Good Life 2022

READERSHIP CONTEST - One Lucky Winner

Correctly answer the questions below to qualify for the grand prize drawing of a Family Membership to the YMCA. All answers can be found in the ads. Drop off or mail your entry to the Mower County Shopper, 3405 Oakland Ave, Austin, MN 55912. Deadline for all entries is Thursday, November 10, 2022. The winner will be announced in the November 16th publication issue of the Mower County Shopper.

Who has been helping members since 1930?

Where is Torey’s located?

What phone number can you call to start recycling?

Where can you get a FREE bag of ice with purchase?

Best place in Austin to get both books and candy?

Where can you get your flu shot?

Who is running for county commissioner?

Who can provide alternatives in long term care?

Who has third generation owndership?

Who is able to do diesel repairs?

Where is a place to live for active adults 62 years and older?

Where is Hamilton Auction located?

Where can you save gas and get a ride?

Where can you receive music lessons?

Who has 36 years serving Seniors?

What service station can you get propane?

Who specializes in Bryant heating and cooling systems?

Who owns Brick Furniture?

Who specializes in quartz & granite?

Who offers short term rehab, longer nursing care, & assisted living?

Who can help you find a Medicare supplement? 22. Where can you go to use a family fun pool?

Where can you get curbisde pickups, family kits and games, hotspots, telescopes, movies and more?

Who is a State Farm Agent?

Who can get you an annuity rate of up to 3.75%

26. Who can you call for all your fencing needs? 27. Who is hiring local part time drivers?

28. Who is hosting Christmas in the County?

29. Which business is located at 308 W Main St, in Adams?

30. Where is Wildwood Grove located?

31. What is the website to apply for a job at Hormel?

Where do great people work together?

Who has over 100 years of service?

Who is hiring direct support professionals?

Who is located at 1410 21st AVE in Austin?

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11

17

• National Springer Spaniel Field Trials

• Ruby’s Pantry @ Mower County Fair Grounds

• ArtRocks Open Jam Session @ Austin Art Works Center

• Austin Bruins vs North Iowa Bulls @ Riverside Arena

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

• National Springer Spaniel Field Trials

• Squirt B and C Hockey Tournament

• Holiday open house& happy hour @ Hormel Historic Home

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

• National Springer Spaniel Field Trials

• Squirt B and C Hockey Tournament

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20

• National Springer Spaniel Field Trials

• Squirt B and C Hockey Tournament

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25

• Hometown Christmas – Downtown Main Street

• Austin Bruins vs North Iowa Bulls @ Riverside Arena

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

• First Friday Flick - The Santa Clause @ Paramount Theatre

• A Handmade Christmas @ Hormel Historic Home

• Santa Visit – Downtown Main Street

• Riverland Presents A Christmas Carol

• Austin Bruins vs Minot Minotauros @ Riverside Arena

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3

• A Handmade Christmas @ Hormel Historic Home

• Merry TubaChristmas! @ Austin High School

• Riverland Presents A Christmas Carol

• Austin Bruins vs Minot Minotauros @ Riverside Arena

Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Company,+* Western Agricultural Insurance Company,+* Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company+*/West Des Moines, IA. +Affiliates. *Company providers of Farm Bureau Financial Services. PR-ANN-B 311-600 (10-22)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

• Riverland Presents A Christmas Carol

• Sounds of the Season with the Austinaires, Jazz One and La Fiera @ Paramount Theatre

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6

• An Intimate Christmas with Lorie Line @ Paramount Theatre

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8

• Merry & Bright Night with Santa at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9

• Girls 12U Hockey Tournament

• Christmas in the County @Mower County Fair Grounds

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10

• Girls 12U Hockey Tournament

• Christmas in the County @Mower County Fair Grounds

• A Very Roxi Christmas @ Paramount Theatre

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11

• Girls 12U Hockey Tournament

• Austin Symphony Orchestra - Michael Veldman and Friends @ Knowlton Auditorium

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15

• Ruby’s Pantry @ Mower County Fairgrounds

• ArtRocks Open Jam Session @ Austin Art Works Center

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16

• Austin Bruins vs Aberdeen Wings @ Riverside Arena

• Six Appeal @ Paramount Theatre

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17

• Austin Bruins vs Aberdeen Wings @ Riverside Arena

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

• Austin Bruins vs North Iowa Bulls @ Riverside Arena

Senior Focus

Senior citizens account for a significant per centage of the overall population. Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released in 2020 indicate the nation’s 65-and-older population had grown by more than one-third over the preceding decade. By 2050, the number of senior citizens is expected to be close to 90 million. As of 2021, Statistics Canada reported there were roughly 7.1 million persons age 65 and older living in Canada.

