Visitors to the Heartland Lakes area soon learn it’s the land of 10,000 things to do. To find out the latest local news and upcoming events, turn to the Park Rapids Enterprise, an award-winning newspaper published every Wednesday and Saturday. We offer yearround subscriptions for Minnesotans and out-of-state visitors. For more information, call 218-732-3364. Our office is located at 1011 1st. St. E., Suite 6, Park Rapids, Minn. You can find us online at www.parkrapidsenterprise.com,
or our
Land of 10,000 THINGS TO DO
Note:
JULY
11: Noon Hour Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
11: 2nd Street Stage, Park Rapids
12: Sounds of Spirit Lake, Menahga city beach
12-14: Menahga Midsummer Celebration
13: Water Ski Show, Halvorson Beach, Nevis
13: Bands and BBQ, Nevis
16-21: Hubbard County Fair, Shell Prairie Agricultural Association
18: Noon Hour Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
18: 2nd Street Stage, Park Rapids
19: Sounds of Spirit Lake, Menahga city beach
19-20: Nevis Muskie Days
25: Crazy Days, Park Rapids
25: Noon Hour Concert, St. Johns Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
25: 2nd Street Stage, Park Rapids
26: Sounds of Spirit Lake, Menahga city beach
26-28: Lake George Blueberry Festival
26-Aug. 3: Northern Light Opera Company, “Chicago”
29: Hubbard County Historical Society program, Northwoods Bank, Park Rapids
AUGUST
1: Noon Hour Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
1: 2nd Street Stage, Park Rapids
3: Water Ski Show, Halvorson Beach, Nevis
3-4: Antique Tractor & Engine Club Field Days
4: Taste of Dorset
8: Noon Hour Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
8: Water Wars on Main Avenue
8: 2nd Street Stage, Park Rapids
8: Backyard BBQ Challenge, Park Rapids
10: Northern Knights Run to the Rapids classic car show
10: Northwoods Triathlon, Nevis
15: Noon Hour Concert, St. Johns Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
15: 2nd Street Stage, Park Rapids
16-18: Lake Itasca Pioneer Farmer Show
17-18: Art Fair at the Winery, Forestedge Winery, Laporte
22: Noon Hour Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
24: Veterans Tribute Program, Howard Maninga’s home, Ponsford
26: Hubbard County Historical Society program, Northwoods Bank, Park Rapids
29: Noon Hour Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
SEPTEMBER
28-29: Art Leap 2024
28: Headwaters 100
30: Hubbard County Historical Society program, Northwoods Bank, Park Rapids
OCTOBER
28: Hubbard County Historical Society program, Northwoods Bank, Park Rapids
31: Trick or Treat Park Rapids
NOVEMBER
29: Community Tree Lighting and Yuletide Sampler
Welcome to the beautiful northwoods
The Heartland Lakes Area teems with the sights and sounds of the great Minnesota northwoods.
Enjoy our towns and its people while surrounded by pristine lakes and tall pine forests.
This region offers a variety of opportunities – from scenic retreats and outdoor sports to rich cultural experiences, shopping, dining and entertainment.
Jump into the water for swimming, tubing, water skiing or fishing.
Bike the famous Heartland Trail for a day of historic sights and healthy recreation.
Explore the scenic North Country Trail.
Play a game of disc golf, tennis or softball or have a picnic at one of the city or county parks. Golfers needn’t go far to find top-rated courses within a short drive in any direction.
With more than 400 lakes, thousands of miles of trails and a wildlife refuge, the Heartland Lakes area is also a gateway to Itasca State Park, home of the Mississippi River headwaters.
Local art galleries and museums celebrate the history and artistic talent of our communities.
Park Rapids and surrounding towns host many summer festivals with parades, music, kids games and more.
From life on the lakes to exercise on the trails, shopping the unique stores or just kicking back with a good book beneath the Norway pines, the Heartland Lakes Area offers it all.
Flip through this issue of Summer Scene and you’ll find what you are looking for in lake and pine country. We just know that you’ll enjoy your stay.
▲ Contributed/Denise Johnson
10 FUN THINGS
1. Watch the Menahga Midsummer parade
Pageantry, parades and fireworks! The annual Menahga Midsummer Celebration offers fun for all ages from July 12-14.
Organized by the Menahga Civic and Commerce Association, the three-day affair includes a kids’ fishing tourney, parade and fireworks. For more details, visit https:// menahga.com.
2. Chow on BBQ
A barbecue rib contest, with live music, will be held in Nevis on Saturday, July 13. The event is a fundraiser for the Nevis Fire Department. The band Paradigm will entertain the audience beginning at 3:30 p.m. while the barbecue is cooking. Serving begins at 5 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony. The evening will continue with music by the band In Stereo at 7 p.m. Both performances will be on the stage at the Muni.
3. Check out county fair entertainment
The 2024 fair, organized by the Shell Prairie Agriculture Association, will be held July 16-21 in Park Rapids.
The Hubbard County Fair includes a variety of entertainment at the grandstand arena, 4-H exhibits in the animal barns and a new bigger, better carnival.
The 4-H Exhibit Hall features livestock, poultry, horses, rabbits, a dog show, 4-H vendors and open class exhibits and vendors throughout the fair.
And don’t forget the fair food! Stop on over for cheese curds, corn dogs, fresh French fries, pork burgers, ice cream and other mouth-watering delicacies.
4. Dance at Muskie Days
The annual Nevis Muskie Days celebration and music festival will be held Friday and Saturday, July 19-20.
