Country Acres 2019 - February 15 edition

Page 1

Country

Friday, February 15, 2019 • Edition 2

cres A

Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment

Growing like a

weed

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Jaime and Nate Hultgren H make up one-third of the Hultgren Farms pa partnership between themselves, Nate’s brother, Noah, and their father, Duane. The Hultgrens farm 6,000 acres oof corn, soybeans and specialty crops like hemp (above) near Raymond.

Hultgren Farms grows industrial hemp By DANNA SABOLIK Staff Writer

RAYMOND Minnesotans are used to passing by fields of corn and soybeans in the summertime, but an unusual sight will be occupying land near Belgrade once again in 2019. Nate Hultgren of Hultgren Farms, is growing industrial hemp. When most people think of hemp, they think of marijuana, the flower of the hemp plant. The crop on the Hultgrens’ farm is a variety of the hemp plant that grows more seeds, and the flower on their plant is not what is typically used for smoking pot. Their hemp is harvested for its seeds, which are a superfood, similar in consistency and taste to

quinoa. Hultgren Farms consists of Nate, his brother, Noah and their father, Duane. They farm 6,000 acres of corn, soybeans, sugar beets, kidney beans, sweet corn and now, hemp, in Central Minnesota. “We thought we had nothing to lose,” said Nate Hultgren. “Corn and soybean projections were not showing a profit, and we as a farm see the upside to the risk of producing specialty crops.” Overall, they saw opportunity. Hultgren Farms prides itself on working with the community to create tangible goods that have real value in any economy. They looked to farming practices in Canada where growing hemp has been

This month in the

legal through government programs since the 1960s, and decided hemp was worth the risk. They carved out 40 acres of land near Belgrade that had recently come out of CRP land, so decided to keep the system organic. “Hemp doesn’t like wet feet,” Hultgren said. “So we planted it on some land near Belgrade, with sandier soil and irrigators, to regulate the amount of water. It also works fairly decent in organic systems; once the hemp is about a foot tall, it will shade out the weeds. It grows like a weed.” To plant, they used a grain drill, and for harvest a flat head attached to their combine, lifted up four feet off the ground, to catch only

COUNTRY

4 5 7 9

Hemp in the grain bin is dried and ready to sell. The seed is small, brown and rich in protein, fiber and healthful fatty acids, including omega-3s and omega-6s.

the seeds. If the combine takes in too much fiber, which grows around the stalk, it can create a ropy mess. “We heard horror stories of some guys having their combines start on fire because the rope would get wrapped up and get hot,” Hultgren said. “Thankfully, we didn’t have any of those issues, but

Something for everyone A place for you Small animals, big dreams Promoting ag in Central Minnesota

we heeded all the warnings and kept a fire extinguisher handy.” They worked with Legacy Hemp, a contractor out of Prescott, Wisc., who agreed to purchase the crop to use as a superfood supplement

10 Nine decades of teaching, sharing ag 12 Playing in the snow 1B Extraordinary, ordinary life 5B Intestinal parasites

HULTGREN continued on page 2

6B 10B 12B 14B

Crazy cat lady Country Cooking Monster out there Alouette is king


Page 2 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019

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 Herman Lensing, Writer herman@melrosebeacon.com Laura Hintzen, Writer laura.h@saukherald.com Jennifer Coyne, Writer jenn@dairystar.com Danna Sabolik, Writer danna.s@dairystar.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 Warren Stone, 320-249-9182 warren@star-pub.com Jaime Ostendorf, 320-309-1988 Jaime@star-pub.com

– if the product was deemed food-grade. After doing their research, they learned hemp was a tricky crop to manage post-harvest, and the Hultgrens hired a party to clean the grain as it was put in the bin so it would store well. “We put plenty of air on it, a little bit of heat and flipped the bin three times and that all went fine,” Hultgren said. Hultgren said testing for food-grade quality is much more intense than testing for animal feed quality. While the crop appeared healthy, and precautions were taken, the crop was deemed too poor for food-grade. “It’s something where you think you’ve got a good product but on a microbial level that’s not true,” Hultgren said. 2018 was an especially difficult year for hemp growers across the upper midwest, with the uncharastically wet season. Despite the wet summer and fall, the farm netted 1,000 pounds per acre with their organic system. “We are pretty proud of that,” Hultgren said. “A lot of the guys in Wisconsin had trouble getting a couple hundred pounds an acre, because the rain made the crop moldy and rotten, and of course that didn’t pass food grade.”

Hemp grows in the Hultgrens’ field prior to harvest in 2018. The growingg seas se ason on for the hem empp wa wass mi midd Ju June ne to mi midd Se Sept p em pt embe ber.r.

PRODUCTION STAFF Pat Turner Amanda Thooft Nancy Powell Brian Dingmann Maddy Peterson

“It opens up the door for a lot more acres to be grown worldwide. Hopefully, that will lead to more users wanting to put it in their product because of the increased supply.” - Nate Hultgren

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 publicati publication.

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Hultgren believes if they would have been able to sell the crop at food grade, it would have been the highestgrossing crop they have ever planted on the farm. The problem is it goes from such high value to almost nothing overnight if it does not pass food-grade requirements. Looking to the 2019 season, there is a new farm bill in place, which has legalized the production of hemp throughout the country. Since 2016, Minnesota has had a pilot program for hemp research to see if farmers

Hemp grain is run through a cleaning machine as it is placed in a full-floor aeration bin. This must happen within a few hours of harvest or the grain will spoil.

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 3 HULTGREN continued from page 2

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Schedule of Events could economically harvest the crop. The farm bill made it nationally acceptable to raise industrial hemp. “What that means for us is that we can transport seed across state lines,” Hultgren said. “Last season, we had to get a permit from the department of agriculture to bring seed into the state. Now, if I want to go to North Dakota or Canada to buy seed it won’t be a problem because of the farm bill. And then, of course, transporting the finished product across state lines becomes a lot easier now.” In a sense, the pilot program is going to continue. The farm bill says the states have to manage the acres within the state and keep track of them, to ensure there is no illegal marijuana use. The farm bill only approves

production for the grain and fiber, not the CBD or THC chemicals which are extracted through the leaves. “It opens up the door for a lot more acres to be grown worldwide,” Hultgren said. “Hopefully that will lead to more users wanting to put it in their product because of the increased supply.” The Hultgrens are excited for their second try in the 2019 season, after learning a bit last year. “It’s not as easy as it sounds,” Hultgren said. “Be warned there’s a lot of risk because the market is not fully developed in this crop yet. Put a lot of thought into where the crop is going to go when you’re done harvesting it. Growing it is half the battle, selling it is other half.”

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PHOTOS SUBMITTED

The head of this hemp plant shows seeds encased near the stalk. The stalk produces a strong fiber that can be spun into fabric.


Page 4 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019

Something for everyone

You will notice your copy of Country Acres is a bit thicker than usual, with our special section for the Central Minnesota Farm Show inserted. I hope you will take the time to read through it and attend the show Feb. 26-28 at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud! With dozens of agricultural vendors, along with entertaining and educational seminars, you can pick your day – there will be plenty to do. We have included features with two of the speakers, Greg Peterson and Greg Peterson. One is Machinery Pete and the other a Peterson Farm Bro. Also in this issue, we have a number of extra pages dedicated to FFA. Most of us in rural Minnesota are well familiar with the organization that promotes agriculture throughout the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. FFA Week is Feb. 16-23, where agriculture is celebrated on so many levels. The organization has by Diane Leukam been responsible for hundreds of thousands of ag leaders over the nine decades of its existence. Read about the FFA organization, the small animals team from DasselCokato. Eric Meredith, Leah Lutgens, Brooke Koelln, and Brienna Thomas have competed throughout the season, recently winning the University of Minnesota invitational in December, and placing second in the regional contest in Willmar on Jan. 11. This team is representative of thousands of students across Minnesota that work to promote agriculture through learning, competing and a healthy dose of fun. In our regular lineup, we have an additional FFA story for you, a couple of young women who were members of the FFA program together in Sauk Centre. One is now the FFA advisor in Sauk Centre, while the other is an advisor in Albany. And by the way, they are also first cousins. Linus Meyer of Meier Grove competed in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon along the North Shore. Months of training his dogsled team are culminated each season with a number of races. For this one, the temperatures reached -16 degrees, a relatively warm day (or maybe we should say less cold) in the area before the recent Polar Vortex struck the Upper Midwest. Just down Highway 4 from Meier Grove in Greenwald, an antique snowmobile club met for their annual gathering of Alouette snowmobiles. The Alouettes were manufactured in Montreal from 1967-74, the company’s most recognized model is probably the Super Brute. Dozens of snowmobilers were able to take to the trails with this year’s snowfall sufficient for a lengthy ride. See photos on page(s)….

