Country Acres 2017 - December 15 edition by Star Publications

ountry C cres A A dazzling Christmas tradition

A Supplement to the Star Shopper

Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 • Edition 18

Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment

Strands illuminate yard with lights, decorations By JENNIFER COYNE Staff Writer OPOLE – As one enters the Strands front yard, they are greeted with strings of lights on either side of the driveway, directing them throughout the property. On the right, Santa and his reindeer are taking flight off a rustic hay elevator. The other side displays various Christmas themes and lights dancing to the rhythm of music. If one comes at the right time, Santa is present to hand out candy canes. For many in central Minnesota, driving through the Strands’ light show PHOTO BY JENNIFER COYNE

STRANDS continued on page 6

Lonnie and Mike Strand decorate their lawn with lighted Christmas pieces at their home near Opole. The couple’s light display has been a must-see in Central Minnesota since they moved to the area in 2006. Previously, the Strands decorated their home in Eagan.

ALWAYS WILD

By KATELYN ASFELD Staff Writer

Linz raises Plains bison

steers. There was not much of a market for Holstein steers at the time, so after selling his steers, he decided to get out of the business. RICHMOND – Walking Linz’s brother-in-law, to the pasture with snow Mark, started raising bison, crunching underfoot and which sparked an interest in wind biting at his face, Randy Linz. Linz, of Shady Creek Bison “I thought, hmmm, that in Richmond, says, “Watch might be interesting,” Linz this, they will just run from said. the corral because they know He bought his first bull you’re coming.” from a friend, Danny Meyer, Sure enough, the herd of in Sauk Centre. bison bolt together out of the “He told me to come corral and into the pasture. over and get him. The bull at Then they turn back, watching the time I got him was just a from a distance. little over a year old. When Linz points “There’s one I went there, the bull got his of the bulls. Let’s see if he’ll head under the gate and threw come closer.” PHOTO BY KATELYN ASFELD Danny and broke his arm. The bull, standing over six Danny looked at me and said, feet tall, slowly approaches. Two bulls stare curiously on a cold Friday afternoon at Shady Creek Bison near Richmond. The bulls are a part of a 50-bison herd ‘Are you sure you want to do His face is full of dark curled owned by Randy and Milissa Linz. this?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I want hair and a beard of longer hair to do this,’” Linz said. under his chin. Pieces of grass hay stick Spanky zips around under the cold wind. From there, Linz bought four on his face, a result of grazing on a round enormous feet of the bison, sniffing the Linz observes his bison. He knows hay bale. ground. The bison turn their big heads to each and every one’s personalities and pregnant 2-year-old heifers that would Spanky, the Linzes’ tiny pug dog, watch him, somewhat unimpressed. behavior. After raising bison for 24 years, calve in the spring. After that, Linz said it was like a fever. runs under the fence, barking at the herd. The calves, standing next to their he knows a thing or two about these “That dog is not afraid of them at all,” mothers, watch too. Their horns are just magnificent animals. ALWAYS WILD Linz said chuckling. “Look at that tiny buttons, but will eventually start to curl. Linz started raising buffalo, or bison, continued on page 8 dog with those big buffalo.” They all stand in a line, unflinching in the in 1993, after raising a few Holstein

Page 2 • Country Acres - Friday, December 15, 2017

Country Acres Published by Star Publications Copyright 2014 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: 320-352-6577 Fax: 320-352-5647 NEWS STAFF Diane Leukam, Editor diane@saukherald.com Mark Klaphake, Assistant Editor mark.k@dairystar.com Herman Lensing, Writer herman@melrosebeacon.com Liz Vos, Writer liz@albanyenterprise.com Laura Hintzen, Writer laura.h@saukherald.com Elizabeth Hoag, Writer elizabeth@saukherald.com Katelyn Asfeld, Writer kate@saukherald.com Carol Moorman, Writer carol@melrosebeacon.com

Story ideas send to: diane@saukherald.com SALES STAFF Jeff Weyer, 320-260-8505 jeff.w@dairystar.com Kayla Hunstiger, 320-247-2728 kayla@saukherald.com Missy Traeger, 320-291-9899 missy@saukherald.com Tim Vos, 320-845-2700 tim@albanyenterprise.com Mike Schafer, 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Lynnette Ostendorf, 320-352-6577 lynnette@saukherald.com Brian Trattles, 320-352-6577 brian.t@saukherald.com

This month in the

COUNTRY 5 Traditional songs with a traditional meal Herman Lensing column 10 One of a Kind Nelson 13 What Christmas Means Q&A 16 Daycare on the dairy Glenwood 18 Dominating the track Long Prairie 20 Working with the peoplecentered dog Blomkest 21 Holiday hazards Wendy Womack column 22 Country Cooking

PRODUCTION STAFF Pat Turner Tara Pitschka Amanda Thooft Nancy Powell Brian Dingmann Cassidy Zenzen Jennifer Coyne, Proofreader Andrea Borgerding, Proofreader

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Friday, December 15, 2017 - Country Acres • Page 3

Give me a real steak by Diane Leukam

derived from animals, such as eggs or dairy products, leather goods, down pillows or the like. One thing I would like to say is, it is not a good idea to label people and assume, though it is quite easy to do. Everyone has their own reasons for eating as they do, and not everyone who is a vegan or vegetarian is out to force those trying to make a living raising animals to change their lifestyle or stop animal production. Though she’s not a vegetarian, a co-worker explained her theory on animals to me last week. She has a fairly well-developed soft spot for them, you might say. I’ve seen her tear up when thinking of the process of farm to table. “I understand that people need to eat meat and I eat it myself,” she said. “I could just never be the one to kill an animal.” Will she ever be convinced to try cultured meat? I’ll ask her in a decade. I do question whether it will be a healthy addition to anyone’s diet – after all, margarine was once thought to be a healthy alternative to butter. Work is being done to make this new “meat” taste

better – apparently the first tries fell short in that department. It will be interesting to watch it all play out. I suspect the demand for cultured meat will be driven primarily by people’s feelings about animals. Like I said in my 2013 column, though, they may want to check out the process before committing to eating it.

