Country Acres - June 3, 2023

A place built twice with

hope, faith

Grasshopper Chapel still provides comfort

BY JAN LEFEBVRE | STAFF WRITER

COLD SPRING – While heading north through Cold Spring on Highway 23, there is a small, understated sign that reads “Grasshopper Chapel” with an arrow pointing right. The two words seem mismatched – the first conjuring the image of a pesky – even creepy – insect, the second the image of a peaceful place for quiet contemplation.

The sign leads to other signs etched in granite markers paving a path up Pilgrimage Road, wrapping around a hillside lush with trees. The road ends at a clearing where a small granite chapel and other structures made of rock stand among green grass and flower beds, the whole site neat and manicured but maintaining a natural feel.

The chapel, officially named Assumption Chapel, is the second one

to stand on the site. The first, built in 1877 and made of wood, was destroyed by a tornado in 1894. The site sat vacant until the current chapel was rebuilt in 1951. It has been maintained ever since and holds several special Masses throughout the summer. The site is open all day, every day, but it is not necessarily accessible by car after the first snowfall and through the spring thaw each year because the road is not plowed in winter.

On a recent Sunday, May 21, the chapel was bathed in warm, dappled sunshine, and the site had several visitors. One was Chuck Simon, who lives in St. Cloud. He said he visited Grasshopper Chapel while growing up.

“This is great, old memories here for me,” he said. “Back in the 1960s and 1970s, we were brought here on

Grasshopper Chapel page 2

PHOTOS BY JAN LEFEBVRE (Top, right) Chuck Simon stops by to visit Grasshopper Chapel May 21 on the chapel’s grounds in Cold Spring. Simon’s family often visited the chapel when he was growing up, and he visits the site on Sunday drives. (Right) Grasshopper Chapel is shaded by trees May 21 on its site in Cold Spring. The building was constructed in 1951 at the place where the original chapel was destroyed by a tornado in 1894.

A journey to the butter booth Cold Spring

Moose velvet Nancy Packard Leasman column

Hatching a passion for poultry

CAountry cres

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Grasshopper Chapel from front

Sunday drives with our mom and dad. They told us they got engaged here. As an adult, I got in that habit over the last 10 or so years to come here on my own Sunday drives.”

Simon has other ties to Grasshopper Chapel.

“In the early 1950s, my dad’s two older brothers worked for Cold Spring (Granite) and helped rebuild the chapel,” Simon said. “One of those brothers used to come here years ago and do the gardening and other things.”

As with Simon, the grounds and chapel hold peaceful memories for many, but the original chapel was built during hard times and uncertainty when people in desperation turned to faith for help.

When the original chapel was built, it was called “Maria Hilf,” which in German means “Mary’s Help,” and farmers in the area, mostly German immigrants, did indeed need help.

Back then, people in the Upper Midwest were familiar with locust infiltrations arriv-

ing sporadically throughout the years, but 1873 began a five-year cycle of swarms and infiltrations of Rocky Mountain locusts, each attack destructive at levels never seen before.

The locusts devastated nearly all crops and foliage

across much of Minnesota. Then, they left their eggs behind each year to hatch into throngs of new locusts the following season. Those in the Cold Spring area were not exempt and watched summer after summer as their crops and gardens, their livelihood and

way of feeding their families, were wiped out by the hungry little beasts.

In her books, Laura Ingalls Wilder drew on her own family’s experiences as prairie settlers. Her family was living in Minnesota at the time of the locust plague, as people called it, and she wrote about it in her book, “On the Banks of Plum Creek,” set in the Walnut Grove area of southcentral Minnesota. Ingalls described the approaching locust swarm as looking like a dark storm cloud and said, when it arrived, the grasshoppers rained down like hail. She also described the destruction that followed:

“Millions and millions of grasshoppers were eating now,” Ingalls Wilder said. “You could hear the millions of jaws biting and chewing.”