The festival kicks off at 2 p.m. Friday with kids inflatables and the Muskie Market along the Heartland Trail. Other events
planned for Friday include a fish fry, icecream-eating contest, music
Saturday events include a pancake breakfast, the Muskie 5K race, a youth fishing tournament on the Belle Taine Lake and more. The grand parade will be held at 6 p.m.
Go to nevischamber.com for updates and a complete list of activities and music.
5. 40th annual Blueberry Festival
The Lake George Blueberry Festival celebrates the scrumptious berry Friday through Sunday, July 26-28. This little town’s big event offers an antique car show, free kids’ carnival, the Lake George Firemen’s bean feed and, of course, their blueberry pancake breakfast.
TO DO in July & August
6. Sample goodies at Taste of Dorset
Dorset is known for its annual Taste of Dorset festival, held the first Sunday in August. Folks walk the boardwalk while testing out all kinds of tasty cuisine from outdoor vendors. The tiny town describes itself as the “restaurant capital of the world.” Eat all you want and vote for Dorset’s mayor on Sunday, Aug. 4.
7. Field Days
Park Rapids Antique Tractor and Engine Club members work to preserve the memory of farming in years gone by through their annual event.
The club’s annual Field Days will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4 at the showgrounds, located on County Rd. 6 south of Park Rapids.
Events on both days include sawmill and threshing demonstrations, a tractor parade, dancing to live music at the pavilion, tractor pulls, sawmill activities and straw baling in the field.
8. Admire classic cars
Car enthusiasts are invited to the Northern Knights Car Club’s annual Run to the Rapids car show on Saturday, Aug. 10 in Park Rapids. Saunter through Main Ave. for the “Show and Shine.” It begins at 8 a.m and runs through 12:30 p.m. Many car owners invite visitors to check out their vintage machines, and many also share stories of how they restored their cherished classics.
9. Explore the pioneering past
Go back in time and spend a day or two exploring what life was like in the area in the “good ol’ days” at the Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers Show, Friday through Sunday Aug. 16-18.
The showgrounds, located off Hwy. 200 at the north entrance to Itasca State Park, are a rustic village featuring a country school, church, shops, post office, pioneer homes and more. Gates open at 7 a.m. daily.
10. Biking, hiking
Hubbard County’s beautiful natural resources provide the scenery, while numerous trails offer outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to explore year ‘round.
The Heartland Trail is a 49-mile, multipleuse trail, open to non-motorized use.
The Paul Bunyan Trail is 115 miles long, extending from Crow Wing State Park to Lake Bemidji State Park. It’s the longest of Minnesota’s state trails and the longest continuously paved rail-trail in the country.
The North Country National Scenic Trail is one of 11 National Scenic Trails in the U.S. and the only one in Minnesota. Anyone walking this trail is in for a treat as it meanders through forested hills and valleys interspersed with rivers, lakes, and numerous wetlands. Maps, events and suggested hikes are available at www. northcountrytrail.org.
Soak up the sun on a city beach
Many of the county’s 313 lakes have public accesses, and the county and some communities maintain parks with swimming beaches.
Park Rapids
Park Rapids offers a variety of opportunities for recreation, including an indoor swimming pool at the high school, a skateboard park and tennis courts.
Heartland Park: Located along Fish Hook River in Park Rapids. Swimming beach, playground, hiking trail, a hacky sack court, pickleball courts, tennis courts, softball field, picnic tables and shelters, restrooms, public access to the river and access to the Heartland Trail.
Deane Park: This three-acre park offers places to relax and picnic and includes a dock on the lake. It’s found on Eagle Point Drive, north of Park Rapids, between Fish Hook River and Fish Hook Lake.
Nevis
City Beach & Park: Playground equipment, picnic tables, swimming beach and restrooms. Take State Hwy. 34 to Nevis, north on CSAH 2 and west on Beach Road.
Menahga
City Beach & Park: The city owns and maintains a public beach on Spirit Lake
▲ Osage is one of several communities in the Heartland Lakes area that offers a public swimming beach. Enterprise file photo
known for its white sugar-sand. It is open everyday during the summer months, with lifeguards on duty. A large T-shaped fisihg pier is for the public to use. The pier is sponsored by the Menahga Conservation Club, it is owned by the DNR, and is maintained by the city. A public access for boats is nearby.
Memorial Park Campground: The city of Menahga has a 40-acre Memorial Park located just South of town off Highway #71. The park is filled with stately pines,
beautiful birch and hardwood trees. The park offers camping facilities, most of which have water and electrical hookups. The park also features two sheltered pavilions and other picnic facilities and a RV dump station. Call City Hall at 5644557 for reservation of the pavilions.
Akeley
City Beach & Campground: Take Hwy. 34 to Akeley, then follow signs. Public access to 11th Crow Wing Lake, shelter, picnic tables, fishing, boat landing and campground.
City Park: Picnic tables, shelter, Paul Bunyan Historical Society Museum, Paul Bunyan’s statue and Paul’s cradle are found at this park along Hwy. 34.
Lake George
Community Park: Swimming beach, baseball field, picnic tables, picnic shelter, playground, toilets and public access. It’s south of Hwy. 71, on Paine Lake.
Farden Township
Farris Park: The 20-acre park has tennis courts, a basketball court, a softball field, trails, playground, picnic area, shelter, barbecue grills and restrooms. It’s located in northeastern Hubbard County, in the vicinity of Farden Township Hall.