I will not be jumping on the bandwagon of fake meat, and you can feel free to quote me on that. Give me a real steak, a good glass of wine, and anything to distract me from topics like this. That being said, I hope you enjoy this issue of Country Acres, and I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

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my attention, helped by the fact that the scientist was from the Netherlands, where my grandfather was born. It all brought to mind a book I read in high school called “Brave New World,” written in 1931 by Aldous Huxley. The book was about a time in the future where some fairly awful things were the established way of life. It was quite disturbing to me at the time, as was intended by the author, and it turns out many of his prophesies were not far off the mark. Anyway, the thought of cultured meat had not crossed my mind too often since 2013, partially because I was hoping it would just go away. There’s a phrase for that – something about burying your head in the sand. Roger Strom, who writes a syndicated agriculture column that we often run in the Sauk Centre

Herald, this week wrote about the topic again. It seems cultured meat is likely to hit grocery store shelves in less than a decade, once growers get their operations to the point of becoming financially feasible. This is partially driven by a small segment of the population that would like to see animal agriculture go away. Animal rights groups have a strong voice and a lot of money for lobbying. They are working hard to change the practices of animal agriculture with little to no understanding of farming and what it entails. Every animal ag producer will eventually feel the effects of this in one way or another, if they don’t already. The range of sentiments people have when it comes to animals is all over the board. There are avid hunters who fill their freezers with wild game, but statistically, the vast majority of people enjoy eating beef, pork, chicken or turkey, without being involved in producing the meat. Some 5 percent of the population is said to be vegetarian, meaning they do not eat meat. In addition, about 2 percent are vegan, and use no products

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Friday, December 15, 2017 - Country Acres • Page 5

Traditional songs with a traditional meal Stressed over what to serve for Christmas? Relax and take some time to listen to Christmas songs. Every Christmas song, one way or another, touches on something about the season. That includes Christmas meals. Believe it or not the menu of a good Christmas meal can be found in the songs and poems that celebrate the holiday. A main course is summed in the all but forgotten “Boar’s Head Carol.” It was popular in 15th Century England. To be honest the song doesn’t say much about Christmas, but then neither does “Jingle Bells.” It does, however, suggest pork for the main item. It even hints at how to flavor it. “The boar’s head in hand bring I, bedecked with bays and rosemary.” The carol is about a person bringing a boar’s head to the Christmas dinner. Some say a boar head has the best bacon flavor of any meat. Pork, in one form or another, was common at a number of holiday feasts. Even as Charles Dickens goes on about the roast goose and other main course items, he also mentions wreaths of sausage. A side dish for the main course could be the

Mirrors of Smoke

by HERMAN LENSING

collard greens (plant related to cabbage and broccoli) mentioned in “Christmas in the Hollis.” “It’s Christmas time in Hollis, Queens Mom’s cooking chicken and collard greens...” And it’s not just the main meal items that are suggested in song and verse. Appetizers and after meal snacks are also mentioned. There are the famed sugarplums mentioned in “A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore. That is a poem rather than a song, but it does mention “visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.” Despite the name, these confections are not sugared plums or whipped up with a quick sprinkling of sugar over plums, although the sugar is part of the treat. They are instead a seed, nut, or piece of spice covered with a hard coating of sugar. Think of something like a peanut

or almond M&M without color in the coating and no trademark. What is inside the sugar is a bit of a mystery until eaten. It could be caraway seed or a peanut, a citrus peel, ginger or even a walnut. A different snack is mentioned in “The Christmas Song.” It begins with “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.” That phrase offers practical advice about eating chestnuts. Roasting chestnuts removes much of their bitter taste and produces a sweet treat. An after meal snack could will be the popcorn mentioned in “I’ve brought some corn for popping” in “Let it Snow.” Since no meal is complete without something to drink, songwriters have that element covered; “Good King Wenceslaus” commands “Bring me wine.” Another beverage tradition, wassailing, is mentioned in the traditional “Here We Come a Caroling.” Originally it was “Here We Come Awassailing.” The wassail drink was a mulled (meaning flavored with some kind of spice), heated cider. It was served to carolers as they made their rounds. Modern Christmas songs mention eggnog,

even if we don’t know exactly why it’s called that. Egg is used in creating it, so that makes sense. The nog may refer to a noggin, a wood cup once used for drinking. At one time, eggnog was called an egg flip as the mixture of egg, cream and seasonings was poured or flipped from cup-to-cup to mix it. Desserts would be needed to round out the meal, and the songs don’t let us down, but they can confuse us. Mince pies and figgy puddings are considered a Christmas treat. Perhaps no place else in the Christmas culinary collection does food have such a mysterious and misleading (or at least confounding) name. I figured the muchsung-about figgy pudding (oh bring us some figgy pudding, oh bring us some figgy pudding) contained figs. I was wrong. Traditional figgy pudding had no figs (although they were included later), and is nothing like what I considered a pudding. It is not a flavored custard, but a steam cake filled with raisins, currants and brandy. It’s also known as plum pudding, but traditionally did not use plums, although apples may have been used. Plum, at one

time, meant any type of dried fruit. Figgy pudding is a food best made by those with a lot of patience. One version calls for starting to make it about five weeks before you want to serve it. Others are of a much shorter duration. No matter when in the meal it is served (as part of dinner or the dessert) it apparently doesn’t leave a lot of room for filling in the corners. One person described it as cannon ball in the stomach. Mince pie is sort of cousin to figgy pudding. The “mince” refers to the mixture of dried fruits and spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg) that are baked

into the pie. The items were ground (or minced) into small pieces. Also included are meats and suet. Something that I found interesting is that the Puritans objected to it is as a Christmas food, but made it a Thanksgiving food. A more well-known dessert is found in “Sleigh Rides” as they sing, “There’s a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy when they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie.” So remember, if you are stuck on what to serve at Christmas, sit back, play some Christmas songs and something is sure to come to you.