Farmers tried in vain to save their crops, many by attempting to smoke out the grasshoppers, but nothing worked. It took only a day or two for all plant life to be devoured. Ingalls Wilder wrote:

“The whole prairie was changed … day after day the grasshoppers kept on eating,” she said. “They ate all the wheat and the oats. … The

PHOTO BY JAN LEFEBVRE

Fourteen small grottos representing the Stations of the Cross during the Crucifixion of Jesus stand in filtered sunshine May 21 on the site of Grasshopper Chapel in Cold Spring. The grounds hold a variety of markers made of granite or other rock among the manicured lawn and gardens there.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

RThe Rev. Cletus Connors, OSB, celebrates Mass and Marv Salzer assists as server May 11 at Assumption Chapel in Cold Spring. The chapel is known as Grasshopper Chapel because the first chapel built at the site was constructed during the locust plague of the 1870s

Grasshopper Chapel page 3

Grasshopper Chapel

from page 2

whole prairie was bare and brown. Millions of brown grasshoppers whirred low over it. Not a green thing was in sight anywhere.”

By the fifth year of the locust plague, in 1877, people, most who had been pleading for higher help through prayer, were frightened and starving. In the Cold Spring area, an idea for a bigger show of faith took root.

Led by the Rev. Leo Winter, who was priest for two churches in the area, parishioners built the first chapel to honor Mary in hopes of her interceding on their behalf and ridding them of the locusts. The day after it was completed, Aug. 15 – the Feast of the Assumption – the first Mass was held there. Legend tells how the grasshoppers left that week. The historical record tells that the locusts did not re-

turn the next year, and there has never again been a similar locust plague in Minnesota.

Those entering the rebuilt chapel today will see an altar, flowers, stained glass windows and, in a place of honor up front, a statue of Mary holding the infant Jesus.

Marv Salzer is a caretaker for Grasshopper Chapel and its grounds, and he has long ties to the chapel as well. His dad helped with building the chapel, and his family has been attending events there since he was a boy. He said the road to the chapel is named Pilgrimage Road for a reason.

“In the 1950s and 1960s, once a year (on the Assumption), we used to have a procession in Cold Spring from the church on Main Street all the way up the hill to the chapel,” Salzer said. “The priest would lead, and there would be 500 to 1,000 people who would walk. There would be police

Grasshopper Chapel page 4

PHOTOS BY JAN LEFEBVRE

A small stained glass window glows May 21 in Grasshopper Chapel in Cold Spring. There are three other such windows in the chapel.

A statue of Mary holding the infant Jesus sits high in a place of honor May 21 in Grasshopper Chapel in Cold Spring. The original chapel that stood at the site was named “Maria Hilf,” which in German means “Mary’s Help.”

Grasshopper Chapel

from page 3

escorts, and the whole choir would sing. It was a big deal.”

Today, the chapel holds Thursday evening Masses in May and June, where Salzer said the priest and attendees pray for good weather, a bountiful harvest and protection of families. Masses are held outdoors because of the chapel’s size.

“Bring a lawn chair or blanket, a water bottle and mosquito spray,” Salzer said. “We’ve had a few mosquitos – not too bad, just a few – so repellant is good.”

There is no longer a procession through town each Aug. 15, but a Mass of Thanksgiving is held on or close to that date each year. There are also small weddings and other events held there at times, arranged through Centered on Christ Catholic Community, a collective of four parishes in the Diocese of St. Cloud that oversees the chapel.

Although the two chapels were constructed 75 years apart from each other, faith is what built both of them, and a single thread connects them to this day – dedication to Mary for her ability

to comfort and protect. Many who live around the Cold Spring area tell of a moment when that faith was acknowledged in a strange way. It was back in 1894, immediately after the tornado hit the first chapel. When people arrived after the storm to check on the site, the chapel and everything in it lay in ruin. The building had been lifted off its foundation and into the air until it smashed down onto two nearby trees. The trees somehow kept

on living and are marked at the site today. There was also one other surviving item. While searching for anything that was salvageable, someone came upon the chapel’s statue of Mary, completely unharmed.

“The only thing left was the statue,” Salzer said. “It had ended up somewhere over the hill in some bushes. They say the bushes were like a mother, cradling her child.”

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE.

PHOTO S BY JAN LEFE B VRE

Stairs lead up the hill May 21 to the site of Grasshopper Chapel in Cold Spring. Those who cannot make the climb can travel by car to the site via Pilgrimage Road.

A quiet spot for prayer and reflection waits in cool shade May 21 on the grounds of Grasshopper Chapel in Cold Spring. The site is surrounded by lush trees, providing serenity.