Shannon Blair of Alexandria raises prime and premium Black Angus cattle. This young lady loves cattle, and enjoys marketing the meat in her business, with a favorite method being teaching people how to cook with beef. She has shared a number of her recipes in this issue. Her business goes handin-hand with her husband, Ryley’s, alfalfa growing operation. Between the two, they grow hay, cattle and kids. Nate Hultgren of Raymond tells us about raising hemp on a 40-acre field near Belgrade. He says it grows like a weed, and who is to argue with that! Seriously, the variety he raised in this 2018 test field is slightly different than the plant people use for smoking marijuana, and its seeds are grown as a superfood supplement. Here is a topic I don’t believe we have ever covered in Country Acres, and you cat lovers will probably think it’s about high time. Marisa George and her husband, Jason, raise Turkish Van cats in their home north of Sauk Centre. For them, these beautiful animals are family. From our Sauk Rapids office, Natasha Barber explains how to combat Palmer Amaranth, an invasive form of pigweed. There are plenty of other items placed throughout the paper that I think you will also enjoy. And finally, yesterday was Valentine’s Day. I would like to share just one of dozens of love notes my dad wrote in his late 70s or early 80s for Mom who was his Valentine every day of the year. We found them after she passed away in November. Evelyn, I have gone away from you this morning, I’ll be back soon with milk from the cows. Have I said with all my heart and soul How I adore you? Then Darling, I’m telling you now. Be back soon, Tony

Some of the notes were a little more humorous, maybe involving a milk jug on the knee or a promise to be back in a flash without a crash. Or, loving her a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck. There was even one where he apparently lost his poetic flare and simply ended it abruptly with, “I took the cell phone.” On that note, have a great rest of February, and be sure to look us up at the farm show. You can find us at Booth B1031.

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 5

A place for you

passion for it and why it’s important, developing a work ethic and respect; you just get a whole new perspective, more so than people who didn’t grow up around it. It’s huge.” Middendorf learned those same lessons. “My parents enforced a lot of rules on us when we were growing up and that helps to build character and helps to build you into a timely person,” she said. “You have to do chores at a certain time and you learn the consequences of those things; you learn a lot of life lessons on the farm. Work ethic is a big thing.” As the two young women share stories back and forth, one thing they are both certain of, and that is the power of belonging to FFA. They feel the program has tremendous benefits for students ranging from qualities and skills critical to leadership to becoming a family with the people they are connecting with. They are proud to be part of the organization. “There is something for everybody,” Zimmermann said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, it can be a home for you. It can be someplace you can and should feel comfortable going and you can say ‘I fit in here.’ There’s so many options. You don’t have to have been a farmer, [just have an] interest in developing leadership skills or anything else. It’s a place for you.” It is a place for both of them. “I love FFA,” Middendorf said. “If I could be in it my whole life I would, so I thought, ‘I can be an ag teacher’ and here I am.”

Cousins Zimmermann, Middendorf advisors for local FFA programs By DIANE LEUKAM Staff Writer

CDEs, SAEs, FFA…whatever the initialism, students can find all the help they need from Amy Zimmermann or Tami Middendorf. Both young women grew up on farms outside of Sauk Centre, were members of FFA and graduated from Sauk Centre Public Schools. After college both came back to Central Minnesota and where they once took notes in ag classes, they are now ag and FFA instructors. They might even sit down together at a family gathering, because they are also first cousins. The two sat together Jan. 24 at the Sauk Centre High School to talk about FFA, teaching ag and the influence of PHOTO DIANE LEUKAM growing up on the farm. Amy Zimmermann (left) and Tami Middendorf, cousins from Sauk Centre, are advisors for the Zimmermann is co-advisor for Albany and Sauk Centre FFA programs, respectively. The young women feel FFA has tremendous the FFA chapter in Albany, while benefits for all students, whether or not they come from an agricultural background. Middendorf is advisor in Sauk Centre. Both learned leadership and many Gary and Joanna Middendorf. Between other skills through the FFA program as nicknames at school.” In October 2018, she took the two families, farming and the ag students and now encourage their own students to the national convention in experience is a way of life that has students to give FFA a try. “A lot of people think you have Indianapolis where FFA members from impacted both women. “It’s huge and I say it a lot,” to have that ag background [to be in around the nation gathered to compete, FFA] but you don’t,” Middendorf said. make connections and explore possible Zimmermann said. “Almost our entire family is around ag in some way, shape “One of our officers here has no ag future careers. “Not everybody goes for or form. That has shown [me] the background. She lives in town, she’s a very tech savvy person, competes in competitions,” she said. “We didn’t competitions and she loves it. She has a actually compete in anything. We did it for the experience. There are colleges great time.” there, too, and they Middendorf knew are trying to make in kindergarten she connections to help wanted to teach, but students learn a little she didn’t know what more about what they she wanted to teach until later. When she “There is something do.”A g r i c u l t u r a l was a sophomore, companies set up at for everybody. It Duane Lichy (who expo during the now, ironically, works doesn’t matter who an convention, where with Zimmermann in students see the wide Albany) became an ag you are, it can be a array of opportunities teacher at the school in home for you. It can available to them. With Sauk Centre. both women hailing “He did such an be someplace you from large agricultural awesome job and he was my favorite can and should feel families, careers in ag are common to them teacher,” she said. comfortable going and a number of their “Once I had him in siblings. a couple classes I Knife River is a full service and you can say ‘I At the state decided I wanted to aggregate-based construction level, so far for 2019, become an ag teacher.” fit in here.’” company, providing ready-mix Middendorf’s chapter Middendorf is concrete, asphalt production and Amy has a poultry team a 2015 Sauk Centre paving and construction services. and a crops team High School and Zimmermann We provide services throughout participating in this 2018 University of Minnesota for public, private and year’s competition. Minnesota graduate, Zimmermann is beginning her position commercial construction projects. in Sauk Centre in the fall of 2018. She the ninth child of 10 of Ken and Julie now teaches such classes as on-the- Zimmermann. She is a 2012 graduate job training, careers, natural resource of Sauk Centre and 2016 graduate of management, companion animals, North Dakota State University in Fargo. We offer competitive wages animal science, food chemistry and of She started out in college planning on and great beneÀts: an agriculture engineering degree, but course, FFA. Medical 401(k) Match She particularly enjoys being the through a collegiate FFA program met Dental Profit Sharing advisor for the FFA chapter. This year, many people who were heading into ag she happens to be advising two of her instruction. There she found her niche. 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Small animals, big dreams Dassel-Cokato FFA small animals team excels By DANNA SABOLIK Staff Writer

