Country Acres - June 5 edition by Star Publications

Country

Friday, June 5, 2020

cres A

Volume 8, Edition 7

Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment

Rousselange’s farrier skills improve life for equine By SARAH COLBURN Staff Writer SAUK CENTRE When farrier Aaron Rousselange first met Denali he’d come from a kill pen in the Dakotas to a farm in Osakis. He and the owner had to physically drag Denali off the trailer, the horse couldn’t walk and could barely get a foot up as Rousselange began his work. Gingerly, Rousselange worked on the horse, getting a package on it that relieved a lot of the leverage on its toe. They took X-rays and

Rousselange worked sideby-side with a veterinarian and the owner. Over time, he continued to change and modify the horse’s treatment based on how its foot grew. Nine months later, Denali had put on some weight thanks to a new diet, gotten regular trims and shoes and began running around the pasture. The owner’s goal was to get him pasture-sound and instead, with the intensive treatments, Denali had a rider aboard his back within the year. “When I first started (as a farrier) it was an emotion-

PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM

Aaron Rousselange owns Rousselange Farrier Service out of Sauk Centre. He works on about 200 horses regularly, after completing his daily full-time work as an active duty member in the United States Army, overseeing operations at the armory in Sauk Centre.

al getaway for me,” Rousselange said. As he attended farrier school and learned more about trimming and corrective shoeing, his work became more about satisfaction for the horse. From his teacher he learned how important the work was to improving the life of a horse. The most important lessoned he learned was “To do something for the horse, not just to the horse.” That lesson has become the cornerstone of the Rousselange Farrier Service business and it’s the reason he does things differently. He works with PHOTO SUBMITTED upwards of 200 horses; this Aaron Rousselange nails a metal shoe on a horse’s foot. He purchases most of the shoes he works with, but is able to make shoes from month alone he’s visited 125 of them. He averages scratch if necessary, practicing those skills in his spare time. 20 horses a week after, all

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after he finishes his day at his full-time job overseeing the armory in Sauk Centre. Rousselange is a full-time active duty member of the United States Army. His farrier business adds another element to his life, and his work has grown considerably since he started in October of 2017. “It’s tough to turn people away because there aren’t a lot of farriers,” he said. “The longer the foot gets, it’s like walking around on a ski boot, but when you’re done, they’re more comfortable and it’s like they have a set of Nikes on.” Most of his work is done right on site at the client’s property. Rousselange pulls up in his pearl white

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 High Country. The bed slide is filled with all the tools he needs, from chaps to protect his legs, hoof stands and shoes to nippers, rasps, nails, a driving hammer, a shaping hammer, anvils, forges and a clincher. He picks up the horse’s foot places it between his legs and gets to work. “The hardest part to get down is shaping a shoe and not going back and forth a lot,” he said. In school, he learned to eagle-eye it, memorizing the shape from the toe, through the branches down the quarters of the foot to the heel. Once he memorizes the shape, he heads to the anvil to make the adjustments, getting as precise as

possible to limit the amount of time he’s physically fitting the horse. It’s a skill he learned during competitions at Mission Farrier School in Washington state. Students competed against one another in challenges, each given 15 seconds to look at the bottom of a foot and 15 minutes to create the perfect shoe. Most often, Rousselange works from shoes he orders; even specialty shoes are available online. He begins with those, though he does have the ability to custom make a shoe from scratch, which he does in his spare time just to keep up on his skills.

18 Of Humans and Chickens Herman Lensing Column

4 7

Cucumbers in the Washing Machine Diane Leukam Column Still Smitten Alexandria Animals We Love

A Heart For Show Animals Eden Valley 9 What’s This? 12 Festival on the Farm Hoffman/Alexandria 15 Getting Back to Simple Watkins

ROUSSELANGE continued on page 2

19 Country Cooking

Page 2 • Country Acres - Friday, June 5, 2020

ountry o u Cou Acres

Diane Leukam, Editor diane@saukherald.com Ben Sonnek, Writer ben.s@saukherald.com Herman Lensing, Writer herman@melrosebeacon.com Jennifer Coyne, Writer jenn@dairystar.com Evan Michealson, Writer evan.m@star-pub.com Carol Moorman, Writer carol@melrosebeacon.com Natasha Barber, Writer natasha@saukherald.com Sarah Colburn, Freelance Writer