Banquet held March 11 in Freeport.

Once crowned at the county level, Ratka began preparing for the next round of judging that took place in early May. That round determined the 10 finalists for Princess Kay of the Milky Way. The judging consisted of a personal interview, a prepared speech and a mock media (radio) interview. Candidates were scored on each section of the judging process, taking into consideration their preparedness, their knowledge of the dairy industry and its products, as well as their ability to represent and be a goodwill ambassador for Minnesota’s dairy farmers.

Leading up to judging day, Ratka met with her fellow county princesses in order to work through speeches, practice questions and keep up on current events happening in the dairy industry. Additionally, Ratka prepared by doing her own individual research and answering mock questions, and she continued to perfect her speech by reading it to her family members.

“I would say I prepared pretty well,” Ratka said. “I think it helped to know that I had a lot of people rooting me on and supporting me.”

Once she made it through judging, she had to wait another day for the announcement of the finalists, which was live streamed via the Princess Kay Facebook page on Sun., May 14. That day, she and her family waited at home for the announcement.

“It was nice to be surrounded by family,” Ratka said.

Ratka was announced third in the list of 10.

Another of the finalists named, Gracie Ash of Mille Lacs County, also attends the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and is a close friend of Ratka. After Ash was announced seventh in the lineup, she contacted Rat-

ka through FaceTime, and the two families were able to celebrate together over the phone. Now that Ratka has been named a finalist for Princess Kay, she will continue serving as a county princess for the rest of the summer.

“I am most excited for our county events where I get to have conversations with people and share my

dairy story,” Ratka said.

The 10 finalists will spend time together during the Minnesota State Fair, each having their likeness carved in a 90-pound block of butter. There they will share the goodness of dairy with fairgoers and do interviews with various media.

Ratka page 9

PHOTOS BY ALEX CHRISTEN

The Ratka family - Allison (front), Kathy (back, from left), Tyler, Megan, and Kevin –gather outside their residence May 20 near Cold Spring. Kathy was a Princess Kay finalist in 1993, and Megan was named as a finalist in 2023.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

(Left) Megan Ratka shows off her cow at the Stearns County Fair in Sauk Centre. Ratka has been showing cows since she was seven years old.

Country girl

As spring rolls into summer, change is in the air. We will all miss Grace as she transitions to being full-time on her family’s farm. Here at Country Acres, I, along with Sarah Colburn, will be taking the lead. Please feel free to reach out to me with any story ideas related to all things country living. We love hearing about local farmers but also collectors, unique hobbies, innovative ways to use the land, interesting people doing noteworthy things, and rural entrepreneurships. We are also always looking for delicious recipes from anyone in our coverage area. I look forward to meeting and learning more about the people of this amazing central Minnesota area.

Faith, family, farming

By Tiffany Klaphake

While I have only been writing stories for Country Acres for less than a year, I have been a lifetime country girl.

I grew up on a small dairy farm in central Minnesota. I was active in 4-H and FFA and was a county dairy princess. Growing up the only girl on a dairy farm, I had my own share of chores just as my brothers did. As we grew, we learned to find our own area of expertise on the farm. My brothers took care of most of the tractor driving, I fed the baby calves and mowed the grass around the yard. We all helped out in the barn between milking and feeding the cows. I always found comfort in the barn because I knew that was where my family was. Meal times and milking time we spent together as a family. By the time my siblings and I were in high school, and all the way through college, we had our routine. We each knew what we had to do, and by each one taking a different task, we got done in no time (even though it didn’t always feel like it).

I am glad I grew up on a farm; however, I did not envision myself marrying a dairy farmer. Much to my husband’s relief, I still said yes when he asked me to marry him over five years ago.

I currently live on a dairy farm with my husband Jason and our two kids. Allison is almost 3, and Carson is 1. Jason farms with his brother, Dan, and together they milk 80 cows. I help out when I can, but our two kids keep me busy after I get off work at my job in

town. Jason and I agree that the farm is a great place to raise a family. We live on his home farm.

We often talk about our own upbringings on the farm and how we want to raise our family. With such similar backgrounds and values, it wasn’t difficult to decide how we want to raise our family. While much has changed, on and off the farm since we were toddlers, some things will always stay the same.