People are living longer than ever, and as individuals age, the demand for senior services continues to grow - as does the need to be pa tient and respect the elderly. There are many ways to show seniors just how much they’re appreciated.

1. Help with chores. Lend a hand with chores

around the house that may have grown dif ficult for seniors. This can include mowing the lawn, weeding garden beds, shoveling snow, raking leaves, or even taking the gar bage pails in and out on collection days.

2. Visit more often. Frequent visits are one of the simplest ways to show seniors you care. Whether seniors live in a private home or managed care facility, visitors brighten their days, especially if they no longer get out and about as frequently as they once did. Spending time together and sharing stories can bring smiles to the faces of old er adults.

3. Plan activities with seniors in mind. When organizing parties and special events, con sider the needs of seniors on the guest list. Add music from their era to playlists or DJ requests. Seat seniors with mobility issues near exits and restrooms. Make sure to ar range for photos with the guest of honor to keep family history alive.

4. Thank seniors. Find any reason to thank a

senior. Perhaps someone served in the mili tary or volunteered their time with children. Celebrate accomplishments big and small with a simple “thank you.”

5. Prepare a meal. Invite a special senior over for a home-cooked meal with the family. Make it a regular occurrence on the calen dar. If he or she cannot get out easily, bring a hot meal over to his or her place, instead. Simple gestures of gratitude and appreciation can brighten a senior’s day and let that person know he or she has not been forgotten.

Secrets to making your home look like you hired a design pro

Photo spreads in home design maga zines can be awe-inspiring. Quite often homeowners wish they could lift the looks right off the pages of magazines and transform their own homes into pic ture-perfect retreats.

It takes an eye for design to pull a room together - even with inspirationand make it both functional and attrac tive. While hiring an interior designer is one way to go, homeowners can use some of the tricks and techniques the designers employ to do a remarkably good job of improving the interiors of their homes without such help.

Embrace texture

The colors used in a home can add impact, but designers often utilize var ious textures to create aesthetic appeal. A single color scheme can be enhanced by various fabrics. Consider a leather sofa made more cozy with chenille pil lows next to a rustic side table. Figure out ways to incorporate a few different

textures to add depth to the room.

Be careful with color

Many high-end homes showcase neu tral shades that are enhanced by pops of color. If you like a rich, royal purple, leave room for other colors as well. Add touches of purple in vases, throw pil lows and other accessories.

Also, many designers work in shades of three for room colors. There may be one main color for walls, another color for larger accents, such as couches and chairs, and then a third color that pops in accessories such as flowers, pillows and collectibles. These can be any col ors, but the most muted tends to be the more abundant shade.

Add a bit of bling

Glittery items and metallics can add a touch of luxury feel to any space. A shiny table lamp, mirrors, a sparkling chandelier, and the like are easy ways to produce a high-end feel. Reflective

surfaces also will cast light around the room, giving the illusion of a larger space.

Choose a big statement piece

Many homeowners make the mis take of filling a room with several small pieces of furniture that only contribute to clutter. Instead, look for a statement piece, which can be a cabinet, armoire or chaise. Mix and match large and small elements for a sense of balance.

Accessorize

Finish the room with accessories and flowers. When placing and hanging knickknacks and wall art, odd-numbered groupings often look the most cohesive and interesting. Experiment with differ ent scales and heights for even more dimension.

When inspiration hits, take some cues from interior design pros to make spac es look like they belong on the pages of your favorite magazines.

5 Reasons Why Digital Marketing

is So Important For Businesses

With over 4.6 billion people on the Internet and spending on average 7 hours on the Internet per day, there is no way to deny that we are indeed in the digital age. In 2021 it is no longer an option for a business to have an online presence. It’s a must! Brands or businesses need to have some digital mar keting strategy in place. No business will be able to compete in the market effectively without adopting a proper digital mar keting strategy in 2023.

Digital marketing is more than just running ads on social me dia. It’s about understanding your local market, making con nections with customers through content that resonates, and being able to measure the ROI of every campaign you run. So why is digital marketing so important? Here are 5 reasons why digital marketing is so vital for businesses today.