ROUSSELANGE from front Generally, he works within an hour’s radius of Sauk Centre but occasionally, horses in need come to him from farther away or he makes a longer trip. He works regularly with area veterinarians and said the trifecta of owner, vet and farrier makes for the best outcome for the horse. “We can all (have different opinions) but work together to come up with a game plan,” he said. Rousselange has been involved with horses since he was young, doing a little roping and riding. He grew up on family farm land in Long Prairie that his relatives farmed. He also worked on a cattle farm. His interest in horses

compounded when he began to watch farriers work on his daughter’s horses. Kailynn, now 11, began riding at the age of 3 and his son Grayson, 5, rides too. Working with animals, he said, has taught his children a sense of responsibility. “To do something you enjoy, there’s always work behind it,” he said. In 2017, Rousselange decided to turn his interest into a business. He called up the farrier school and they had one spot left in the upcoming class. He took a 60-day break, using vacation time from his full-time job, and drove to Washington for schooling. His classes at Mission Farrier

School focused on the science of farriering. Students learned how to read X-rays, they studied anatomy and dissected feet. They learned how to build specialty packages to heal ailing horses. Today, Rousselange still surprises himself when he can take a horse from lame to comfortable in a matter of weeks. He has seen a turnaround in some horses in as little as 16 weeks. With Denali, he said, it took awhile to know he was going in the right direction but soon everybody – he, the owner, the vet and their colleagues – was watching Denali’s new life story unfold.

Story ideas send to: diane@saukherald.com

PHOTO SUBMITTED

A grinder is used to perfect the fit of a horse shoe, as Aaron Rousselange works on site for a client in central Minnesota.

SALES STAFF

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 Bob Leukam, 320-260-1248 bob.l@star-pub.com

PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM

This rasp tool is a metal file for shaping and removing hoof material on horses’ feet.

PRODUCTION STAFF Pat Turner Amanda Thooft Nancy Powell Maddy Peterson CaraLee Feuchtenberger

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

PHOTO SUBMITTED

A horse is fitted with a new shoe by Aaron Rousselange of Sauk Centre. PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM

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Aaron Rousselange poses with Bell, a 7-year-old Friesian-Shire cross, May 27 at the Ken and Brenda Middendorf farm north of Sauk Centre. The health of Bell’s feet has come a long way since Rousselange began trimming them, and she is now able to stand straight and proud.

Friday, June 5, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 3

CUCUMBERS IN THE WASHING MACHINE

the wrong foot. What was most notable though, was the sparkle in his eyes and the grin that went from ear to ear. This was a [sortof] typical family with all their little farm kids, and it was a highlight of my week to watch them thriving in their environment. I’d wager you will meet this family in a future issue of Country Acres, but we shall see. Summer is on, and so is the glorious weather. My husband’s son lives in the Phoenix area, and when temperatures hit well into the hundreds last week he decided to pay us an impromptu visit. He made the comment on Sunday that if the weather stayed like this all year round, he would move back to Minnesota. So, with our winters I guess that’s a “no,” but we can enjoy the summer while it’s here. It is still 94 days until Labor Day, but who’s counting? The photos are beginning to come in for “Animals We Love,” and I hope you keep them coming!

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We have another lineup of unique feature stories for you, some that are deeply entrenched in the signs of our times in one way or another. We have a carry-over of Memorial Day in the person of Dee Brown, who memorialized her husband’s career in the Navy in a unique way; a farrier who happens to be full-time military and whose latest assignment is/ was working in the Twin Cities, trying to regain order during the current civil unrest; a couple of brothers from Alexandria whose annual Country music festival on their farmland has been cancelled due to COVID-19, and whose main talent passed away from the virus in March; a young woman and her family who grow vegetables and are returning to simplicity; and finally, a young girl who loves a variety of animals and excels at showing them, even though there will be no state fair this year. We hear back from so many of you on how much you love this paper and we must thank our advertisers for that. Please take the time to browse through every ad and, if at all possible, patronize these great area businesses and tell them you saw them in Country Acres! Have a wonderful couple of weeks, and we will see you again on June 19.

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A girl needs to have the right tools to make life easier. I smiled when I read about Megan Preusser of Watkins using an old wringer washing machine to clean her cucumbers in this issue’s feature story about her: “Getting back to simple,” on page 15. I remember my mom doing the same thing when I was young. She never came close to the 500-600 quarts of pickles Megan makes every year, but even so, it saved a lot of time. Come to think of it, if you put tomatoes in the washing machine do you get salsa? That was a welcome diversion, so thanks, Megan! It seems the older I get, the more fond memories I have of growing up on the farm. A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting an adorable 4-year-old boy who was excited for the opportunity to share his joy of life on the farm. During the five-cent tour, he literally talked non-stop about the animals, the tractors, his three equally adorable younger siblings, you name it. He was farm-boy through and through. He knew every machine and what it was used for, all while making sure I didn’t “mistake” it for another color. This little guy wore a baseball cap, his jeans had a tear in the knee and the shoes might have been on

Page 4 â&#x20AC;˘ Country Acres - Friday, June 5, 2020

Still Smitten Brown honors Navy husband with commemorative military quilt band outside Johnnieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Naval Bar in Alameda, California Labor Day weekend of 1960. At his ALEXANDRIA - request, after a night out Dee Brown met her hus- with her cousins, she acBy SARAH COLBURN Staff Writer

PHOTO BY KAYLA ALBERS

Dee Brown holds a photo of her husband, Carl (Chuck) Brown, May 27 at the home they shared in Dee Brown explains significant dates on the quilt she created Alexandria. Chuck passed away in May 2018. honoring her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time in the Navy, May 27 at her home in Alexandria.

