Country Acres 2018 - April 6 edition by Star Publications

ountry C cres A

A Supplement to the Star Shopper

From farm to By KATELYN ASFELD Staff Writer

GLENWOOD – Cattle, pigs and turkeys are a common sight to see all across Minnesota. One cannot drive across the countryside without spotting a dairy farm, a turkey barn or a pasture of beef cattle. These animals have become part of the Minnesota landscape, but, there is one animal, once considered exotic in the United States, that is slowly making its way into the country’s livestock industry – the alpaca. Hopeful Hills Ranch in rural Glenwood is one operation that raises alpacas. Jane Fauskee loves animals and always wanted to have a job where she could work with them. She attended Ridgewater College in Willmar to become a veterinary technician and once she completed college, she worked several years at Glacial Ridge Veterinary Clinic in Glenwood until she decided she wanted something different. “I wanted to have my own animals,” she said. Her husband, Randy, owns Fauskee Oil in Brooten. His job requires him to work long hours away from home. Randy was concerned for Jane’s safety around large animals. He was worried she might get injured when he was at work. In 2007, after hearing about alpacas, Jane began to do some research

fiber

Friday, April 6, 2018 • Edition 4

Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment

Fauskee aims for high-quality fleece in alpacas

PHOTO BY KATELYN ASFELD

Jane Fauskee, owner of Hopeful Hills Ranch, stands in front of her herd of alpacas March 22 at her farm in Glenwood. Fauskee has raised alpacas since 2008.

and toured alpaca facilities. Alpacas were a relatively new livestock to North America. The first importation of alpacas into United States and Canada started in 1984, but by the late 1990s, the importation closed. “They’re very easy to take care of,” Fauskee said. “They don’t need a lot of

extra feed. They’re adapted to living in the Andes Mountains on some fair to poor quality grass. As long as you’re giving them good grass hay and a good loose mineral, they do just fine.” The couple agreed alpacas would be a safe animal to raise and handle, so, Fauskee bought her first three alpacas in

2008. “They’re so safe, and they’re so gentle,” said Fauskee. “I have one animal that kicks but even if he does kick, there’s a soft pad at the bottom of the

ALPACAS continued on page 5

Love is sweet Hulinsky, Schubert make maple syrup wedding favors By DIANE LEUKAM Staff Writer BURTRUM – The fire crackled while smoke filled the air from a newly-built outdoor oven. As Nathan Hulinsky poured a pail of maple sap into shiny metal trays above the fire, his fiancée, Amanda Schubert, watched, knowing months from now their wedding guests would receive the fruits of their labor as gifts. “For wedding favors we’re going to do little glass jars of syrup for all the guests at the wedding,” Amanda said. “We’ll have a little tag on them that says “Love is sweet as syrup.” We thought it would be a good way to put a more personal touch on our wedding.” PHOTOS BY DIANE LEUKAM

Amanda Schubert and Nathan Hulinsky stand near a tree they have tapped for maple syrup March 24 near Burtrum. Small jars filled with maple syrup will be used as wedding favors for the couple’s wedding in October.

The March air was crisp, to say the least, and the day would be spent mostly outdoors by the fire, the house nearby if anyone needed to warm up. Nathan and Amanda were at his parents, David and Shirley Hulinsky’s, 60-cow dairy farm near Burtrum. The four, along with Nathan’s brother, Greg, shared good-natured bantering while they carried out what is becoming a family tradition of making maple syrup. “It’s a whole family deal,” Nathan said. “I thought we should try it.” They bought 10 taps in 2013 and started cooking the sap outside on the old wood stove from the farmhouse. The “kettles” they used were stainless steel Surge buckets, formerly used for milking cows. Each year they make more syrup, so this year, Nathan built a new, bigger stove outside. “There is a lot of surface area so the steam boils off a lot faster,” Amanda said. Nathan explained the process of making maple syrup begins with collecting the sap. “You want the temps to be above freezing during the day and below freezing at night. You want the fluctuation,” he said. When that fluctuation begins in the spring, it is time to put the taps out. They tap the trees by

MAPLE SYRUP continued on page 7

Page 2 • Country Acres - Friday, April 6, 2018

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

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

Deadlines: Country Acres will be published the first Fridays of April, May, June, September, October and November, and the third Friday of every month. Deadline for news and advertising is the Thursday before publication.

This month in the

COUNTRY 9 No two pieces alike St. Rosa 12 A passion for dairy Atwater 14 Dairy Daughters in Music City Nashville, Tenn. 16 Life on the Fuechtmann farm Greenwald 18 Country Cooking

“Committed to being the eyes and ears of our communities.”

Don’t get stuck in the mud. Call Matt today for your nancing!

PHOTO BY KATELYN ASFELD Brothers Buddy (back) and Blazer chase each other on a winter day at Bridgeside Dairy near Kimball.

Let me help you!

STATE BANK member

FDIC

www.firststatebanksc.com 423 Main Street South • Sauk Centre, MN • 320-352-5771

Matt Dirkes,

CA-APP6-1B-LO

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 Katelyn Asfeld, Writer kate@saukherald.com Carol Moorman, Writer carol@melrosebeacon.com

Ag Lending Specialist

Friday, April 6, 2018 - Country Acres • Page 3

Identity politics in the country

ost features you will read in this paper begin with the name of a town. This seems like a given, no questions asked. But, one thing we have learned is that oftentimes we need to ask the question, “What town do you affiliate with?” The question, “Where are you from,” doesn’t always work. I grew up south of Sauk Centre, with a Sauk Centre address, a Sauk Centre phone number and attended school in Sauk Centre. Pretty straightforward. My children, however, grew up in Villard. Oh wait. They didn’t, really; that was their address. Villard was west of where they lived, and they rarely saw the light of day in Villard. There’s nothing wrong with Villard, mind you, but I doubt the image of the main street in the town is implanted in their minds because there was no reason for them to go there. They just knew where they “were from” and their address were two different things. They had a Sauk Centre phone number and attended school there, and told people they were from Sauk Centre. Many people would have

ty and we don’t identified them want anyone to as living in mess with it. Westport, two In this issue, miles beyond. we have an enterIt was the taining lineup of closest town stories for you. (village might In Glenwood, be a better word) to them. by Diane Leukam Jane Fauskee is surrounded with Their address the soft, fuzzy, would indicate comical faces of alpacas they were from Pope County, though they lived at Hopeful Hills Alpaca in Stearns, another source Ranch. Learn about these of confusion on occasion. unique animals and how their fleece is used in One evening my husband, Don, and I were making textiles. Nathan Hulinsky and traveling from PaynesAmanda Schubert find ville to Sauk Centre on love as sweet as syrup. Highway 4. The lights of Maple syrup. I enjoyed Greenwald were in our visiting with them on rear-view mirror as we March 24 at the family pulled into Meire Grove. farm near Burtrum. Don It occurred to me that came along on the interthese two tiny towns had view, which added an eltheir own identity, as ement of comic relief, so surely as you and I are to speak. At least, there different people. You ask sure seemed to be a lot someone in the vicinity of laughter off to the side where they are from and it will be one or the other, where he was visiting with David and Shirley very definitively. And, and their son, Greg. they won’t say Melrose From St. Rosa, Don either, even though that’s where their name may be Voit shares his woodworking skills, many of found in the phone book. his pieces turned out with Don grew up west a lathe he purchased in of Greenwald and went the 1960s. to school first in Elrosa, The Dairy Daughters then Sauk Centre. It is sometimes amus- pursue their dream of making country music in ing how tribal we are. Nashville. You guessed We are all the same but it, the two women grew we want our own identi-

up on dairy farms, one in Albany and the other in Florida. Morgan Paulson from Atwater is showing her Milking Shorthorns for her 13th and last year. She continues to pursue her love for dairy as she works towards a degree in dairy science. Melrose is where the Fuechtmanns grew up – all 13 of them. They

share memories of life on the farm while they meet in Greenwald March 18, and the youngest of the bunch turns 60. Wow! Every time we write a story for Country Acres we try to get the proper location of identity, and never try to assume. That will always get a person in trouble. With many tiny rural post offices closed, even Siri strug-

gles with all her satellites and navigational resources when trying to figure out this whole identity thing when we get off the beaten path. Soon, we may be back to giving directions like, take the second gravel road to the left and turn right at the cream can. Sounds like an adventure to me.