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Friday, December 15, 2017 - Country Acres • Page 7 STRANDS continued from page 6 donations from community members who wish to add to the lighted collection. “I don’t think we’ve ever paid for something full price. Once we went shopping and came home with carts full of lights,” said Lonnie, laughing. But stocking up on lighting supplies is

important to maintain the Strands’ display. “The lights really take a beating with the wind and rain, especially the blow up decorations,” Mike said. “I’m always sewing them up or looking for newer ones.” During the upcoming off-season, Mike hopes

to repaint wooden figures he built in 2000 that have added a bit of sentiment to the display – commemorating ideas and events that the family holds close. One is a replica of an older family decoration with a horse drawn sleigh. Another has Santa driving a tractor and pulling his reindeer in wagons, while one depicts the Strands’ grown daughter’s childhood interest in dairy cows. Yet another is a Model T Ford, celebrating Mike’s dad’s interest in old vehicles. Each improvement to the display is to provide a better experience for those who pass by or decide to drive through. “You always see people come in to look at the lights, and they may not say anything, but you know it has touched them,” Lonnie said. And as a car leaves the driveway after viewing the incredible display of lights, the Strands think about their future and how they will continue providing a holiday tradition for those in central Minnesota.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER COYNE

A large snowman covers the side of a shed at the Strands’ property in Opole.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER COYNE

Soldiers light the way for visitors to travel around the Strands’ front yard and enjoy their light PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE display. Santa and his reindeer, located on an old hay elevator, is a staple light display at the Strands’ home.

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Page 8 • Country Acres - Friday, December 15, 2017 ALWAYS WILD continued from front He started buying cows from all over; places such as Canada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado and Wisconsin. The breed of bison he was buying is called Plains bison. In 1996, Linz and his wife, Milissa, moved to the farm they live on now. “Once you have buffalo, to bring in easy,” Linz said. more buffalo is really easy, When Linz brings more bison into his herd, they adapt usually

June. Gestation for bison is nine months and six days. Calving is relatively short for bison; when calves are born, they are up and running with the herd in a matter of minutes, Linz said. Calves weigh about 40 pounds at the time of birth. “You can tell when the cows are going to calve. They stay a little ways away from the group, but not too far,” Linz said. Linz used to finish out and process the bison himself, but switched to just a cow-calf operation. “We used to finish out the animals and butcher them. We would feed them oats and some pellets and at that time, we were marketing our own bison meat. We were butchering about 30 a year and selling them out of a trailer at farmers’ markets,” said Linz. When Linz wants to switch out his breeding stock, he gives his old cows to Meyer, to take to a plant in New Rockford, N.D., operated by the North American Bison Cooperation. Bison, in general, live a long time. Cows can calve for 20 years. Linz’s bulls are switched out when they are 8 or 9 years old. “If they have a good feeding program, they [bison] will be a good 1,200- to 1,300-pound live market weight,” Linz said. Linz’s calves are sold in January at 7 or 8 months old and are processed when they are around 2 years old. Linz sells the PHOTO BY KATELYN ASFELD calves to John Bowron, owner of Prairie Cows can calve every year for 20 years. Heights Bison in Luverne, to finish out. Bison are protective as a herd, but mothers When it comes time to load up the are especially protective of their calves. calves, Linz uses a catch panel that is

fairly quickly if there are bison already there. He has found that it is easier to bring three or more new cows into the herd rather than just one, so they get along easier. The bison market was doing well when Linz first started. In 1999, Linz sold his heifer calves in Rapid City, S.D., for $4,600 apiece. They received re a gold trophy for their heifer calves. “So, we were thinking th this is unbelievable. unbelievab We were just small. We had 20 cows, up and we were w against people that had a ha thousand cows. So, we felt good pretty that,” about Linz said. Linz’s farm is f a cow-calf operation. ope Today, Linz has 50 h breeding cows and an four bulls and aroun around 2530 calves. Linz uuses ear tags to identify his bison. “Each group of 25 cows has two bulls,” bulls Linz said. Breeding starts in July Ju and calving begins the followin following year starting in April and tapering off in

wide enough for calves to walk through, but not the cows. He puts some pellet feed out for the calves as well. Using pulleys and ropes, Linz is able to get the gate shut behind a calf and load them in the trailer. The bison are very smart, Linz said. Catching calves takes a lot of patience. It is something that Linz does not rush. Calves and cows take separation hard. The only sounds bison make are grunts. They will grunt when they are agitated. To keep stress levels down, Linz will keep calves and cows separated at a distance where they cannot touch noses until it is time to transport them. Bison, in general, are protective, but bison cows are especially protective and aggressive as mothers. “They will stomp you,” Linz said. “Some will take the calf and run.” Linz has seven pastures, totaling 115 acres. He puts his bison on pasture, rotating them every two to three weeks. Linz plants peas and oats on his pasture and this coming year, he plans to plant perennial rye. In the winter, the bison are fed grass hay and alfalfa. This winter, the herd will eat about 12 round bales a week. Linz also has mineral salt lick tubs for them so they get their vitamins. “They need vitamins A, D and E. Without vitamins, they don’t grow as nice of hair and may not breed as easy,” Linz said. The bison get their water from a fountain that always circulates fresh

ALWAYS WILD continued on page 9

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Friday, December 15, 2017 - Country Acres • Page 9 ALWAYS WILD continued from page 8 water. Peroxide is added to keep it clean. Twice a year, in the spring and fall, Linz will de-worm his herd with a de-wormer product that is added to the water. Flies are a big pest for bison, Linz said. Flies can give bison pink eye because they are often around the eyes. To keep flies away, bison start wallowing. Wallowing is when bison roll on the ground to give themselves dust baths, creating a saucer-like depression on the ground. Linz said each bison has a distinct personality. Some are timid, some more outgoing. But one characteristic they all share – their wildness. “They are always wild. They never tame down. Never,” Linz said. Linz does not have a shelter for the bison – they do not need it. Enclosed corridors make bison nervous, and they are not affected by the weather at all. Sometimes, bison will get spurts of energy and will run on their own for no apparent reason. “They like to run around. And they like to hop. I think they’re just feeling good. It’s maybe an old wives’ tale, but whenever the animals are running and frisky like that, I always think the weather is going to change,” Linz said. Linz uses an electric high-tensile wire for his fencing. The fence is about 53 inches high. Linz shared a time when a group of young bison, filled with energy, were running straight for the fence line. “I was thinking, ‘I hope they don’t run into the fence.’ They were running and I was watching and then, they all turned at the same time. They never, ever, run into each other. It’s amazing,” said Linz. Bison are very low maintenance and hardy, strong animals, but the handling is different than other livestock. “The handling is probably the hardest thing about them. They’re always moving, they’re always trying to get away from