▲ Cattail spikes (flower heads), while still green, can be boiled and eaten like corn-on-the-cob. Stems can be roasted, boiled or cooked. Roots can be baked like a potato, but peel first. Adobe Stock
Foraging for wild edibles
An amazing array of mative fruits, nuts and plants that may harvested
BY SHANNON GEISEN Park Rapids Enterprise
Most Minnesotans are familiar with wild rice, maple syrup, blueberries and morel mushrooms.
But did you know that you can eat stinging nettles? Cattails? Hazelnuts? Ostrich fern fiddleheads? Or that plant common in driveways. It’s called plantain.
There’s an impressive host of native fruits, nuts, mushrooms, saps and plants in the forest that may be harvested and digested.
The Hubbard County University of Minnesota Extension (UMN) Office recently teamed up with Itasca State Park to teach the art of foraging for wild edibles in the Northwoods.
Gary Wyatt, a UMN Extension educator, discussed ethics and techniques for harvesting or growing them in home landscapes.
“Our goal is to give you a small taste of the many possible plants you can forage in Minnesota, while giving you the resources to stay safe,” he said.
WILD EDIBLES: Page 12
▲ According to the UMN, there are two native varieties of blueberries in Minnesota: Common low bush and velvet-leaf. They ripen in July and August. Adobe Stock
WILD EDIBLES
From Page 10
“Minnesota Harvester Handbook,” is a handy reference, which is available for purchase at z.umn.edu/mhh.
You can eat that?
Minnesota is home to two varieties of hazelnuts: American and beaked.
“If you can beat the squirrels and deer, you can get to some,” Wyatt said. Crack the shells to eat the innards.
Almost every part of the dandelion is edible and it’s loaded with vitamins, Wyatt said.
Cattail spikes, while still green, may be boiled and eaten like corn-on-the-cob. Stems can be roasted, boiled or cooked. Roots can be baked like a potato, but peel it first, according to Wyatt.
There are 100 varieties of violets in Minnesota, and they may be eaten.
In early spring, wild onions are edible.
Of Minnesota’s 44 ferns, ostrich fiddlehead is the only one recommended for eating, typically in early spring.
The young shoots and tender top leaves of stinging nettle are “very good as a boiled green.” These also make a nourishing tea.
Wyatt said many parts of daylilies may be eaten, but not all varieties.
Common plantain often grows along driveways and sidewalks.
Foraging rules
Harvesting edible fruits and mushrooms is allowed in Minnesota state parks and forests, as long as they are for personal consumption. Commercial harvesting is not allowed. No one is permitted to pick wildflowers or any other plants on state lands.
Rule No. 1: Harvest only what you need. Think about sustainability and leave 80%, urged Wyatt.
Rule No. 2: Know what you’re picking. “If you don’t, don’t eat it,” Wyatt said. There are lookalikes that are poisonous. Wild grapes make wonderful jams, pies, juices and wines, but there are three toxic impersonators: bittersweet nightshade, Virginia creeper and Canadian moonseed.
Then there are endangered plant species that shouldn’t be disturbed.
He recommended “The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants” by Samuel Thayer.
Foragers also should be aware of how they can spread invasive species throughout the woodlands.
Rule No. 3: Always get permission. Respect private property and ask landowners for permission to harvest. Wyatt explained foragers must “know before they go” where and what they can pick.
WILD EDIBLES: Page 14
RESOURCES
Native Plant Community Classification: www.dnr.state.mn.us/npc/classification.html
Bacteria that cause foodborne illness – salmonella, lactobacillus, E. coli – are found naturally in soil, Wyatt warns.
Animal urine and feces may come in contact with plants as well.
Foragers must be aware of water runoff, which may carry pollutants. Ditches and farm fields are frequently sprayed with herbicides or pesticides, added Wyatt.
Insects burrow or reside in wild foods. Spotted wing drosophila is a tiny fruit fly that loves ripening fruits.
Clean the food thoroughly and eat it in small quantities. The first time you eat chicken-of-the-woods mushrooms, for instance, don’t gorge on it, Wyatt said.
And, of course, gatherers must contend with poison ivy and wild parsnip.
Shannon Geisen can be reached at sgeisen@parkrapidsenterprise.com.
◀ You can find American and beaked hazelnuts in Minnesota –but they are popular with animals, too. Shannon Geisen/ Enterprise
▲ Dandelion flowers can be eaten raw or dried to be used for tea, says the UMN. Adobe Stock
PARK RAPIDS
▲ Hazelnuts Adobe Stock
Local lake associations build loon-nesting programs
BY SHANNON GEISEN Park Rapids Enterprise
Nothing represents summer on a northern Minnesota lake better than the haunting call of a loon.
There are many programs in Hubbard County aimed at protecting loons: Loon watchers, loon liaisons, loon-friendly lake registries, the Minnesota Loon Restoration Project, to name a few.
And there are artificial loon-nesting programs (ANP).
The most famous of them all is Big Mantrap Lake Association’s program. Their ANP began in 1990. Raft design has shifted over the years – from wood to plastic to aluminum.
According to their website (https:// mantraplake.org/loons), about a quarter of the nesting pairs on Big Mantrap are natural nesters and three-quarters use the nesting rafts.
“Refurbishing the nests, setting them out and removing them requires the efforts of a number of volunteers.”
NESTING:
18 Hole Par 72
NESTING
From Page 15
8th and 9th Crow Wing lakes’ efforts
Eighth and 9th Crow Wing Lake Association president Judy Anderson says, “As the presence of loons on a lake can indicate healthy waters, maintaining our loon population is one of the things very important to both the lake association and our residents. Besides, who doesn’t love loons?! It’s the quintessential sound and sight on a Northwoods lake.”