BELGRADE CO-OP Melrose

and

320-256-4615 We Provide: • Seed Recommendations • Crop Nutrients • Crop Protection

Belgrade

320-254-8231 • Agronomy • Precision ACRE • Propane • Fuel

www.belgradecoop.com

If A Job’s Worth Doing...

It’s Worth Doing Right!

POST FRAME BUILDINGS

NEED MORE STORAGE? • On Time • No Surprises • No Hidden Costs • Plans for Future Expansion • Quality Products • Experienced Crews www.agri-systems.com

W E C U ST O M B U I LD T O F I T Y O U R N EE D S ! C A L L U S T O D AY TO G E T O N O U R SP RI N G O R SU M M E R S CH E D U LE .

(800) 246-6094

ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS FEATURE THE FOLLOWING: ~ 35# Trusses; 50# Ground Snow Load ~ Concrete Footings ~ All Wind, Lateral, Catwalk, Corner, and Knee Bracing Included ~ Colored, Screw Fasteners ~ Nail-Laminated Columns ~ Minimum 4’6” Column Embedment

Grizzly Buildings, Inc. GRAIN STORAGE AND HANDLING SYSTEMS SINCE 1967

COMMERCIAL AND FARM Litchfield, MN | (320) 693-6094

29307 Hwy 212 Danube, MN 56230 Local: 320-826-2512 Toll Free: 866-892-3489

www.grizzlybuildings.com License #BC638144

18-CA-Apr6-1B-LO

CA Apr6_MS

Page 4 • Country Acres - Friday, April 6, 2018

Let’s talk today. Let’s talk today. “We farm about 2200 acres and have insured with Doug for 10+ years. With Doug, we are getting coverage we need at a competitive premium. He keeps up with our changes and maintains our equipment inventory. And, when we have a question and call, Doug answers and helps us out right away.”

Douglas Marciniak Agency 425 N Nokomis St Alexandria, MN 56308 (320)Marciniak, 763-3389Agent Douglas 425 Ndmarcin1@amfam.com Nokomis St

Adam and David Johnson – Garfield, MN

Alexandria, MN 56308 (320) 763-3389 dmarcin1@amfam.com

CA Dec15_1B_BT CAApril6-1B-bt

CAApr6-1B-MT

Your farm is more than just your business. It’s your home. Even a part of the family. With nearly 90 years of experience working with farmers, American Family Insurance understands that protecting your livelihood goes beyond insuring the land itself.

Friday, April 6, 2018 - Country Acres • Page 5 ALPACAS continued from front only her fleece throughout the United States as it is easier to transport than the animals. “When you’re showing animals, there’s always the risk of them contracting disease and parasites and transporting can be stressful for them.” Alpacas are judged at shows based on their fleece quality and conformation. Judges look for many traits on the fleece – crimp, staple length, micron (fineness), consistency of color and micron; density and shine. Crimping in fleece is a sign of density and softness and staple length is the length in which the fleece has grown since shearing. “Their fleece can be so fine,” Fauskee said. “When you rub the fleece between your fingers, it should feel like there’s nothing there.” Fauskee’s alpacas are bred once a year; the gestation for an alpaca is 11-12 months and alpacas rarely have twins. A baby alpaca, or cria, (pronounced cree-a) weighs an average of 15 pounds at birth. Fauskee will have, at most, 15 newborn crias each year. Newborns are weaned PHOTOS BY KATELYN ASFELD from their mothers after Jane Fauskee, of Hopeful Hills Ranch, shows the variety of products five to six months, and bethat can be made from alpaca fleece March 22 at ther ranch near tween two to three weeks after delivering a cria, the Glenwood. nous to the Andes Mountains in South America. They are members of the camelid family and are raised primarily for their fleece which is used to make clothing. Fauskee has shown her animals in full fleece halter shows. More recently, she has been showing

tains, they prefer weather section, called the seconds, is the fleece from the that is cool and dry. To neck, chest and legs of the combat Minnesota’s animal. The seconds tend occasional high heat and to be coarser and is often humidity in the summer used as rug yarn or as months, Fauskee uses fans and sprinklers in her batting for quilts. Once the fleece fleece is barn to keep the alpacas cool ool and to keep away the fl ies. Shearing at the end flies. ALPACAS of April or early continued on page 6 May before the he summer months also aids in keeping ng the animals cool. ool. Nail trimming is done at the he same time of shearing to promote good foot oot health. Fauskee hires a professional ional shearer. The animals are sheared heared in two sections ections – the fi rst is called first the he blanket; it iss located oon n the he back of the he animal. This section ection of fl eece is thee fleece softest oftest and best quality and is used to o make a variety of items tems including luding hats, gloves, socks One of Jane Fauskee’s alpacas curiously and scarves. watches as her picture is taken March 22 at Hopeful Hills Ranch near Glenwood. The second

COUPON Take

LET US HELP YOU MAKE THE NEW CONSTRUCTION WHAT YOU PICTURE.

• DECKS • BARNS ONSTR RUCTION • NEW HOME CCONSTRUCTION • REMODELING • NEW ADDITIONS • INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS

females are bred again. Fauskee said it is the best time for breeding because they are an induced ovulatory animal. Though it is not necessary for all alpacas, Fauskee feeds her herd feed formulated specifically for alpacas once a day to ensure the pregnant mothers are getting the energy and nutrition they need. Additionally, the alpacas have constant access to hay and/or pasture, water and free-choice loose mineral. A common health concern for alpacas is the meningeal worm, roundworm, a bloodborne parasite commonly carried by white-tailed deer. Though it does not greatly affect white-tailed deer, the meningeal worm can be detrimental to alpacas. The parasite is spread when larvae of the meningeal worm is picked up by a slug or snail that traveled over infected deer feces. An alpaca may inadvertently eat the infected slug or snail; the larvae will then travel into the spinal cord of the alpaca and paralysis or lameness will result. To prevent the meningeal worm, Fauskee de-worms her herd every six weeks during the grazing season. Because alpacas are native to the Andes Moun-

15%* OFF

• POLE SHEDS • GARAGES • PORTABLE SHEDS • FREE-STALL BARNS

Sale Good Now through April 22nd! *Must have coupon for discount

HELPING TO BUILD YOUR DREAMS

COLD SPRING CO SPRING C CO-OP O-O OP &

CA Apr6-1B-LO

18508 County Rd 130, Paynesville, MN 56362 • 320-243-7815 Visit our website for more buildings • www.borklumber.com

Home and Lawn Decor, Bird Houses & Bird Feeders

COUNTRY STORE

300 Main St., Cold Spring, MN 56320 | (320) 685-8651 Monday-Friday 8 am-6:30 pm • Saturday 8 am-3 pm • Sunday 9 am-1 pm

CA-Apr6-1B-lo

foot, so it doesn’t hurt. They don’t bite. They’re just very nice.” Since 2008, Fauskee has expanded and refined her herd. She owns 41 alpacas for breeding and fleece that she raises on 60 acres of pasture and hay ground. The alpaca is indige-