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Milissa and Randy Linz, holding their granddaughter, Alice Linz, on their farm, Shady Creek Bison, near Richmond.

you,” Linz said. Linz sees a large number of young producers getting into the business. His advice for anyone interested in raising bison is experience. “Go visit someone who has them so you know what’s happening. And do some handling so you know. And learn to do it yourself. I do it on my own. I catch them, load them and feed them myself,” Linz said. Linz said some of the biggest

challenges in getting started with raising bison is knowing how to pick bison that are nice in regards to size, length, quality and age, which should all be considered when buying bison. Many people have reservations about trying bison meat. Linz said bison tastes better than beef. “Buffalo meat is leaner than beef and has a nice red color,” Linz said. “You just have to cook it slower with a little less heat. I think that’s what a lot of people are

looking for in today’s world.” In addition to raising bison, Linz also owns his own construction company called Randy Linz Construction, Inc. He plans to continue raising bison; he already has plans for the coming years to make processes easier for him in regards to handling and feeding the bison. “Some people think you’re crazy for raising them,” Linz said. “But I enjoy it.”

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Page 10 • Country Acres - Friday, December 15, 2017

One of a kind Kohnhorst family runs Northland Woolens

Northland Woolens products can be found in many stores including Scheels; online through their website, at their shop in Nelson, or at the Minnesota State Fair located in the grand stand. When visitors stop in the By LAURA HINTZEN son – which may be the only ho- shop, the Kohnhorsts give off a Staff Writer creative atmosphere with their siery mill in Minnesota. At the mill, the Kohnhorsts JUKI sewing machines lining produce hats, socks, headbands the walls, antique hat knitting NELSON– A typical day job and sweater mittens made out of machines and rows of sock knitincludes a 9 to 5 shift, working recycled sweaters. Over 10,000 ting machines. Maria, 38, graduated from consecutively Monday through pairs of mittens can be made each year, produced with JUKI the University of the Incarnate Friday. Jason and Maria Kohnhorst, sewing machines. After a pile of Word in San Antonio with a residents of Nelson, lived that mittens are sewn and put togeth- bachelor of arts degree in theater lifestyle for many years until an er, they are passed on to Jason to and a minor in fashion and taiopportunity arose for the cou- get pressed. Optional buttons can loring. Her previous experience ple in 2011 when they took over be put on for accents before go- included working in a costume shop, where she developed patNorthland Woolens Inc. in Nel- ing to their customers. terns and practiced cutting, draping and tailoring her creations. She has also worked at Utah Shakespearing Festival, Ringling Brothers, Minnesota Opera House and Vee Corporation. The previous owner of Northland Woolens Inc., Vicki Johnson, started the business in 2000 as a result of a 4-H Club project raising Angora rabbits with her daughter. They would clip the fiber from the rabbits and turn it into yarn and make Angora socks. As the demand for the socks grew the two commercial sock-knitting machines in the basement of Johnson’s home graduated to a larger building on her farm with over 30 sock-knitting machines. PHOTOS BY LAURA HINTZEN Maria began working for The Kohhorsts have eight Bentley Komet industrial knitting machines in their Johnson for a short time in 2010 shed, which date back to the 1950s. as a designer while helping the flow of production. A few months later, Johnson deQuality Construction... cided to retire Built to Handle to spend more Our Midwest time with famWeather! ily. Maria reminisced about the short time she first started working at Northland. “When I Custom Built to Any Size CA-Dec15-1B-LO

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Owners of Northland Woolens Inc., Jason and Maria Kohnhorst along with their two boys, Theodore and Lochlan, are owners of Northland Woolens.

worked here, there were a bunch of ladies that worked in the back cutting and sewing. Some of those ladies still work for Northland,” Maria said. “Right now, we have five ladies still working for Northland and a few of their daughters as well.” Maria and Jason, 40, have two boys – Theodore, 3, and Lochlan, a newborn, who instead of going to daycare, comes with them to work every day. There is an area designated for running machines, an area to pick out buttons, yarn and thread and a play area for the children. “That’s what I enjoy most about my job; having our kids here with us. We are here all the time, but it is our choice,” Maria said. “We have operating hours on the outside, but we are here until we get something done – often going late into the night. Lately, we have been working on a lot of custom work.”

Eight Bentley Comet industrial knitting machines dating back to the 1950s, depending on the serial numbers, remain in the mill, all operable for work. “Because they are mechanical machines, you can tinker with them and they can be repaired. They don’t make them anymore,” Jason said. “There are very few people who know how to work and repair the machines. It’s not like a computerized machine. We have a graveyard that we pick pieces off of for broken parts that need to be fixed.” They also have started becoming a supplier for other mitten companies, so people who craft in recycled sweaters can stop into the shop if they need sweaters, recycled buttons or yarn. “A lot of yarn supplies are

NORTHLAND WOOLENS continued on page 11

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Page 12 • Country Acres - Friday, December 15, 2017 NORTHLAND WOOLENS continued from page 11 for the rush of the holiday season, they remember just how important it is that their orders are delivered on time because customers are counting on them. “When people are bringing their custom yarn here, their season is our season. Depending on when a mill is done with their yarn, the people who are waiting for the finished product have already been waiting over a year,” Maria said. “We work hard to get our customers finished project done so they have what they need for the beginning of the winter season.” “We pretty much have two homes. Our home a mile down the road and

here,” Jason added. “I’ve had jobs that I didn’t like and I hated going to work. I like working on the machines and having the kids here the whole time. I don’t have to take them to daycare, so it’s not really a job anymore. You don’t always know what you’re going to do in life, but you may as well be happy doing it.”

Each mitten is made with recycled sweaters along with a cuff, which is knitted with 100 percent wool. Optional buttons can be put on for accents before going to their customers.

(Above) Northland Woolens Inc. is a supplier for other mitten companies. Numerous colors and sizes of recycled buttons fill the shelves in the shop for customers to pick and choose.

