ountry C cres A
A Supplement to the Star Shopper
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 • Edition 12
Jer-Lindy Farms steps into spotlight at state fair Jennissens’ showcase herd focuses on educating the public about dairy cows By MICHAEL STRASBURG Staff Writer
ST PAUL – Outlandish, indulgent fair food – everybody loves it. It’s a large part of what draws thousands to the Minnesota State Fair every year. But not all those who indulge know where their food comes from, or the effort put into bringing it from the farm to the table. This year, Jer-Lindy Farms owned by Jerry and Linda Jennissen of Brooten was selected to be in the spotlight when it comes to educating fairgoers on where their dairy comes from. “It’s agriculture’s chance to show the public what we’re doing and really celebrate what we do,” Jerry Jennissen said.
As part of that annual celebration, the dairy industry sponsors the Moo Booth each year. Year after year, the Moo Booth, located at the northwest corner of the dairy livestock building, proves to be one of the most visited places at the fair. The exhibit is focused on educating fairgoers about the dairy cow. In order to achieve this, the Moo Booth features a showcase herd each year. “That was always on my bucket list, to be the showcase herd,” Jennissen said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do before I retired.” Jer-Lindy Farms has participated in the state fair in previous years, having shown cattle and brought cattle over for 4-H program – but never have they taken up a challenge like being the show-
PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM
Alise Sjostrom and Jerry Jennissen smile for the camera during the State Fair on Saturday. Jer-Lindy Farms was the feature and showcase herd for 2017.
case herd, which requires a commitment to show 16 cattle for 12 straight days. That said, Jennissen was always interested in the challenge – and even more so in recent years. A year ago, he mentioned to his staff that he would like to be the showcase someday, perhaps as soon as 2020. “I figured I’d like 2-3 years to prepare for something like that,” he said
While Jennissen would ultimately get the opportunity to be the showcase herd, he wouldn’t get the luxury of 2-3 years of preparation. This June the fair contacted him, asking if Jer-Lindy Farms could be the showcase herd for this year’s fair, after the contracted farm JER-LINDY FARMS continued on page 5
THE MUSHROOM MAN
Pattinson collects plants as a weekend hobby By LAURA HINTZEN Staff Writer
BELGRADE – It’s a quarter after 7 on a Saturday morning and Robert Pattinson has collected 40 pounds of mushrooms in three hours. He drives away, glancing over his shoulder to examine his overflowing boxes of mushrooms – which will soon make their jourPHOTOS BY LAURA HINTZEN ney from ground to plate. Robert Pattinson is Pattinson grew up with parents a mushroom hunter. who loved to hunt for mushrooms. Growing up with parents As he got older, he continued his who loved to hunt mushrooms, Pattinson parents’ legacy and devoted his time learned the proper to the hobby. identification “I like to hunt for them, find of mushrooms at them and eat them,” Pattinson said. “I a young age. can parallel it with an Easter egg hunt –
it’s exciting to harvest them and get a delicious meal out of the deal.” But before one goes on a hunt there are important precautions that should be followed. “Depending on the environment you are in, make sure to have adequate footwear, clothing that covers arms and legs and bug spray if necessary,” Pattinson said. “I try to go out in the morning when the bugs aren’t so bad.” When he’s not at work, Pattinson spends his weekends in the woods searching for mushrooms and the Chanterelle mushroom particularly – most often found in the late spring and summer months. Chanterelle mushrooms are orange and yellow in color, meaty and funnel-shaped. They give off a fruity aroma of apricots with hints of pepper. “Chanterelles have a symbiotic relationship with oaks, so you can find them growing on the dirt by oak trees,” Pattinson said. A few times throughout the year, he’ll go hunting with a friend of his, Luke Blonigan from Melrose, or go on hunts with a group he belongs to on Facebook that shows interest in THE MUSHROOM MAN continued on page 8