Staying in More?

companied him to a Jack London Square for pizza for a late-night bite. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was the tallest, most handsome man I ever saw,â&#x20AC;? Brown said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were smitten from the moment we met.â&#x20AC;? They were married Thanksgiving weekend, three months later. After 57-and-a-half years of marriage which included a family move to Okinawa right before the Vietnam War at the bequest of the United States Navy, countless moves and trips, her BROWN continued on page 5

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Friday, June 5, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 5

BROWN from page 4 husband, Carl Ronald Brown, always known as Chuck, died in May of 2018. He was a Navy man through and through. He enlisted in November of 1954 at the age of 17 and retired in 1976 when he was working as an administrative officer for the director of Navy program planning at the Pentagon. He received a Naval commendation for his work as an administrative officer and left the military for his kids when he was set to be transferred to New Orleans. “He came home and said, ‘Dee, we have four children, one a teenager, do we want them to grow up Navy life, moving every two years?’”

she said. “I think I need to give up my Navy career for my children and move to a place where they’ll be accepted and we’ll have roots.”

“He was the tallest, most handsome man I ever saw. We were smitten from the moment we met.” - Dee Brown

They moved to Dickinson, North Dakota and then in 1988 they came to Minnesota and it’s served as their home ever since. On a whim, just as they settled into

PHOTO BY KAYLA ALBERS

Carl (Chuck) Brown’s name, birthday and death date are embroidered at the top of the handmade quilt made by his wife, Dee Brown of Alexandria.

what they expected to be their retirement home in Maple Grove, they picked up and moved to Alexandria. They bought a house on Union Lake in May of 1999. Today, though conversation of Chuck is never far from Dee’s lips, a linear representation of his Naval career hangs on her wall in the form of a handmade quilt she crafted herself. The quilt, she said, will hang there until the day she dies. The quilt serves not only as a tribute to her late husband, but a tribute to the journey she took while making it. As she grieved his death, a loss she said she doesn’t think she’ll ever get over, she learned about him and herself. “God works in strange ways,” she said. “This quilt….I was a total mess….I’m still a total mess; it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” Dee is a member of the Small & Scrappy Club in Alexandria and after Chuck’s death, she went to a meeting where the leader explained the pattern for the day and called it “Trip Around the World.” It was a beginner’s pattern and she

was going to teach her students the basics. Dee gathered together six different fabrics in light and dark shades in order to make two placemats. She created the first placemat, having chosen patriotic material, and decided she couldn’t emotionally build another. Instead, she dove into making a quilt – likening the name of the pattern, “Trip Around the World,” to her husband’s service in the Navy. She didn’t plan it out. She didn’t measure things; she didn’t use a pattern or facts and figures. She just got to work. She created strong blue borders and began working on them with her embroidery machine, detailing year after year of his service. She rifled through papers and stories and records, not understanding why her husband, who was so absolutely meticulous in his professional life, didn’t keep records of his own life. She scrounged and searched, and built the facts for her quilt. As she worked her way through the side of the quilt, she knew she wanted to list things in

PHOTO BY KAYLA ALBERS

Embroidered on the edge of the commemorative military quilt is the enlistment date that began the U.S. Navy career of Carl (Chuck) Brown. His dog tag is attached on the upper left.

succession. One side turned out to be his Navy service before they met. The bottom part running horizontally was his time at Moffett field, the time when they were married, his service in Vietnam and when he was commissioned as

officer. Then she began the right-hand side from the bottom to the top, one duty station here, another there. When she put on her last landmark, it fell into exactly the right place on the quilt. BROWN continued on page 6

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Page 6 â&#x20AC;˘ Country Acres - Friday, June 5, 2020

BROWN from page 5 â&#x20AC;&#x153;It came out exactly right, how did that happen except for God,â&#x20AC;? she said. The project helped her better know who her husband was. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to give him up, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give him up,â&#x20AC;? she said. The quilt project was as spontaneous as their relationship and how they lived their lives. The only stipulation they had when looking for a home in Alexandria at the urging of one of their

kids was that it have large picture windows looking out at the lake â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they looked at one home and bought it. They purchased a one-bedroom house and that summer had 24 people come to visit for the entire week. The couple decided they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the closedoff bedroom and instead decided to make their bedroom the sun porch so they could listen to the loons at night. The bedroom only became a bedroom after Chuck

got sick and Dee, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d spent her professional life as a registered nurse, cared for her husband at home. In the early stages of their relationship, Chuck and Dee lived 45 miles apart and Chuck drove the distance every single day at the end of his shift to see her. The Saturday after they met, he drove to see her and she told him that the next time he came, she was going to choose a new name for him and

heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d see if he liked it or not. At the time he was going by Charlie Brown or Brownie and she determined from the get-go that she couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possibly be married to Charlie Brown. She chose Chuck and it stuck. The couple went on to have five children, one of whom died hours after she gave birth to him. She was seven months pregnant, living in Okinawa while Chuck was in Vietnam. While in the Navy,