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(Right) Maria Kohnhorst sews a pair of sweater mittens on her JUKI sewing machine. Each year on average, Northland Woolens, Inc. makes 10,000 pairs of mittens for farms, organizations and foundations.

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What Christmas Means And of course we put out cookies and milk for Santa. What are your plans for Christmas this year? On Christmas Eve Day we will go to church, then we will go to my parent’s and then to my Grandma’s. This will involve good food, presents and games. Christmas Day is then spent with my husband’s family.

Angie and Kavin Bailey Alexandria

What are your favorite Christmas foods, movies and songs? I have too many to pick just one! What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received? Given? There isn’t anything that sticks out in my mind. My favorite part of gifts is seeing the excitement that my children have when opening them.

Tell us about your family: My husband, Kavin, and I have four children. Callum is 8, Oliver, 5, Lyla, 3, and Charlie, 1. We also have large extended families with lots of nieces and nephews. If you could be anywhere in the This makes for a fun, yet hectic, world for Christmas, where would it be? To me Christmas is family Christmas! about being with family, so there What was Christmas like for is no place other than home that you growing up? It was always I’d rather be. And growing up in a special time of the year. My Minnesota I associate Christmas mom loves Christmas, which is with snow so to be anywhere why I think I love Christmas so without snow wouldn’t feel like much and try to make it a special Christmas. for my children.

Leon and Joan Kuefler family Elrosa

Tell us about your family: I am married to my husband, Leon, of 35 years. We are blessed with four children, John, Emily, Kevin and James, along with added joy of two daughter in-laws, Kim and Lindsey and one son in-law, Andy, along with James’ girlfriend, Shayna. One of our wonderful blessings was becoming grandparents. We have four spirited grandchildren: Dakota, Brayer, Brexyn and Boston. We enjoy living and raising our children on our dairy and crop farm near Elrosa. Our family is shown in the photo as follows (from left): Andy, Emily, Boston, Leon, Joan, Dakota, Kevin, Lindsey,

Q & A’S continued on page 14

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Friday, December 15, 2017 - Country Acres • Page 15 Q&A’S continued from page 14 What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received? Given? The best gift I feel that I gave was a grey sweater to my dad. He looked very handsome in it. The best gift I received was that very same grey sweater after he passed away. If you could be anywhere in the world for Christmas, where would it be? Home with my children. We have so much fun together, even when they tease each other. It’s the best! I love when our family is all together.

What was Christmas like for you growing up? The best! We decorate our home and a tree. Lots of lights are all around.

Dave and Jayne Lochen family Kimball Tell us about your family. We have four boys and one girl, and two are married. We have two grandchildren and one due in February. They are pictured with us as follows: Front: Tom holding Abel (son of Steven and Jessica); Middle (from left): Jessica and Steven, holding their daughter Lilly, Jayne, daughter Julie and her husband, Joe; Back: Danny, Dave and Mike.

watch a movie. After everyone goes to bed, Santa arrives. Early (very early) in the morning, everyone gathers around the tree to open presents. We stay in our pajamas, hair messy, and just have fun. I always make homemade caramel rolls to eat while opening gifts. And then egg bakes for when we get done opening gifts. We do a name exchange within the family and keep it a secret from each other. The fun is trying to guess who has who. After all the gifts are open, we usually go to my brother’s for Christmas dinner.

What was Christmas like for you growing up? Magical! Santa Claus always came to our house after Midnight Mass. We would wake up early in the morning to find gifts under the What are your plans for Christmas this year? The same Christmas tree. as last year: Christmas Eve Mass, What Christmas traditions games, movie and just enjoying does your family keep? Our family time. family goes to Christmas Eve Mass together. Church is always What are your favorite full and most of the time, one of Christmas foods, movies and our children ends up giving up songs? Grasshoppers (ice cream their seat for others. It doesn’t treat), “Jack Frost” and “Hallelumatter, we’re still all there at the jah!” same time. Then we go home and have snacks, grasshoppers (ice cream treat), play games and

What Christmas traditions does your family keep? Going to Christmas Midnight Mass, eating homemade caramel rolls, and opening gifts with family and loved ones are some of our traditions.

Katelynn Malecha Villard Tell us about your family. Mom and Dad (Louise and Todd) were married in 1989. They started with 13 milk cows and have built the herd to close to 2,100 cows. Besides dairy, we crop farm

rolls are favorite foods. “Bells of Saint Mary” is a favorite movie. “Silent Night” is my favorite Christmas song

What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received? Given? I don’t have a favorite gift of any sort. Giving gifts is my favorite. The sense of just giving someone something they will love and appreciate from me makes my heart fill up.

If you could be anywhere in the world for Christmas, where would it be? Home with family. Every year as our family grows and siblings get married it always seems to be harder and harder to plan Christmas and holidays together. So when we are all together for Christmas and Thanksgiving it’s a very special time.

What are your plans for Christmas this year? Spend time with family. Everyone is going to be home this Christmas. Now that more are getting married it is not as easy for everyone to be there. What are your favorite Christmas foods, movies and songs? Green Christmas wreaths (the ones made out of marshmallows and cornflakes) and caramel

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Page 16 • Country Acres - Friday, December 15, 2017

Daycare on the dairy Vold encourages kids, community to learn about agriculture By ELIZABETH HOAG Staff Writer