Page 6 • Country Acres - Friday, April 6, 2018 ALPACAS continued from page 5 sheared, Fauskee skirts the fleece, which is the process of shaking out any hay or dust from it. Next, she will wash it with mild soap and warm water. “You do not agitate it though,” Fauskee said. “I always thought shrinking would happen to the fleece if you used hot water, but you actually have to have a combination of friction and heat in order for shrinkage

crimping, giving them a fuzzy look. Unlike sheep, alpacas do not have lanolin or oily fleece, however, their fleece is somewhat water resistant. “If you run water over the fleece, it will run off of it, but if you were to submerge the fleece, then it would get soaked,” Fauskee said. The cost of an alpaca is dependent on their fleece quality and the market value in the area. A pregnant female can range anywhere between $1,000 to $3,000. “If you were the type of person that was good at spinning and making beautiful things, you could make money if you are willing to work for it,” Fauskee said. “But, it is something you have to work for.” The one thing that people ask Fauskee the most about alpacas is if they spit. “They do spit, but mainly, they are spitting at each other over food and it’s usually the pregnant females fighting over food,” she said. “They give you signals though. You learn to read them and you know it’s coming when they’re going to spit.” Though they are related, alpacas and llamas are different. Llamas are larger with course outer hair, a longer face and curved banana-like ears. They can weigh up to 400 pounds and stand 42 to 46 inches in height. They are also more prone to spitting and can be more aggressive and/or territorial. Llamas are commonly used as pack animals and as a herd guard for small livestock in South America. Alpacas have short, straight, pointy ears; a blunt, fluffy face and a soft coat. They weigh 100 to 175 pounds and stand 34 to 36 inches tall at their withers, (where the neck and spine meet). Alpacas are used for fiber and in some areas of South America, they are also used for meat. They tend to be more skittish than llamas and their average age is 20 years. These fuzzy creatures can provide crafters and artisans a soft, supple, high-quality fleece for crafts and clothing, and they also can be a great pet or 4-H project for children. “They are curious animals,” Fauskee said. “They all have their own personalities. I think people don’t realize how much you can get from them. I love to just go out into the field with them. They come up around PHOTO BY KATELYN ASFELD Jane Fauskee uses a drum carder to pull the fleece apart and comb it into roving, which in turn is spun into yarn at her ranch, Hopeful Hills, me and put their little gentle noses on my face. It’s just calming. I love watching them when they’re out March 22 near Glenwood. Inset: A pair of socks is made from the fleece of Jane Fauskee’s alpacas near Glenwood. Alpaca fleece has no lanolin and is naturally playing in the field.” hypoallergenic, making it a popular choice for clothing. to happen.” Once the fleece is washed and dried, it is made into roving by carding, which is the process of pulling the fleece apart and combing it with hand combs or a drum carder. From there, the roving can be spun into yarn or made into felted fleece. Fauskee sends most of the roving to be spun into yarn. Some of the yarn is sent to Northland Woolens in Nelson to be made into socks or hats; some is sold at different markets and craft fairs and some of the product is sold online. Fauskee does some crafting with the roving as well. The fleece sheered from an alpaca can weigh between five to 10 pounds; there are two types of alpacas – Suri and Huacaya (pronounced wah-KI-ya). Though very similar in body, there is a physical difference in their fleece. Suris grow longer fleece with silky, pencil-like locks. Huacaya fleece is fluffy, with some

BUILT TOUGH

PRICED RIGHT! BUY A NEW BOBCAT T770 COMPACT TRACK LOADER FOR $63,000*

0% APR FOR UP TO 48 MONTHS*

OR REDUCE YOUR UP-FRONT COSTS WITH A LEASE AS LOW AS $999* PER MONTH FOR 36 MONTHS. Plus receive a free 3-year / 3,000-hour driveline warranty.

On Bobcat Skid Steer Loaders OR In lieu of ﬁnancing receive

UP TO $2,600* REBATES

CA Apr6_1B_LO

Visit Bobcat.com/Offers or stop by today for details. *Offer ends 6/30/2018. Available at participating and eligible dealers only. Offer may vary by product type, series, model and select units in dealer inventory. Offers available on new equipment in US and Canada only. Some restrictions apply. Length of contract may vary. See dealer for details. Financing provided on approval of credit by authorized Bobcat finance providers to well-qualified buyers. Administrative fees may apply. Offer not available to government accounts, national accounts and municipal/utility bid customers. Non-commercial customers may not be eligible for low rate financing. Bobcat Company reserves the right to extend or discontinue any of these programs at any time without prior notice. Bobcat®, the Bobcat logo and the colors of the Bobcat machine are registered trademarks of Bobcat Company in the United States and various other countries.

AUTHORIZED BOBCAT DEALER

Farm-Rite Equipment, Inc. Dassel • 888-679-4857 St. Cloud • 844-262-2281 Willmar • 877-484-3211

Friday, April 6, 2018 - Country Acres • Page 7 MAPLE SYRUP continued from front four-wheeler. They collect about 60 gallons during the week. On cooking day, the sap is strained and poured into the trays on the stove. As the sap cooks down, it flows to the outside and is removed through valves on the side of the stove. Thirty to 40 gallons of sap cooks down to one gallon of syrup. “We take it out a little before it’s done and take it in the house to finish so it doesn’t burn,” Amanda said. “We’ll just keep adding sap and it’ll be done about four or five o’clock,” Nathan said. “It’s kind of an all-day deal. We’ll need about three gallons of syrup for our wedding.” “It’s something to do in the springtime. It keeps us busy,” Amanda said. “It’s kind of nice just standing by the fire.” Nathan and Amanda have been dating for about two years and were engaged in September while visiting Itasca State Park, enjoying the trees and hiking up to Aiton Heights Fire Tower. Nathan asked Amanda what her favorite spot in the park was and she said it was in Preacher’s Grove, where there is a stand of old-growth PHOTO SUBMITTED white pine trees, including Nathan Hulinsky and Amanda Schubert funnel maple syrup into jars the largest in the park. It March 24 in Burtrum. The couple is making maple syrup favors for was there he asked her to marry him. guests at their wedding scheduled for October.

drilling a five-sixteenthsinch hole an inch-and-ahalf into the tree. The tap is tapped in and has a hose running into a container sitting on the ground by the tree. They have 60 taps on trees spread out on their land, as well as at Greg’s home less than a mile down the road. The taps are checked regularly.

