on how to grow and cut them. And, eventually, she began to paint them in 2024. “I took photos of flowers daily for about three summers, but I resisted painting them because I thought they would take up so much time,” she says. “Ultimately, though, I realized I’m a painter and I should actually paint them.”

The happiness she finds from flowers, along with the mindset

Val painting her favorite flower, a peony. / Photo courtesy Steel Cow

work she did in recent years, inspired Val to start an online painting club, “Garden Art Therapy,” in which she helps beginners create garden-themed paintings. “I realized that I have a lot to share and to teach and that I wanted to guide others to use painting as a way of stress relief,” Val says. “Painting is how I make sense of the world.”

And as if growing (and painting!) flowers, painting farm animals, running a business, and raising three boys weren’t enough, Val and Josh have launched yet another endeavor: a lavender farm. Why lavender? “I love it and all the products you can make from it,” Val says.

The couple has more than 1,000 lavender plants (in addition to cut flowers and wildflowers) growing on their 11 acres outside Waukon and are working on a building to house a future lavender farm shop. They’re not ready to open the farm up to visitors just yet, but folks can watch steelcowlavenderfarm.com for updates.

In the meantime, Val continues to find happiness and fulfillment in her life’s work by following what she loves.

The Steel Cow building in Waukon, Iowa, withstood two fires, and continues to be a beautiful beacon of art in Northeast Iowa.

/ Photo by Sara Friedl-Putnam

Val continues to experiment with her paintings.

/ Photo courtesy Steel Cow

MONDAY-SATURDAY 9-5

“Being an artist is really the only thing I have ever wanted to do,” she says. “And I am thankful to be living my dream – I have more dreams now, dreams I’m working on side by side with that first one, and I am finding fulfillment in working towards something new.”

Sara Friedl-Putnam remembers first viewing Val Miller’s artwork decades ago at a joint show held in Waukon, Iowa, with the late photographer Larsh Bristol, one of Val’s earliest supporters. She has since bought several of Val’s pieces for herself and for her family, including a “Maddie” cow portrait that hangs in her home.

LEARN MORE

Val Miller’s artwork can be purchased online at steelcow.com and at Agora Arts in Decorah, Iowa. While the “Garden Art Therapy” club is currently closed to new members, it will open up again at different times throughout the year. Information can be found on Steel Cow’s social media and at steelcowlavenderfarm.com.

See Val’s studio in person during the 27th Annual Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour, October 11, 12, and 13, 2024. Find details at www.iowaarttour.com.

8 THINGS ABOUT HOW WE ROLL & WHAT WE BELIEVE IN

By Val Miller

(edited for length - see the full text at steelcowlavenderfarm.com/pages/how-we-roll)

1. Family is at the Top

We choose family as our top priority and continue to do so.

2. We are Playful

We don’t take life too seriously – it’s TOO SHORT. We are finding out what makes us happy and doing more of that.

3. Memories are Powerful

Memories have the ability to transport us to places we have been and to people we have been with. Which is a lovely thing.

4. Local Blooms are Amazing

They have completely knocked our socks off - be careful - they may knock yours off too!

5. Flowers are a Powerful Way to Connect Us All

We connect with the sun, rain, soil and nature when we grow flowers. When we share them, we connect with people.

6. Art Should be Part of Everyday Living and It’s for Everyone

We NEED to feel inspired and awed - and art does this.

7. We are Good at What We Do

Basically - WE CARE. We have a combined 40 years of art experience and two art degrees between the two of us and have shipped tens of thousands of prints all over the country and world.

8. You’re Never too Old (or Young) to Learn Something New or Remember Something you Once Knew Time is a funny thing and most of us have preconceived notions about what we should or shouldn’t be doing at various stages of our lives. I have awakened so many things just by trying something NEW.

211 W. WATER ST. / DECORAH

Josh and Val’s family is their top priority, always. / Photo courtesy Steel Cow

Voted Visit Bluff Country’s 2020 Best of the Best Winery!

&

Empty Nest Winery

Serving Wine, Fresh Sangria, 10 Craft Beers on Tap, House Ciders & Seltzers

Upc ing Events

Labor Day weekend: Buffet Friday night, Saturday & Sunday 11am- 3pm or food runs out

September 1: Live music on the patio Release fall wines –Apple Road, Crimson Cranberry & Midlife Crisis

September 8: Trivia starting at 2pm, free to join & lots of prizes

October 5: release Radiant Strength pink moscato with proceeds going locally to breast cancer

October 6: Trivia starting at 2pm, free to join & lots of prizes

October 24: Find us at Hello Sunshine tasting for Wining with the Witches

November 2: Final Release of Limited Edition Wines for the holidays

November 3: Trivia starting at 2pm, free to join & lots of prizes

November 27: Holiday Sip & Shop 12+ vendors & buffet available, 5-8pm

November 29: Dinner Theater at 6pm Advance tickets only at Eventbrite.com

December 1: Christmas Trivia starting at 2pm, free to join & lots of prizes

December 31: New Years Eve Dinner Theater Advance tickets only at Eventbrite.com

Booking company Christmas Parties! Call today!

Winery closed Jan 1- Feb 15, 2025

Centering a Harmonious Musical Community

BY LAURA BARLAMENT

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

The Theory of Relativity

by Neil Bartram & Brian Hill

Decorah, IA Matt & Nicole Cody

Decorah music educators Nicole and Matt Cody see firsthand how music can act like a glue, binding a community together in harmony – both figurative and literal.

The two met in 2009 at Decorah Community Schools, where they both work – Matt as associate director of bands for grades five through 12, and Nicole as the high school orchestra teacher. They were married in 2012 and now have two children, Caroline (age 8) and Sullivan (age 3), plus a Weimaraner named Greta.

As You Like It by

William Shakespeare

NOV 21 – 23

Children of Eden

by John Caird & Stephen Schwartz

6 – 8

Sweet Science of Bruising by Joy

Wilkinson

Nicole and Matt Cody with their two kids, Caroline and Sullivan. / Photo courtesy the Codys

Matt and Nicole’s partnership in life and in music has also brought an extraordinary gift to the larger Decorah community: the Oneota Valley Community Orchestra (OVCO). Matt founded the orchestra in 2014 and is its music director; Nicole, who is the orchestra’s principal second violin, has been a key resource enabling her husband to realize his original vision and much more, creating a vibrant and inclusive community of music lovers and learners.

CREATING THE MAGIC OF ORCHESTRA

Made up entirely of volunteers, the 60-member OVCO offers three to four concerts each season. Over the past 10 years, Matt has led the group in performing symphonies, concertos, even a full opera (Amahl and the Night Visitors) and the Mozart Requiem (with community singing group the Decorah Chorale).

Matt hatched the idea of starting a Decorah-based community orchestra while he was working on his master’s in conducting at Colorado State University. He really wanted to conduct an orchestra, and a professor suggested that a community orchestra could be an option for gaining experience.

Nicole remembers when he floated the idea to her. It happened on the long drive back to Decorah from his final summer residency in Fort Collins. A couple comfortable with some good-natured ribbing, she laughed in disbelief. Nicole plays violin in the symphony orchestras of Waterloo-Cedar Falls and La Crosse, but it sounded a little ridiculous to her that a town as small as Decorah could have enough musicians to fill an orchestra.