GLENWOOD – On any given day, nearly 12 children can be seen running around the Vold’s residence, Kiddo Kountry, checking out the steers in the backyard, picking fruits and vegetables from the garden, or making snow angels in the front yard. Charity Vold provides childcare for a number of families in the Glenwood area with children ranging in age from infants to 5 years old. While three of the children are her own – Aidric, 7, Roran, 5, and Braigh, 4 – she opens her home to others to teach them about life on the farm. “The children have so much fun walking and running around on the farm, watching everything that is

going on,” Vold said. “As a working farm, we have the opportunity to teach and provide young minds with information that most people are unfamiliar with.” Her husband, Greg, is the fourth generation of his family to manage the century farm. The Volds milk 440 cows and run 600 acres alongside Greg’s parents, and Greg’s brother, Brad, and wife, Suzanne. “We have tractors driving in and out of our driveway all day, especially during the planting and harvesting seasons. As soon as the kids see a tractor or large piece of equipment, they run up to the window and are plastered to it,” Vold said. “We learn what is being harvested and where it goes.” Oftentimes, Vold is notified when a cow is about ready to give birth so the kids can watch. “There are many different responses, many of

which are ‘Wow, that’s so cool.’ But some of them are, ‘That is so gross.’ It’s quite entertaining, but it is such a great learning experience,” Vold said. There are many things that pique the interest of toddlers, but their favorites are checking out their own calves. One child named his calf Buzz Light-Year Lego Man. “I named my calf Princess Fairy Rainbow Horse,” said another. After a child names their calf, the calf is given an ear tag with the child’s name and the calf’s chosen name. “When their parents come to pick them up, these kids take them to see their calf,” Vold said. “It is really rewarding to watch these kids get excited about life on the farm.” In addition to the fun responsibilities of farm work, every child has their share of routine chores –

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Charity Vold cares for 12 children, three of her own, out of her home – a daycare called Kountry Kiddos. Front (from left): Braigh Vold, Ava Rost, Nolan Listerud, Maddie Finke, Miley McIver, Charity Vold and Max McIver. Back (from left): Henley Ogdahl, Roran Vold, Skylar Bryce and Kaylin Hess.

picking up toys, cleaning their plate and helping with feeding the animals. “We go out and feed the steers,” Vold said. “We bring a coffee can full of grain around and the kids love it.” When noon approaches, the children head inside for lunch and continue to learn about agriculture. “We all sit down at the

table together and I teach them about where their food comes from,” Vold said. “My older kids have a really good understanding that hamburger and milk comes from a cow and vegetables come from the garden. By teaching these kids the importance of where their food comes from, they are able to form a greater connection.”

Vold’s belief of focusing on the importance of education stems from her own education. She earned her degree in dairy science and became an Artificial Insemination technician – traveling 300 miles a day, breeding cows – before her career path changed.

DAIRY DAYCARE continued on page 17

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Page 18 • Country Acres - Friday, December 15, 2017

Schmitt sisters compete in snowmobile races By ELIZABETH HOAG Staff Writer

LONG PRAIRIE – Every little girl and boy’s dream is to go fast – on a bike, a four-wheeler or in a car. For sisters Jayden, 11, and Kelsey Schmitt, 6, of Long Prairie, riding fast on a snowmobile is just half the fun; driving the fast-moving machine is the real thrill when it comes to competing in snowmobile races. Jayden, a sixth grader, has been operating snowmobiles since she was 2.5 years old and started racing when she was 5 years old. “My parents brought me to races and that is really what got me interested in getting involved,” she said. It was only natural that Mike and Mindy Schmitt’s younger daughter would follow suit. “I grew up watching the pros and watching my sister,” said Kelsey, the ﬁrst grader who started racing at 4 years old. “That’s why I started racing.” The Schmitts have always been fascinated in watching professional snowmobile racers speed around the track to compete for the gold medal. Little

did they know it would spark an interest within their daughters. “Jayden told us that she wanted to learn and race just like the pros, and it really all started from there,” Mindy said. It was not long after that when the Schmitts bulldozed a portion of their backyard to build a track. “We cut down trees, brought in dirt and started building jumps – double jumps, turns and table top jumps,” Mike said. Last year, Jayden rode a SnowPro 500 snowmobile on their home track, while Kelsey rode an Arctic Cat 120. This year the girls have new sleds to practice and critique their techniques on. “I race in two different classes, so I have one sled for each class,” Jayden said. “They’re both an Arctic Cat 2017 ZR6000R with studded grip.” This year, Kelsey is racing on the newest model – a 2018 Arctic Cat ZR200. To keep up with the sport’s athletic demand and skill, the sisters stay in shape by biking up and down the driveway and using the indoor exercise bike. “We also four-wheel on our track for practice,” Kelsey

said. “In the summer, we are in four-wheeling competitions. Between the two, four-wheeling is my favorite because it is warmer, and we don’t have to wear as many layers.” When the Schmitt sisters get ready for a competition they suit up in several layers of gear and clothing for both safety and warmth. “We wear boots, knee braces, snow pants, a chest protector, a neck brace, goggles, a helmet and a jacket,” Jayden said. During the snowmobile-racing season there are 16 races –12 regional and eight national – but the Schmitts will not participate in all of them. The ﬁrst race of the season fell on Thanksgiving weekend in Duluth. After a long three days, Jayden took second place in junior girls 9-13, competing against 39 racers. Kelsey placed fourth in the 200 for 6- to 12-year-olds, competing against 17 others. “Racers have to make the top 15 to qualify for the ﬁnal heat,” Mike said. When it comes time for the competition, there is a lot of travel time. “We haul all of our own equipment,” Mindy said. “It can be a lot sometimes, but we have

DOMINATING THE TRACK continued on page 19

PHOTOS BY ELIZABETH HOAG

Mike and Mindy Schmitt support and encourage their daughters, Jayden (middle) and Kelsey (front) while they practice for snowmobile races.

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Friday, December 15, 2017 - Country Acres • Page 19 DOMINATING THE TRACK continued from page 18 Jayden travels as fast as 40-50 mph. “The best part about racing is passing all the boys,” Kelsey said. As fun as snowmobile racing is, there are challenges. “After a lot of snowmobiles have raced, the track gets really bumpy and it’s hard to stay on sometimes,” Kelsey said, who has fallen off three times. “Starting the race and going over the hill where you can’t see the bottom is scary.” Jayden agreed. “Clearing the big jumps and big doubles is intimidating,” Jayden said. “Having the bravery to jump in the air can be difficult sometimes.” Last year in March, Jayden’s sled tipped when she landed on someone else’s ski. She was hit by another racer and ran over by a sled. She was sent to the emergency room and treated for bruising and calcification on her leg. But the girls always seem to find the willpower to over come their fears, encouraged by their No. 1 fans, their parents and Jayden’s best friend, Maddie Koltes. “Mike is always on the side of the track signaling to the girls and warning them about how much room they have between upcoming sleds,” Mindy said. “I’m usually sitting in the stands yelling, cheering and praying for their safety.” The people Jayden and Kelsey race against may be their competitors, but they are also their friends. “Everyone looks out for each other. There is a camara-