Chuck did a lot of work as a personnel officer providing casualty assistance out of the San Francisco Naval Shipyard. He was the one to contact the family of anyone who died who was stationed in the area. He met with the families face-to-face. Dee said she learned a lot from her husband based on how he lived his life and how he died with dignity. She represented much of it in her quilt, and the rest lives in

her heart and mind and the home that surrounds her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He had a heart for people. He was a man of few words, very quiet-spoken,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was a good man to the core.â&#x20AC;? After Dee completed the quilt, she came across a three-ring binder her husband had created outlining his entire Naval career. It was a journey she had to take and apparently, one she was meant to take.

PHOTO BY KAYLA ALBERS

This display, shown in its entirety, helps Dee Brown honor her late husband and his military career at Dee Brown stands by her sewing and embroidery equipment May 27 at her home in Alexandria. the home they shared in Alexandria. Creating the quilt was a discovery process to learn more about his career and to help Dee in her healing process.

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SEND US PHOTOS of the animals YOU love, and we will share them here for all our readers to enjoy! Be sure to include your name, town and a description of the photo. Email to diane@saukherald.com, or text to 320-260-0013.

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY AMANDA DETERS, Sauk Centre

Meeting a newborn calf on the farm is always a joy for the children of Shane and Amanda Deters of Sauk Centre. Pictured are (from left): Sylas, 5, Clara, 11, Scarlette, 8, Sawyer, 9 and Cordelia, 1.

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Page 8 • Country Acres - Friday, June 5, 2020

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Adrienne Lipinski gives a heifer a treat of fresh grass on her parents’ farm in Eden Valley. Lipinski shows pigs, cattle and Cochin chickens at the Meeker County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair.

A HEART FOR SHOW ANIMALS Competing is natural extension of farm life for Lipinski

By SARAH COLBURN Staff Writer

EDEN VALLEY – From the minute Adrienne Lipinski sat in a Minnesota State Fair PHOTO SUBMITTED demonstration day with Adrienne Lipinski holds Clarence, her favorite fluffy Cochin chicken who loves to be petted and scratched. Lipinski often lets Clarence a friend’s Cochin chicken on her lap, she was in run around the grassy field near the barn. love. Now, the 18-year-old has 30-40 adult birds of her own and shows them regularly. “They are beautiful and very calming birds – big, fluffy birds,” she said. There is one particular bird who’s captured her heart, and his name is Clarence. “He’s my boy, I’ve enjoyed raising him PHOTO SUBMITTED throughout the years,” she Adrienne Lipinski washes her heifer, Eliza, during the show season. said.

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When Lipinski goes down to do her chores, he is always clucking about and ready for scratches and petting. She often brings him outside to a big grassy spot next to the barn to let him roam around, but she keeps a close eye on him because there are hawks and eagles in the neighborhood who would like to have him for lunch. For Lipinski, the Cochins round out her herd of show animals. She’s been showing Cochins for three years, but also shows pigs and beef cattle. The Eden Valley resident said showing animals has always been a natural extension of daily farm life. Her parents, Randy and Joyce Lipins-

ki, raise beef cattle, pigs and chickens. She began showing pigs as early as first or second grade and has shown beef cattle for four years. And, she’s always taken pride in her work. Her first year as a Cloverbud in 4-H she was nervous as she entered the show ring. She’d spent the summer working with her animal and as she entered the ring, her dad followed her. She didn’t know the safety rules requiring a parent to stay between the animal and the child so instead she began directing her father out of the ring. “I told my dad to give me back my show stick, that this was my show, not his,” she said. She’s been a mem-

ber of the Valley Victors 4-H Club since kindergarten, and can continue to be a member as she enters her first year of college at South Dakota State University this fall, where she will study agricultural communications. She would like to work in advertising or public relations in the ag field. “Living on the farm…being around my family have definitely impacted me and helped me in choosing my career field,” she said. She credits 4-H with helping her hone her communication and public speaking skills; she served as an officer with 4-H and has participated LIPINSKI continued on page 9

Friday, June 5, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 9

LIPINSKI from page 8 redhorizonequipment.com 21915 160th Street Glenwood, MN 56334