Yes, technology has come a long way in the last 30 years, but good strong farm family values have run deep in our families for generations. Faith, family and farming are the three pillars that Jason and I were both raised on and will be how we raise our family.

Farming is not a job; it’s a way of life. Whether you are a dairy, sheep, chicken, crop or flower farmer, whether you are part-time farming or full-time farming, it is a commitment - one that should be taken on with pride. Less than 2% of the U.S. population are farmers. I know “the few, the proud” is the slogan for the Marines, but it also applies to farmers.

Being a dairy farmer myself, and in honor of June Dairy Month, I have to give a salute to all the dairy farmers out there. I personally know how much hard work goes into what you do. Thank you. I look forward to telling your stories.

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Paynesville

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www.feedcomn.com

Town: Willmar

Parent: Teresa Docken

Willmar High School

Tell us about your involvement in FFA: I’ve always been curious about FFA but didn’t start participating in it until the beginning of this school year. Since then, I’ve done a few CDEs like crops and soils. One of my favorite activities is the monthly chapter meetings because of the fun activities we do, and I get to see the whole chapter together. It’s something great to be part of. Other things that I’ve been a part of include cleaning up the chapter’s Adopt-A-Highway, Employability Skills Contest, volunteering to work at the concession stand during sports events, and helping out at Kandi Land during the fall. All were very fun, and I’m glad that I am a part of something amazing.

What has FFA taught you so far? FFA has taught me so many things in the past few months. It’s taught me how to be a better person and how to use my soft skills like having responsibility and including others. I’ve also learned that it’s okay to push yourself to get out of your comfort zone, and most of the time when you’re pushed out of your comfort zone, that’s when you learn and experience the best and most. FFA has helped get me to where I want to be in life. It’s made me a better person, and I continue to grow. I have learned so much from being part of something bigger than myself.

How do you intend to stay involved in agriculture after your FFA career? I plan to be part of the Willmar FFA chapter until I graduate from high school, and I will continue to support it. After high school I want to go to school for a degree in agronomy. As I grow up, I will support and spread the word about how amazing and awesome FFA is.

What is something you believe people need to know about agriculture? Outside of FFA, I enjoy being outdoors as our family goes camping every weekend of the summer. I also like to go fishing, deer hunting and golfing. I like spending time with family and friends doing different activities. When I’m not outside or with friends and family, I go to work at Willmar Runnings to make a little money and expand my knowledge and experience.

Have you seen how moose velvet looks when it is no longer needed by the antlers? It hangs in shreds as the moose works to rub it off and reveal the latest version of moose manliness. Yeah no, I’ve never seen it either, but I’ve seen pictures.

Oak trees shedding their lower limbs remind me of moose losing their velvet. Those lower branches, no longer fed by the flow of xylem and phloem, die. They dry up, rot, grow mushrooms and still cling to the tree by remnants of wood and maybe a little bark. They swing in the breeze, eroding the pedicle that holds them but hanging on until the right wind knocks them to the ground.

pecially after dealing with one that came down a little too easily.

Working out –outdoors, that is by

Nancy Leasman

It was a branch about 4 inches in diameter and 15 feet long. It hung low enough that I could get a good grip on it. It didn’t fall with a preliminary tug, so I pulled it as far as I could to one side and then let go. You know, things happen quickly sometimes, and I’m not sure exactly the course of events. It wasn’t until the bruises developed that I realized how many times that branch hit me on the way down.

Anyone who cleans up a woodlot has picked up pieces of this fallen “velvet” and has also considered the best way to hasten the process of those that haven’t separated from the tree. Like the moose rubbing off the velvet to reveal the new pristine bracts of antlers, one feels challenged to reduce the shagginess of the oak trunk.

A chainsaw is of little use unless you have one at the end of a pole or employ a ladder. I don’t like to drag extra tools and trappings into the woods. So when I encounter a dangling limb, if I can reach it, I gingerly give it a tug to see if it will come down easily. If it doesn’t, I give it a swing to see if the back and forth movement will dislodge it. This isn’t too likely if the wind hasn’t already managed it. Often I just walk away from them, es-

The branch was curved, and of course it didn’t just fall flat on the ground. It flailed and bounced, hitting my right thigh, my left upper arm and my left hand. The immediate pain in my hand concerned me. I thought it was broken. Stupid to behave like Don Quixote and charge at windmills!