Between the two lakes, Anderson said they have six nesting platforms.
“That’s a fairly large number for the size of our two lakes, but they are almost consistently successful. Additionally, we usually find one or two natural loon nests on our waters,” she said.
At first, Anderson said the lake association used “old, very heavy (especially when waterlogged), wooden platforms” for many years.
Then they purchased a surplus, lightweight platform from the Big Mantrap Lake Association, which was much easier for volunteers to transport and maintain.
“Two years ago, we undertook a campaign to ask for donations from our lake homeowners to have new, lighterweight metal platforms built. We ordered two from the St. Cloud Technical College welding class and Don Kern, a homeowner on 8th Crow Wing, built two for us,”
Anderson said. “It’s not an inexpensive endeavor, and we raised over $5,000 – just from donations from our lake residents as well as a contribution from the lake association – to cover the cost of these four platforms, plus accessories like anchor chains, new buoys, etc.”
Anderson said they kept one of the wooden platforms, “as it has been 100% successful through the years where we place it. Todd Kittleson, owner of Camp Liberty Resort, has offered to take over getting the platform nest in and out of the lake, since we always place it in the waters near his resort.”
This summer, they deployed the new platforms. Anderson said the jury is still out whether platform types (wood versus metal) are easily interchangeable or nesting spots (new versus old) are readily movable.
“On 8th Crow Wing Lake, we put four platforms out. Three were successful, and the one in a new spot was not, although a natural nest was spotted in that area,” she said. “On 9th Crow Wing Lake, two platforms were deployed: one was successful, one was not. Again, near the unsuccessful platform, a natural nest was spotted.”
▲ Jerry Kern and Glen Gott put in one of the new platforms for the 8th and 9th Crow Wing Lake Association. Contributed/Judy Anderson
▲ The artificial loon-nesting platforms have been successful for 8th and 9th Crow Wing Lake Association. Contributed/Judy Anderson
Anderson said loon watchers have “witnessed some disrespectful behavior” toward loons from visitors, particularly during COVID.
“I wish I could say it has lessened since COVID, and maybe it has a bit, but that’s not always the case. This week, for instance, a few residents witnessed a fisherman in a bass tournament run over a baby loon chick,” she said.
Repurposed for the loon
Christina Hill is helping the Hinds Lake Association build an artificial loon nest with repurposed materials from the Hubbard County Reuse Center, located at the south transfer station in Park Rapids.
She’s a lake advocate on behalf of the association, emphasizing “education and outreach for the betterment of the lake.”
“We have got three to four Hinds Lake Association member volunteers that will help to assemble and test the ANP,” Hill said. “The launch is planned for next spring.”
The DNR recommends that ANPs be placed on lakes by mid-May.
“This will coincide with our first LoonFriendly Lake Management Plan for 2025,” she added.
Hinds Lake purchased a loon-nesting platform about eight to nine years ago, but loons have not used it. Hill said there has always been at least one pair of
nesting loons on the lake, occasionally two.
Predators have taken their toll. “Two years ago, we lost one of the parent loons and one of two chicks. Last spring, what seemed to be a younger pair nested but abandoned the nest after predators got to the eggs,” Hill said. “Unfortunately, we may have too many fishing and recreational boats nearing the loon nesting areas as well.”
Last summer, Hill worked with Hubbard County Coalition of Lake Associations, DNR and Hubbard County 4-H to build three ANPs by diverting reusable materials from the landfill.
Building ANPs does not guarantee that loons will adopt them.
Bob Berdahl says, “I’m not convinced that loon platforms provide a perfect solution to loon reproductive success.”
He manages the Potato Lake Association’s loon program.
“Potato has had about six platforms annually, including three of the Big Mantrap design (sponsored by Potato Lake Association) and three PVC versions owned by others on the lake,” he said. “Several have loons returning every year; however, some of the loons favor a natural nest site over a nesting platform.”
Akeley Muni
▲ The Big Mantrap Lake Association says that first baby loon hatched on Sunday, May 26. Due to the lake’s many bays, it boasts a high population of loons. Contributed/Big Mantrap Lake Association
They stopped using the ANPs for several years “because loon families were choosing natural nesting locations.”
Middle Crow Wing Lake Association has a loon-nesting program, as does East Crooked Lake and their raft is part of the Minnesota Loon Preservation Project. Shannon Geisen can be reached at sgeisen@parkrapidsenterprise.com.
Be loon aware
While fishing or boating, do your part to safeguard our state’s treasured bird. View loons from a distance and give them their space. Stay at least 500 feet away from a nest.
“They need solitude to breed and raise their young,” according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “Approaching too closely can cause adult loons to leave their nests, causing chilling of the eggs and nest failure.”
Be aware that if you see a loon from mid-June to September, chances are that one or two chicks will be close by. Keep your distance!
Loon chicks are very buoyant and can’t dive very quickly or very deep. This makes them particularly vulnerable to being run over by watercraft.
When in open water, watch for loons and keep 150 feet away from them. If you approach a loon and hear it start to call, this means you are too close. Move away!
If you see a loon “dancing” straight up out of the water and slapping with its wings, it is alarmed by your presence. Move away!
Harassment of wildlife is against the law. If you see loons being harassed, report it to the Park Rapids DNR Wildlife Office at 218-732-8452. Videotaping the event and/or recording the vessel’s registration number is helpful.