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Adrienne Lipinski and her dad, Randy Lipinski, walk Adrienne’s heifer, Eliza, at the 2018 Minnesota State Fair.

skills, did creed speaking, through the years Lipinsprepared public speaking, ki has excelled at showing farm bureau discussion animals. She placed ninth and employability skills. No matter which skill LIPINSKI set she was focusing on, continued on page 11

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LIPINSKI from page 9

at the national level in diversified livestock. “It has taught me to keep trying and never give up,” she said. “You always have your failures but you learn from those. A lot of people think failure is scary and should be avoided, but I think of it as something I can learn from and better anything I’m doing and compete harder. Between FFA and 4-H, I’ve learned not to be afraid to fall on your knees, make a mistake, not win something, fail at PHOTO SUBMITTED something. You learn how Adrienne Lipinski feeds one of her sows at the Lipinski farm near Eden Valley. This particular sow just to be a better person and gave birth to seven piglets. compete better next year.”

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makes sure they have feed, clean pens and fresh water each day. She checks in on each one of the animals every day and looks out for their welfare. She doesn’t consistently show beef cattle but does so often. Her parents raise Charolais cattle and this year she plans to purchase a heifer to show. Last year, she received a grant through the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program to purchase a heifer and get a foothold in the beef industry. She bought a little heifer she named Pearl, calf to mom, Eliza, who Lipinski describes as a big girl with a big attitude, weighing in at 1,500 to 1,600 pounds. Pearl, she said, is just like her mama. Lipinski has competed at almost every level of 4-H and FFA competitions with her animals and her knowledge of animals. Two years ago, she did her Supervised Agricultural Experience on the farm, helping her dad care for beef, chickens and swine. She placed first with her project at the state FFA level, second at the regional level and earned a silver ranking at nationals. In 2020 alone, she did three proficiencies with FFA and placed first at the state and regional level in agricultural communications, first at the regional level and fourth at state in swine production placement and second at the regional level in poultry production placement. In 2019, she earned a number of awards and went on to receive a gold ranking

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in the advanced showmanship poultry division at the Minnesota State Fair. The ranking required her to not only tell the judges about her birds, their class and their body composition, she answered questions about other breeds of birds in nearby pens. Her knowledge and attention to detail earned her a multitude of accolades including the 2017 Reserve Champion Class Breeding Pen, the 2018 Champion and Reserve Champion Overall Breeding Pen as well as the Overall Champion Poultry, and the 2019 Champion Overall Breeding Pen at the Meeker County Fair. She also shows pigs and cattle at the Minnesota State Fair. Lipinski is a member of the American Berkshire Association, she’s also the Meeker County Swine youth superintendent, her father is the superintendent. Through that position, she welcomes newer 4-H members into the process of showing animals. “I walk them through it and give them some tips to help make it more memorable for them and to help them ease into it,” she said. “It reminds me of how I started to show pigs and how nervous I was for my first show.” Now, she has been showing pigs for more than a decade. “Each pig has their own personality and different traits they show you, “she said. She’s currently caring for 12 show pigs and

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Foensttheivfaarml

Andersonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; land a scenic stage for annual Country Music event

By SARAH COLBURN Staff Writer HOFFMAN/ALEXANDRIA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The paperwork is everywhere. Binders, folders, contracts, on the seat of the truck, the dining room table. Brothers Scott and Joe Anderson spend the entire year planning for the Anderson Bash, a day-long country music festival that this year was supposed to span two days and instead, due to COVID-19, is cancelled.

Thi yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertainThis ment line-up included The Bellamy Brothers, Shenandoah and Joe Diffie. For the Andersons, the pandemic hit close to home when Diffie passed away in March at the age of 61 due to complications of COVID. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was tough,â&#x20AC;? Scott said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It chokes you up a little bit to know he was coming to the farm and he isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to be there.â&#x20AC;? Scott, who lives in Hoffman, said working as a farmer, he often listens to Diffieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music and connects with songs like â&#x20AC;&#x153;John Deere Green.â&#x20AC;? The Anderson brothers began the bash as a family event the first year with their mom, Judy Anderson, and sister, Tammy Young, helping with the

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organizing. It started as a joint customer appreciation event for the brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; businesses, Squeeky Clean Car Wash in Alexandria, Midwest Grain Systems and Northland Seed. They secured the Bellamy Brothers for that first year and anticipated a crowd of 500 to PHOTO SUBMITTED 1,000 people. Word got Anderson brothers, Joe (left) and Scott (right) take a break from their behind-the-scenes work at the out and more than 4,000 The 2019 Anderson Bash to pose with Clay Walker. attended. The second year they knew what to expect vand they booked

cres

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ANDERSON continued on page 13