Still, Matt forged ahead. He posted on social media that he was interested in starting an orchestra, and collected contact information from those who were interested. Within three weeks he had enough people signed up. Matt was amazed, he says, and even more amazed

when they started rehearsing and he heard what everyone could do.

From the beginning until now, the orchestra’s members have ranged from seasoned professionals, to college music majors who went on to other careers, to adult beginners, to college and high school students.

“The longevity of the orchestra is impressive – the contributions of everybody, from beginners to professionals to students,” Nicole says. “I think that’s so cool.”

She tells the story of Sue Drilling, a now-retired Luther College administrator who played piano, organ, and guitar, and picked up the violin in 2010. One of her teachers, a former student of Nicole’s, told her about the orchestra.

“I thought there’s no way I could play orchestral music, but Matt invited me to try it out,” says Sue. “I loved it! The first concert was a mountaintop experience for me.”

Benjamin Kratchmer, the orchestra’s principal violist and a onceupon-a-time music major, expressed the thrill of orchestral musicmaking on an episode of Inspire(d)’s podcast, Rhymes with Decorah, that featured OVCO. “Getting to play symphonic literature that I never thought I’d get to do again, and collaborating with dozens of different people across the time and space of a stage, that is a magic that nothing else in my life has ever quite captured. And I get to do that season after season,” he says.

Craig Hultgren retired to Decorah after 33 years of playing with

From left to right: Ivan Caluya (former OVCO cello player who has now moved away), Kayla Scholl, Nicole Cody, and Benjamin Kratchmer. / Photo courtesy OVCO

the Alabama Symphony. He joined the OVCO in 2015. Currently the principal cello and president of the orchestra’s board of directors, Craig sees the great value of what Matt and Nicole bring to the community. “They are community leaders,” he says. “To have OVCO in a town of 8,000 people is a remarkable feat. They’ve brought together the best crop of musicians in an area where music is greatly appreciated. And Matt makes it a fun place to come and play and get better. I’m so proud of the work he’s brought the orchestra through.”

INTEGRATING ALL AGES AROUND MUSIC

Nicole and Matt see a virtuous cycle in the high school and community music programs they lead.

“Having a strong high school music program is an incredibly important part of having a strong school district, because the continuity of students learning together throughout their school years is unique to music programs,” says Nicole. “Orchestra, band, and choir is home away from home for many of these kids. It’s a place that’s welcoming to all students.”

At the same time, the Codys see that today’s high school students experience so many pressures in their lives that they often think of quitting music, even though they love it.

“That’s why community support is important,” Nicole says. Not only the fantastic Decorah Music Boosters, to whom the Codys give a huge amount of credit for their support; but also the adults of the community who continue to play their instruments and sing with passion and gusto as they pursue other careers.

Nicole says that the high school students who attend or play in OVCO concerts are amazed when they see their soccer coach, their doctor, and other community members playing. “When students see non-music professionals in music groups, it encourages them to know they can be in another career and still play music,” Matt says.

Matt and Nicole have fostered young musicians of all kinds going out into the world to build vibrant communities. Some play with their parents in the OVCO, like violinist Erik Sessions and violist Sara Peterson and their daughter, violinist Meg Sessions, a 2024 Luther graduate. Others return to take center stage, like Decorah High School and OVCO alumna, Carina Yee. In February, she played the Tschaikovsky violin concerto with her hometown orchestra, OVCO, after studying at some of the best music conservatories of the US –the Eastman School of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music.

“Matt and Nicole are pillars of the musical community in Decorah,” affirms Craig Hultgren. “And OVCO is a gem for our community.”

Laura Barlament is one of the non-musical professionals who love to play their instruments. She’s the executive director of strategic marketing and communications for Luther College, and plays flute and piccolo in many OVCO concerts.

About Community Builders

Building community is one of the most

things we can do in

Connecting with others helps us connect with our humanity, and realize we’re all in this together. Read more Community Builder stories at iloveinspired.com, and send us a note if you know someone we should feature here in the future!

“Little guys washing trucks while I cut their hair works great,” says Barber Dave. A firearms safety instructor for 20 years for 5th-6th graders, Dave also takes local kids turkey hunting.

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

Dave Dudek

Chatfield, MN

Barber Dave: Cutting Hair, Connecting People

BY STEVE HARRIS

Amain street barbershop is so much more than a place to get a haircut.

Dave Dudek, a barber who’s been cutting hair in his hometown of Chatfield, Minnesota, since 1979, certainly thinks so, and his clients – all like family – would agree.

A barbershop is a community information center – “We don’t call it gossip,” Dave clarifies with a wink and grin – a local weather station, a low-cost university, a historical society, and an occasional forum for political and religious viewpoints – “But only if the customer initiates those topics,” he says. It’s also a small-scale commercial establishment, selling things like locally produced honey,

and in Dave’s case, a unique culinary item called “Goob Spice,” made from a secret recipe and branded with his nickname, that Dave says, “is good on anything except cold cereal.”

“A barbershop is a connecting place,” he says. “People get haircuts, sure, but it’s also where they drop in to visit, shoot the bull, check-up on local news, tell stories – maybe a few tall tales during fishing and hunting season – and just enjoy being here. Chatfield used to have six barbershops. We’re down to two, mine and Roy’s, who also fixes zippers and clocks. When small towns lose these places, they are very hard to replace.”

Dave loves his career and where he’s doing it. Chatfield (population 2,297) is located 20 miles south of Rochester in scenic Root River bluff country. Dave and his wife, Terri, secretary at the local high school, raised two kids and are enjoying their four grandchildren there. “This is a small town where you can still pretty much know everybody,” he says.

Being a barber wasn’t the life Dave dreamed about as a kid, though. “I wanted to fly jet airplanes. After graduating from

Angie Herrmann

David Finholt

/ Photo by Steve Harris

Chatfield High in ‘76 I tried to enlist but failed the physical because I was color-blind. No jets for me. The next day I went for a haircut and my barber gave me some advice. ‘Learn to cut hair,’ he told me. ‘Only nine months of school, nice hours, good pay, friendly people.’ I listened to him. Within a few years I bought one of the local shops from Leonard Dietz and here I am, 45 years later. I love what I’m doing!”

Those coming to get an $18 haircut (no tipping allowed) might also get an education – but first, you must greet (and get sniffed by) Bode, Dave’s Springer Spaniel and shop mascot. “Bode’s a good watch dog,” says Dave. “He just lays around, watching everything.”

Next, there’s an obligatory local weather review. “It’s easy to complain about the weather,” Dave says, “because no one can do anything about it.” From there, you never know where the conversation will go. One summer morning, Dave welcomes Don into his barber chair, a gentleman in his late 80s who was a class of ’53 Chatfield High School grad. While Dave scissors away at his hair, they cover everything from hometown history to old-school car hood ornaments. “We had one that lit up!” Don exclaims, pretty much owning that topic.

New faces arrive – a local farmer with his two teenage sons –along with new topics: Hay farming, root systems and area soil, and current moisture levels. “We have a river on our property,” farmer-dad explains, “that in dry years actually disappears underground before re-emerging far away as a spring.”

A pause in haircuts and conversation commences, as Dave helps an elderly customer in a wheelchair navigate to the parking lot behind his shop. You’re soon aware that this “family thing” applies to everyone here. Dave gives gift certificates to each graduating senior in town as well as weekly Twizzlers and lollipops to football players and rooting sections. On bookshelves in his shop, you’ll find all but three Chatfield High School yearbooks since 1950. And a prominent photo on a shop

Photo by Steve Harris

Bode, Barber Dave’s “watch dog.” / Photo by Steve Harris

er the Vintage, Handmade, & Fair Trade

Dave Dudek, with assistance from his granddaughter, keeping statistics at a Chatfield High School football game. / Photo courtesy

wall features former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura after he got a haircut from Dave a few years back.