1. Your customers are online.

With the growth of the Internet, more people are spend ing their time online. Over 4.7 billion people use the Internet across the globe. It’s become an integral part of everyday life to conduct searches, check social media, and purchase prod ucts online. Your customers are online, which highlights the im portance of digital marketing. They’re browsing the web look ing for your products or services. If a potential customer can’t find you online, they may conclude that your business doesn’t appear to be legitimate.

2. Your competitors are online.

Wondering why digital marketing is essential? Your compet itors already know. They’ve created social profiles, adapted their website for SEO, and run paid advertisements to reach new leads – but that’s not all! If you want your business to com pete with others in today’s market, you have to do what they’re doing and more! By neglecting digital marketing, you’ll fall be hind the competition before even starting.

3. Compete with global corporations.

It’s hard to compete with them when you’re in a market with bigger corporations, like Walmart, Target, and Amazon. They have a big name for themselves, which automatically draws people to trust those corporations.

With digital marketing, you have a fighting chance against bigger corporations. Your business can reach interested leads with the same methods as a larger corporation. Methods like SEO and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising level the playing field. With SEO, your site ranks in the search results based on rele vancy. A corporation can’t buy its way to the top of the ranks. They have to optimize their pages just like you. The same goes for PPC, Google ranks ads based on relevancy, too.

4. You can target ideal customers.

The ability to target your audience is one of the most obvi ous reasons why digital marketing is important. Imagine being able to market directly to people who have an interest in your products or services. With digital marketing, you can directly

reach leads interested in your business. You don’t have to hope that people will see your traditional marketing efforts and con tact your business. You can input important information about your audience and use that information to shape your digital marketing campaigns. It makes it easy for you to reach the right people. This would ensure that only the relevant people specified would see your ad.

5. You get to know your audience and allow them to know you personally, which can help to create brand loyalty and a community.

Engaged users in a digital community provide transparent and instantaneous feedback that is invaluable for a business to stay ahead of the curve. This feedback can help your business constantly improve your products or service and customer ex perience. It also helps maintain the visibility of your brand and stay in constant touch with your customers. An active digital community helps solve each other’s problems and develops new and efficient ways to use the product. This makes people feel involved with the product and leads to customer retention and brand loyalty.

Digital marketing is changing the way we live and work. With many small businesses struggling to keep up with changes in technology, digital marketing can be a daunting task to take on. Fortunately, there are companies like us who are here to make things easier for businesses.

The first things to come to mind when many people ponder vehicle mainte nance are oil changes and routine tuneups. Though each of those things are vital components of automotive maintenance, it’s important that drivers recognize the value of a thorough car wash as well.

Drivers may see a car wash as a way to make their car look good, and that’s not untrue. An effective car wash can give a car a look that mirrors how the vehicle appeared the moment it was driven off the lot. But an effective wash is more than just cosmetic. According to Consumer Reports, a thorough car wash removes grit and residue, thus protecting the car’s paint job and reducing the likelihood of corrosion. Though late model vehicles aren’t as susceptible to rust, fading and peeling as cars made decades ago, they still need a thorough and routine wash to remove dirt, grime and bird droppings that, over time, can adversely affect the paint job and, if left unchecked, eat away at the metal.

Another benefit to routine car wash

es is they can prevent damage related to seasonal issues. For example, indi viduals who live in regions where winter snowfall is common may routinely drive on roads that have been salted. Deicing the roads makes driving safer, but salt can accumulate on the undercarriage of the vehicle and contribute to corrosion. Winter may not be a time many drivers visit the car wash, but it’s important to do so after snow has melted and salt on the roadways has been washed away by rain. Most car washes now offer high-pressure undercarriage treatments that can wash off salt and prevent corrosion and the for mation of rust.

But it’s not just the exterior of the car that can benefit from routine washing. When taking their cars to get washed, many motorists pay a little extra to have their vehicle interiors cleaned. Sometimes referred to as “interior detailing,” clean ing the cabin of the car helps to maintain the interior so it looks new longer. Rou tine interior cleaning also can remove dust and other particles that can serve as irritants if allowed to build up over time.

Resale and trade-in value is another fac tor to consider. The automotive experts at Edmunds note that the average trans action price for a used vehicle in the sec ond quarter of 2021 was $25,410, which marks a 21 percent increase over the year prior. Much has been made of the microchip issues that have compromised auto manufacturers’ ability to produce new automobiles, and that led many mo torists to the preowned vehicle market. Dealerships also offered incentives to drivers willing to trade in their late model cars. By taking care of a vehicle’s interior, drivers are putting themselves in position to capitalize on the increased reliance on the preowned market. Prospective buy ers, whether they’re private citizens or dealerships, will see more value in a ve hicle with a well-maintained interior than one with a cabin that’s seen much better days.