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ANDERSON from page 12 Clay Walker. This year to accommodate fans, they were planning to extend to two days. The Bash is held on the family’s farm land by Alexandria. The brothers grew up on a family farm near Kensington that was started by their dad, Kenneth Anderson, back in 1960. Today, the boys grow corn, soybeans, alfalfa and sunflowers. The sunflowers serve as a scenic backdrop to the pasture land where the concert takes place. There’s a lake in the distance of the 100-acre property, which slopes down to the stage area, providing an ideal stadium-like seating area for

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Thousands of people gather for the annual Anderson Bash held near Alexandria. Each year, different country music artists grace the stage set up on the family’s farm land.

audiences as they gather with their camp chairs. They rent a stage out of Rochester and a big truck pulls in and folds down hydraulic beds, sound and lights. The music includes

the headliners as well as opening bands. Joe, who lives in Alexandria, does most of the work booking the acts. They had a

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROL BAUER

Thousands of sunflowers fill the fields at the Andersons’ property near Alexandria. The sunflowers serve as a beautiful backdrop for the annual Anderson Bash and the American flag is flown as a reminder of our country’s freedom.

ANDERSON continued on page 14

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Page 14 â&#x20AC;˘ Country Acres - Friday, June 5, 2020

ANDERSON from page 13

â&#x20AC;&#x153;You got to hear about the lyrics behind the song,â&#x20AC;? Joe Anderson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every one was about somebodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifeâ&#x20AC;Ś every song had something behind it that has meaning.â&#x20AC;? He visited with the Oakridge Boys and The Bellamy Brothers. As he wandered the Virgin Islands at a port stop, he saw Marty Raybon of Shenandoah walking down the street, waiting for his wife to finish shopping. He approached Anderson and asked him how he was liking the cruise. They started talking and Anderson told

him about the Bash. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You hear them on the radio and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever meet them,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hard-working; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on that bus every day. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not all fame and fortune, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late nights and has opened our eyes to the industry.â&#x20AC;? He feels more connected to the artists on the radio now and remembers that cruise when he hears the music come on. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were right there, four feet from me,â&#x20AC;? he said. The good feedback they received from the Bellamy Brothers that

first year allowed them to book other bands. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Once you have friend who knew the Belsome references, then lamy Brothers and helped you can book other acts,â&#x20AC;? them set up the first Bash. Joe said. Then, in March of 2019, In addition to bookJoe accompanied Judy ing the acts, the brothers and Tammy on a coundo a lot of work to pretry music cruise. There, pare for the onslaught of he met Joe Diffie and his fans. They have to pull wife at a piano bar, where permits from the county, they started up a converline up insurance, book sation. Diffieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife gave food trucks, garbage cans Joe a phone number so and portable restrooms. they could coordinate for The first year they the Bash. got donations from comThe singers and songmunity businesses and writers strolled about the held a fundraiser, raising cruise ship and guests got more than $10,000 for the to have casual conversaWest Central Area FFA. tions with them. The boys were both FFA members growing up and wanted to give back to the organization that helped them. During the first concert, FFA members helped park cars and serve food provided by the local pork producers. The brothers offer overnight camping and limit it to a small number of guests. They also provide shuttles from the event to local hotels to keep people safe, and they book security for the concert. The first year the event was free, but since then the brothers have set the ticket prices just high enough that they hope they break even. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just enjoy doing it because of the feedback PHOTO SUBMITTED The Anderson family of Tammy Young (front, from left), Judy Anderson, Scott Anderson (back, from left) weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gotten,â&#x20AC;? said Scott. supports and Joe Anderson planned the first Anderson Bash. The event has gone on to become an extension of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody us and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such a good Scott and Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s businesses and they now organize the annual event together.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Robust sunflowers reach to blue, outstretched skies on the Andersonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; property near Alexandria. The brothers farm the land and use it to host their annual Anderson Bash, an outdoor country music festival.

event.â&#x20AC;? The local Alexandria Elks Lodge #1685 out of Alexandria provide the liquor for the Anderson Bash and the proceeds go back to the club and then are shared with the community. Planning for the event consumes the brothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; spare time. They spend hundreds of hours each year organizing all the details. Every time they meet up, they discuss something related to the Bash. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It brings the people into the community,â&#x20AC;? Scott said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just fun to have an event like this

and hear some of these performers you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to see otherwise. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of excitement from the people.â&#x20AC;? The Anderson brothers will post information about the Bash on their Facebook page and online at www.andersonbash.info. Though the Andersons have already done an incredible amount of planning for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now-cancelled event, they will be back next year and are looking forward to serving fans once again.