Dave’s Barber Shop, strategically sitting on Chatfield’s main street across from the park, is not small. Neither are other parts of Dave’s world. In high school he played football, basketball, and baseball, marched in award-winning Drum & Bugle Corps competitions, became an avid hunter and fisherman, and has been the main stats man, still working the sidelines with pencil and clipboard, at every Chatfield High football game since 1982. For 25 years he was a winter ski patroller in Minnesota; for 35 years he worked on courses for World Cup ski racing in Colorado and Canada and two Winter Olympic Games, Calgary in 1988 and Salt Lake City in 2002. He still enjoys skiing and is helping his grandchildren do the same.

Barbering remains Dave’s main gig though. Now 66, he has no retirement plans – except one. “Leonard sold me his shop but kept cutting hair until he was 93. I’m aiming for 94!”

Watch Dave in action – cutting hair, turning customers into friends and family, definitely building community – and you have to think the people of Chatfield, Minnesota, are rooting for him to reach that goal.

Steve Harris, a freelance writer and author of two books, “Lanesboro, Minnesota” and “Dads Like Us,” is also a satisfied customer of Barber Dave. (sharris1962@msn.com)

Dave’s Barbershop is located at 225 Main Street S. in Chatfield, MN. His phone number is (507) 867-3856. Appointments only.

Dave Dudek

PHOTO BY JASON RAY PHOTOGRAPHY

“I took this image a few years ago from Grandad Bluff which sits atop the city of La Crosse, WI,” Jason says of this shot. “With the ability to see three different states in the Driftless Region, the view from here is always beautiful no matter the season. But when the light is right, the sights become even better and the light this evening was spectacular. The skies were partly cloudy and the shadows danced across the landscape, selectively highlighting the bluffs off in the distance and the city below. This image remains one of my all-time favorites I’ve taken.” See Jason’s work in person at the Driftless Area Art Festival, September 21 & 22, at Beauford T Anderson Park in Soldiers Grove, WI, or check it out online at jasonrayphotography.com.

What is the best book to read in autumn? Gourd of the Rings.

COMMUNITY BUILDERS

This fall, Paul Reardon is launching the Old Fashioned Gravel ride in Hokah, Minnesota. The goal: Bring people to this gorgeous area to visit, enjoy, and ride with some awesome people. There

La Crosse, WI Paul Reardon

BY SARA WALTERS

Paul Reardon is hard to chase down. If he’s not traveling the world as a mechanic for various bike races, he’s back home in La Crosse, Wisconsin, busy building titanium bike frames… and building the local biking community.

This active, “pretty alright,” bike-filled lifestyle is what Paul has been up to personally and professionally for the last 30 years. He’s only been home for a combined three weeks since February 2024 – but when he is in the Driftless, he tries his best to get out for rides. “I enjoy riding gravel, road, and mountain, but mostly gravel is my happiness,” Paul says.

That’s part of the reason he decided to launch a brand new biking event in Hokah, Minnesota, this fall: The Old Fashioned Gravel Ride. There will be four routes to show off the picturesque terrain of Southeast Minnesota, with novice and seasoned riders welcome to register.

“The Driftless area, in my opinion, has some of the best gravel riding in the Midwest,” says Paul. “It’s a hidden gem. The Old Fashioned Gravel ride will bring people to this gorgeous area to visit, enjoy, and ride with some awesome people.”

Continued on next page

The event, scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024, is touted as both a race and a ride. “We will have professional timing there. So everybody will get a time and, you know, a placement at the end,” Paul says, but it’s also for riders “that are just hanging out, going for a bike ride with some awesome people.”

The four Old Fashioned Gravel ride options include a challenging “99 Proof,” a 103-mile ride that climbs over 8,000 feet in elevation, plus 67, 40, and 18-mile routes with varying terrain for a range of interests and abilities.

Paul is, for the most part, gearing the focus of Old Fashioned Gravel toward the latter group. He’s spent his career working at races and finds himself in more of a “go at your own pace, wind in your hair, smile on your face” time in his life, he says.

For those unfamiliar with this category of riding, gravel bikes have bigger tires with a deeper tread, allowing riders to handle a more varied terrain than traditional road bikes. Gravel riding has taken off in recent years.

“People are realizing that with road biking you have to deal with a lot more traffic, or potentially people texting and driving. There’s quite a bit of solace just riding these beautiful country roads that we have right out our back door, where hopefully the worst thing you might encounter is a farm dog,” Paul says.

The Driftless has many of these country roads to choose from, making riding options endless. In fact, the terrain is so ideal, nearby La Crescent, Minnesota was selected as the location for the 2025 and 2026 USA Cycling Gravel National Championships for its diverse landscape and challenging climbs.

Just as nationals will draw attention to the region’s riding opportunities, Paul hopes the Old Fashioned Gravel ride will highlight the impressive local routes. The four options are tailored to riders and their objectives. For those seeking to push themselves and truly “race,” there is the challenging “99 Proof,” a 103-mile ride that climbs over 8,000 feet in elevation. There will also be 67, 40, and 18-mile routes with varying terrain for a range of interests and abilities. Registration for the event is capped at 300 riders total to keep it manageable, fun, and not too overwhelming, says Paul. It’s already attracted some attention, with both local and out-of-state riders having filled up 150 spots at the time of this article.

A portion of the proceeds from the Ride will go to Bluff Country Family Resources, a Hokah organization that does community

outreach, including support for the LGBTQ community, helping domestic violence survivors, and more.

The event will be headquartered at a farm near Hokah, owned by Annie and Gabe Barendes. Nestled between the bluffs, riders will begin and end here, and celebrate their ride with a post-race party in the farm’s fantastic old barn.

“Amy and Gabe have worked their tails off to get this barn that hasn’t really been used in over ten years ready,” says Paul. “It’s going to be such a good spot for people to hang out afterwards and have a drink and some food and just look around and enjoy the beautiful area.”

Paul has teamed up with two local Hokah businesses – Free Range Exchange and The Butcher Shoppe – to cater the food, while La Crosse Distilling Company will provide beverages, including, of course, Old Fashioneds.

Paul has also leaned on some other important partners during planning, including his wife Liz, who helped with registration, graphics, and generally, keeping things organized, and his best friend, Mario Youakim, director of La Crosse’s Beer by Bike Brigade, who helped promote the event to the local biking community. Paul’s friend, Keachen Abing of La Crosse Adventure Films, has also shared fun ideas and shot videos to help get the word out.

It’s these types of collaborative friendships that keep Paul involved in the local biking community. Giving back to that community is something he tries to do whenever he can. He has previously

taught mechanics classes in the winter and has helped with other area events. The friendships that biking has built in the community is one of the best parts of riding, says Paul.

“You have this one common bond, you enjoy riding bikes in nature,” he says. “The fun thing with these rides is you never know who you’re going to end up next to and what kind of interesting people you’ll get to know.”

He sees the Old Fashioned Gravel ride as a way to share the area with new folks, and also give back to the locals that have provided support and friendship through the years. “It’s really cool to try to give them something fun and exciting in our area. Something that our community can share with other people that come to visit the Driftless region,” Paul says.