“We are [both] living in Moorhead so we don’t check them every day. It’s been kind of chilly so it’s not flowing as much. Greg and Mom check them every couple of days,” Nathan said. As sap fills the containers by the trees, it is collected and brought home in a large plastic tote pulled on a trailer behind a

“For all your concrete needs”

Call us for your next project. FARM • RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL • DEMOLITION Fully licensed and insured

Cokato, MN

“It was a fun day,” Amanda said. While making maple syrup is a fun hobby for the couple during weekends in the spring, they are kept busy with work and study the rest of their time. Nathan is a 2011 graduate of Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School, a 2014 graduate of the University of Minnesota Morris with a degree in economics and financial management; he received his master’s degree in applied economics

from North Dakota State University in 2015. He works with the University of Minnesota Extension in Moorhead on the ag business management team. Amanda is a 2013 graduate of Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, growing up five miles east of Rice. She did not grow up on a farm but is well versed in the farming experience. “I worked on a dairy farm for about two years in high school. I fed their

calves and milked their cows before I moved away and went to school,” Amanda said. “My sister, Rebecca, is actually the Princess Kay finalist this year for Benton County. We all went down to the state fair and watched her get her head carved in butter. She worked on the same dairy I did.” Amanda will graduate from North Dakota

MAPLE SYRUP continued on page 8

On a farm, you don’t work 9 to 5. CA Apr6-1B-JW

With over 25 years experience we’ll roll up our sleeves and give you a quality job at a fair price. Joe Kelly Construction will handle all concrete work from pouring foundations for parlors, freestalls and cow yards to grain storage solutions, solid concrete walls and feed bunks.

PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM

Making maple syrup is a team effort March 24 at the Hulinsky farm near Burtrum. Pictured are (front from left) Amanda Schubert, Shirley Hulinsky and David Hulinsky; Back: Nathan Hulinsky and Greg Hulinsky. The outdoor stove in the background has been constructed for the project.

Neither do we. Let a local independent agent help you cover all you’ve worked so hard to build.

Family owned, family operated

320-286-6394

COVERING ALL OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA

Quality Construction... Built to Handle Our Midwest Weather!

• ALBANY

140 5th Street, Albany, MN 56307

Custom Built to Any Size 24x24x10 ........$7,500 30x40x10 ......$11,000 36x48x10 ......$14,000 40x64x12 ......$18,000

Subject to local building codes, snow-load requirements, delivery & crew travel in some areas. Prices subject to change without notice.

Ask Abou Concretet Prices!

• SAUK CENTRE

Fully Insured #BC574944

320.492.6364

j.austinconstruction@yahoo.com

864 Main Street Sauk Centre, MN 56378

• LONG PRAIRIE

9 Central Ave Long Prairie, MN 56347

• HOLDINGFORD

580 Main St., Holdingford, MN 56340

• PIERZ

205 Main St N Pierz, MN 56364

320-252-6650 |advantageoneins.com

CA Apr6_LO

CA Apr6-LO

Fast & Economical!

• ST. CLOUD

3801 North 3rd Street, Ste 100 St. Cloud, MN 56303

Page 8 • Country Acres - Friday, April 6, 2018 MAPLE SYRUP continued from page 7 State University in May 2019 with a doctorate of pharmacy. She begins her clinical rotations – eight rotations of ﬁve weeks each – in May. She will be learning on the job in Fargo, Minneapolis, Alexandria, St. Cloud and Long Prairie. “I’ll be all over the place, so we’ll probably stay in Moorhead for about a year after I graduate, then maybe move back more towards central Minnesota,” Amanda said. In the meantime, they will gather on weekends and enjoy the time spent in the outdoors and preparing for their Oct. 13 wedding. After all, love is PHOTOS BY DIANE LEUKAM sweet, and as Nathan said, Amanda Schubert watches as her fiancé, Nathan Hulinsky, (center) “She did say ‘Yes.’” and his brother, Greg Hulinsky, train maple sap to be cooked into syrup March 24 on the Hulinsky’s farm near Burtrum.

NEW LOCATION! 1/4 mi mi. south of Albany Fleet Supply on County Road 10 Check Out Our New Location C

Nathan Hulinsky, above, pours maple sap into the outdoor stove he recently constructed for cooking maple syrup March 24 in Burtrum.

ccelebrating Earth Day both April 20th and 21st. recycle@albanytel.com recycle@a albany anyt ytel com

DALE OVERM OVERMAN

& Enjoy Specials & Door Prizes!

320-845-2747 or 320-248-5253 CA Apr_1B-TV

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-5, Sat. 8-Noon 34737 County Road 10 • Albany, MN 56307 07 7

Serving cookies and coffee e

We buy: • Aluminum • Stainless Steel • Brass • Copper pe • Electronics • Automotive Batteries • and More

A fire burns in an outdoor stove used for cooking sap, March 24 at the Hulinsky farm in Burtrum.

RejuvEnate your equipment with michelin ag tires

TOGETHER WE CAN TAKE YOUR OPERATION

TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

Agricultural lending since 1908.

Save big now during our “Rejuvenate” instant rebate promotion! Offer valid February 1 - April 30, 2018.

MARK STENSON, Loan Of cer & Ag Consultant

Contact our Ag Lending Team 800-252-9856

Copyright © 2018 Michelin North America, Inc. All rights reserved. The Michelin Man is a registered trademark owned by Michelin North America, Inc. * The MICHELIN X TWEEL SSL Hard Surface (MSPN 31483) Airless Radial Tire is excluded from this promotion.

FRIEDRICHS TIRE & OIL CA Apr6-1B-LO

PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED BY BAUER FINANCIAL AS ONE OF THE STRONGEST FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.

Save $200 per tire on MICHELIN® YieldBib™ tires with Ultraflex Technology Save $150 per tire on select MICHELIN tires with Ultraflex Technology: • MICHELIN AxioBib™ Tire • MICHELIN CargoXBib® HF Tire • MICHELIN CargoXBib2® Tire • MICHELIN CerexBib™ Tire • MICHELIN SprayBib™ VF Tire • MICHELIN XeoBib™ Tire Save $100 per tire on select MICHELIN AG tires: • MICHELIN AgriBib ™ Tire (metric sizes) • MICHELIN AgriBib 2 Tire • MICHELIN CargoXBib Tire • MICHELIN CargoXBib HD Tire • MICHELIN MachXBib® Tire • MICHELIN MegaXBib® Tire • MICHELIN MultiBib™ Tire • MICHELIN OmniBib™ Tire • MICHELIN X® TWEEL® SSL All Terrain and Hard Surface Traction Airless Radial Tires, Including 2-piece hub units* Save $80 per tire on select MICHELIN and KLÉBER® AG tires: MICHELIN AgriBib Tire (non-metric) • MICHELIN AgriBib Row Crop Tire (metric sizes) • KLÉBER Cropker Tire • KLÉBER Fitker Tire • KLÉBER Super 3 Tire • KLÉBER Super 8L Tire • KLÉBER Super G Tire • KLÉBER Super Vigne Tire • KLÉBER Traker Tire Save $50 per tire on all MICHELIN Compact Line radial tires: • MICHELIN Bibsteel™ All Terrain Tire • MICHELIN Bibsteel Hard Surface Tire • MICHELIN Bibload® Hard Surface Tire • MICHELIN XMCL™ Tire • MICHELIN XM47™ Tire • MICHELIN XZSL™ Tire • MICHELIN XF™ Tire Save $25 per tire on all MICHELIN Compact Line bias tires: • MICHELIN Power CL™ Tire • MICHELIN Power Digger™ Tire Immediate Savings and No Quantity Limit! MichelinAg.com

200 Main Street • Sauk Centre, MN

352-5418 or 352-3612 Reg. Hours: Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Saturday 7 a.m. - 12 Noon

After Hours: 351-8995 or 333-1906

Friday, April 6, 2018 - Country Acres • Page 11 VOIT continued from page 10 plate fixes to the end of the lathe spindle and wood is clamped to the faceplate. He looks over a piece of wood or log before choosing it for a turning project. “As wood dries, it shrinks and likes to crack,” said Voit. “Cedar dries fairly fast but oak takes a while.” Unique facets in the wood, like knotholes, make for a unique looking product. Some he leaves in the wood; others he sands out. He has one-of-a-kind

ways to construct things. “I used to steam bend wood to make a wheel for a homemade wheelbarrow,” said Voit. He explains wood is made of fiber and lignin. “Lignin is the glue that holds the fiber together. If you heat it with steam or boiling water, the glue gets soft so you can bend the wood,” he said. “I have wheels made where the wood is bent in a full circle to make the wheel.” He does not have a favorite wood to work with. “Red cedar, black

Don Voit holds one of his favorite bowls he has fashioned of wood.

walnut, red and white oak, white and black ash, basswood, maple,” he said when rattling off just a few of the woods he has worked with. Each item he makes is branded with DAV, short for Don A. Voit. He flips over a bowl to show the brand, setting the bowl down on a table next to an urn. “That may be my future home,” Voit said of the urn. It would be a fitting tribute to a man who has spent a lifetime appreciating the wonders of wood.