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Friday, June 5, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 15

Getting back to

simple Maggie’s Acres a hobby-turned-mission

By SARAH COLBURN Staff Writer m

WATKINS – Three days a week, Megan Pren usser of Maggie’s Acres r can be found touting her vegetables, soaps, honey and canned goods at a local farmer’s market. Preusser is the proprietor of Maggie’s Acres, f the nickname “Maggie” , coined by her grandt

mother. She sells fresh veggies, strawberry jam, raspberry jelly, salsa, hot salsa, honey and handmade soaps filled with essential oils. She also offers farm-fresh eggs and pasture-raised chickens as well as bulk sales of tomatoes and cucumbers for people who want to can their own. The thing she’s known best for though, are her pick-

PHOTO BY KAYLA ALBERS

Megan Preusser stands with some of her ready-to-plant vegetables May 29 at Maggie’s Acres, the farm owned by her and her husband, Ryan, near Watkins.

les – specifically, Grandma Lue’s Dill Pickles. They’re her grandmother, Luella Storkamp’s, secret recipe handed down and Preusser sells 500 to 600 jars a year. “It’s what a dill pickle should taste like,” she said.

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For Preusser, farmer’s markets are a way of life and they’re about more than the food and merchandise that’s for sale. “It just feels like home – it just feels like that’s what we should be doing,” she said. “There’s rarely a person who’s in a bad mood at the farmPREUSSER continued on page 16

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These vegetables will soon be ready for planting as they grow under UV lights in Megan Preusser’s garage May 29 in Watkins.

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Page 16 • Country Acres - Friday, June 5, 2020

PREUSSER from page 15

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er’s market. We’re giving them good wholesome food to take home to their families and I always get one or two new recipe ideas from people. It doesn’t feel like work.” It may not feel like work, but Preusser can be found in her gardens from sun-up until sundown and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She opted to make the farm her fulltime job recently, leaving behind other stressors. “We both just wanted to get back to simple and self-sustaining,” she said. The “we” is she and her husband, Ryan Preusser, a disabled veteran who served in the United States Army and was deployed to Iraq. The farm is Megan’s dream and Ryan helps out

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The Preusser family of Finley, 4 (from left), Ryan, Makayla, 15, Megan and Scarlet, 3, stand May 29 near a field outside their home in Watkins.

when and where he can. The small farm impacts every facet of their being. The house is noisy and chaotic with the dog barking, two little kids – Scarlet, 3 and Finley, 4 – yelling while their older sister Makayla, 15, wrangles them inside and handles house chores. Their son Christian, 18,

“We are in the land improvement business. We do farm drainage, ag waste systems, site work for farm buildings and silage pads, plus miscellaneous work. We also do county, township, and watershed work, as well as soil conservation work.” - MBC Drainage, Sauk Centre

comes home to help with butchering chickens on the farm and completes big projects in the garden. As the littles wander about, Preusser not only does the gardening and the weeding and the harvesting, she also does the pickling and the canning and the making. Winters are reserved for soap-making as she pours out essential oils and combines them with shea butter, glycerin or olive oil to craft a perfectly blended product. From mid-July until the frost, her kitchen countertops are filled with canning jars. She harvests cucumbers every other day and anticipates this year it might even be

PHOTO BY KAYLA ALBERS

Some of Megan Preusser’s laying hens run toward the camera on May 29 on the Preusser farm near Watkins.

PREUSSER continued on page 17

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Friday, June 5, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 17

PREUSSER from page 16

“There’s rarely a person who’s in a bad mood at the farmer’s market. We’re giving them good wholesome food to take home to their families.” - Megan Preusser

large water bath canners reside on the kitchen table so the counters can be reserved for work space. She prints her own labels that she designed herself. Though the farm doesn’t have an organic designation, Preusser works hard to keep everything natural. She doesn’t spray and she works by hand or with a small tiller to help with weed control. They also take care to raise their chickens in the same natural environment. The couple gets in a new group of 30 to 60 chicks every two weeks and raises them on the farm for a total of about 240 chickens at a time. The chickens are considered pasture-raised

and are moved to fresh grass in the yard every day through the use of chicken tractors. The Preussers handle their own butchering and have large freezer facilities to store the processed chickens. They sell 600 chickens a year and in addition, have about 80 laying hens for fresh eggs. “It goes back to the whole eating healthy and getting back to basics,” she said. The farm began as a hobby and as Preusser’s hobby grew more and more, and she shared her goods with friends and family, the mission of the farm expanded. Maggie’s Acres has officially been in business for three years and Preusser sells her goods primarily at farmers’ markets, this year participating in the Cold Spring Farmers’ Market every Wednesday, the St. Cloud Waite Park Harvest Market every Saturday morning and on Mondays in Richmond. She also sells on site at their home farm, all direct to the consumer. Megan grew up in Sauk Rapids and Ryan grew up in the Sartell/ St. Stephen area. Neither was raised on a farm, though Megan has always been into gardening. As a teenager, she asked her parents if she could start a garden of her own with their leftover seeds. She grew carrots, cucumbers, radishes and basic flowers and said, a little sheepishly, that her gardens always outshone those of her parents. Now, her home farm is complete with the addition of 14 beehives, though this year they are down to seven because of a winter die-off. The bees are the primary responsibility of Christian and Ryan and Preusser said she prefers to leave them alone. Each spring they feed them sugar water and pollen patties to