As the event nears, Paul is hoping for folks to join in on the fun and “get a little closer to nature, get out of the city, and enjoy the beautiful views where we live.” With the help of his friends, he’s put a lot of work into creating a fun experience for riders, one he hopes will go smoothly – even if the road is (literally) bumpy.

Sara Walters is a writer and mom living in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She has been an Inspire(d) contributor since 2018.

Learn more and register for the Old Fashioned Gravel at oldfashionedgravel.com

Hand Me Down the Fiddle:

Norwegian Fiddlers, Fiddles, and Fiddle Tunes in the Upper Midwest

Aug 15, 2024 - May 18, 2025

Exhibit Programming

August 17 - 1 PM: Gallery Talk with Beth Hoven Rotto.

September 13 - 7-9 PM: Foot-Notes Dance in Vesterheim Commons.

October 4 - 7 PM:

Black Fiddle Lecture with Paul Sveinall and Black Fiddle Performance with Nina Byttingsmyr, both from Norway.

November 2 – 10-11:30 AM: Traditional Fiddle Tunes from Agder Online Class with Gard Nergard.

Class description and registration available on August 20, 2024!

December 7 - During Vesterheim Norwegian Christmas Celebration: Hardanger Fiddle Concert with Eden Ehm and Hardanger Fiddle Making Demonstration with Karen Rebholz.

December 2024 - March 2025: Online Classes with Beth Hoven Rotto Lost and Found: Norwegian-American Fiddle Tunes. Class descriptions and registration available on August 20, 2024!

March 16, 2025 - 1 PM: Fiddlesisters Webinar with Benedicte Maurseth.

May 16, 2025: Syttende Mai performance by Vidar Skrede.

Find class and event updates at vesterheim.org.

Supported by a Scandinavian Folk Arts & Cultural Traditions in the Upper Midwest grant from the American Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) and a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Carol Birkland and Tom Woxland, and Peter Dahlen and Mary S. Carlsen.

vesterheim.org • Scenic Decorah, Iowa

It’s taken resilience to promote positive news for 17 years. Negative news tends to take top billing in mainstream media, and this can lead us to feel like there is no hope ahead. It’s human nature to let the naysayers overshadow the cheerleaders.

17

Ways to

FOSTER RESILIENCE

I often plan Inspire(d)’s themes based on what I need to hear at the moment, and right now I need to hear some encouragement to keep going. And judging by conversations with friends and family, others agree. Things feel pretty hard right now. There are a lot of unknowns in the world, and that can make it difficult to keep working at your goals and keep standing up for what you believe in.

So, we must be resilient.

Resilience is a funny thing. In me, it kind of conjures up these fight or flight feelings. You don’t really want to HAVE to be resilient, because it means you’ve had to deal with hard things. But hard things are virtually unavoidable in life. And, despite the

difficulty, in all the times I’ve dug deep to get through necessary tough moments, I’ve been proud of myself and the effort I put in. If the effort is for something that really matters, it’s been worth it. Resilience has served its purpose. But how do we strengthen a character trait like resilience? I think working from a lot of different angles is helpful. Finding ways to take breaks, ask for help, find inspiration…anything that gives you even a little spark of hope and motivation to take a step forward.

It’s definitely not easy. The biggest thing for me is being hyper vigilant about keeping my priorities aligned. My top three? Take care of myself, take care of my family, take care of our business. In honor of doing just that for 17 whole years, we’re put together 17 Ways to Foster Resilience in your life. We hope this issue will give you some ideas that will make resilience feel just a little bit easier… so we can all keep on keeping on, working toward a better community and world.

INTRO AND INFOGRAPHIC BY ARYN HENNING NICHOLS

XOXO - Aryn

Write it all down. People, places, animals, ideas, etc. Lean into these hopeful things. How has this tough time made you stronger?

Everything is easier when you are feeling healthy: Look after the four pillars of health: sleep, stress management, nutrition, physical activity Wondering

If there are things out of your control, try to accept them, then move on to things that are. Can you do something about your difficult situation? Dig in and start doing. Your life can improve if you work at it.

FOR BETTER DAYS AHEAD Hope

Mental health counselor Olivia Lynn Schnur walks us through tips for finding hope and remembering our why

BY OLIVIA LYNN SCHNUR

Autumn tends to evoke feelings of comfort. The crisp air beckons us outdoors – to pick seasonal fruit, appreciate the brightly colored foliage, or to simply enjoy the cooler temps. And then, as the sun sets earlier each day, we find ourselves retreating into the coziness of home.

Indeed, for some, this slowing down might feel like a welcome rest. For others, the thought of cold, short days ahead conjures up feelings of dread. There is no right or wrong way to feel, but the latter sure makes for a long season to come. Not only that, but when dread takes hold, we’ve likely lost touch with one very important feeling – hope.

CONNECTING TO HOPE

What is your reason for waking up in the morning? Try to think beyond the alarm clock and your obligations. When you boil it down, one simple (yet sometimes elusive) answer generally

remains: We greet the day (pleasantly or not) because we hope for better things ahead.

Of course, life gets in the way sometimes. On the days when the alarm clock comes too soon, you run around putting out fires, or the quiet hours loom with loneliness, it’s important to dig deep in that search for hope.

Close your eyes and visualize what lights you up. Even the most mundane moments can be purposeful when we peek behind the curtain. Try to connect with what comes up. Maybe it’s a person. A feeling. An action. A dream. These can become your beacons to lead you back to hope.

THE POWER OF HOPE

Life is a constant ebb and flow. Whether we’re at the top of the mountain, living our best lives, or deep in the valley of dread, hope is the belief that brighter days are on the horizon… even when we have no proof.

Many times, when we experience moments of bliss or happiness – the top of the mountain – the journey becomes clear. We might not wish to relive the climb, but we sure can appreciate the view from the top. From this perspective, we can recognize how the challenges we overcame strengthened us.

Unfortunately, when we greet moments of pain or grief – when we’re in that valley – it’s hard to see where we’ve come from or where we’re headed. If we aren’t supported by others who can help us find our way, we can get lost in those feelings. The very nature of these emotions can make them feel insurmountable. Here is where we need the greatest dose of hope – a reminder that “this too shall pass.”

FIND HOPE IN THE VALLEYS

Major losses and hardships can alter the way we perceive the world and what we expect out of life. From within this space, it’s common for people to start feeling hopeless, scared, lost, angry, or empty. The greater the life disruption, the greater the emotional upheaval. Some might even come to consider this period of their life a “dark night of the soul.”

Here is the good news – from this place of darkness, we create our deepest sense of inner light. Here, we have the potential to develop resilience. This is where we stop looking outside of ourselves for answers and start looking within. This is not a time for making any big decisions or changes. This is a time to pause and reflect. Start to look for areas of growth – both from your past and the potential for your future. It’s also important to take the time necessary to accept what life is… and let go of what you thought life would be. Then, you can start to reimagine new possibilities moving forward.

Thoughts of what is possible can blossom into hope. When those possibilities take shape, hope can transform into feelings of security, peace, gratitude, and confidence in oneself. If you find yourself in the darkness of a valley, try to look within and keep going. Hope is closer than you think.