Car washes may be seen as a purely cosmetic form of vehicle maintenance. But the benefits of routine and thorough car washes extend far beyond aesthetic appeal.

Did you know?

Consumers who want to help the local businesses in their community succeed and at tract more customers should know that the overall star rat ing a business has on online review sites such as Google and Yelp can go a long way to ward compelling prospective customers to patronize a busi ness. In their Local Consumer Review Survey 2022, the mar keting experts at BrightLocal found that 85 percent of con sumers indicated overall aver age star rating was an ‘import ant’ or ‘very important’ factor in determining whether or not they would patronize a busi ness. That star rating can be especially valuable when consumers are trying to choose which business to support, as

76 percent of survey respon dents indicated their decisions would be influenced if one business had a higher average star rating than another they

were considering. Consumers can consider these findings as they decide which site to uti lize when they decide to write a review.

How to recruit and retain quality employees

Great employees are the backbone of successful busi nesses. Savvy business owners recognize the important role workers play in helping a business meet its goals, and recruiting and retaining such employees is a high priority for the world’s most successful firms.

According to the recruitment resource Betterteam, 68 percent of human resources professionals report prob lems filling positions - an increase of 50 percent since 2013. Forbes magazine puts the potential cost of a sin gle bad hire between $25,000 and $50,000. New em ployees are investments and due diligence should be used to find the right ones. Recruiting top talent may require thinking creatively, and it almost always requires significant effort on the part of the business doing the hiring.

Write a well-crafted job ad

The job advertisement is the first thing job seekers will see and it will be the initial tool to help whittle down the applicant pool. Use clear job titles that explain the job and be concise; avoid buzzwords like “wizard,” “rock star” or “ninja.”

Candidates tend to skim job descriptions, so avoid wordy phrasing and confusing job roles. Break down

responsibilities into job duties, and be sure to mention specific make-or-break skills applicants will need to have. While you still may get some unqualified individu als to apply, you may weed out others with specifics of the job.

Establish a list of traits you want new employees to possess

An applicant’s skills, education and experience are im portant. However, this should not be the only factor to consider when mulling a potential hire. Seek employees who have the potential for growth and can get along with colleagues and existing and new clients.

Follow up on references

It may take time, but it’s important that references are contacted and previous employment is confirmed. Due diligence with a candidate’s references ensures compa nies get a bigger picture of potential hires, according to Indeed. Ask questions like “What is it like to work with the candidate?” or “What are their biggest strengths and weaknesses?”

Finding quality talent is an important task that’s vital to the success of businesses big and small.

6 advantages to dining out

Dining out was once a rarity reserved for special occasions. More recently, con sumption of food away from home has played an increasingly larger role in every day life.

According to the United States Depart ment of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, the increase in dining out since the 1970s is owed to a larger share of two-income households, more convenient and affordable food outlets, increased ad vertising and promotion by food chains, and the smaller size of most households.

One shouldn’t discount the wide array of options and the convenience that din ing out can provide. There are many ad vantages to dining out, and the decision to do so during the pandemic can help local restaurants stay afloat as they con tinue to confront the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak.

1. It’s fun and exciting

Dining out can be a fun and exciting ex perience that takes people away from the routine of daily life. Dining out presents

an opportunity to look forward to a spe cific day on the calendar. For many, it can be a respite from making meals at home. Dining out is a social endeavor, even if you aren’t interacting with that many other people in the restaurant.

2. Introduces new foods

Dining at a restaurant can be eye-open ing for customers willing to try new things. Restaurants that specialize in ethnic cui sine can introduce diners to classic recipes from around the world - something they may not normally try if they do not dine out.

3. Prolongs the dinner hour

Dining out gives diners a chance to lin ger and converse without the distractions of home and daily schedules. A restaurant can be a good way to focus on communi cation with family and friends.

4. Escape workplace distractions

A workday lunch or business meeting held at a restaurant can help coworkers escape workplace pressures and distrac

tions. Such meals also can be a great way for managers to foster strong relationships and build camaraderie within their teams.

5. Convenience

One of the best arguments for eating out is the convenience factor. When time is of the essence, making a reservation, eating out and allowing the restaurant to handle everything from service to cleanup cuts down on work at home. This frees up opportunities to do other tasks, including spending time with one another.