Farm irrigation systems from well to discharge. We customize each application to ensure greater efficiency through water management and less electricity use, using VFD. We work with the pivot company of your choice!

We Know Water from the Bottom to the Tap

Well Drilling Testing and Treatment Sprinkler Systems 24 Hour Emergency Service Pump Service and Repair Commercial and Residential

Don Voit explains the process of turning wood using a lathe that he purchased in the 1960s.

320-251-5090 or 800-728-5091

CA Apr6_1B_LO

PHOTOS BY CAROL MOORMAN

141 28th Avenue South, Waite Park

trautcompanies.com

All Aluminum/Stainless Steel Welding and Metal Sales. We also provided Portable Welding CA Apr6-1B-KH

Make an appointment today for your

Brandon Petermeier 10098 County 11• Sauk Centre | 320.223.2852

PLANTER INSPECTION Protect what is important to you.

We carry all colors and brands of parts!

Claire Rieland

Don’t Forget to Test Meters!!

Darcy Jennissen Pfeffer

Time to go through your meters

WE OFFER: • Farm/Home • Business • Auto • Life • Health • Rec Vehicle ... and more!

320.351.2436

512 Main Street S, Ste 2 • Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Monday-Friday 8AM-4:30PM • Appointments available at anytime

CAMarch_1B_BT

CA-Apr6-1B-MT

When you think insurance... Think Billmarks 616 Parkway Drive, Belgrade, MN and 4041 180th Ave SE, Lake Lillian

BELGRADE Nick Hanson 320-979-6820

LAKE LILLIAN BELGRADE Peter Johnson Jason Schaefer 320-212-8551 320-491-5632

Friday, April 6, 2018 - Country Acres • Page 13 PAULSON continued from page 12 farm, not only through her classes, but also for her job. She works at a nearby dairy farm just outside of River Falls helping with the milking and feeding of cows. “I like that, even though I’m two-and-half hours away, I’m still able to interact with the cows,” she said. Paulson also stays involved in the dairy industry by serving as one of the Kandiyohi County dairy princesses and the Minnesota Milking Shorthorn Queen. She is running for National Milking Shorthorn Queen this summer. As a county dairy princess, Paulson attends many festival parades throughout the county and also works at the county fair, talking to fair goers about the dairy industry. She stays busy working different events throughout the county and promoting the dairy industry. “I’m pretty much gone every weekend in the summer,” she said. At college, Paulson

Morgan Paulson holds up her awards received at her FFA chapter’s annual award banquet in spring of 2017 in Atwater. Paulson was awarded 2016-17 ACGC FFA Outstanding Member, 2017 state runner-up for her supervised agricultural experience project in dairy production entrepreneurship, and 2016-17 ACGC FFA DEKALB Award.

Kyle Hoium, Agent Kyle Hoium Agency LLC 10 3rd Ave Se Melrose, MN 56352 Bus: (320) 256-3434

Grain • Agronomy Feed • Petroleum • Seed

5.00

A purchase of $25.00 or more

EXPIRES 4-14-18 CAMarch-1B-BT

enjoys her dairy nutrition and genetics classes; she plans to become a dairy nutritionist, and when her father is ready to retire from dairy farming she plans to take over the family farm as the fourth generation. Paulson helps with many chores from baling hay to cleaning the milking parlor; anything that needs to be done, she will be there bright and early to help out. Her brother, Matt, 15, also works on the farm. Paulson’s favorite chores are milking cows and feeding calves. “Milking is probably one of my favorite jobs,” she said. “I get to spend time with my dad and work with the cows. I have a really close connection to all of them and enjoy being with them.” Paulson owns 15 animals, a mix of cows and heifers, that she purchased with money she earned through a variety of jobs she held throughout high school. She is eager to return home to them and begin showing animals for the last year. Though one chapter of her life is closing, a new chapter is beginning with college and the dream of owning her family’s dairy farm. Paulson is looking forward to what the future brings.

CAApr6_1B-MT

School in 2017 and was accepted at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where she is studying dairy science and agricultural business. As a student there, she enjoys meeting new people and learning new things. “I did not think I was going to like college, but I honestly enjoy it,” she said. “Just getting to see how others operate their farms compared to my farm, that is the most interesting to me.” As Paulson learns more about the dairy industry, she is ﬁnding that other dairy operations are not the same. “When I started working on our farm, I thought our way of feeding cattle was the best and only way of feeding them, but when I got older and met some new people, I learned that there’s so many ways of feeding and caring for cattle, not only from farm to farm, but also from state to state.” Paulson is able to be involved in dairy even when she is away from her

OFF

to tell people that the milk from our cows is used to make the cheese on Doritos,” Paulson said. Another one of Paulson’s favorable trait of the Shorthorn is their temperament. “They are so relaxed and so nice, which is one of my favorite things about them,” she said. “I can bring someone to the farm to see the cows and not have to worry about them hurting anyone.” In high school, Paulson was on the county’s dairy bowl team and competed in FFA dairy judging and handling competitions. She was also a three-sport athlete, playing volleyball, softball and basketball. One of her memorable experiences was when she had the opportunity to attend the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis. with her family friends. “The expo was amazing,” she said. “There’s so many great people in the dairy industry.” Paulson graduated from Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High

Redeemable at any Pro Ag Location 806 22nd Ave E, Alexandria (320) 763-5445

Grain Dryer Service Special JTM Sales and Service is

NOW SCHEDULING PRESEASON SERVICING on and dryers through the end of April. This professional servicing includes a complete test of your dryer including:

The Paulson family of Matt (from left), Tammie, Jeff and Morgan stand in front of their Milking Shorthorns at the 2017 Minnesota State Fair.

PAYNESVILLE SOIL SERVICE Introducing our starting line-up!

• Bearing Lubrication • Adjustments To Belts And Chains • Gear Case Inspection • Inspection Of The Physical Structure • Ignition System • Flame Sensing System

• • • • • • •

Wiring Control Boxes Motors Gas Line Connections Solenoids Overheat Controls Burner Openings …And More

A pre-season maintenance check is a solid management practice that protects your sizeable investment and keeps it in optimal condition so its ready to work when you are. Professionally serviced dryers allow time for parts ordering and repairing.