REMEMBER YOUR “WHY”

When we feel powerless over our lives and our choices, it’s likely because we lost touch with our “why.” Our reason for doing what we do. It’s natural for humans to slip into ritual and routine. At one point, we probably made a choice that created our current circumstances. The power of habit allows those choices to cement into automatic behavior. This can be a blessing or a curse depending on the habits you’re currently engaged in and the goals you want to achieve.

Think about the goals you created that led you to this point. Remembering your original “why” helps you track your progress – and re-evaluate if it’s a path you wish to stay on. Keep asking yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing until you get to something that really resonates. Is this “why” still serving you? Still giving you hope? See the worksheet following this article for an exercise in "Finding Your Why.”

APPRECIATE YOUR (OFTEN HIDDEN) GROWTH

Some of us might reflect on our past visions and realize we really are living out our dreams. We simply lost touch with gratitude along the way. If this rings true, it’s crucial that you take some time to appreciate your growth. When we set intentions, we often imagine a picture-perfect future. Yet, when our manifestations become reality, they might not exactly match what we envisioned. This doesn’t mean we got it wrong. We simply need to recalibrate.

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Live Show

MATTERS

Look around and notice everything you currently embody or have (tangible and intangible) that you once wished for in one capacity or another. Bask in a feeling of gratitude – your hopes are actually coming true!

MAKE MEANING WHEN YOU FEEL POWERLESS

On the other hand, some of us might realize life threw us curveballs and we took a detour on the way. There’s nothing wrong with that either. Goals need to be flexible if we want to achieve success. The important thing is to make sure our actions are aligned with our “why.” If they aren’t, see if you can make adjustments – big or small – to get things back on track.

Here is where you get to be creative. You can make things personal, even when they’re not. When goals are assigned to us that feel meaningless or overwhelming, we can reshape them in our minds to match our “why.” This process will allow us to find the internal (or intrinsic) motivation to meet the day’s challenges.

Let’s say your boss assigns a huge project that doesn’t align with your skillset or desires. You might groan and avoid the task – overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done. However, let’s say your “why” relates to personal growth and success. You can reframe this challenge into an opportunity to tap into your growth mindset and learn something new. When you have the intrinsic motivation to face the task ahead, it suddenly feels purposeful (even hopeful).

This is a simple reframe, but when we connect to the bigger picture, relating our daily to-dos to a larger “why,” we regain a sense of control over our lives. This process can help us find meaning in the mundane.

A BEACON OF HOPE

It’s ok if you’re still struggling to access feelings of hope. Acknowledge that you might currently be deep in a valley. Sometimes, we have to accept the emotions in front of us before we can find the hope they conceal.

When all hope feels lost or you can’t see a bright path ahead, it’s important to seek help. A professional therapist can help you begin to process your feelings.

The biggest step is the first one. Then you keep moving forward. Seek out those pinpricks of hope that shine like stars in the darkness. Even if you only catch one for a fleeting moment, peaking through the clouds, take a moment to let it sink in and serve as a reminder that brighter days are ahead.

Olivia Lynn Schnur is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Yoga Teacher, and Reiki Master. She writes about healing and happiness with the goal of empowering readers to take charge of their mental health. To learn more, or to work with Olivia, please visit oliviaschnur.com.

WORKSHEET: FIND YOUR ‘WHY’

When we feel powerless over our lives and our choices, it’s likely because we lost touch with our “why.” Our reason for doing what we do. Think about the goals you created that led you to this point. Remembering your original “why” helps you track your progress – and re-evaluate if it’s a path you wish to stay on. To find your “why”, ask yourself these questions:

What makes me get out of bed each day? What keeps me moving forward? Why?

What do I want to achieve? Who do I hope to become? Why?

What makes me feel most aligned or at peace? Why?

If I woke up tomorrow morning and all my problems were solved, what would my life look like? Why?

Keep boiling it down until you get to central point of focus. This center point likely reflects your values, desires, and vision for the future. A “why” could be a desire to feel more love, greater freedom, or deeper self-worth. Now take the time to see if you can better align your current reality with your vision for the future that reflects your whys.

17 YEARS of

MUSIC THEATRE

COMMUNITY

For events & ticket information visit ElkaderOperaHouse.com

207 N. Main, Elkader, IA 563-245-2098

LIVING GARDENS

2003-2006 –

Aryn reads biography about Dan Eldon. Gets inspired. Travels around Canada, then China & Southeast Asia. Comes back to Iowa with an idea for a positive news magazine.

2007-2008 –

2006 – Aryn and Benji meet. Aryn tells Benji about Inspire(d) idea on first date. He says, “Let’s do it!” They get engaged one week later.

We started off publishing 10 months a year (with a June/July issue in the summer and a November/December issue in the winter), but quickly realized we couldn’t keep going at that pace and still enjoy life!

2010-2023

–

We started printing quarterly and found that this was the sweet spot in making the best quality magazine possible, being able to sell ads, and also maintain some semblance of balance in our lives.

2020 –

Athena the Bernedoodle joined the team!

2023 TO PRESENT – There was a major paper shortage during the pandemic, and we were having trouble getting our regular paper. We found a new printer that had more paper access, so we made the switch to Schumann Printing in Fall River, Wisconsin, with the Spring 2023 Inspire(d) Magazine. They have been fantastic to work with!

2012 – Our only daughter, Roxie, was born... and quickly moved into boss status!

2022 (A BUSY YEAR!) –

Aryn was accepted to and completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Iowa Program February-May! Benji launched his podcast in May! We launched our fancy new website in July! We were featured on a Public Radio interview for Marketplace December 30!

Thank you to our readers and advertisers for making Inspire(d) Magazine a possibility. We appreciate your support over the years! It is wild to think we’ve been at this for 17 years. Here’s a quick look back on this “experiment in positive news” from past to present.

2007 – Benji and Aryn get married August 17! The first Inspire(d) rolls off the press October 4! For our first three years, we printed the insides of the magazine at Graphics Inc in Calmar, Iowa, and our cover at Howe Printing in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. We had custom racks made at KolGol in Waukon, Iowa, and were printing 3,000 per issue. Benji delivered magazines in our trusty Subaru Legacy.

2008-2010 – We switched to a bi-monthly schedule, printing every two months for the next two years. It was good run, but we found we were ready to move up to new printers with full color capabilities and more magazine-printing options. The cover and insides would all be printed at Crescent Printing in Onalaska, Wisconsin, for the next 13 years!

2018 – We got a new magazine hauler, a Dodge Grand Caravan Minivan! Benji officially drives the “Rad Dad Van” now, delivering 12,00017,500 magazines / quarter.

TODAY – FUTURE –

Our goal is to keep bringing positivity to the masses through our print publication, website, podcast, social media, and newsletters! Want to help us out? Scan this code and take our survey so we can learn more about our readers! THANK YOU for inspiring us for 17 years!

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WHAT IS INSPIRATION TO YOU?

LISTENING TO THE NEXT GENERATION

Inspiration is connected to everything you do in life. When you get up from bed in the morning, you’re inspired by something, and whether it’s your alarm, your partner, or whatever plans you have, you’re going to eventually get up. The world needs inspiration because we wouldn’t get anything done otherwise.

Inspiration feels different for everyone, but for me, it’s that feeling of excitement or something along the lines of motivation or energy. When you read a good book or someone says something that sounds fun to do or you go outside and smell the fresh air and feel motivated to do something productive. It could be something big you’re inspired to do (like go on a big trip or adventure) or something small (like walk around your neighborhood or clean your room – which might be big for some people). If you really think about it, inspiration and motivation go hand and hand. I think the feeling is almost like your brain waking up and doing something good.