Loons are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This law makes it illegal to capture or kill loons and to gather, possess, or harm
Love a loon
Fun facts about our beloved state bird
Park Rapids calls itself the “Loon Capital of the U.S.A.”
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota has more loons –roughly 12,000 – than any other state, except Alaska.
The Minnesota Legislature adopted the common loon as the state bird in 1961.
And nothing symbolizes the beauty of northern Minnesota more than the haunting call of the loon.
their nests, eggs or feathers. Choose lead-free materials when shopping for fishing tackle. Lead-free alternatives are available and perform as well as traditional tackle. Lead poisons loons when they swallow lead tackle that anglers have lost. One lead sinker will kill a loon. One in five loons die a slow and painful death of lead poisoning from fishing tackle.
According to Itasca State Park naturalist Connie Cox, loons arrive in Minnesota as soon as there is open water.
Loons have evolved to spend their lives on the water, except when they are nesting. In particular, loons prefer to nest along undeveloped shorelines with emergent vegetation for cover.
▲ From his dock on Shingobee Lake, Dallas Hudson of Akeley watched this pair of loons at sunrise. Contributed/ Dallas Hudson May 2021
This time of year, both the male and female take turns being on the nest, while the other loon patrolling nearby.
Fun facts
▶ Loons’ bones are thicker and heavier than the bones of many other birds. The extra weight helps loons stay underwater when they dive. It also makes it harder for them to fly.
▶ Loons sometimes dive 250 feet deep.
▶ They can swim 400 yards and stay underwater for up to five minutes to escape danger.
▶ Because their bodies are heavy relative to their wing size, loons need a 100to 600-foot runway in order to take off from a lake.
▶ Loons can fly more than 75 miles per hour.
▶ The red in the loon’s eye helps it to see underwater.
▶ Scientists think loons can live for 30 years or more.
▶ An adult loon weighs between 8 and 12 pounds.
Information provided by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Interpreting the loon
call
According to the Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine, produced by the Minnesota Department of Natural resources, scientists have categorized common loon calls into four types.
Hoot: A loon gives a hoot – a soft, short call – to let other loons know where it is or to ask another loon where it is. A parent might hoot to its chick, or one of a pair to another.
Tremolo: The wavering tremolo call – sometimes called the loon laugh – means a loon is excited or alarmed. Loons also use the tremolo when they fly over a lake to announce their presence to any loons there.
Yodel: Only male loons make this loud sound, which starts with three notes and ends with a couple of swinging phrases. They use it to defend their territory. Each male has a signature yodel. Some people can recognize a specific loon by his yodel.
Wail: The high, haunting wail helps loons to figure out where they are relative to each other. They call back and forth, using the location of the sound to move closer together.
▲ Loon with chick. Adobe Stock
HARVALA APPLIANCE
Antique Tractor & Engine Club
keeps the good ol’ days running
BY ROBIN FISH Park Rapids Enterprise
Don’t miss the Park Rapids Tractor & Engine Club Field Days, the weekend of Aug. 3-4 at the club’s showgrounds on County Road 6, south of Park Rapids.
“We’re doing a lot of different things out there this year,” said club president Justin Peterson. “We planted field corn and sweet corn, and we planted potatoes this spring, too” – in addition to their usual grain crops.
“We’re going to try harvesting potatoes,” he said. “We’re going to put the (sweet) corn through a corn binder and send the field corn through an old-style silage chopper with a flat-belt pulley. Then, we’re going to do
the usual threshing of the grain, and we’re going to try to do some combining out there, too, with an old-school combine.”
The club also plans to hold sawmill demonstrations, a tractor pull on the Saturday afternoon, a dinner on Saturday night with barbecued pulled pork sandwiches and sweet corn, and live music by Two Weeks Notice, a band with local roots, playing from 7 to 11 p.m.
“We’re not charging a cover,” said Peterson. “You just have to have a button to get into the band. So, if you came during the day, then just show your button and you’re good to go. Your button is good for the whole weekend.”
FIELD DAYS: Page 22
“You don’t always see it first-hand, but come showtime, it really brings joy to people’s eyes to see some of that old stuff.”
JUSTIN PETERSON
▲ Dallas Slevin of Frazee eyes a 1966 Case International tractor owned by Kyle Little of Park Rapids during the Antique Tractor and Engine Club’s 2023 Field Days. Enterprise file photo
Green Pines Road, Park Rapids, MN 56470 • Phone: (218) 732-5234 gocamping@vagabondvillage.com—www.vagabondvillage.com
▲ Mike Gartner is a board member for the Park Rapids Antique Tractor Club. He and his sons worked on various engines in their booth at 2023 Field Days. Enterprise file photo
FIELD DAYS
From Page 20
Kids’ attractions include pony rides, an ice cream stand, and animals in the barn, which Peterson likened to a petting zoo. “We’ve got lots of things in the works this year,” he said.
Typically, he said, the weekend before the big show, the club cuts and shocks the grain. “Sometimes we have people stop alongside the highway, and they like to watch the grain binder and stuff work.”
The club’s other big event is their fall extravaganza, Friday, Oct. 25 at the Park Rapids American Legion. Each ticket for this annual fundraiser buys a meal for two, four drink tickets and chances to win 50 prizes. With only 200 tickets available, Peterson said, that gives 1:4 odds of winning a nice prize.
The club gives away a tractor at both events, he said.
Besides these club events, Peterson said, the club offers their showgrounds as an event venue, popularly used for weddings, family reunions and graduation parties. “We’ve had quite a few local people use that,” he said. “They’ve always been really happy with it.”