a trailer we can sleep in to save money and are located onsite.” After checking in and getting registered, the family of four sets up and prepares for Saturday morning. “Racers meet every morning at 7:15 for a driver’s meeting, and shortly after that they get to warm up their sleds, run the track and line up for their heat,” Mike said. “When it is close to our turn, we make our way to the stage to wait, then move to the hotbox where we warm up,” Jayden said. The race begins with a green light. However, the girls have to be careful not to be disqualified for beginning early or disobeying the rules, which is signaled by a black flag. If the black flag is pointed at the racer, they have to drop back two places; if the flag is waved, the racer is disqualified. “You instantly get disqualified is your helmet is not strapped,” Kelsey said. While racing, the girls think about many things but what is racing through Kelsey’s mind is speed. “I try and focus on how fast I’m going, gaining speed to pass the other racers,” she said. “I’m focused on finding the smoothest path to gain speed while keeping my balance so I don’t fall off,” Jayden said. “Studying the lines and paths that need to be taken is key to winning.” Both of the girls gain speed as they travel around the track, Kelsey maxing out at 20-25 miles per hour (mph), while

derie when it comes to the track and the team,” Mike said. But when it comes time to race, that friendship is put aside. “My dad taught me that friendships end at the start line and once you cross the finish line, the friendships continue again,” Jayden said. “When I first started racing, I would let them pass me to be nice, but that’s not how you win first place.” Currently, Jayden has 62 trophies and Kelsey has 24. “The goal of racing is to give it your all and do your best to qualify for the final,” Jayden said. There is a regional banquet in March every year to announce the winners from a successful season and year-end plaques are awarded. Later in the month, the Grande Finale is held in Lake Geneva, Wis., where only those who qualify and are invited may attend. “The most satisfying thing to watch is when they give it their all,” Mike said. Jayden and Kelsey strive to earn their awards, to stand up on the podium and make their parents proud. “The most important thing about racing is doing our best,” Jayden said. Kelsey agreed. “We look forward to the whole season, from Thanksgiving weekend to the third weekend in March,” she said. Whether it is going to Zorbas celebrating another successful race or watching the professionals at finals, the family of four is busy doing what they love – racing. And, doing so together.

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Page 20 • Country Acres - Friday, December 15, 2017

Working with the people-centered dog By HERMAN LENSING breeds. It was in the 1950s when the registry started.” Staff Writer There is speculation the breed was named AusBLOMKEST – The tralian because many of way Jolene Zuidema sees the shepherds in its area of it, the Australian Shepherd origin were from Australia, was made to be part of the but no one knows for sure. What they do know is that family. “They love to be with the breed quickly became a you. They want to make you favorite of herders. “Farms had this breed happy,” she said Zuidema has had an years ago, but now it has Aussie, as the breed is nick- become super popular in named, since 2001. She was metro areas,” said Zuidema. familiar with various dog “I would say 95 percent of breeds because of her work my dogs go to metro areas.” Zuidema is a breeder of as a vet tech. “When we (she and her the animal. She raises three husband Jan) married, we litters of 6-10 puppies annuhad two dogs on the farm,” ally and sells them across Zuidema said. We let them the country. “I sell to the East Coast live out their life. I had been researching different and West Coast, from Texas breeds and this is the breed to Alaska,” she said. She has even sold I had honed in on. One of my office co-workers had to buyers in Nova Scotia an Australian Shepherd and and Ontario, Canada. She that kind of sealed the deal also purchases dogs from throughout the nation. Two for me.” The medium-size herd- of her most recent, Daisy ing breed (and now the min- and Autumn, are from Ariiature version of the breed) zona, and her male is from has a lot to be said for. It is Mississippi. The dogs have quick, intelligent, has great had no problems adapting to herding instincts and is easy Minnesota. They had not gotten the to care for. There is also a bit of mystery about their dogs for the purpose of becoming herd dogs. name. “We don’t have that “It is not from Australia,” said Zuidema. “It ap- much need for that (herdparently started in Califor- ing),” said Zuidema. “But nia and is a mix of different we have some cattle and

goats. If they get out, the dogs bark and then will herd them into a holding area.” Shortly before she got her first Aussie, Zuidema chose to work full-time on the farm. The dogs quickly adapted to being in the family. “When we started (raising Aussies) we had four children and these were a great family dog,” she said. “They (the children) loved being with the dogs and socializing with them and helping with the chores for raising the puppies.” Their children, Dalen, 22, Nathan, 21, and Jessaca, 19 are in college; and Jakob, 17, attends MACCRAY High School. They have helped with almost every litter born on the farm. The dogs were, along with rabbits and goats, part of successful 4-H programs for the children. “Our kids showed them in 4-H,” said Zuidema. “They won showmanship, jumping and agility. The dogs are naturals at obedience. Our kids always placed well.” The dogs responded well to the children and to their pups, but Zuidema has noticed they are interested in any newborn animals. “They love newborns,” she said. “Newborn calves,

PHOTOS BY HERMAN LENSING

Jolene Zuidema with her dog, Daisy, the mother of the current litter of puppies being cared for at Meljestic Farm.

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for a litter, she usually has only six dogs at the farm; three females, a male, a retired female and a younger female, which will be used for breeding in the future. “I’m not running a big kennel,” she said. “I won’t take early deposits or registrations.”

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Friday, December 15, 2017 - Country Acres • Page 21

Holiday hazards

he Christmas holiday is a busy time full of shopping, cooking, decorating and enjoying friends and family. Unfortunately, it can also be a time when you may find yourself sitting in a veterinarian’s office dealing with collateral damage from the festivities. These problems usually have something to do with your cat or dog consuming or chewing on something they shouldn’t – plants, certain foods or inedible items. The result can be anything from a simple upset stomach to a serious toxicity or a need for life saving surgery. The most common holiday plants we worry about are poinsettias, mistletoe, holly, lilies and amaryllis. The danger from poinsettias is quite limited. The sap from the stem and leaves can irritate the mouth and possibly cause gastrointestinal upset, but this is usually mild. Mistletoe can be quite toxic if large quantities are ingested. Symptoms can range from vomiting and diarrhea to cardiovascular collapse and death. There are different varieties of mistletoe with varying toxicity levels, fbut it is safest to use all mistletoe with caution in homes with pets.