Some of the most interesting or important parts of life would go away if there wasn’t any inspiration. If Thomas Edison or Benjamin Franklin didn’t wake up one day and think, I’m going to go to work and invent something new, we wouldn’t have any of their inventions (including the lightbulb, which is not only useful, it became the symbol for a good idea because it was such a good idea).

If no one was ever inspired, there wouldn’t be the amazing people written about in history books for future generations to read, and there probably wouldn’t even be history books… or books for that matter. No one would have fought for equal rights or been inspired to help each other. We’d be disconnected and lonely, I imagine. If I’m having trouble feeling inspired, I try to find something to inspire me like a person, pet, memento, thought, or idea. If I fail to be inspired by anyone or thing, I take a short break and do nothing, then try again. It usually works. But if I’m truly not inspired, I sit in bed or on the couch and read or watch TV for however long I want. It’s okay to take some time. I think a lot of people don’t feel inspired, but eventually someone or something will inspire them, and they’ll get up and do something great.

I feel inspired by the many amazing people in my life (my friends, my family, and more) and the beautiful world we all live in. My friends and family also help me find other things to inspire me like going for hikes or doing something I’ve never done before. Books and music can be inspiring to me as well as doing crafts. I’ve also been having fun playing piano and string bass and riding horses. But I try to inspire myself more than anyone or anything, because it’s most important to inspire and support yourself and not completely rely on someone else. Inspiration is a big part in everyone’s lives, so I hope you work on inspiring yourself and others.

Roxie Nichols is the daughter of Inspire(d)’s Aryn Henning Nichols and Benji Nichols. She got a cool polaroid camera for her 12th birthday this summer, so we took these fun pics! She is starting 6th grade this fall.

ESSAY BY ROXIE NICHOLS, 12 YEARS OLD

Driftless Yoga Center is located on the third floor of the Impact Coffee building in downtown Decorah. / Photo courtesy DYC

Laree Schouweiler is the kind of person who manages to turn strangers into friends within one conversation. But after she moved to Decorah from the Twin Cities in 2010 as a “trailing spouse” of a partner who accepted a job at Luther College, she was having trouble connecting in the community. She continued to travel north to see friends –and boost endorphins with a workout at her favorite yoga/cycling studio. She loved it so much, she decided to take the Sculpt Teacher Training program. Sculpt classes combine the physical principles of yoga, plus strength training and cardio, to provide a diverse and intense workout experience.

“I had years of experience coaching youth and high school soccer, and I loved the well-rounded-ness of Sculpt classes,” she says. “Once certified, I brought the classes to the Driftless area. It wasn’t long that I was chasing down a yoga certification, this time a more indepth 200-hour yoga training, layering that with cycling and several other adjacent certifications.”

Indeed, since there wasn’t a job suited to her specialties in Decorah, she decided to make one. She founded Reefuel, an indoor cycling and yoga studio, in 2013, Driftless Yoga Festival in 2019, and finally, in 2022, she founded her current business/calling: the Driftless Yoga Center.

Situated in a fun, urban-feeling studio on the third floor of the Impact Coffee building in downtown Decorah, Driftless Yoga Center (DYC) is an airy and welcoming space, emphasis on welcoming. DYC’s work follows three core principles, to be: equity driven, radically compassionate, and justice supporting in all they do.

The studio offers 12 yoga and strength classes per week, including sculpt, HIIT, vinyasa, and gentle yoga classes. They also host monthly special events like the DRI(ftless) TRI(athlon) – a 90-minute experience that begins with a guided run or walk around Decorah, meets back up for a HIIT segment, and ends with a yoga flow.

DYC is a Yoga Alliance School & Continuing Education Provider as well. This upcoming fall, the Center is hosting its first Sculpt Teacher Training Program, a 50-hour certification geared towards providing participants a foundation of knowledge to lead a safe, constructive, and well-rounded 60-minute Sculpt class.

Read on to learn how Laree turned her years honing in on what work fills her cup into a space and business dedicated to helping others fill their own. INTRODUCTION BY ARYN HENNING NICHOLS

Laree Schouweiler / Photo courtesy DYC

The Basics:

Name: Laree Schouweiler

Age: 41

Business: Driftless Yoga Center formerly, Reefuel Year Business Established: 2022 (Reefuel: 2013)

Business address: 101 W Water Street Website: www.driftlessyoga.org

Tell us about the “leap” moment. When/how did you decide to jump in and become your own boss?

In 2013, I opened Reefuel - an indoor cycling and yoga studio. Its entire premise was to build community through yoga and cycling, centering on a welcoming environment, skipping the diet culture, and making movement fun! For seven years, I think Reefuel did just that! The space went from 10 weekly classes to over two dozen. Four instructors to 15. But the best part of the place was the people! Walking into a fitness class can be so nerve-wracking, but the community of folks always uplifted each other. It was such a unique experience for a movement studio, I felt like. There was so much support for each other in and out of the studio. During that time, Driftless Yoga Festival was born. An annual festival that intersected beautiful Northeast Iowa and yoga!

Then in 2020, the pandemic hit. The tragedies of that year took the wind right out of my sails. Plus, I was pregnant with our third child. Leaning into the yoga philosophical practice of ahimsa – radical compassion – I made the difficult decision to close the studio. I leaned heavily back into my family, my studies, and how to really leverage these teachings to make shifts for the greater good. I studied with activist and yoga teachers Michelle C. Johnson (Skill in Action) and Susanna Barkataki (Embrace Yoga’s Roots) and each experience educated me on the connection of yoga’s teachings to bettering the world, not just a movement!

A portion of proceeds from events and merchandise sales is redistributed back into organizations that help bring awareness to issues near and far. /

When Reefuel closed, I didn’t think I’d ever return to teaching publicly again, let alone open another studio. But if 2020 taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. I stepped back into organization with the Driftless Yoga Festival in 2021. It was an opportunity to bring forth a more radically compassionate event on the heels of completing a 300-hour yoga certification that was rooted in equity. Then, in the spring of 2022, I started to tip my toe into the teaching world again. There was a pull to get back out there. One May morning, I stepped into Impact Coffee and was approached by owner, Sean Brown, about seeing their recently vacant third floor. I didn’t think much of it in that minute – more of a, “Cool! I’ll check it out!” But when I walked in, I knew immediately this was next. The large north-facing windows beckoned me. It feels like you’re in an

Photo courtesy DYC

urban setting (which I still miss… occasionally). Knowing that cycling wasn’t going to be a part of this next step, Reefuel didn’t seem like an adequate name. So, I leaned into Driftless Yoga and Voila! The Driftless Yoga Center was born, with a vision of a more equitable movement space.

Can you tell us more about the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) work you do at the Driftless Yoga Center?

At DYC, there are three pillars:

• In an effort to be equitydriven and remove financial barriers to access movement, a suggested $12/class is requested, but none will be turned away for lack of funds.

• DYC aims to be a radically compassionate space free of diet culture or gossip. Movement, yoga, and fitness belong to every BODY without judgment.

• Since 2022, DYC’s Karma Yoga Project has redistributed over $20,000+ back to organizations that uplift the underserved and under-resourced.