COKATO – The small animals team from Dassel-Cokato is setting their sights on new heights. They placed fourth in the state last year and are hoping to return to stage this spring at the Minnesota FFA contest. Team members Eric Meredith, senior, Leah Lutgens and Brooke Koelln, juniors and eighth grader Brienna Thomas have competed throughout the season, recently winning the University of Minnesota invitational in December, and placing second in the regional contest in Willmar on Jan. 11. In addition to winning as a PHOTO BY DANNA SABOLIK team at the University of Minnesota Katherine Meredith coaches the Dassel-Cokato FFA small animals team. Here, she is pictured (from left) with team members Eric Meredith , Brienna Thomas, invitational, Leah placed as the first Brooke Kollen and Leah Lutgens. The team placed fourth in the state last year, and hopes to perform well again this year. high individual, and Eric placed second, with a difference of only 12 points, a very slim margin considering each enjoying it so far, too. The youngest different breeds of dogs, cats, birds and question is worth three to four points. of the team as an eighth grader, she fish. The contest includes a knowledge Brooke placed 12th overall and Brienna likes being able to make friendships exam and three practicums: anatomy, was 58th out of 275 competitors. with the high school students, and also kennel management and parasites. Joining FFA and being on the small enjoys the material, as she is learning “It’s something you might not be animals team has brought the close more about biology and anatomy than a interested in at first when you start group together, but they all had their looking at it, but then you start learning typical eighth grade student. own reasons for joining the team, and Eric joined FFA as a family tradition. about it and it becomes more fun than FFA. His older sisters were involved in the just taking a test,” Eric said. “Practice is Leah and Brooke were in an animal organization, so he decided to join to fun and the contest is fun because we all science class when their agriculture see if he liked it. He did. He took his have silly things to help us remember teacher and FFA advisor, Tracy Nelson, milk quality project to nationals and the answers.” asked them to join the team. Katherine Meredith, volunteer now is on the small animals team and “I liked the class and I thought FFA the agriculture issues team. Eric enjoys alumni coach of the small animals team, sounded fun,” said Leah. “I went to my FFA and says it is a fun experience and sees their potential and is working with first meeting, met the rest of the team likes meeting new people. He has also the team to guide them to greatness. She and since then, doing more through FFA been an officer for three years, and, his has been coaching the small animals has helped me make new friends and mom, Katherine Meredith, is the small team for three years. have a close group of friends to hang “We beefed up our practices a little animals team coach. out with.” The small animals contest includes Brieanna was encouraged by her vet sciences, which is the majority DASSEL-COKATO FFA friends to join FFA and she has been of the written test. The team studies continued on page 8

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The 2018 Dassel-Cokato FFA small animals team placed fourth at the Minnesota State FFA Convention. Pictured are (from left) Layla Erickson (no longer on team), Brooke Kollen, Leah Lutgens and Eric Meredith.

this year,” Katherine said. “Last year we were fourth on stage and that’s huge. They know their goals, and they’re working a little harder this year to achieve that.” The students are able to study on Kahoot and Quizlet, online study websites, whenever they have Internet access and meet once a week at Katherine’s home to get out of the school environment and study together. “Practices are always really fun,” Leah said. “We eat good food and I enjoy competing as a team and within your team to see who will do better.” Katherine has background as a veterinary technician, and her husband is currently a veterinary technician, so their knowledge is beneficial to the team as well.

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Larry Marquette is the science teacher and assistant FFA advisor, and is impressed with the team. “A lot of work can come from the coach and a lot of work can come from the students as well, but they’ve done a good job of coming to practice and studying things they need to learn more about on their own and being overall prepared,” said Larry. “They don’t wait to be fed information; they go out and find it.” It is clear to anyone who meets the team that they all get along well. “Part of the joy of doing the contest is being on a team with people and working together on a goal,” Larry said. “It’s exciting to see their goals and watch them this year.”

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ALBANY – The Albany FFA Alumni has one goal: to promote Central Minnesota agriculture. Nixing the typical requirements of an alumni group, Alumni members neither have to be a former FFA member or Albany graduates. “We always welcome anyone who wishes to become a member of the Alumni,” said Travis Ramacher, 2017 Albany graduate. “You do not have to be an Albany FFA graduate to join our team; a good attitude and a desire to grow the agricultural community is all that is required.” The Albany FFA Alumni group formed in 2016 with five members and has been growing since. Their primary role is to provide guidance to the local FFA chapter and tencourage agriculture in Central Minnesota. Their guidance includes assisting in fundraisers for operating costs and providing the means for FFA members to compete in local, state and national competitions. Ramacher joined the Alumni after he graduated from Albany in May of 2017. Currently, he is pursuing electrical engineering and computer engineering degrees at St. Cloud State University. He serves on the board as secretary and is responsible for keeping the website updated and tracking minutes at meetings. The website features a calendar with meeting dates and times, a photo gallery, minutes from

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the meetings and contact information. Each year the group joins with the Albany FFA chapter to have a tractor raffle. The restoration is completed in the Albany High School by FFA members and technology education students. The proceeds of the raffle are used to promote the agricultural community in Central Minnesota. Every other year, the Alumni brings donkey basketball to the community. A combination of donkey riding and basketball is an entertaining way to gather the agricultural community in the Albany area, and raise money for the mission of the Alumni. Funds raised from this event go into a scholarship fund. The Alumni provide scholarships to Albany FFA seniors. The dollar amount is determined by number of years in FFA and officer status. Scholarship applications can be found on their website. The Alumni try to

have a representative at all Albany chapter FFA meetings, and a member of the FFA is present at all Alumni meetings, to keep their finger on the beat and provide assistance when needed. This is not the extent of their community involvement, though. If local farming families are in need, the Alumni will step in to provide however they can. Ramacher takes pride in being a member of the Alumni and finds purpose being a part of something larger than himself. He looks back on his three years involved in the FFA program with fondness and says he was taught, more than anything else, how to commit to something, and is proud of his team’s second-place finish at nationals in 2017 for their Agriculture Mechanics Career Development Event, after winning the state competition. “When we first started practicing, I had never been involved in something that

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By HERMAN LENSING Staff Writer Agriculture is at the heart of the FFA organization. That heart is fed by roots that go back to before its founding in 1928 in Kansas City, Mo. From the start it was very student oriented. The FFA was founded by 33 students from 18 states attending National Livestock Judging Contests. Today, there are over 450,000 members in the 50 states. There are also chapters in Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Minnesota joined FFA in 1930 and had 27 chapters with 428 members. Before the decade was over, the state had over 100 chapters and over 3,000 members. Chapter membership peaked in 1963-64 with 285 chapters. Top membership numbers were in 1977 with 17,283. In 2017, there were 194 Minnesota chapters with 10,401 members. The purpose of the FFA organization was to establish leadership and training for young farmers. In1930, at the third national convention, it was decided only boys and men were allowed in the National FFA (although some state chapters allowed girls). The restriction was lifted in 1969. Today, girls are about 25 percent of the membership and over 50 percent of the

FFA officers. Until 1988, the organization was known as Future Farmers of America. That year it officially became FFA. The change was made as a way to open the door to anyone who wanted an exceptional agricultural experience. All chapters have continued the traditional lessons and programs of FFA. Many, like the Melrose chapter, offer a variety of programs giving students the opportunity to learn about career readiness, animal and plant sciences and ag technology. While working toward traditional FFA goals and degrees are a component of all chapters, some find that reaching outside their chapter is a way to help others learn of agriculture. That reaching out takes a variety of forms. FFA Week is a time for groups to provide activities that can bring agriculture to the forefront. These may include something similar to the Ag Olympics at Sauk Centre or agriculture associated games at Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa (BBE) with competitions such as bale stacking, milk chugging from a bottle, turkey bowling and minnow races. At Sauk Centre, FFA members sponsor an Ag Safety day where members give presentations about agriculture and FFA with

the fifth and sixth graders. A safety day is also part of the Melrose chapter offerings as it promotes ag safety to fourth graders. The chapter, which has become fairly active and busy the last few years, promotes leadership and the desire to learn about where food and clothing come from. All FFA opportunities are open to all students who desire to attend them. The Paynesville chapter started an Ag Career Day for eighth graders. They attend different sessions of speakers who also have hands-on opportunities to explore that career. The chapter also holds an Ag Day where they educate elementary students on animal handling with an animal petting zoo, equipment safety demonstrations and listening to an animal industry speaker. The Paynesville chapter also includes students from the Rocori district in Cold Spring. Helping people have a firsthand experience of agricultural is also common. The BBE chapter hosts an annual baby animal day and also operates a garden center. The center provides bedding plants, flower containers and hanging baskets for the community. An education plot is a project of the Paynesville chapter, where students and adults work together with planting, irrigating, managing and harvesting the

plot. An educational plot day is held in the fall for high school students, teachers, administration, local farmers, agribusinesses and community members. Demonstrations and talks about different agricultural topics are part of the day. The Melrose chapter this past growing season had a field of corn and soybeans, which was used as an outdoor classroom. Other projects are meant to give FFA members a chance to lead and organize for other groups. Troop or Treat gave the Paynesville chapter an opportunity to collect personal hygiene, entertainment, snacks and other items for a military group that was deployed. With Caps for Chemotherapy, they collected hats and donations to purchase hats for the Minnesota Children’s Hospital for kids going through chemotherapy. Last year they used a grant to plant a pollinator garden in cooperation with the Paynesville Farmers Union. They also participate in a corn drive, where the donations go to Camp Courage and FFA member educational scholarships. The FFA has undergone many changes in its nine decades, but through it all, the organization has helped to provide leadership and an awareness of agriculture across the nation.