For those interested in joining, the club meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month, April to November, usually under the pavilion on their grounds. Membership dues are “pretty affordable,” Peterson said, adding that they’re always looking for help.
“There’s actually 40 acres out there,” he said. “So, there’s lots of grass to mow and lots of buildings to maintain. It’s pretty rewarding. You don’t always see it firsthand, but come showtime, it really brings joy to people’s eyes to see some of that old stuff.”
For more information, visit the Park Rapids Antique Tractor and Engine Club page on Facebook or call Peterson at 218-252-6253.
Robin Fish can be reached at rfish@parkrapidsenterprise.com.
◀ Cody Wangen of Fargo fills this 4hp Cushman binder engine more water during the Antique Tractor and Engine Club’s 2023 Field Days. Enterprise file photo
Itasca State Park attracts 500,000 visitors
Minnesota’s oldest state park is 133 years old.
Itasca State Park was established on April 20, 1891 to preserve the old growth pine trees that were in danger of being logged.
Park Rapids is the undisputed Gateway to Itasca State Park and the south entrance is a 22-mile drive from Park Rapids north on Hwy. 71. The east entrance is only a couple miles farther north of the south entrance, and then another mile or so west on Hwy. 200 – you’ll find it easily at the junction of Hwy. 71 and Hwy. 200.
Itasca State Park encompasses Lake Itasca, the official source of the Mississippi River, and a scenic area of northern Minnesota that has remained relatively unchanged from its natural state.
Today, the park totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes. Stand under towering pines at Preacher’s Grove. Visit the Itasca Indian Cemetery or Wegmann’s Cabin, landmarks of centuries gone by. Camp under the stars, or stay the night at the historic Douglas Lodge or cabins. Explore Wilderness Drive past the 2,000-acre Wilderness Sanctuary, one of Minnesota’s seven National Natural Landmarks.
For more information about the park events and schedules, call Itasca State Park headquarters at 218-699-7251, email itasca. statepark@state.mn.us or go to www.dnr. state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/index.html.
▲ Itasca State Park attracts more than half a million people each year. Shannon Geisen/Enterprise
July & Angust HIGHLIGHTS AT ITASCA STATE PARK
▶ Go camping. The park has hundreds of campsites available with advance reservations required. After a day of exploring the park, relax around a campfire and roast s’mores, or sit and have a chat with other campers while admiring the surrounding forest. At sundown, listen for loon calls and the chirping of crickets.
▶ Take a hike. There are 49 miles of trails at Itasca. To get a sense for what northern Minnesota was like before logging changed the landscape, hike the half-mile Bohall Trail. There are more giant pines along the Nicollet Trail.
▶ View the Perseids meteor shower. Escape the city lights and watch for meteor showers that peak Aug. 11-13. The meteors are called the Perseids because the point from which they appear to hail lies in the constellation Perseus.
▶ Visit historic Douglas Lodge. This two-story log building built in 1905 is located on the south shore of Lake Itasca, with parking in front and easy access to trails. Relax in the cozy parlor with a sitting area furnished with antiques. Meals are available in the restaurant, and a staircase leads to guest rooms on the second floor.
▶ Enjoy time on the lake. Try kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddle boarding on one of the park’s 100 lakes. Equipment is available to rent at Itasca Sports located in the park. Lake Itasca Tours also offers excursions of the Chester Charles tour boat. The narrated tour follows the same route taken by Ozawindib in 1832 when he guided Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to the Headwaters of the Mississippi River.
▶ Go fishing. Lake Itasca has a variety of fish, including northern pike, large-mouth bass, sunfish, crappies, perch and walleye, or try fishing for muskie on Elk Lake. The smaller Lake Ozawindib is a popular bass lake, and Mary Lake has crappies and sunfish. Both Lake Itasca and Lake Ozawindib have fishing piers.
Check Minnesota fishing regulations for state park lakes.
▶ Cool off at the beach. Itasca State Park has a sandy swimming beach located in the picnic grounds with views of the Mississippi Headwaters. The beach and changing house were developed by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s.
▶ Take a bike ride.
Sixteen miles of paved trails wind through the forest.
Parking and access is available at several points along the trail, including the Douglas Lodge area, Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center, picnic grounds and the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center. Itasca Sports, located in the park, offers bike rentals.
▲ The historic Forest Inn building is located near the Douglas Lodge restaurant in the heart of Itasca State Park. From May through October, musical performances, naturalist programs and other events are held in the building, which also houses a gift shop.
Contributed/ Heather Funk
Hidden treasures of Itasca Forest Inn
BY HEATHER FUNK Integrated visitor services coordinator, Itasca State Park
The historic buildings and structures at Itasca State Park represent the largest collection of log and stone facilities in the Minnesota state park system.
One of the finest is Forest Inn. Approximately 200 members of the Veterans Conservation Corps (VCC) built the Forest Inn between 1938-1940.
These men were veterans of World War I, and therefore, older than the 18- to 25-yearold members of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) who completed many other projects at Itasca State Park in this same era.
at the Itasca CCC camp.
Its completion in 1940 made it the last building constructed by crews of Depression-era relief programs in Itasca State Park.
Contrary to what the name implies, this magnificent building was never intended to be used as overnight accommodations. Originally, the right wing was a recreation room furnished with a fireplace, seating and an organ. The center portion, just inside the entry, was a soda fountain that served ice cream, soft drinks and light lunch items. The left wing housed a trading post and post office.
▲ Enterprise file photo
The VCC brought experienced craftsmen who had honed their skills in the trades of masonry and log construction.