I shook my hand, gave it a minute. The pain ebbed. I added the offending branch to the slash pile.

A couple days later, a bruise nearly the length of my right anterior thigh appeared there. The soft flesh of my left upper arm turned glorious colors and a splotch the size of a half dollar bloomed at the base of my left thumb. Oh, yes, I learned my lesson. Those dangling oak branches are about as dangerous as a cantankerous moose. While I find I can’t entirely leave them hanging in trees, I am judicious in choosing which ones to challenge. I confront them carefully. Don Quixote I am not!

Ratka from page 6

“I am excited to connect with other finalists,” Ratka said. “This will be a group of girls that I will stay in touch with for the rest of my life and that share the same passion as I do.”

The other nine finalists vying for the title of Princess Kay of the Milky Way include Mackenzie Alberts of Dodge County, Gracie Ash of Mille Lacs County, Jalyssa Beaudry of Wright County, Katherine Hills of Wright County, Montana Krueger of Sibley County, Emma Kuball of Rice County, Anne Simpson of Olmsted County, Josephine Sutherland of Pipestone County and Riley Ward of Winona County.

PHOTOS BY ALEX CHRISTEN

in the ring

Stars

Smieja raises cows for show

BY TIFFANY KLAPHAKE STAFF WRITER

LITTLE FALLS –

Karla Smieja showed her first calf in 4-H when she was nine years old.

Now, 39 years later, she is still showing cows.

“4-H was really important to me because I didn’t know anything about showing when I started and started with nothing,” Smieja said.

“I started showing, got bit by the bug and have loved it ever since.”

Smieja starts her day at 6 a.m. when she gets up and heads to the barn.

“It’s fun to come out here in the morning and

milk two pretty cows,” Smieja said. “I know that I need to have a real job to make ends meet, so I will always have that.”

Currently, Smieja owns eight animals –two milking cows and

six heifers – at her farm, Starlight Acres. All of her animals are registered, and all the heifers and cows are for show.

On average, Smieja and her animals attend four shows each year:

Minnesota Holstein Association State Show, District 8 Holstein Show, Minnesota State Fair and World Dairy Expo.

Her two sons, Jacob Schaefer and Quentin Scott, assist with preparing and showing the animals of Starlight Acres. Quentin, an engineer in the Twin Cities area, comes home as often as needed, and Jacob, a senior at South Dakota State University, is home every summer.

“I love having my boys involved,” Smieja said. “I’m so glad that the boys enjoy it as much as I do.”

Smieja’s love of animals started at an early

Smieja page 12

PHOTOS BY TIFFANY KLAPHAKE

A group of heifers gather in their pasture May 9 at Starlight Acres near Little Falls. Karla Smieja feeds her animals a custom diet.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Jacob Schaefer rests with his cow, Abby, after a cattle show. Schaefer and Abby always take a nap together after they get done with a show.

A calf rests May 9 at Starlight Acres near Little Falls. Bull calves at the farm are raised to 300 to 400 pounds.

age. She grew up on a dairy farm near Cushing, milking registered Ayrshires. When she asked if she could show cows at the county fair, she said her parents didn’t know anything about the industry but said they’d support her.

She maintains a herd of Red and White Holsteins and Ayrshires.

“We will always have at least one Ayrshire around here because that is what I grew up with,” Smieja said. “I lost my dad when I was young, so I do it as a tribute to him.

Smieja’s affinity for the farm continued after college. She bought a dairy farm with her then husband and maintained a full-time job in town while her husband worked on the dairy. When the couple divorced, she kept the farm, downsized and turned it into a haven for her beloved bovine.

Although Smieja has learned a lot in her many years of showing dairy, she is still constantly looking for ways to improve.

Because of the small size of Starlight Acres, Smieja is able to custom-

ize each animal’s diet to meet their exact needs. However, also because of the small size, she is not able to feed the way large farms do. For example, she can’t feed silage to her animals because it goes bad before she can use it all.

“The majority of feed we use is custom bought,” Smieja said. “I can’t make the high-quality feed I need on my small acreage to meet the specialized diet needs for each animal.”

The animals of Starlight Acres are fed dry hay, grain, a protein mix and a probiotic.