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 11

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Name one current issue you believe will impact agriculture in the future. Why? I believe technology is shaping the field of agriculture now and will continue to in the coming years. It has been hard to find work for many agriculture positions. Milking is dramatically changing from people milking each day to putting robotic milkers in the barn to milk more efficiently. Technology is also showing up in the fields. Many machines are now self-driving and can do everything a person can do but better. Technology will only continue to mold agriculture.

people who put time into their projects and experience have come out of FFA with a great attitude and sense of accomplishment. What is the greatest benefit you have received from being involved in FFA? I think FFA taught me what it takes to be a leader. When I became the president of the chapter I didn’t think it would entail as much as it did at first. After a little while I was able to get into the groove of things and I found that if I take one thing at a time, being a leader isn’t hard and if you put time into it, it will become easier and you will succeed at it. What do you enjoy most about FFA? Why? I enjoy being around my fellow members. It is great to be around friends doing the things that you love. I enjoy being able to compete in competitions and organize events with people who share the same values as me. FFA is a fun experience and can bring out the best in everyone as we are all working towards the same goal.

What does leadership mean to you? Leadership is often used as a vague term. Many people are labeled leaders but don’t always help those they are trying to lead. Leadership to me, means someone is able to get a person or group to their highest potential and complete a goal. It is acceptable for the leader to fail themselves as long as they were able How would you encourage an inactive FFA to help the people following them to their own goal. member to become more involved? I would tell them that FFA is much more than they think. Many What other hobbies and interests do you have believe that people in FFA must be farmers or peo- outside of FFA? I love to ride snowmobile in the ple directly affected by agriculture. FFA offers many winter. Each year I take a trip out west with my opportunities that people do not think about. Peo- brother and a few other buddies. It is a great way ple can discover jobs, friends, scholarships, or just to get out and see nature. I also like to mess around new, fun experiences. FFA will give back whatever with technology. In my free time I like to play video you put into it; if you do not put any time into it then games. When I’m not working or at school I also enyou will get nothing out of it. I have seen that the joy hanging out with my friends.

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Page 12 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019

Playing in the snow

Meyer competes in the Beargrease dogsledding race

By BEN SONNEK Staff Writer Ever since October 2018, Linus Meyer has been training his sled dogs in preparation for the dogsled racing season – including the famous Beargrease Marathon Jan. 27. He needed to get six dogs to go 40 miles across the frozen Minnesota north. “I’ve been in the Beargrease eight times,” Meyer said. “I competed in the full marathon race twice, but never finished it. I did make MEYER continued on page 13

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Linus Meyer races with his dog sledding team at the Wolftrack Classic in Ely. Meyer has been a dogsled musher since 1995.

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 13 MEYER continued from page 12 from Duluth to the Canadian border once.� Meyer has been a dogsled musher since 1995; he competed in his first race, the MidMN, in 1997. Since then, he has competed in dogsled races in locations including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and South Dakota. The walls in his office are covered with posters of the dogsled races he’s competed in, including several second-place finishes

at MidMN and his multiple Beargrease appearances. He is saving space, though, for the Beargrease 2019 poster. According to the Beargrease Marathon website, the marathon is named for John Beargrease, a Minnesota native and son of an Anishinabe chief. Beargrease lived from 18581910; when he was young, the route from Duluth to Thunder Bay, Ontario, was a footpath that made travel difficult for

2019 BEARGREASE RACE MAP

KINGS ROAD TURNAROUND

settlers. As Beargrease and his brothers knew the region through hunting and trapping, they also took on the job of delivering mail sacks. From 1879 to 1899, Beargrease and his brothers carried mail between Two Harbors and Grand Marais, using horses, canoes, boats and sometimes dogsleds in the winter, with MEYER continued on page 14

TRAIL CENTER CHECKPOINT

Devil Track Lake

LEG MILEAGE CHART Marathon Billy’s Bar (Duluth) to Highway 2 Highway 2 to Finland Finland to Sawbill Sawbill to Trail Center Trail Center to Skyport (Devil Track Lake) Skyport to Mineral Center Mineral Center to Grand Portage Finish

Leg 35 38 30 51 54 49 36

Cumulative 35 73 103 154 208 257 293

SAWBILL CHECKPOINT

SKYPORT CHECKPOINT

BEARGREASE 120 FINISH MINERAL CENTER CHECKPOINT

GRAND PORTAGE

Mandatory 4 hour layover (plus differential) at Sawbill Mandatory 4 hour layover at Mineral Center Teams must accumulate a total of 24 hours rest, plus differential Beargrease 120 Billy’s Bar (Duluth) to Highway 2 Highway 2 to Finland Finland to Lutsen Mountain

Leg 35 38 41

MARATHON FINISH

MINERAL CENTER CHECKPOINT

Cumulative 35 73 114

FINLAND CHECKPOINT

Teams must accumulate a total of 8 hours rest, plus differential Beargrease 40: The Beargrease 40 teams will leave the start immediately after the Beargrease 120 and -XQLRU WHDPV %HDUJUHDVH ÂżQLVKHV DW Highway 2.

ESTIMATED CHECKPOINT TIMES – 2019 HIGHWAY 2 CHECKPOINT BEARGREASE 40 FINISH

Scanner frequencies for listening to the HAM radio operators during the Beargrease: Location

Frequency

Start to Two Harbors ........... 147.330Mhz Two Harbors to Finland ....... 147.210Mhz Finland to Sawbill ................ 145.410Mhz (and maybe beyond)

Sawbill to Grand Portage ..... 146.865Mhz 444.250Mhz

J h B

Sl d D

BILLY’S BAR START

M

th

First In Sun Noon - Start Sun 3:30pm Sun 8:30pm Mon 3:39am Mon 12:30pm Mon 8:30pm Tues 4:31am Tues 12:30pm

Last Out Sun 12:30pm Sun 8:00pm Mon 2:11am Mon 6:30pm Tues 9:30am Tues 5:15pm Tues 9:15pm Wed 4:30am

Beargrease 120 Billy’s Bar (Duluth) Start Highway 2 Finland Lutsen Mountain Finish

First In Sun 12:45pm Sun 4:30pm Mon 12:30am Mon 5:00am

Last Out Sun 1:30pm Sun 10:00pm Mon 3:04am Mon 2:31pm

The Beargrease 40 teams will go out soon after the last Beargrease 120 team leaves.

146.730Mhz

(these three are linked)

Marathon Billy’s Bar (Duluth) Highway 2 Finland Sawbill Trail Center Skyport (Devil Track Lake) Mineral Center Grand Portage Finish

These times are only projections based on past performance and may vary VLJQLÂżFDQWO\ ODWHU LQ WKH UDFH GXH WR ZHDWKHU WUDLO FRQGLWLRQV DQG WHDP VWUDWHJ\

BEWARE OF SLED DOGS ON THESE TRAILS

2019

b

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2019

Map by:

b

GRAPHIC PROVIDED

The 2019 Beargrease race map shows the route along the North Shore from Duluth to Grand Portage.

PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK

Linus Meyer pets a sled dog at his Meire Grove home Feb. 6. This dog was one Meyer took on the 2019 Beargrease 40-mile race.

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Page 14 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019 MEYER continued from page 13 four dogs pulling up to 700 pounds. The marathon today celebrates Beargrease’s pivotal role in the establishment of the North Shore. There are three different classes that mushers can race in: the full 12-dog, 300-mile marathon from Duluth to Grand Portage, the longest dogsled race in the lower 48 states; an eight-dog, 120-mile run from Duluth to Lutsen Mountains; and a six-dog, 40-mile run from Duluth to Two Harbors. Having tried the marathon twice and the 120-mile run two other times, Meyer took six of his dogs on the 40-mile stretch. A third of his sled dog team was new to racing. “I had two dogs in there that had never run in a race before,â€? Meyer said. “They were just 2-year-olds, so it was good for them to get that racing experience. They did a lot of training with me, but it’s different when you get other teams and people up there. I’d been training with them all fall, so I knew what they were going to do. You don’t have to train them to pull; they do that automatically. You have to train them to do the commands.â€? Those six dogs would be the only ones Meyer could use. No dogs can be added or replaced during the Beargrease race. “If you have to drop one because they get a sore wrist or any reason, then you’ve got to run with five,â€? Meyer said. “You have to have at least four at the end. If you do get a dog that stops pulling or just can’t run, then you put it in your sled bag and carry it to the checkpoint, mark it out of the race and you run with one less.â€? While the chilling polar vortex had not yet come down from the north, it was still 16 degrees below zero when Jan. 27 arrived, the day of the Beargrease Marathon. However, there was no wind, a detail Meyer was grateful for. “It wasn’t super cold, so you didn’t have to worry about that, but it was cold enough that you had to stay active to keep warm,â€? Meyer said. The race began at noon, the dogsled teams leaving individually at two-minute intervals. By 1:18 p.m., Meyer let up his snow hooks, and he and his dogs were off.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Linus Meyer and his sled dogs make their way through the woods at the MidMN Race from Outing to Remer.

MEYER continued on page 15

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 15 MEYER continued from page 14

The race course travels along Lake dogsled racers. “It’s always good to see the finish Superior’s North Shore Trail, running through miles of snowy Minnesota line,” Meyer said. “The dogs get excited woods with the occasional glimpse of because there’s a bunch of people there and they hear their the frozen great lake. voices, so they speed Meyer did not have up. It’s good to see the much time to enjoy the end – but it’s also over. view, though. You worked all this “You’re watching while to do the race, the dogs a lot,” Meyer “Sometimes you and then it’s over in a said. “Sometimes you couple of hours.” get so involved in get so involved in Meyer placed the race you forget to ninth out of the 21 smell the roses along the race you forget racers who competed the way, but I like to just let the dogs do on the 40-mile race, a to smell the roses their thing and enjoy standing that satisfies the scenery as we go. along the way, but him. All six of his dogs I didn’t really stop. completed the race, I like to just let the tired but still eager Once in a while, if the dogs have got to go a little farther. dogs do their thing to pee or something, you Fortunately, they did stop for a little bit. not have to pull the and enjoy the Sometimes you stop sled all the way back to let somebody pass. to the south; a friend scenery as we go. ” But I didn’t really take of Meyer’s brought any breaks.” the dog truck to Two - Linus Meyer To help out his Harbors for him. sled dogs, Meyer The Beargrease often does some Marathon is not where running himself, either Meyer is stopping for pedaling with his foot or getting off the the year. His dogsled team ran a 30-mile sled entirely to help them up the hills. race, over two days with eight dogs, at Meyer’s team averaged 11.1 miles per the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin Feb. hour during the race. 2-3 and the 30-mile, eight-dog MidMN One thing that helped Meyer Feb. 9 from Outing to Remer. He plans maintain his speed was the condition his last race of the season to be the 52of the trail. The trail had been regularly mile Wolf Track Classic in Ely Feb. 23groomed for snowmobiling, neither too 24. deep nor too hard. Moguls or unpacked Even in the moments after the race spots of snow can trip up or injure dogs, is finished, Meyer is always ready for but the North Shore Trail had near- the next one. perfect conditions for the race. “You want to get right back on the Three-and-a-half hours later, and runners again and do it the next day,” the Two Harbors finish line came over Meyer said. the horizon, a bittersweet moment for

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Friday, February 15, 2019 • Edition 2

cres A

Section B Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment

Extraordinary, ordinary life Blair shares farm philosophy By DIANE LEUKAM Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA – When Ryley Blair, on his way to Minnesota from Indiana, picked his future wife, Shannon Huebner, up for their second date, he showed up pulling a cattle trailer. Living in Spooner, Wis., farming was not part of Shannon’s life but little did she know it at the time, her future life was being foreshadowed. “He picks me up with a load of cattle,” Shannon said. “He was bringing them back to Minnesota. I was like, ‘what in the world, this is the weirdest thing!’” The two met online through a Christian dating site in 2002 when they were both 20 years old. Shannon was back home after spending two

years in college in Duluth. Her mother had passed away from Leukemia three years prior, and Shannon was trying to regroup and figure out what she wanted to do in her life. She had felt lost in college. “I felt I was tossed into the world without guidance,” she said. Those years were difficult for her, but ironically, she wouldn’t trade the experience because fighting through it, she learned independence. That independence has helped shape her life, now evident in her Black Angus cattle business she runs from their 20-acre farm northeast of Alexandria. It has been 16 years since that second date, and now the

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Shannon and Ryley Blair are shown with their children (from left), Kace, Minnie, Sawyer and Elke, in summer 2018 at their home acreage near Alexandria.

base and the know-how,” Shannon said. “I learned a lot about cattle through my husband and now I have some of that too, over the years.” Together the Blairs run a cow-calf operation, and through her company, Blair Cattle Co., Shannon raises 30 to 40 steers a year, marketing and selling premium beef. Since she began four years ago, she has had several hundred customers who buy mostly quarters and halves, or even butcher boxes of 25, 50 or 75 pounds, reflecting the contents of a mixed quarter of

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Blairs are married and have four children. Sawyer is 9; Minnie, 7; Elke, 3; and Kace, 9 months old. Ryley and Shannon have their own separate businesses, collaborating to help each other along the way. When the two were first married they raised groups of 50 Holstein calves at a time, something they did in addition to their other jobs. “We’d bottle feed and raise them up and that’s how I fell in Shannon Blair raises 30-40 steers annually at her and husband, Ryley’s, farm home love with cattle,” Shannon said. near Alexandria. Premium beef is sold to several hundred customers. Ryley grew up with cattle. “He has the knowledge


Page 2 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019 BLAIR continued from page 1

OPEN HOUSE

“I’ve found that a lot of people my age don’t know how to cook roasts or they don’t know what to do with soup bones,” Shannon said. “I love that I can show people how to cook beef. Some people think ‘It’s winter, I can’t have steak because I can’t start the grill.’ Well you can cook it inside if you want to.” Shannon’s favorite way to cook steaks and roasts is through a French method called sous vide. The meat is seasoned and vacuum sealed in a bag, which is then placed in a water bath. A precision cooker heats the water to a low temperature and circulates the water so it is all exactly the same temperature. The meat is never brought to a boil, but is cooked to the recommended temperature, creating a tender, evenly cooked product. And it takes much longer. For steaks it is usually an hour and a half in the water bath. After that, Blair uses a cast iron pan and very high heat to sear the outside. “We make steaks that you can’t get in a restaurant; it’s fine dining at home,” she said. It helps that they start out with highquality meat, and Blair prides herself on consistency of product. “We took a group of steers to be graded and half of them graded at prime and half at Certified Angus Beef, so all of them were in the top 10 percent or higher quality of beef in the United States,” Shannon said. Part of that consistency goes back to Ryley. He runs a large alfalfa-growing operation, Ryley Blair Farms, which allows Shannon to have an unlimited supply of the highest-quality alfalfa hay available for her animals. She knows she is fortunate, because for most beef growers that would not be costeffective. The cattle are also fed cracked