Using only four drawings produced by architect Ed Barber, the men got to work.
Pine logs were harvested from the Chippewa National Forest, 80 miles east of Itasca, then handscribed and positioned precisely one on top of the other.
Rocks extracted from gravel pits within the park were split and squared to exact specification to create the substantial stone base.
Walkways were laid using scrap granite slabs from quarries in the St. Cloud area. Hand-hammered iron work for the light fixtures and doors were crafted by blacksmith
Over time, the recreation room transitioned into a space for meetings and interpretive programs, the soda fountain was removed to become an information center and the Forest Inn Gift Shop continues to operate under the original “Trading Post” door header.
In one way or another, the Forest Inn always has and will continue to provide services to Itasca State Park visitors.
The beauty of the building remains steadfast; a step inside transports you back in time.
Just as the Forest Inn was built from local materials, a spirit of that local tradition continues today in the variety of products from the region that are sold at the Forest Inn Gift Shop.
FOREST INN: Page 25
FOREST INN
From Page 24
A stone fireplace wall accented by the rich brown of an artfully crafted log ceiling is the natural focal point of
the Forest Inn meeting room. Throughout the peak tourism season of May to October, musical performances, naturalist programs and events are held here. This stunning space can also be rented out for a small wedding with room for approximately 75 guests. Forest Inn is located in
▲ The Forest Inn Gift Shop continues to operate under the original “Trading Post” door header. Contributed/ Heather Funk
the historical heart of Itasca State Park, surrounded by the Douglas Lodge Restaurant and numerous other historic buildings offering lodging. More information on lodging is available on the Itasca State Park website. The Hiking Club Trail, trails to the popular Aiton Heights
Fire Tower and the Lake Itasca Fishing Pier can also be accessed here. In the winter, this area is a hub for crosscountry skiing.
Whether you are visiting for the day or planning to stay, Forest Inn is a stop you won’t want to miss.
▲ Eventually, the recreation room transitioned into a space for meetings and interpretive programs. Contributed/ Heather Funk
▲ Madeleine Bialke’s oil on canvas from 2022 is entitled “Everdust.” Contributed/ Nemeth Art Center
Most Minnesotans are familiar with wild rice, maple syrup, blueberries and morel mushrooms.
But did you know that you can eat stinging nettles? Cattails? Hazelnuts? Ostrich fern fiddleheads? Or that plant common in driveways. It’s called plantain.
There’s an impressive host of native fruits, nuts, mushrooms, saps and plants in the forest that may be harvested and digested.
The Hubbard County University of Minnesota Extension (UMN) Office recently teamed up with Itasca State Park to teach the art of foraging for wild edibles in the Northwoods.
Gary Wyatt, a UMN Extension educator, discussed ethics and techniques for harvesting or growing them in home landscapes.
“Our goal is to give you a small taste of the many possible plants you can forage in Minnesota, while giving you the resources to stay safe,” he said.
“Minnesota Harvester Handbook,” is a handy reference, which is available for purchase at z.umn.edu/mhh.
Gather at 2nd Street Stage for live music
Join the great community get-together’s 12th summer concert series, 2nd Street Stage, on Thursday nights through Aug. 15, except Wednesday, July 3.
The Park Rapids Downtown Business Association hosts the free, outdoor concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. with bands, a beer garden and family activities downtown. Bring your own lawn chair.
The beer garden opens at 5 p.m. for a social hour while you find your spot, listen to the sound check and greet neighbors and friends. Support this great event by buying an official 2024 button and receive $2 off all beverages at the beer garden. Christian Clark of Park Rapids designed the 2024 2nd Street Stage button.
To see the complete summer line up, go to www. parkrapidsdowntown.com and follow 2nd St. Stage on Facebook.
JULY 18 –THE FEDERALES
The Federales are a TwinCities-based country music band. Damn proud of it, too, “We use it to tell our stories of love, good times, Grain Belt and friends. Some are fact. Some are fiction with the truth
hiding in there somewhere. All of them are heartfelt. We’re pickers, fiddlers, groovers and harmonizers,” they said in a news release.
JULY 25 – JILLIAN RAE BAND
Jillian Rae is a singer, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist. Raised on Minnesota’s Iron Range, Rae fell in love early on with the traditional Scandinavian music she learned from her Finnish violin teacher. Equally influenced by her parents’ Jimi Hendrix record collection and polka music inherited from her grandparents, she adapted a variety of music to the instrument, putting her own spin on rock, folk and classical music. She has become a commanding international presence, heading up her own critically acclaimed rock/pop band and creating genre-bending songs. She also performs regularly with her traditional folk band, Corpse Reviver, and has toured extensively, backing up Grammy-winning acts like The Okee Dokee Brothers.
AUG. 1 – EVERETT SMITHSON BAND
The Everett Smithson Band was formed in 2005 and included Everett Smithson on harp and vocals, Phil Schmid on guitar, Jeremy Johnson on drums and Bill Black on stand up bass. The sidemen had toured with Big George Jackson, Gary Primich, RJ Mischo, Kim Wilson, Bo Diddley, the Senders and many others. They’ve written many originals for the set list over the years, which can be heard on any of their five CDs.
AUG. 8 – TOMMY
overseas. They competed in the International Blues Challenge in Jan. 2020, representing the state of Wisconsin.