From May to the first week in October, Smieja keeps her animals groomed and in show-ready condition.

All animals are clipped on a regular basis and have their hooves trimmed. The cows are bred with sexed semen and calve between March and April. That way the cows can be dried off in December.

At the shows, all animals are professionally photographed.

When the cows are in milk, the milk gets fed to a group of bull calves that are purchased as baby calves and are then raised to be 300-to-400 pounds. Then, that group is sold and a new group is brought in.

“Because we don’t get a milk check, we estimate that, if we can get a steady paycheck selling bull calves, this will cover our feed costs,”

Smieja said.

Once it warms up in the spring, Smieja starts to wash her cows every day. She converted the front section of the barn into a wash rack.

The heifers are tied up every weekend to get them used to standing next to each other as well as get them used to being fed and watered out of tubs. They are also walked around routinely. All of this is done to ensure, when it comes time to go to a show, the an-

imals of Starlight Acres will eat, drink and lie down comfortably right away.

“I love cows that love to show themselves off,” Smieja said. “The ones that just enjoy being out there. The ones that parade out there like beauty queens. That’s fun to me. Making them look the best they can, that’s fun.

Smieja said she loves preparing the cows, but she doesn’t spend much time in the show ring. She prefers her sons or a neighbor girl take turns parading the animals around the ring.

“I love to feed cows and get them ready for a show,” Smieja said. “I know my animals so well. I know what to feed them to make them look their best. It’s just super fun.”

For her, shows are not just about the animals. She works to meet 10 new people every show season.

“I’m all about making connections,” Smieja said. “Having that support group that will come and help you means a lot, being able to learn about what’s working for other farmers to learn if there is something I can incorpo-

Smieja page 13

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Jacob Schaefer shows his cow, Abby. Schaefer has been showing Abby since she was six months old.

Rhubarb Cookies

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup softened butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1 large egg

• 1-3/4 cup flour

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Country Cooking

RECIPES SUBMITTED BY KAREN HARAKEL | Randall, Morrison County

Amish Rhubarb Jam

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 cup finely chopped raw rhubarb

• Optional: 1/2 cup chopped nuts

Mix all ingredients well. Scoop onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 14 minutes.

Super Easy Rhubarb Cake

• 4 cups diced rhubarb

• 1 package yellow cake mix

• 1 1/2 cups sugar

• 1 pint of Half and Half

Dice rhubarb, mix with sugar and set aside. Prepare cake mix according to directions. Pour cake mix into greased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle rhubarb and sugar mixture over the top of the cake batter. Do not mix. Pour Half and Half over top of rhubarb. Do not mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. Cool and serve with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.

Rhubarb Custard Pie

• 3 1/2 cups thinly diced rhubarb

• 1/3 cup flour

• 1 1/2cups sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

• 2 eggs beaten

Want your favorite recipes to be featured in Country Acres?

• 4 cups diced rhubarb

• 2 cups sugar

• 14-ounce can crushed pineapple with juice

• 3-ounce box strawberry Jell-O, unprepared

Cook rhubarb with sugar for 12 minutes, mixture will be boiling. Add pineapple and juice and cook an additional three minutes. Add Jell-O powder and mix until well combined. Pour mixture into hot jars and seal.

Rhubarb cake with butter sauce

• 4 cups flour

• 2 cups sugar

• 4 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 2 cups milk

• 6 tablespoons melted butter

• 4 cups diced rhubarb

Combine and pour into greased 9 x

13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until cake springs back. Remove from oven and let cool.

Butter sauce:

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1 cup sugar

• 3/4 cup heavy cream

Combine in small saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for one minute, stirring often. Cool slightly and then cut cake and ladle sauce over the top of the sliced piece.

• 3 tablespoons milk or cream

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 9-inch deep dish

unbaked pie crust

Mix flour, sugar, nutmeg, eggs and milk until well blended. Add rhubarb and mix well until covered. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Place pats of butter on top. Bake at 375 degrees for 60 minutes.

John Deere Salad

• 1 large box lime Jell-O

• 2 cups boiling water

• 2 cans lemon pie filling

• 4-ounce box of instant Jell-O lemon pudding

• 1 cup milk

• 8 ounces Cool Whip

Combine lime Jell-O and boiling water; mix well. Pour into 9 x 13 pan and chill until set. Spread lemon pie filling over Jell-O. Mix pudding package and milk until thickened. Fold in Cool Whip. Spread over pie filling and cool until ready to serve.