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

Shannon Blair is pictured with her beloved cattle at their overwintering site near Glenwood. Just days later, she was attacked there by a heifer and sustained multiple injuries. Her son, Kace, was born healthy through an emergency Cesarean section.

corn with no by-products, something Blair feels is affordable because she sells her product directly. And, her philosophy on animals is at the core of what she does raising cattle. “I don’t value animal life in the same way I value human life, but I do take very seriously that I was entrusted

with this animal’s life,” she said. “It’s important to treat your cattle well or to treat whatever animal’s life well.” Shannon likes her cattle to have perks. “My husband shakes his head,” she said, smiling. “I had him build this thing with an old irrigator sprinkler head on a pole. We hook up a hose in the

summertime and it’s like a cow splash pad. They stand under it and they love it. It’s not necessary for their lives but I know they enjoy it so why not!” She does not get elaborate with perks but wants the cattle to be BLAIR continued on page 3

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 3 BLAIR continued from page 2 comfortable, happy and used to people. Most of her work is done by hand, and she feels it keeps stress levels down. “When it comes to sorting and moving them they are more calm and adjusted,” she said. “When we take them to the meat locker, too, they are used to being handled, so the adrenaline [is lower] that can play into the overall quality of the meat.” She makes sure no meat gets wasted. For instance, she will not make heart or tongue, but finds other customers who will take and use it. “It’s important to me to use as much of their life as I can,”

she said. People have enjoyed the way Blair raises her cattle, and have been trying to get her to raise other animals like chickens and pigs. She is not interested. “There are a lot of smaller growers popping up where they are going to raise a lot of protein products and that’s great but that’s not me,” she said. “I have to do what I love and cattle is what I love.” Her love for cattle remains as strong as ever, even after an incident last spring that could have turned out tragic. Just before she was due to have her youngest child, Kace, she was

attacked by a heifer in their cow-calf operation, where the cattle were being overwintered near Glenwood. Even though there were no animals near Shannon at the time, the heifer came at her. “She was just a new mom,” Shannon said. “She lost track of her baby; she didn’t know where her baby went and she was panicking. I wasn’t anywhere near her calf, or any other calves.” Shannon sustained a number of injuries, but miraculously Kace was born uninjured and healthy through an emergency Cesarean section. Shannon is still in constant pain but feels it will either get better or she will get more used to it. She knows it could have been so much worse. “It was always my biggest fear that my children would be left without a mother,” she said. “I’ve always felt like life can get taken away at any moment, losing my mom when I was really young. I have an elevated perspective of life and what’s important. I lay awake at night and replay it all.” Thankfully, the ending is always the same. She and Kace are both alive and well. In spite of it all, she is glad to be involved in agriculture. “Farm life is the best life,” she said. “I am choosing to be in the industry but it is not all rainbows and unicorns. Farm PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM Shannon Blair and her son, Kace are all smiles Jan. 8 at their home near Alexandria. life is hard for me because I The two are alive and well after Shannon was attacked by a heifer shortly before didn’t grow up in it. It’s been hard but at the same time we Kace was due to be born in spring 2018.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Grilling steaks and shrimp is second nature to Shannon Blair, who uses recipes and teaching people how to cook with beef as part of her marketing strategy for her business, Blair Cattle Company.

count it all as joy too, because it makes us who we are – we’re strong and we’re hard-working, and that’s something to be proud of.” And, she never takes a day for granted. “You get today,” she said. “That’s all you’re guaranteed.” Ryley and Shannon understand the risks and dangers of working in agriculture,

and Shannon explains her philosophy. “My outlook is excitement for each day in this life,” she said. “To spend [those days] with my kids doing the things I love, to work hard and be productive, in the small and the big things I’m grateful because life is such a grand adventure.” *See recipes from Shannon Blair on page 10B.

CA-Feb15-1-WS

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Page 4 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 5

Weight loss, poor hair coat, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, anemia and failure to grow are all problems that can be due to intestinal parasites. Often there are no symptoms at all. The most common intestinal worms we see in dogs and cats include roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms. Occasionally, we diagnose whipworms. In addition to intestinal “worms,” we see disease from intestinal protozoal parasites like coccidia, giardia and cryptosporidia. Protozoal parasites are single-celled organisms that can only be By WENDY WOMACK seen with a microscope. A simple test of your pet’s fresh feces at your veterinarian’s office can diagnose most intestinal parasites. It is uncommon for whole worms to pass in the stool so fecal exams allow vets to check for the microscopic eggs the worms are laying which contaminate the environment and infect other animals. Most over the counter “dewormers” do not cover all of the above parasites so regular fecal exams are an important part of preventative health care for your pet. Roundworms are by far the most common parasite we deal with in puppies and kittens, but all ages of pets can be affected. Roundworms are found worldwide and the eggs can persist in the environment for years – even in our harsh climate. Roundworms live in the small intestine but also have larval stages that migrate through other tissues like the lung. Some of these larva encyst within tissue outside the gut and in that form cannot be killed by dewormers. This is how even regularly dewormed bitches and queens can pass roundworms on to litter after litter. The state of pregnancy reactivates these encysted larva and they move on to the gut or in dogs also to the uterus and mammary glands so that puppies can be infected before they are even born or as they nurse after birth. Larval migrations to the mammary glands also happen in cats and nursing is the primary way new kittens get infected. Cats and dogs can also become infected from ingesting prey animals like rodents. Finally, cats, dogs and PEOPLE can be infected by ingesting soil contaminated by feces containing the eggs of roundworms from infected animals. Because the eggs laid by the roundworm take at least a month to become infective, picking up fresh feces immediately can significantly reduce environmental contamination and risk. There are over the counter and prescription dewormers that are effective against roundworms and most heartworm preventatives contain an ingredient that will control roundworm infections. All puppies and kittens should be dewormed multiple times in their first 12 weeks. Because dewormers only kill worms within the gut, the repeated doses are to kill each wave of larval migrations that reach the gut. Hookworm infections can be more serious than roundworm infections, especially for puppies and kittens. While other worms get their nourishment by absorbing it through their skin while they live in the intestine, hookworms suck the blood of their host. In puppies and kittens, the amount of blood lost can cause severe anemia and death. Hookworms have life cycles that involve larval migrations and encysting in tissue outside the gut similar to roundworms. Again, puppies can get hookworms while in the uterus and when nursing, however, kittens do not. Cats, dogs and PEOPLE can get hookworms from ingesting infected soil and from larva in the soil directly penetrating the skin. Hookworm eggs do die in freezing temperatures and only last a few months in the environment in warmer temperatures. Cleaning up fresh feces to decrease soil contamination and using dewormers are the best ways to minimize infection risks for you and your pet. Tapeworms are found in the small intestine but pass their eggs differently than hookworms and roundworms. Those two parasites lay eggs in the small intestine which pass out with the feces and are microscopic. Tapeworms “lay” their eggs as sacs or segments that pass with the feces and can be easily seen as what look like a grain of rice or a maggot on the outside of the feces or stuck to the hair around the anus of the pet. These segments can even wiggle when fresh. Dogs and cats get tapeworms from consuming an intermediate host carrying the appropriate life stage of the worm. The most common intermediate host is the flea. Other intermediate hosts are common prey animals like rodents. If your pet has tapeworms, it is an indication to strongly consider treating for fleas. Some heartworm preventatives contain an ingredient to treat tapeworms but most do not, so a separate medication will be needed. Whipworms are a large intestinal parasite and can be harder to diagnose because eggs are only shed intermittently in the feces. Your vet will decide if whipworm infection is likely in your pet’s case. The collection of protozoal parasites noted at the beginning of this article cannot be treated with over the counter medication, cannot be diagnosed without a fecal exam and should be addressed by your veterinarian on an individual patient basis. There are several important things to remember about intestinal parasites. Just because your pet is not showing any signs of illness and their feces look normal to you, that does not mean they are not carrying intestinal parasites. Parasite treatments often require follow-up doses and monitoring. Lastly, people are also at risk from parasites carried by cats and dogs, so be sure to do fecal exams and treat as directed by your veterinarian.