Driftless Yoga Center hosts monthly special events like the DRI(ftless) TRI(athlon) – a 90-minute experience that begins with a guided run or walk around Decorah, meets back up for a HIIT segment, and ends with a yoga flow.

every

Continued on next page

Reefuel was quiet about the philosophical yoga practices out of fear of making people uncomfortable. I hope Driftless Yoga Center is living these practices out loud. Vibrantly. Everyday. With

practice.

/ Photo courtesy DYC

What do you mean when you say, “radically compassionate”?

In yoga philosophy, there are several pillars of ‘right action’ or ethical practices and one of those practices is ‘Ahimsa,’ meaning non-violence. To practice non-violence is more than just not causing physical harm. It can look like being inclusive in everything from language to accessibility to practice. In a world that is filled with so much division, practicing ahimsa can feel radical!

What’s the best thing about being your own boss?

I get to choose each day how to move the business forward, simultaneously prioritizing business and family. Sparks of creativity and inspiration get to be put right into action. It’s empowering to be able to have a choice each day.

How about the worst?

I have to live by those choices. Highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows. Yoga helps me to balance the ride, but sometimes it gets hard not to get caught up in the rat race of capitalism! Also, I struggle with setting my own “work hours”. Days bleed into nights and I’m always thinking – what could I do better? What is next? Or should I throw it all away and start over?

Any mentors/role models you look to/have looked to?

My parents are entrepreneurs and they’ve always supported and inspired me. My mom’s taught me ‘The answer is always no if you don’t ask,’ so I operate from that optimistic lens. Oh, and ‘NO’ is just a starting point!

What’s the one thing you wish you had known before you started?

Once you start your own business, you can’t go back, and the hyper fixation on the business is hard to separate. I love the studio, teaching, and building a compassionate community – so it is hard to turn off the ‘work brain’ even when I am “not working”!

Occasionally, Driftless Yoga Center will host special classes outside, like this one on Washington Street in Decorah (just outside of Impact Coffee). / Photo courtesy DYC

How do you manage your life/work balance?

Ooooofffff, is there a work life balance? This one is so tricky for me because I LOVE WHAT I DO! With the Center, I have been trying to put in place stronger boundaries about when I am home with kiddos (no phones at meals and not working while home with them), but there always seem to be exceptions.

What keeps you inspired? Any quotes that keep you going?

“Nothing that celebrates humiliation or pain of another person builds connection.”

– Dr. Brene Brown

JUSTICE WORK AT DYC!

Driftless Yoga Center donates portions of proceeds from events and merchandise sales to organizations that bring awareness to issues at large near and far.

• Since July 2022, Driftless Yoga Center’s Karma Yoga Project has redistributed $20,000 back into local, regional, & global organizations that align with our core values: including SURJ (Showing Up for Radical Justice) – Des Moines Chapter, Helping Services for Youth and Families, Moms Demand, Decorah Kids’ Lunch Club & Backpack Programs, Decorah High School Scholarship Fundraiser, Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund, Lahaina residents, Epilepsy Foundation of Iowa, MedGlobal’s efforts to support Palestinians in Gaza and more.

• DYC is also an annual and proud sponsor of Decorah Pride, celebrating the creativity and diversity that lives in the Driftless Region.

Driftless Yoga Center is welcoming for all. / Photo courtesy DYC

FOR NOVEMBER 1-3, 2024!

Last year, Decorah businesses launched this fun weekend into the world with a variety of activities – from a hot toddy cocktail hour to yoga and exercise classes to cool wellness grab bags and more. We love any reason to highlight taking care of ourselves and making time for things that bring us peace and better health, so we wanted to make sure this date is on your calendars!

To make the most of your Wellness Weekend in Decorah, we’ve put together a “Wellness Weekend Toolkit!” You can grab these goods around town, and then get ready to really lean into a relaxing weekend.

Can’t make it to Decorah? Get inspired to celebrate your own Wellness Weekend wherever you are (and whenever you want) with some of these tools and ideas!

Here’s to winding down this fall and spending some time on you.

FUEL

Grab a Reefuel Smoothie at Impact Coffee! Banana, spinach, and peanut butter are the main ingredients here, and it is delicious!

Set aside some time for a little qua sha or jade rolling – it’s great for relieving jaw tension or headaches along the brows.

The Oneota Co-op has a great selection of bath salts and bubbles, plus some face masks. We love the French clay mud mask in the bulk section but couldn’t resist this cute pink sheet mask! And the lavender foam bath pack is our go-to.

This set is from Wildcrafted Acupuncture & Herbs!

BY ARYN HENNING NICHOLS

Fox River Mills has been in operation in Osage, Iowa, since 1900. The company kept no official records at the start of Socktoberfest, but they think the first year was 1989. Below, the sale is all set up, and waiting for customers.

/ Photos courtesy Fox River Mills

SOCKTOBERFEST!

IT’S THE REAL

Need to stock up on basics? Fox River Mills in Osage, Iowa, hosts an annual sale that will knock your socks off.

DEAL

ERyan with her

haul.

/ Photo courtesy

BY RENEE BRINCKS

ach October, as daytime temperatures dip and leaves slowly shift toward red and gold, Erin Ryan packs up the car for a day trip. But when she drives west from rural Decorah, she’s not looking for traditional fall favorites like pumpkin patches or apple orchards.

Erin hits the road in search of socks. Lots and lots of socks. The annual Fox River Sock Sale – or “Socktoberfest,” as it’s commonly known – draws an enthusiastic crowd to Osage, Iowa. Named for its original location on Wisconsin’s Fox River, Fox River Mills started knitting socks in 1900. Operations relocated to an existing Osage mill about 50 years ago. Today, around 170 employees craft socks sold by Fox River and other suppliers.

The company’s catalog includes premium socks made for hiking, running, skiing, and everyday wear. There are also specialized work socks, diabetic socks, socks for military professionals, and more. Fox River socks typically cost between $10 and $30 per pair. During Socktoberfest, individual pairs go for $1 to $3, and bigger multipacks might sell for $5 or $10.

Continued on next page

Erin

Socktoberfest

Erin Ryan

Photo courtesy Fox River Mills

“I love every single pair that I have. They’re high quality and they’re lovely,” says Erin, who first shopped the sock sale five years ago with her husband, Mike. “I took my kids for the first time last year, and I gave them each a bag and turned them loose. They had a heyday.”

Erin regularly uses her floating work holiday to attend the annual sale, where rows of tables are topped with stacks of socks sorted by category and size.

“It’s in a big building, and they have semitrailers backed up to it, and they are just full of socks. People are constantly putting new ones out, and it’s constantly packed,” she says.

Erin has picked up everything from cashmere socks to size-14 work socks to warm winter socks she’s gifted to various family members. While the deals are a highlight, she also loves what she calls the “weird and wild” nature of the event. As shoppers wander the sale, they might hear a keyboardist playing the theme song from the “Peanuts” animated television specials. They might chat with a clerk dressed in a sock monkey costume. Area craft and clothing vendors display their work in an adjacent building. On-site food trucks offer snacks for purchase.

“Just embrace the absolute silliness that it is,” Erin says. “For me, it’s like a town festival. Decorah has Nordic Fest. Lime Springs (Iowa) has Sweet Corn Days. Lanesboro (Minnesota) has Buffalo

Erin brought her kids along to the sock sale last year. “They had a heyday,” she says. / Photo courtesy Erin Ryan

Bill

The company kept no official records from its first sock sale, but Fox River Mills CEO Bobby Warren believes it happened around 1989. Employees set up four tables in a tent outside the factory, and a good-sized crowd showed up despite some rainy weather. As the event grew, it moved into a former downtown hardware store and later filled a local gymnasium. About a decade ago, the sale landed in the spacious Cedar River Complex at the Mitchell County Fairgrounds.