Protect Your Investment Schedule Early

Call Today! Of ce: 320-351-5522 Cell: 320-267-0522

Outstanding in our field because we’’re outstanding in your field! we

Helping our Farmers feed the world! SALES & SERVICE

209 Hwy 71 North, Sauk Centre, MN | jtmirr@gmail.com

CA April6-1B-JW

Phone: 320 Phone 320-243-3494 243 3494 WATS WATS: 1 1-800-232-4265 800 232 4265

CA Apr6_1B_lo

Serving the Local Community for Over 60 Years

Justin T. Moore, Owner

Page 14 • Country Acres - Friday, April 6, 2018

Dairy Daughters in Music City Duo from Minnesota, Florida farms pursues dream of making country music in Nashville By KRISTA KUZMA Staff Writer NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Among their peers, Megan Gertken and Shelby

Dressel both agree growing up on a dairy farm is a unique characteristic. So, when the two young musicians met each other while starting their country music careers in Nashville,

Testimonial

Call for a FREE Estimate! Offering laser grading and screed service for flat, single and dual sloped floors, silage pads, chicken barns, manure pits, barns, gym floors and more.

George Strand Job Supervisor, Innovative Companies Inc.

Jeremy Janson- Owner 320.980.0972

Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 jerjanson@gmail.com www.jeremyjansonconstruction.com

CA_Apr-BP

“We like to use Jeremy Janson Construction for Laser Screeding for all of our larger concrete pours. They work well with our team from setup to cleanup. Having them come in to pour saves us money because we can come in with a smaller crew, plus, our guys aren’t tired out from placing concrete so they can concentrate on finishing. Using Jeremy Janson Construction for Laser Screeding has helped our company.”

back in dairy, but with goats instead. They are now milking 200 goats. Dressel’s family began their dairy in Miami, Fla., where they had also opened a dairy bar serving homemade ice cream, shakes and malts before they moved the dairy to central Florida in 1958. Her family sold the dairy in 2000, but her dad continued to work on the 1,200-acre, 1,000-cow dairy, where they also lived and where Dressel grew up. She and her siblings participated in 4-H and FFA raising swine and beef for showing and their auction at the county fair. Like agriculture, music has been a part of each of their lives from a young age. Gertken started playing piano when she was 6 years old. After she and her sister watched a violin recital, they fell in love with the instrument. Their mom rented a ﬁddle and the two learned to play. “I did ﬁddle contests, weddings, you name it. We were playing all sorts of events all around Minnesota,” Gertken said. After visiting Nashville at the age of 16 and

they were excited to make a connection with a fellow dairy farmer’s daughter and write music. Gertken, originally from Albany, Minn., and Dressel, who originates from Avon Park, Fla., now call themselves the Dairy Daughters. Within the duo, Dressel is the lead singer and plays guitar, while Gertken plays ﬁddle and sings harmony. The two describe their sound as country gold, with sisterly harmonies and a back porch feel. Their musical inﬂuence comes from 1990s country music, and artists such as Patty Loveless, George Strait, Shenandoah, Little Texas, Blackhawk, Terri Clark and Sara Evans. “It’s real country – the stuff we grew up on,” Gertken said. Before moving to Nashville, Gertken helped her family on their 61cow dairy farm. Chores for Gertken ranged from milking cows and feeding silage, to running the Bobcat and driving the tractor. The family sold their herd in 2007 when Gertken was 17 years old. Five years later, the family started

again at 18, Gertken knew she wanted to pursue a music career. At age 19, Gertken moved to Music City. Dressel said she has been singing for as long as she can remember and did her ﬁrst solo in front of a crowd at church at the age

of 8. She would also sing with her dad and his band; however, it was her participation in an FFA talent contest that pushed her to pursue her passion. “I took ﬁrst place.

DAIRY DAUGHTERS continued on page 15

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Megan Gertken holds a kid goat on her family’s dairy goat farm near Albany.

GE TS YOU IN A ND

CA Apr6_JW

OUT OF TIGHT SPOTS.

A NEW WORLD DEMANDS NEW HOLLAND. Every minute on the job is more productive when you have the performance, power and versatility of C Series compact excavators from New Holland. Their compact design and zero/ short tail swing mean you can dig, ll and grade right next to buildings, footings and foundations, and in roadways and crowded urban areas.

© 2017 CNH Industrial America LLC. All rights reserved. New Holland is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or af liates. “Equipped For A New World” is a trademark in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or af liates.

PIERZ, MN

320-468-2161 Hwy. 27 West

• Choose from 6 models from 1.7 to 6 tons • Quiet, fuel-ef cient Tier 4 Final engines from 16.8 to 66.9 hp • Up to 8,490 lbf breakout and digging depth to 12.5 ft • Spacious, comfortable cab with excellent all-around visibility and ergonomic controls

Learn more at www.newholland.com

SAUK CENTRE, MN 320-352-6543 Hwy. 71 South

www.modernfarmequipment.com

EQUIPPED FOR A NEW WORLD™

Friday, April 6, 2018 - Country Acres • Page 15 DAIRY DAUGHTERS continued from page 14 “I used to sing to the cows,” she said. And they each cherish their farm childhood. “There’s a freeness of being home, working on the farm. Being around family, everyone works together. You spend a lot of time together and that was always really nice,” Gertken said. But both have taken the leap to pursue their music careers away from family and the farm. Six days of the week, they start their day playing music at Tootsie’s at the Nashville International Airport followed by hours of song writing and playing in live music venues in Music City. They are also working on the digital release of their first single “Tomboy” at the end of the month. “Neither one of us would be where we are without family support. We’re far away from home. It’s challenging and there are ups and downs emotionally on this musical journey,” Dressel said. Despite the challenges, the dairy daughters are glad to have met each other and to be pursuing their music dream. “Being able to do something you love every single day is amazing,” Gertken said.

incorporate their background. “We wanted to go with something real … it’s part of our story – how two people met from opposite sides of the country and [growing up on a dairy farm] was something we had in common,” Dressel said. Along with influencing the name of their musical group, their dairy farming roots have inspired their writing. “We like to write about our lives and our moral values growing up and the things we have experienced. We keep it real,” Dressel said. One of their songs is called “Farmer’s Day Off.” “The whole idea behind it is that a farmer never really gets a day off. … You’re married to it,” Gertken said. Growing up on dairies has also influenced their work in other ways. They both attribute having a hard work ethic from growing up on a farm. Plus, there was always music. “From the house, to the barn, to the shed, there was always a radio station on. Nine times out of 10 it was country [music]. It just made work easier, listening to music,” Gertken said. Dressel can relate.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Megan Gertken (left) and Shelby Dressel make up the country music duo, Dairy Daughters. Both grew up on dairy farms – Gertken in Albany and Dressel in Avon Park, Fla.

Sales & Installation of HiTensile Fence

ELECTRIC • WOVEN • RAIL (320) 360-6308 Browerville, MN

CA April_1B_JW

That’s when I thought maybe I should take it a little more seriously,” Dressel said. She visited Nashville for the first time at age 16 and auditioned with a friend for the television show, “Can You Duet.” After high school, Dressel tried out for “American Idol” and made it to the top 46 where she sang for the judges, including Ellen DeGeneres, but was sent home before the live show. DeGeneres invited Dressel onto her show for an interview and to perform. “That was something that gave me a kick in the butt to take the next step,” Dressel said. That is when she decided to move to Nashville in 2010. Gertken and Dressel met while playing open mic nights at Tootsie’s Orchard Lounge, a wellknown bar with live music in Nashville. Although they have been writing music together for the seven years they have known each other, it has only been the past two years the duo started calling themselves the Dairy Daughters. “It came pretty easy for us [to be a duo]. Musically, we have the same opinions and a lot in common,” Gertken said. When choosing their name, they wanted to

The Right Fence... Built RIGHT

WILLENBRING, DAHL A , WOCKEN & ZIMMERMANN, PLLC HIRES NEW ASSOCIATE

Dr. Nancy Randall 34774 Poplar Ln., Sauk Centre, MN

One stop shop for all your horses spring needs!