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Page 6 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019

Crazy cat lady!

George shares love of Turkish Vans By LAURA HINTZEN Staff Writer SAUK CENTRE – Growing up on a dairy farm, Marisa George always had a dog and nearly 20 cats surrounding her at all times. “All we knew were Australian Blue Heelers, Shepherds, Border Collies and barn cats,” she said. Once she was older and settled down, her love for cats did not change. George and her husband, Jason, were gifted a kitten from her sister-in-law that seemed to be a mix of Turkish Angora. “She followed us everywhere and loved to play catch and go down by the lake,” she said. “One day we let her out and she didn’t come back. That was four years ago in October.” At the time they lost their first cat, George was also pregnant and lost her son a few weeks later at 16 weeks. “Jason wanted us to get another cat to help me heal from the loss,” George said. In search of something similar, George purchased two female Turkish Van cats: Katty, now 3, and Kiki, now 4. The couple was on a waiting list for a kitten from a Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) and The International Cat Association (TICA) registered Cattery in Michigan when they bought Kiki from another breeder in Michigan. She was an older kitten at 9 months waiting for a home. After several months on the waiting list, they had their choice in a litter of calico blue and cream kittens. “We chose Katty and we got photo updates until we were able to pick her up at 13 weeks,” George said. Originally called “Turkish cats,” their name was later changed to the Turkish Van to avoid confusion with the Turkish Angora breed. With the Turkish Vans still being quite rare in the United States, the next closest breeder to Michigan is in Missouri and another in Texas. GEORGE continued on page 7

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Marisa George leashes her Turkish Van cats, Kiki (left), and Katty (right), for a trip outside Jan. 31 at her home in Sauk Centre.

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 7 GEORGE continued from page 6

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The Turkish Van Cat is “The Vans are so unusual,” George hypoallergenic, having a semi- said. “They are not lap cats, but like to longhaired white coat with colored be right by you all the time.” markings on the head and tail, known as a Because George does not have “van” pattern. The breed was developed children of her own, the cats are in the United Kingdom from a selection basically her children as she is greeted of cats obtained by them early each from various morning by a lick cities of modern and a purr to start Turkey, and was her day. introduced in the To her, it is like “The Vans are so unusual. having 2-year olds United States in 1982. around. They are not lap cats, but running The Vans “They are can be easily constantly into like to be right by you all identified by their things. We put the time.’” wide and wedgesoft closures on shaped head. The the cabinet doors - Marisa George kittens are initially because they born with pale figured out how blue eyes, which to open them,” change to a deeper blue or amber as George chuckled. “If I’m busy doing they grow older. something, they will be patting on my Katty has an unusual trait of one leg to get my attention.” amber eye and one blue eye, which George follows a daily routine, stems from the cat’s piebald white having each cat fed by eight in the spotting gene which prevents melanin or pigment from infusing one eye’s iris GEORGE with color. continued on page 8

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Page 8 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019 GEORGE continued from page 7

morning. From there she walks over to feed the fish and the cats will fight for a spot to watch her do it. “We ended up getting more fish and went to a bigger tank to keep them entertained,” George said. Usually around 10 or 11 a.m. when George drives to her job at the Great River Regional Library in Sauk Centre, the cats will take naps – Kiki in her favorite spot atop the wardrobe dresser and Katty on the bed. During the day, the cats have free range of the home, utilizing a raised walkway which extends from the dining room, through the living room, down the hall and into the bedroom, giving the cats multiple levels to prance upon. “We saw an ad on TV in 2016 featuring walkways and I thought it was a good addition for them,” she said. “The hardest part was putting holes in the walls to have it all connect.” If the cats get tired of doing that, they can take the exit onto the Georges’ catio which is set up outside. They make use of the space year-round. The catio was originally built using cedar and metal fencing, designed to let the cats still have access to the outdoors without being harmed by predators. “We have multiple bird feeders, so there are birds by our place all day long,” she said. “The cats enjoy chirping at the birds.” When George gets home from work, the cats are right by her side ready to play. “They greet Jason at the door and then pretty much ignore him after that until I am home,” George chuckled. Unlike most other breeds, the Turkish Van enjoys water and is nicknamed the “swimming cat” for their love of it. It would not be a surprise to find one splashing in ponds or pools or, in George’s case – the bathtub. Occasionally, Jason will fill the bathtub half full and watch Katty chase crappie minnows. Kiki watches. “Kiki is a princess and doesn’t like getting her paws wet,” George said. While the cats are hypoallergenic, they do shed. For George, that is not a problem. She doesn’t mind cleaning up after them, and would even love to add just one more Van cat. As a librarian, George loves to learn and keep studying up on the breed, and cats in general. Last year for Christmas, she welcomed a logical gift from one of her relatives: “The Encyclopedia of Cats.” “I guess I never thought I would be a crazy cat lady,” she said, “but here I am!”

PHOTOS BY LAURA HINTZEN

The most common spot for Katty to be sitting is on the side table next to all the treats.

A catio sits outside the home of Marisa and Jason George in Sauk Centre, available for their two Turkish Van cats to enjoy the outdoors all year-round.

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Page 10 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019

Cheeseburger Mac

COUNTRY COOKING Recipes submitted by

SHANNON BLAIR Alexandria Douglas County Italian Wedding Soup • • • • • • •

1 pound lean premium ground beef • 2 cups chopped spinach 2 eggs, slightly beaten • 1 cup orzo pasta, uncooked 1/3 cup breadcrumbs • 2/3 cup finely-chopped carrot 2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese • 1/4 cup finely-chopped onion 1 tsp. dried basil • Grated Parmesan cheese 1 tsp. onion powder 10 cups chicken broth In a medium bowl combine meat, egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil and onion powder and shape into 3/4-inch balls. In a large sauce pan, heat broth to boiling; stir in spinach, orzo, carrot and meatballs. Return to boil. Reduce heat to medium. Cook at slow boil for 10 minutes or until orzo is tender. Stir frequently to avoid sticking. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

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1-2 Tbsp. olive oil • 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 green bell pepper, diced • 1 tsp. salt 1 small yellow onion, diced • 1 tsp. pepper 1/2 cup diced Portobello • Softened butter mushrooms • 8 slices provolone cheese • 1 garlic clove, minced • 8 slices sourdough bread • 1 pound premium ground beef In a medium skillet, warm olive oil to a medium heat and sauté bell peppers, onions and mushrooms until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook about 30 more seconds. Set veggies aside. In the same pan add ground beef and cook over medium heat until there is no longer any pink showing. Stir in salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Add in the veggies and stir until everything is combined. On the inside of your bread, place a slice of cheese, scoop about 1/3 cup of the beef mixture on top of that and top with another slice of cheese. Butter the outside of each piece of bread and place it on a skillet. Cook over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes per side until the outside is browned and cheese is melted.

Red Flannel Dog Food

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• • • • • • • • •

1/2 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. salt or seasoning salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper 3/4 tsp. oregano 3/4 tsp. parsley 3/4 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. paprika 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Brown ground meat in a skillet over medium heat until almost done. Add in onions and cook until tender. Drain meat and onions on paper towels and return to skillet. Add remaining ingredients except for the cheese. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and cook until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not overcook pasta – I usually taste check it at 9 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Sauce may be thin. Let pasta sit to thicken the sauce, meanwhile, adjust seasonings if needed. Serve and enjoy! Notes: You can use different types of cheese blends. Try adding a little ricotta for extra creaminess. Add things like tomatoes and taco seasoning to make chili mac. You can incorporate veggies like broccoli or peas. This recipe can be a base to get creative!