BENTZ BAND
The Tommy Bentz Band has been in existence for more than 15 years and jams in the style of “Allman Brothers meets Van Morrison.” The band performs songs from their six original albums and unique covers of Cream/Clapton, The Band, SRV, Beatles and others. They will be performing selections from their latest album, “1000 Reasons,” released in May 2021, and from their upcoming release scheduled for the fall of 2024. The band tours regionally and
AUG. 15 – FAREWELL
MILWAUKEE
Farewell Milwaukee will close the 2nd Street Stage summer concert series. Mainstays of the Minneapolis music scene since 2008. They landed a song placement on major-network TV, opened for the Lumineers (among others), and are featured on compilations alongside Mumford & Sons, Adele and Amos Lee.
▲ Enterprise file photo
‘Chicago’ introduces 1920s jazz and real-world crime
The music and dancing in the Northern Light Opera Company’s (NLOC) production of “Chicago” this summer “will be fun and familiar,” according to a news release. “Audiences will be introduced to the world of jazz, crime and the razzle-dazzle decadence of 1920s Chicago. The main characters are based on actual, real-life court cases: Roxie, a chorus girl dreaming of becoming a vaudeville star; Velma, an established vaudeville star, and their lawyer, Billy. (Might there be conflict here?).”
“Chicago” had its Broadway premiere in 1975. In 1996, “Chicago” was revived and has become the longest-running American musical in West End and Broadway history.
“This revival has been seen in 38 countries and viewed by an estimated 37 million people,” says NLOC. “Familiar, show-stopping songs, such as “Razzle Dazzle,” “Cell Block Tango” and “All That Jazz” might have you in the audience wanting to join in singing with the actors on stage.
Because “Chicago” is on tour in 2024, royalty rights limit NLOC’s audiences to 200 persons per performance, instead of the usual 250 to 300 seats.
Tickets are available at Beagle & Wolf Books in Park Rapids or online at www. northernlightopera.org.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from Region 2 Arts Council and Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
▲ A scene from last summer’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” Contributed/Northern Light Opera Company
Sip wine, peruse art at Forestedge Winery
Antiques in Minnesota's Vacationland
Forestedge Winery, renowned for transforming native Northwoods’ fruits and berries into internationally award-winning wines, hosts its annual art fair on the third weekend of August.
This year’s dates are Saturday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 18.
Admission and parking is free. The event features selected artists exhibiting and selling their works. Artistic mediums include pottery, porcelain, jewelry, fiber, leather, wood, painting and more.
Stroll the exhibits and sample wine, which will be sold by the glass, with bottles and cases available for purchase. Area restaurants add unique cuisine and jazz musicians set the tone for the unique summertime event.
Saturday’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday’s 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact the winery at 218-224-3535 or visit www.forestedgewinery.com. It is located 14 miles north of Akeley on Hwy. 64.
Floral Baskets
Recipes for enjoying bountiful blueberries
July is blueberry season. Whether picked fresh or purchased blueberries at a farm or grocery store, here are some recipes to try that highlight the flavor filled blueberries.
Blueberry Sauce
allrecipes.com
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup water
1 cup orange juice
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup cold water
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
Combine blueberries, 1/4 cup of water, orange juice, and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently and bring to a boil.
Mix cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water together in a cup or small bowl. Gently stir this mixture into blueberries so as not to mash the berries. Simmer gently until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract and cinnamon. Thin sauce with water as needed to desired consistency. Use the sauce for a topping on pancakes, waffles, cheesecake or ice cream.
Blueberry Baked
Oatmeal
eatingwell.com
2-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1-1/2 cups whole milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup dark brown sugar plus 2 Tbsp., divided
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. grated lemon zest
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. ground cardamom
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups fresh or unthawed frozen blueberries
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a 7-by-11inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Stir oats, milk, eggs, 1/4 cup brown sugar, melted butter,
vanilla, lemon zest, lemon juice, cardamom, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl until combined. Fold in blueberries until evenly distributed. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle evenly with the remaining 2 Tbsp. brown sugar. Bake until golden brown and set, about 40 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes or up to 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Note: If making ahead of time, refrigerate baked oatmeal in an airtight container (or in the baking pan, covered with plastic wrap) for up to four days.
Easy Lemon Blueberry Scones
30seconds.com
1 lemon, juiced and zested
2 cups flour (all-purpose flour or gluten-free 1:1 flour)
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. cold butter
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
In a large mixing bowl add the flour, baking powder, salt, lemon zest and sugar. Mix well. Use a box grater to grate the butter into the dry ingredients. Stir well using clean hands to combine, if needed. Add the blueberries to the mixture and stir to coat them.
In a small mixing bowl whisk the eggs and milk together. Add it to the blueberry mix. Stir until everything is combined.
Place the dough on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Press it into a circle about 1-inch thick. Cut the dough into 8 wedges and place them spaced apart on the parchment paper. Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown. Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack. Mix the lemon juice with the powdered sugar and blend well. Drizzle on top of the scones after they have cooled.
▲ Homemade blueberry sauce is a flavorful topping for a stack of pancakes or a dish of icecream. Adobe Stock
Little emergencies are a big deal.
Life happens. When you need care, you need it fast. With our NEW Primary Care Clinic and 24/7 Emergency Department, you’re in good hands with CHI St. Joseph’s Health in Park Rapids.
NEW Primary Care Clinic
• appointments Care for all ages
Same-day and next-day
• Located in the lower level of
• the hospital Call 218.616.3900 to schedule
• Emergency Department Open 24/7
• Level IV Trauma Center
• Acute Stroke Ready Hospital
• Women’s Choice Award
•
• for Emergency Care For emergencies, call 911
For more information on our services, please visit chisjh.org or call 218.732.3311