A team of Fox River Mills employees spends much of the year deciding what to feature at the sock sale, and preparation really ramps up each June. Osage Rotary and Lions Club members are among the volunteers who pitch in over the sale weekend, restocking tables, tallying sock totals, and operating cash registers once doors officially open.

“On that first day, there’s a line of people outside the door and around the building waiting to get in. Later, the line to pay wraps around the inside a couple of times. It’s quite the event,” Warren says.

About 9,000 people –approaching triple the population of Osage – typically shop the weekend sale. Together, they purchase more than 100,000 pairs of socks. Fox River donates a portion of sale proceeds to the organizations that provide volunteers. Those dollars then support the nonprofits’ scholarship funds and community projects.

The sale also raises money for Fox River’s Socks for Soldiers campaign. Friends and family members nominate active-duty military personnel for the program, and once participants are approved, shoppers can gift them tactical socks through a personalized registry. Fox River donates socks throughout the year, and many shoppers also give program donations during the sock sale.

In addition to supporting civic projects, sock sale events boost business across Osage.

“It brings foot traffic to Main Street. It fills up the hotels and restaurants. People come from surrounding states and make a

Continued on next page

Decorah, Iowa

The end of the line is marked by a Fox River Mills sock monkey.

/ Photo courtesy Fox River Mills

weekend out of it. For some businesses, it’s their largest weekend of the year,” Warren says.

Company leaders appreciate the opportunity to give back in so many ways, he adds, and team members take pride in working for a purpose-driven organization.

“It goes beyond just getting a paycheck and showing up for work and making great products. This is something that’s been near and dear to our employees for a long time,” Warren says.

He offers first-time sock sale shoppers three simple pieces of advice.

First, bring a big bag or two from home. Most shoppers buy more socks than originally planned.

Second, don’t worry if you can’t arrive right when doors open. Socks get restocked several times each day.

And third, set aside enough time to make tough decisions.

“Be prepared to be overwhelmed by the number of choices. We see people who fill up a bag and then sit on the floor and start spreading out socks and making their decisions,” Warren says. “Be prepared to spend some time, and then take a break. Visit a food truck or go uptown to one of the restaurants... Make it an event.”

Renee Brincks (reneebrincks.com) writes about inspiring people, unforgettable places, and projects that make the world a better, happier place.

2024 FOX RIVER SOCK SALE

When: Friday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Mitchell County Fairgrounds 1006 Chestnut Street, Osage, Iowa

Learn more: foxsox.com or www.facebook.com/foxsox

FOX RIVER MILLS FUN FACT

Remember that classic stuffed sock monkey with the big red smile? It all started with Nelson Knitting Mill’s Original Rockford Red Heel sock brand. Fox River acquired the brand when Nelson Knitting Mill closed in 1992. These days, the Iowa company sells wearable socks and mittens featuring the smiling monkey, along with socks for crafting and hand-made sock monkeys in several colors.

QR codes have made a real come-back in the print world, so we thoughts we’d join in the fun…to encourage you to:

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WemakeaSpotifyplaylistto gowitheachissueofInspire(d)! Thisseason’splaylistnameis: “Fall(ThenGetBackUpAgain)” Scan this code to have a listen!

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Marlene Fenstermann

Caring…for barns, flowering plants, and, most importantly, people, has been the mission and passion of longtime Decorah resident Marlene Fenstermann. Her husband Duane talked her out of her original passion, to be a missionary in the foreign mission fields, encouraging her instead to train as a nurse and join him on a lifelong journey.

On a cold, but sunny February day in 1937, when her parents were supposed to pick up the season’s baby chicks, Marlene Kay was born in the old Decorah Hospital. This same day, the Winneshiek Tuberculosis Group envisioned Winneshiek County Public Health Nursing Service (WCPHNS), where Marlene would work as Administrator 34 years later, in an office just across the hall from where she was born.

Marlene was at the head of WCPHNS as it grew from one nurse and one secretary to a group of often 20, including Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and support staff serving the needs of homebound patients in Winneshiek County. She also started a successful collaboration with the Luther College Nursing Program.

Her memoir, “My Journey in Public Health Nursing”, is a tribute to the dedicated nurses with whom she worked for 32 years and the widely varied needs of their patients – from prenatal care to terminal care and a myriad of physical and mental conditions in between birth and death. Journeys to patients’ homes often involved harsh weather, bad road conditions, and even personal danger. Marlene has kept her patients’ stories close to her heart.

She grew up on a farm in Ludlow Township of Allamakee County when extended families lived close together, sharing a church, a country school, farm chores, and the ups and downs of daily life. Experiencing the death of her two-year-old brother during farm chores was a shared sorrow for the family and an indelible memory for a little girl of eight.

Marlene’s education and work experiences took her around Iowa and to North Carolina, but she returned to Decorah when Duane was hired at Luther College as Acquisitions Librarian. She worked with the Iowa Barn Foundation for years to help save old barns around Iowa, loves flowers – especially daffodils – as they bloom in season, and enjoys photographing nature and the world around her. Some favorite photos are of the landmark Decorah Eastside School days before its demolition. I have read Marlene’s memoir and the tributes to her as she retired. My favorite: “She was blessed to be a blessing.”

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? “Join me in public health nursing,” from Dorothy Hastings, RN, my mentor.

Share a memory from public health nursing in Winneshiek County.

So many, such different needs. A long impactful memory is of Michael Dawley who was severely injured, eventually quadriplegia, at North Winneshiek School in 1974. He ran into a folded up trampoline and it fell on him, knocking him unconscious and near death, but his mother never gave up on him. The WCPHNS cared for Micheal and helped his mother care for him at home for 30 years until mother and son went into a nursing home together. This experience epitomizes the reason for public health nursing care.

What food could you eat every day? Dark chocolate… and is tea a food?

Who is a person who had a big impact on your childhood? Rev. Henry Johnson at rural Zalmona Presbyterian Church, a Dutch immigrant who knew at least seven languages and, thankfully, had us memorize many Bible verses.

How did you come to work with the Iowa Barn Foundation?

Do you know someone you’d love to interview for this page? Let us know! aryn@iloveinspired.com

On the road driving to and from Des Moines for meetings and conferences related to Public Health Care, I would notice the barns of Iowa’s farms, often in disrepair next to more modern structures. Working with the Iowa Barn Foundation to help families preserve their barns became another mission of mine. One of my favorites was a unique tin barn near Frankville that had a faucet in the loft.

What is an important lesson learned in your life? Most people are basically good, and they all have a story to tell.

Tell us about some special memories.

- One night in 1964, when I was working at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, we literally took down the old segregation signs and labels in halls and rooms and changed the words to reflect the new integration policy.

- I love singing, and “How Great Thou Art” has been an oft requested solo for me. After a serious stroke several years ago, I requested “You are My Sunshine” when I “came around”. Those gathered knew then that I would return to a full life.

HEALTHY EYES

for kids

Learn more about our two free eye programs:

InfantSee (6 to 12 months)

Make sure your baby’s eyes are on track developmentally.

See To Learn (Age 3)

Have your toddler’s vision checked out before preschool, so they can learn and grow as they go.

Call today to schedule one of these basic eye exams!