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Page 12 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019

There’s a monster out there to go from having a single plant out there to having hundreds of plants out there the next year,” Drewitz said. “Once you get to that infestation it becomes less plausible to manage those weeds By NATASHA BARBER out.” Palmer amaranth, Staff Writer Amaranthus palmeri, has been listed on SAUK RAPIDS – In Minnesota’s Prohibited the past, if a farmer spied Noxious Weed Eradicate a weed in the middle of List for the last five his knee-high corn field, years. The plant, which he might turn a blind eye, is part of the pigweed hoping the crop would family, is native to the outcompete the menace. southwestern United According to Nathan States and northwestern Drewitz, University of Mexico, but it has spread Minnesota Extension across the country, Educator, that mindset reaching Minnesota in is no longer an option. 2016. The weed has been With herbicide resistance documented in Jackson, increasing in weeds, Redwood, Douglas, farmers must continue Lyon, Todd and Yellow to take proactive Medicine counties. Yet, approaches to keep yields with up to 250,000 shiny, out of harm’s way – black seeds the size of especially when it comes a pin head produced to the pigweed family per plant, the seeds can PHOTOS BY DEVIN HAMMER and palmer amaranth. easily be transported by A waterhemp leaf (left) and palmer amaranth leaf are displayed to show the differences in the petiole “If the weeds drop wind, bird, water, farm length and leaf blade shape. Both plants are members of the pigweed family. their seed, you’re going equipment – just about anything. resistant to one or more With its fast growth classes of microtubule rate of 2-3 inches per day, inhibitors, ALS the plant – which can inhibitors, glyphosate reach 10 feet tall – became and Photosystem II the most troublesome inhibitors, and HPPD weed in cotton fields inhibitors, according to in the southern United the MDA. States 10 years ago. Drewitz compares Now, as it continually palmer amaranth develops resistance to waterhemp’s big to multiple herbicide brother. modes of action, palmer “It gets bigger amaranth could become than waterhemp,” he a monster lurking in said. “It gets taller than Minnesota farm fields waterhemp. It will out if proper management reproduce waterhemp, is not practiced. The and it will out compete Minnesota Department waterhemp. Basically, of Agriculture reports it’s a monster. From yield losses of up to 91 a 6- to 8-inch plant, it percent in corn and 79 may put off up to a 1.5percent in soybean fields foot seed head. It’s very A waterhemp plant (left) and palmer amaranth plant are shown from a bird’s eye view. The longer due to palmer amaranth. difficult to control once petioles found on palmer amaranth distance the leaf blades from the main stem. Palmer amaranth has you have it established, been documented to be and we would prefer it

Combatting palmer amaranth before the weed takes over fields

does not get established in Minnesota.” Drewitz said being able to identify the types of pigweed at an early stage of 1-2 inches and knowing weed biology can be vital in management practices as not all herbicides will be as effective on different weeds due to different biology. Typically, farmers will spray, till or use cultivation to rid fields of weeds when weeds are less than 4 inches tall in order to maximize effectiveness. Drewitz said the difference between when a person sprays for palmer amaranth compared to redroot pigweed can be two weeks or more. “When I am looking at a weed species, I am looking for one or a handful of different identifying features that are going to be consistent and repeatable,” Drewitz said. Drewitz begins at looking at the plant’s stem, moves on to the leaf shape and, if necessary, analyzes the seed head. He also takes into account the growth rate of the plant and when in the growing season the plant has emerged. Identification is not the only tool in a farmer’s toolbox. Good management practices come into play when ensuring weeds do not infest a field. Drewitz suggests managing field borders to prohibit weed introduction, utilizing recommended row widths and planting populations, using row cultivation and rotary hoeing when WEEDS continued on page 13

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 13 WEEDS continued from page 12 appropriate, recording problems with the intent to reduce seed banks, and harvesting weed-ridden fields last to reduce risk of spreading weed seed. “At the end of the day, it comes down to utilizing effective modes of actions and making sure you are using the proper dose to kill the problem,” Drewitz said. “Don’t be using half rates (of herbicides).” If palmer amaranth is found in a field, farmers should contact an extension educator, agronomist or the MDA. All will help the farmer contact the appropriate individuals to begin taking proper steps for eradication. “No one is in trouble if they have palmer amaranth in their field,”

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Drewitz said. “We just want to know it’s there, and we want to make sure it gets taken care of. … That is the biggest thing on our mind right now is making sure palmer amaranth is not spread throughout the state.” Drewitz stressed field scouting and said it is important for farmers to address every single weed left standing. “Don’t walk off,” he said. “If you used a herbicide, odds are good there is a reason why that plant is still out there. That is a plant you’re likely seeing some resistance built in. That is a weed that will plague you next year and the year after that. Sooner or later, you have resistance and you have no options left.”

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Tips for identifying the plant Extension educator Nathan Drewitz offered these tips for detecting palmer amaranth from other pigweed species. - Check the stem. If the stem has hairs you can rule out some pigweed species. If the stem is smooth, even at 1-2 inches tall, people should be aware that it is likely waterhemp or palmer amaranth. - Rate of growth. Palmer amaranth grows more quickly than waterhemp and other pigweed species. - Shape of leaves. Palmar amaranth leaves have differences from waterhemp. For the most part, waterhemp leaves have a stretched diamond shape. Palmar amaranth tends to have petiole lengths longer than the leaf blades, and the leaf blade explodes outward from the end of the petiole into an eggshaped leaf that is wider at the base and comes to a pointed end. - Get a bird’s eye view. If you look down at the canopy of the plant, the palmar amaranth has longer petioles which gives it a rosette appearance often compared to a poinsettia look. The plant is wider at the bottom and slimmer toward the top. - Seed head. In the best-case scenario, the weed has been eradicated before a seed head has the chance to grow, but in the event seed heads have emerged, palmar amaranth produces a long seed head with stiff, sharp bracts, which are painful to the touch.

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Page 14 • Country Acres - Friday, February 15, 2019

Alouette is king at Greenwald snowmobile reunion By HERMAN LENSING Staff Writer

GREENWALD – The Alouette snowmobiles were only manufactured for about 10 seasons, from 1967-77, but in Greenwald they left a lasting impression. This year the 10th reunion of Alouette snowmobilers was Sunday, Feb. 10 in Greenwald. It was started in memory of Don Marthaler, who owned a garage and sold Alouette snowmobiles in the tiny town on Highway 4 in Stearns County. His son, Jim, organizes the event, sending out invitations. Most of the people coming to the event had an association with Greenwald, and to some degree the machines sold by the Marthalers, or were relatives of Marthaler. The reunion is held in the garage Don operated. It is now called Dale’s Garage as it has since been purchased by Dale Athmann. Dale grew up almost next door to the garage, with his father, Stan, owning a bar in Greenwald. Inside the garage, displayed on the walls are BY HERMAN LENSING photographs and clippings of Jim Marthaler (left) and Dale Marthaler stand behind an Alouette snowmobile by the same housePHOTOS in Greenwald where they Greenwald history, posters of were photographed 50 years earlier. A Feb. 10 Alouette reunion was near the house.

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Friday, February 15, 2019 - Country Acres • Page 15 ALOUETTE continued from page 14 The machine’s reputation for reliability and endurance continues. At the 10th anniversary gathering, more than one of the machines were used during an afternoon trail ride. The riders came back to a pot luck supper and evening of visiting. Probably few of today’s riders would care for a long trip on the vintage sleds. The machines today are a bit more reliable, have a few more comforts and take advantage of improvements to engines and sled design. But in one regard the vintage sleds are especially well appreciated. It gives their admirers a chance to reconnect with people they grew up with back in Greenwald, riding the Alouette.

The chassis and hood of an Alouette snowmobile were converted into a bar for one of the reunions. Viewing a Snow Pony sled driven by John Zinna (far right) when he was a boy are (from left) John Marthaler, Jill Marthaler, Scott Marthaler, Brad Wilder and Joe Marthaler. Zinna drove the machine Feb. 10 to the Alouette reunion in Greenwald.

Standing with some of the Alouette machines that were in Greenwald for the 10th anniversary of Melissa Wenker (left) and Joy Silbernick enjoy a bonfire Feb. 10 at the Alouette reunion in Greenwald. the Alouette reunion in Greenwald are (from left) Jim (Marty) Marthaler, Larry Schoenberg and Dale Athmann.

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