Contact Sarah at sarah.c@star-pub.com

Breakfast on the Farm

Rinde Farms, LLC right outside of Long Prairie is hosting this year’s event!

The meal includes cheeseburgers, chips, milk and ice cream and costs $1.

Brutger

from page 18

soon as he was eligible in seventh grade. Almost immediately, he started collecting data and information as he worked at growing the flock at home.

As a freshman this school year, Brutger filled out an application for the regional FFA convention, detailing his management of the poultry operation for the last three years. Under his watch during those years, the family flock of chickens grew from 20-30 chickens to 40-50, producing about 25 eggs daily.

With a Proficiency

Award honor and second-place finish in poultry production at the regional level in February, Brutger moved on to compete in the Minnesota State FFA Convention in Minneapolis April 24.

After answering questions and providing more details on his operation to State convention judges, Brutger said he was taken aback when he was announced as the third-place finalist in poultry production.

“I was really surprised as a freshman to finalize at state,” Brutger said. “I know the judges were surprised to hear that I was a freshman; they thought I was a junior.”

In addition to crediting his FFA advisor,

classmates and family for support throughout the application and convention process, Brutger said his genuine interest in raising chickens may have played a role in his success.

“I’m really passionate about this,” Brutger said. “It is something I enjoy doing; I’m not just doing it to do it. I think that maybe helped a little bit.“

Brutger plans to continue to work on his family’s coop and has several aspirations for improvement that he hopes to include in future project application submissions. He said his primary goal is to continue pursuing his interests in poultry and develop his knowledge.

“I don’t really care if I win,” he said. “I just want to keep growing. I don’t want to take any steps back.”

When he’s not looking after his chickens or participating in FFA events, Brutger stays busy with participation in his school’s student council, knowledge bowl and baseball and basketball teams.

While he still has three full years of high school left to contemplate

Joın the fun!

PHOTO SUBMITTED Chicks raised by Aidyn Brutger huddle in an incubator in April of 2022. Brutger cared for and raised the chicks through development.

Brutger page 21

Adam Sunderman

Cell: 320-761-9918

Jeremy Sunderman

Cell: 320-267-7712

56378

Flowers

from page 22

gram. Each year the Flowers look forward to picking out bulls to offer for sale. They walk their pens and hand-select bulls for growth, good feet and legs, depth of rib, quality carcass traits and docility. They remind each other that their goal isn’t to chase fads, but to provide a product that will put food on a family’s table.

Kali works full-time with Hurley and Associates Grain and Livestock Marketing, but still makes time to participate in the breeding and marketing of the Cottonwood Cattle brand.

“Our philosophy is if we wouldn’t run him with our own herd, we wouldn’t put him in the sale pen,”

Kali said. “We put a lot of importance on satisfying our customers’ needs. So far, it’s proven successful because we’ve had several repeat buyers.”

It takes time and dedication to provide cattle private treaty. The Flowers have to maintain their bull pens diligently making sure the bulls are constantly ready for viewing in the event a buyer wants to stop by the farm that day.

They look forward to meeting with customers and growing relationships with other people in the beef industry. For them, it is what really makes raising cattle worthwhile.

“One thing about the beef business that Seth and I have learned is the people and connections go farther than your farm,” Kali said.

After reflecting on their farm from its start, the

Flowers are grateful for all of the people they’ve met or become friends with. They credit their network of people for where they are today.

“Our friend Jim Wulf said, “You don’t get where you want to go without helping others,” Kali said. “We try not to be so busy that we can’t help others.”

The farm is where the Flowers feel at home. They study EPDs together while their daughter is in bed and when she is awake, they enjoy involving her in some of the farm activities.

The couple is watching their daughter’s love for the farm life grow. Which for them, they said, feels like a blessing.

“We’ve grown to love the Simmental breed,” Kali said. “We are excited to watch her grow a love for them too.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Seth Flower brings a pen of three bulls through the farmyard this past winter at Cottonwood Cattle near Benson. The three bulls were shown at the Northstar Classic Cattle Show in Valley City, North Dakota.