By WENDY WOMACK Holly berries are toxic and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and mental depression. Lilies are particularly dangerous to cats and can cause kidney failure. Amaryllis, especially the bulb, can cause gastrointestinal problems and tremors. Some less common holiday plants which can be harmful to pets are American and European bittersweet, chrysanthemums, Christmas rose and Jerusalem cherry. Remember, it is hard to find a place high enough or inaccessible enough that a curious cat cannot reach to investigate that strange new thing in the room. There are two general dangers that can arise from pets eating table or people food. The first is overly fatty foods like pork products, gravy, butter, etc. Dogs in particular are prone to develop-

ing pancreatitis from consuming these types of food. Pancreatitis, and inflammation of the pancreas, usually causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. Often, the dog cannot even keep water down and the diarrhea can become bloody. This condition usually requires hospitalization on IV fluids to maintain hydration and to allow the pancreas to rest while nothing is given orally for a few days. Rarely, pancreatitis can be fatal. It is tempting while we are enjoying our holiday feasts to share some with the family dog, but try to resist this temptation and ask holiday guests not to share either. Beyond fatty foods, there are several other human foods which are actually toxic to pets. I am just going to mention a few we often have around more at the holidays – yeast dough, chocolate and sugar-free treats containing xylitol. The smell of fresh bread baking is intoxicating, but if your dog ingests some of the raw yeast containing dough while it is rising, it can truly be a toxin. The dough continues to rise rapidly in the warm environment of the stomach and can cause vomiting and bloat. The fermenting yeast produces ethanol which can lead to neurologic

severe liver damage. Be careful what foods you offer your pet during the holidays and what treats are left within easy reach of a curious pet. Finally, there are all the scattered toys and holiday decorations just begging to be chewed on or eaten. Plugged in electric cords, if chewed on, can cause a nasty burn on the tongue and lips or death from electrocution. Tinsel and ribbons are irresistible to young cats and kittens who may swallow them, causing intestinal damage and the need for lifesaving surgery. Batteries have corrosive material in them, which is dangerous if they are chewed on or swallowed. I can tell you from experience that there appears to be no limit to what a dog or cat can and will swallow. Especially in homes with children and all those brand-new toys often left on the floor, it is important to keep them picked up to avoid tears over ruined gifts and veterinary bills for foreign body surgeries. So, enjoy the holidays with your family members and four-footed friends, but remember to protect them from avoidable dangers. May you all have a blessed and safe Christmas.

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Page 22 • Country Acres - Friday, December 15, 2017

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Friday, December 15, 2017 - Country Acres • Page 23 ZUIDEMA continued from page 20 name of all the animals on their farm. “The name originated with my husband’s parents, Mel and Jessie,” she said. “We are on the original farm.” Buyers regularly send her photos and updates on the dogs they have purchased from her. There are four basic colors: red, black, merle red and merle blue. Merles are bluish or reddish grays mixed with splotches of black. Reds and black can be either a tri or bi-colored version of those colors. “That (the tri- or bi-coloring) depends on how much white they have and what the accents are like,” said Zuidema. “They also have different-colored eyes. They can be brown, amber,

don’t wander off. In some ways, they are bit of a couch potato.” People should respect those elements of the breed and remember they require attention. “They like to be with you,” she said. “The best thing is if you can take them to work. Their destructive behavior doesn’t come out unless they are bored to death.” The dogs also have favorite areas. Zuidema rotates her dogs between being housedogs and yard dogs. The yard dogs have the run of the yard, help with chores and serve as watch and guard dogs. “They are smart enough to know that if they are the house dog and they go into the barn they will

blue or a marble.” The genetics of the dogs are tracked to help produce a greater variation of color in both the hair and eyes, but Zuidema noted there is no guarantee as to the combination. The eye color is one of the last things revealed about the dog. “They are born with their eyes closed so it is about 10 days before their eyes open,” she said. “They are born with deep blue eyes but at 4 weeks, their eye color shows. Some have two different-colored eyes.” No matter the color, Zuidema said buyers will be getting a dog that likes to be active, is intelligent and very loyal to the people they are with. “They like being at home,” she said. “They

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Page 24 • Country Acres - Friday, December 15, 2017

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STOCK #30363

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IGNOT SILVER, HTD LTHR SEATS, 82K, V6, AND MUCH MORE!

NEW 2017 F250 CREW XLT 4X4

2.5, CLOTH, PWR SEATS, CLEAN

CA-DEC15-1B-LO

2012 FORD FUSION SEL

VALUE PRICE $39,758*

MSRP $ 59,660

2016 FORD FUSION SE

$12,200/$215 MO.*** STOCK #30356A

DISC/REBATE $12,407

MSRP $ 46,330

VALUE PRICE $39,999* & $555/MO**

FRESH TRADE, V6, ALLOYS, PWR SEATS, 37K

www.yarmonford.com

20’S, 2ND ROW BUCKETS, TWIN PANEL MOON, XLT TECH BUNDLE, DUAL PWR FRONT SEATS, HTD STEERING & MORE

2013 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS

VALUE PRICE $51,599*

XLT CHROME PKG, 5.0, V8, PRO TRLR BACKUP, TRLR TOW PKG, 20’S, RR CAMERA & MORE!

DISC/REBATE $3,628

NEW 2017 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4

$18,000/$309 MO.*** STOCK #7Z501A

NEW 2017 FORD F150 CREW 4X4 XLT

MSRP $30,225

STOCK #79000

SLE-2, 32K, NO RUST, MUST SEE TO BELIEVE!

DISC/REBATE $15,007 STOCK #7Z8001

www.yarmonford.com

2013 GMC TERRAIN AWD

NEW 2017 EXPEDITION LIMITED EL

SE, 4X4, COLD WEATHER PKG, TRLR TOW PKG, BLK HTR

VALUE PRICE $26,597* & $369/MO**

www.yarmonford.com

STOCK #80802A

www.yarmonford.com

CA Dec15_1B_LO

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