COGGINS CLINIC - APRIL 14TH Call for pricing and to make an appointment 320-429-1932 | Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm

Door Prizes!

CA April_RB

Discounted services include: Vaccines, Coggins, Dental Floats, Chiropractic, Fecal Egg Count

Paul Wocken Daniel Zimmermann John Neal Kelly Warren Boe Piras Laura Martin

We welcome Laura back to Central Minnesota and are pleased to add her to our team. Laura has been a practicing attorney since October 2003. Prior to joining the firm as an associate, Laura served on active duty in the United States Air Force as a judge advocate attorney for over eleven and a half years and worked as a judicial law clerk at the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Stearns County District Court. Laura grew up south of Cold Spring and graduated from Eden ValleyWatkins High School.

Laura Martin

685-3678

356-7929

318 Main Street PO Box 417 Cold Spring, MN 56320

(By appointment) 300 Avon Ave S Suite B Avon, MN 56310

CA-Apr6-1B-LO

Dr. Christy Sontag

www.willenbring.com From Outside Cold Spring Calling Area Dial Toll Free: 1-800-247-0925

Serving Central MN since established in 1971 (47 years in business) INNOVATIVE • DURABLE • PERFORMANCE

Augers

Get the job done right this SPRING!! Stop at Midsota Manufacturing!

Rock Wagons Rock Bucket

“A QUALITY TEAM SELLING QUALITY EQUIPMENT”

Grapples

Bale Processor

Roto Tillers

404 County Road 50 • Avon, Minnesota 56310 • South Side of I-94 “Remember, if you’re going to be HAULIN you need to be CALLIN, Midsota Manufacturing in Avon!”

320-356-2412 • www.midsotamfg.com

Page 16 • Country Acres - Friday, April 6, 2018

Life on the Fuechtmann farm

Are you ready for the next

power outage? Motors, Generators & Much Much More!

13 siblings, many stories

ELECTRIC C MOTOR & GENERATOR OR REPAIR Large selection of new & used standby & portable generators We stand behind our sales & services

105 County Road 10, Albany, MN • 320-845-4690 • www.ampsrs.com

CA Apr-1B-TV

AMPS, INC.

By CAROL MOORMAN Staff Writer

COUPON

Spring SERVICE SPECIAL

GREENWALD–Walking barefoot. Warming their feet in cow pies. Driving their first tractor. Milking cows by hand. Those were among the memories the 13 children of Henry Sr. and Bertha (Wielenberg) Fuechtmann

shared Sunday, March 18. Yes, that is right, all 13 children/siblings are still alive. They were raised on a farm north of Melrose, where they pitched in with chores inside and outside. They grew up, got married and went their separate ways, all remaining in Minnesota. There is Edna Molitor-Kirchner, 81, of Elrosa; Dottie Ritter, 78, of St. Joseph; Bertie Hoeper, 77, of Villard; Ralph Fuechtmann, 75, of Fridley; Marian Froe-

hle, 73, of Cold Spring; Ethel Donnay, 72, of Watkins; Henry Fuechtmann Jr., 70, of Sauk Centre; Earl Fuechtmann, 68, of Little Falls; Rosie Braegelmann, 66, of Richmond; Karen Pugh, 65, of North St. Paul; Carl Fuechtmann, 63, of Shoreview; Arlene Brinkmann, 62, of Long Prairie; and Allen Fuechtmann, 60, of Afton. Each time one of them turns 60 they get together to celebrate. The last of the

FUECHTMANN FARM continued on page 17

44.95 OIL CHANGE

Change Oil, Filter & Lubricate, Front & Rear Brake Inspection, Rotate Tires if Needed, Inspect All Belts & Hoses, Check Spark Plugs & Wires, Top Off All Fluids, AC Performance (vent output), Exterior Bronze Touchless Car Wash. Plus tax, repairs needed will be additional (Free Estimates) Up to 5 qts. of oil, diesels and special fluids extra - ask service advisor for details. Must present coupon at time of appointment. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Expires April 30th, 2018.

Big Enough to Earn Your Business... Small Enough to Keep It

www.albanychrysler.com

320-845-2801 • 800-392-3426 Fax: 320-845-4788

CA-Apr6-1B-tv

SERVICE HOURS:

Mon.-Fri. 7:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.; Sat. 7:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Pictured on the Henry Sr. and Bertha Fuechtmann farm years ago are (front from left) Henry Jr., Karen, Carl, Allen, Arlene, Rosie and Earl; (back) siblings Ralph and Dottie, Dad Henry Sr., Edna, Mom Bertha, Bertie, Marian and Ethel.

LOW RATE FINANCING! 0% for up to 84 months

Customize your new Massey Tractor with attachments that fit your needs. Haul it off on a new Nova Trailer TODAY!

Helping you buy and insure your dream so you have time for what matters!

Call or visit us today! Elrosa 320-697-5533

Willmar 320-235-7000

Implement

inc.

23661 Hwy. 4 , Lake Henry, MN • (320) 243-7411

Belgrade 320-254-8271

www.lakehenryimplement.com

NAIA TOLL FREE: 877-254-3191

Contact Lake Henry Implement for additional accessories. Equal Housing Lender

Member FDIC

CA April-1B-TV

www.nasbank.com

www.nainsagency.com

Friday, April 6, 2018 - Country Acres • Page 17 FUECHTMANN FARM continued from page 16 bunch, Allen, turns 60 in April and the siblings and their spouses gathered at the Greenwald Pub Sunday, March 18, to celebrate this milestone. It was also a time to reminisce. The Fuechtmann farmland has been in the family just over 100 years. Henry Sr. purchased it from his mother, Gertrude (Wenning) Fuechtmann, who bought the bare land as an investment after his dad, Gerhard, passed away. “My dad built the barn and had living quarters in that. When the house was mostly ﬁnished, my parents got married on Feb. 6, 1934,” Arlene explained. Henry Jr. purchased the farm in 1974 and he and his wife, Agnes, then lived on the dairy farm and now their son, Luke, and wife, Amanda, live there, the fourth generation on the land. Arlene smiles when asked how their parents met. “Dad’s cows got out, and she helped him chase them in,” said Arlene. The Wielenbergs and Fuechtmanns were neighbors. Henry Sr. and Bertha were married 34 years when Henry Sr. died from blood clots at the age of 69. At the time Henry Jr. was around age 20 and started taking over the farm with their mom, his younger siblings were still in school. “Henry’s in the middle.