6. Variety

Many households are comprised of people with different palates. Restau rants have many offerings, which means that each member of the dining party can choose his or her own unique dish. This is not something easily achieved at home.

Dining out has been gaining populari ty for more than 40 years. Individuals and families can explore the many different advantages to enjoying a meal at a local eatery.

How to shop for an insurance policy

Adults need insurance for a variety of reasons. In surance provides a safety net when accidents or in juries occur, and the right insurance policy can help policy holders make it through such instances as smoothly as possible.

Shopping for the right insurance policy is about more than finding the lowest rates. The following are some tips consumers can consider as they shop for insurance policies.

• Research ratings. Various groups rate insurance companies based on everything from the use fulness of their websites to how satisfied their customers are with the claims process. J.D. Power conducts surveys of customer satisfac tion and product quality for various industries, including insurance. The results of those surveys can be found at www.jdpower.com and can pro vide valuable insight into insurance providers, giving prospective policy holders a good idea of how their interactions with an assortment of agencies may go.

• Emphasize customer service. Customer service reputation should bear considerable weight when shopping for an insurance policy. Many policy holders want readily available access to a human being when they have an insurance question or need to submit a claim. When shop ping for policies and seeking estimates, take note of how easy or difficult it is to speak with

an agent at each company. Is the quotes pro cess entirely automated, or is an agent walking you through the estimate and carefully explain ing each component of the policy? Rating agen cies rank companies based on customer service offerings, and those ratings should not be over looked.

• Use local resources. Shopping local will enable you to create a more personal relationship with your insurance agent. Agents that advertise in local are greatly known for their outstanding customer service, going above and beyond for you, and have great testimonials from local cus tomers.

• Avoid being fixated on cost. Cost is a significant consideration when shopping for insurance pol icies, especially costly policies like homeowners and auto insurance. But cost should not be the deciding factor. A company that offers especial ly low rates may only do so because it offers very limited coverage, while a more expensive policy may provide more extensive coverage that helps policy holders make it through acci dents or injuries with their savings intact. Care fully read estimates to determine how much coverage you will be getting with each policy.

Adults need insurance and have many options at their disposal. Finding the right fit requires careful consideration of a host of factors.

Medicare can be complicated.

A Farm Bureau agent makes it easy. Call me to find a Medicare supplement plan that’s right for you.

How to protect nature when enjoying the great outdoors

Few getaways can reinvigorate the mind and body like a day spent in the great outdoors. The rewards of a day spent outside aren’t just figments of the imagination. The online medical re source WebMD notes that exposure to the great outdoors can improve sleep cycles, boost self-esteem, reduce anxiety, help people focus, and bolster the immune system, among other benefits.

The relationship between people and nature is not a one-way street. Just as nature takes care of people, people must do their part to protect nature. Whether nature lovers are hiking, relax ing at the beach or engaging in another outdoor activity, the following tips can help people protect the serene settings and landscapes they love so much.

• Leave nothing behind. Anti-littering campaigns have been prevalent for decades. Despite that, litter remains a significant problem. A 2020 study from Keep America Beautiful, a nonprof it dedicated to preventing litter, found that there are nearly 50 billion pieces of litter along roadways and waterways across the United States. Each piece of litter that finds its way into nature can be prevented. When spending time in nature, individuals can commit to brining out whatever they bring in. Leaving nothing behind reduces the issues associated with litter, including the negative effects it has on wildlife and marine life, and helps to maintain the idyllic look of natural settings like forests and beach es.

• Reduce reliance on plastics and recycle the plastics you do use. Plastics adversely affect the health of the planet in various ways. But a staggering percentage of the plastics humans use are never recycled. A 2108 study published in the journal Science Advances found that, of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics that have been produced since 1950, only around 9 percent has been recycled. Plastics take roughly 400 years to degrade, so much of the plastics that have not been recycled are ending up in the world’s oceans. In fact, projections from environmentalists suggest that oceans will contain more plastics than fish by the middle of this century. By reducing reliance on plastics and re cycling the plastics they do use, nature lovers can do their part to combat this significant threat and protect the natural settings they enjoy so much.

• Plant trees. Planting trees could help combat the issue of rising carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. According to Greenpop, an organization devoted to urban greening and for est restoration projects, trees absorb CO2, removing it from the air and storing it as they release oxygen. A day outdoors planting trees is a fun activity for people of all ages, and it’s also a highly effective way to help the planet.

The great outdoors is a respite for millions of people across the globe. Taking steps to protect nature is a great way to ensure it’s accessible and there to enjoy for generations to come.