He was the ﬁrst one born in a hospital,” said Arlene. The six siblings before him were born at home, along with Earl and Arlene. The rest were born at the Melrose Hospital. “I was born at home during a snowstorm,” said Arlene. Edna remembers that day because, as the oldest daughter, she helped during the birth. “I delivered her. Mom told me what to do,” said Edna. Arlene was born at 2:30 in the morning and the doctor arrived the next day. Bertha passed away in 2008, after being a widow for 40 years. That all 13 siblings are still alive and well is a major milestone, especially since a few have dealt with cancer, and are survivors, and others have had replacement surgeries. “We’ve been gifted with good genetics,” said Earl. But he did have another reason. He smiles when saying they were “born without shoes.” “We grew up barefoot. I will argue that when you grow up barefoot you build up an immunity to disease,” said Earl who never got the chicken pox, the mumps and only had a mild case of measles. Arlene said there were no “pharmaceuticals (medications) in our house.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED

All 13 of Henry Sr. and Bertha Fuechtmann’s children are still living. They gathered on March 18 to celebrate the last 60th birthday. Pictured from oldest to youngest are (front, from left) Edna Molitor-Kirchner, Dottie Ritter, Bertie Hoeper, Ralph Fuechtmann, Marian Froehle; (back) Ethel Donnay, Henry Fuechtmann, Earl Fuechtmann, Rosie Braegelmann, Karen Pugh, Carl Fuechtmann, Arlene Brinkmann and Allen Fuechtmann.

They learned to mix hard work and fun on the farm. Arlene talks about their way of warming up the leather-like bottoms of their cold feet when walking barefoot in the pasture in the fall of the year when the frost was in the ground. “We’d step in cow pies,” she said. Arlene said she got her own ax when she was eight, so she could chop wood. “We all had to chop wood,” she said. Edna was around 13 when their dad bought his ﬁrst tractor. Before that, horses were used around the farm.

Spanier Welding and Metal Fabrication Paynesville, MN • 320-243-7552

“Dad said, ‘Here’s the tractor, and drive it.’ I drove tractor until last year,” she said. Edna remembers lanterns being used, even in the barn when milking cows, until electricity came to the rural area in 1944. Their dad refused to buy a milking machine to milk the cows. “He said he had a milk machine—arm strong,” said Arlene.

Selling a FULL PRODUCT LINE including: Six Major Seed Companies, Lawn and Garden Protection Products, Twine, Fertilizers, Tires, Batteries, etc. . . . all this and MORE at your local farm supply store in Lowry. y! da To ll Ca Wide variety of Quality We have Corn, Soybean, Alfaﬂa Seeds from Ag parts from Herschel Stine, Dahlman, Integra, Thunder, Miller, Knock-ons and Wil-rich and Agassiz seeds plus liquid fertilizer

Call us for details!

We have a selection of mowers from Country Clipper with the tip up deck! Also, a couple demos.

CA-Apr6-1B-LO

with Replaceable Teeth

Call for special pricing!

Heavy Duty Feeder Round APRIL SPECIAL $459900 Wagon Feeder Stoen Farm Supply Lowry, MN | 320-283-5283 • Ron: 320-808-0937

AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION PRODUCTS & SERVICES We service all irrigation systems. CA April6-1B-KH

810 Industrial Drive, Starbuck, MN 56381 of ce@west-central-irrigation-inc.com | 320.239.2230

www.west-central-irrigation.com

CA Apr6_KH

Single Sided Feeders

4 wheelers from American Landmasters

23 HP KOH W-60” tip up deck w/ joy stick.

RockGreat Fork Spring Selection! with replaceable teeth Rock Fork

kids,” said Arlene. Most of the Fuechtmann siblings are now retired, “Those that want to be,” said Arlene. They enjoy gatherings that now also include nephews and nieces and great-nephews and great-nieces. And it all started on the Fuechtmann farm with parents and their 13 siblings.

Your One Stop Farm Store

Baler Twine & Net Wrap - Canadian Example Pricing 64x7,000 $20500!

Maternity Pen & Deluxe Chutes

Once Henry Sr. passed away, they purchased a milk machine. With such an age difference in the siblings–the oldest is 81 and youngest 60–some siblings had already left the house when the younger ones grew up. “My oldest daughter is two years younger than Allen,” said Edna. “She was more like an aunt to us than a sister because we played with her

Page 18 • Country Acres - Friday, April 6, 2018

COUNTRY COOKING

Taco Soup • • • • • •

1-1/2 pounds ground beef • 1 package taco seasoning 1/2 cup chopped onions • 1 to 2 cups water 28-ounce can diced tomatoes • Salt and pepper to taste 14-ounce can kidney beans • Cheese for topping 17-ounce can corn with juices • Frito’s corn chips for topping 8-ounce can tomato paste Brown beef in kettle; drain grease and add onions. Cook until onions are tender. Add remaining ingredients except chips and cheese. Simmer for 15 minutes. Ladle into large bowls and top with chips and cheese as desired. Can add can of refried beans also.

Recipes Submitted by

JULIE HILSGEN Kimball Stearns County

Thai Chicken Cabbage Wrap • • • • • • •

Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Pie

1-1/2 cups chicken broth 1 cup red onion, thinly sliced 1-1/2 pounds chicken breast, ground 1/4 cup lime juice 1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped 3 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, finely chopped 1-1/4 Tbsp. fish sauce

• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper • 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and julienned • 1-1/2 heads napa cabbage, broken into leaves • 1 lime, cut into wedges • 3/4 cup chow-mein noodles

Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Add the broth, onion and ground chicken to the pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring the chicken so it crumbles and the broth evaporates. Add the lime juice, mint, cilantro, fish sauce, crushed red pepper and red bell pepper. Toss to combine. Spoon about 3 Tbsp. of the chicken mixture into each cabbage leaf. Garnish with a lime wedge and 2 Tbsp. of chow mein noodles.

• • • •

16 Oreo cookies • 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup butter, melted • 1 tsp. vanilla extract 8 ounces cream cheese, softened • 1 cup heaving whipping cream 3/4 cup Nutella hazelnut spread Heat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse cookies in food processor until grounded. Add butter, pulse until blended. Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of greased 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack. Beat cream cheese, Nutella, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. In another bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; fold into the cream cheese mixture. Pour into crust; refrigerate for 30 minutes.

SUBMIT YOUR RECIPES TO BE INCLUDED IN FUTURE EDITIONS OF COUNTRY ACRES!

diane@saukherald.com

Topping • • • •

1/4 cup heaving whipping cream • 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, 1 Tbsp. light corn syrup finely chopped 2 tsp. butter • 2 Tbsp. hazelnuts, chopped and 1/8 tsp. salt toasted In a small saucepan, bring the cream, corn syrup, butter and salt to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Cool to spreading consistency. Spread over pie and then sprinkle with chopped and toasted hazelnuts. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Paul’s Welding & Repair 16+ Years of Quality Service!

• Sell & Repair Silo Unloaders • Light Manufacturing • Sell & Repair Lagoon Vertical Pumps

On-Site Welding & Repairs

Call Paul for all your

PORTABLE WELDING NEEDS! S Aluminum, Stainless Steel & Cast Iron

AS K A B O U T

Ritchie Cattle Fountains

Call us to sway Rent Jamesway anks! Spreader Tanks!

Call or stop in today! Mondloch, Inc. CA Apr6-1B_TV

320-548-3255

125 Main Street St. Martin, MN 56376 Fax: 320-548-3705

There when you need us, so you can get back to work!

196 West St. S St. Martin, MN 56376 • 320-548-3300

Serving our communities for more than 50 years! Albany St. Cloud Little Falls 320.845.2940 320.632.6311 320.251.0286 Monticello Maple Lake 320.963.5414 763.295.5070

We work with people not just numb3rs

• Regional Independent CPA Firm • Accounting, Tax, Payroll, Quickbooks And Business Consulting • Agriculture, Construction, Transportation, Telecommunications, Retailers, Wholesalers, Printing, Government Agencies, Dealerships, Not-For-Profit Organizations And Manufacturing

www.swcocpas.com

CA Apr6_1B_TV