get them going and, in the fall, they harvest about half the honey, spin it out, run it through screens and package it as raw honey. Last year they crafted 10 gallons. The couple describes their life on the farm as peaceful – even though they have little-kid chaos – and relaxing. “It’s something I enjoy,” Preusser said. “Obviously, it’s very hard work and labor-intensive work but it’s also fun to see what you’re growing PHOTO BY KAYLA ALBERS and see the plants come Megan Preusser holds a jar of her famous spicy pickles on May 29 in Watkins. She sells 500-600 jars a year up healthy.” made with her grandmother’s secret recipe as “Grandma Lue’s Dill Pickles.”

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1 Offer valid for $350 off on all New John Deere X739 Signature Series Tractors when purchased with attachments valued at $350 or more purchased from an authorized John Deere dealer between 1 May 2020 to 6 July 2020. Prices and models may vary by dealer. This can be combined with the regular installment options. Prices and savings are in U.S. dollars. 2 Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 01 May 2020 to 06 July 2020. Subject to approved credit on a Revolving Plan account, a service of John Deere Financial, f.s.b. For consumer use only. No down payment required. Introductory rate of 0% APR is for 60 months only, regular Revolving Plan rates will apply after that. The regular Revolving Plan rate, which varies over time, is currently 18.25% APR. Available at participating U.S. dealers. Prices and models may vary by dealer. Offers available on new equipment and in the U.S. only. Prices and savings in U.S. dollars. 3 Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 1 May 2020 to 31 July 2020. Subject to approved installment credit with John Deere Financial. No down payment required. $16.67 per month for every $1,000 financed. 0% APR for 48 months only. Taxes, freight, setup and delivery charges could increase monthly payment. Available at participating U.S. dealers. Prices and models may vary by dealer. Offers available on new John Deere 1025R Compact Utility Tractors and in the U.S. only. Prices and savings in U.S. dollars. 4 Offer valid for $400 off on all New John Deere 1 Family Sub-Compact Tractors when purchased with two or more John Deere or Frontier Implements purchased from an authorized John Deere dealer between 1 May 2020 to 31 July 2020. Prices and models may vary by dealer. This can be combined with the regular installment options. Prices and savings are in U.S. dollars. *The engine horsepower and torque information are provided by the engine manufacturer to be used for comparison purposes only. Actual operating horsepower and torque will be less. Refer to the engine manufacturer’s website for additional information. **Term limited to years or hours used, whichever comes first, and varies by model. See the LIMITED WARRANTY FOR NEW JOHN DEERE TURF AND UTILITY EQUIPMENT at JOHNDEERE.COM. John Deere, the leaping deer symbol, and green and yellow trade dress are trademarks of Deere & Company.

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every day. Anything from an inch in length or bigger gets picked. The cucumbers go through one of two big old wringer washing machines to be cleaned, alleviating the need for hand-scrubbing. The spices are lined up in the kitchen and throughout a big storage area in their walkway where there’s a cupboard filled to overflowing with supplies. Preusser cans almost every other day – working through pickles and making varieties such as dill, spicy and bread and butter, along with pickle relishes. When she is done with the pickles, she also makes a number of jams and jellies. Two

Page 18 • Country Acres - Friday, June 5, 2020

OF HUMANS AND CHICKENS The quote for JRR Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” is one of most vivid images from the story. In a book filled with wizards, warriors, weird creatures and some terrifying villains, the image of a common rooster signaling all is not lost just stands out. You can’t argue that roosters crow at sunrise. If you are near a flock of

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chickens or even pheasants and there is a rooster in the mix, sunrise is accompanied by the crowing. It is something people have observed for a long time. With the exception of dogs, there may not have been any animal more associated with humans than chickens. Chickens were a sign of settlement in human history. Nomadic people rarely had them, but most cultures that settled and worked the land did. The bird has been developed as a food source, for its eggs and decoration. It is the most common bird in the world, about 25 billion of them, according to Smithsonian Magazine. There are at least 72 recognized breeds of chickens. Because of preferences for size, use and taste of different regions, they might be smaller or larger and more colored, but most of them look like chickens. Before chickens became part of a stable diet, they were used for insect control, fighting, egg production and living lawn ornaments. The latter led to some less-than-typical-looking chickens. The Houdan, a French chicken, can have a hood of feathers; the Modern Game, an English breed, looks like a skeleton with feathers; The Polish, with connections to

Spain and Holland, gets its name from its crest, which looks like military hats used in Poland; and the Silkie looks like it has fur. So much a part of human history has been with chickens that folklore wisdom developed around them. We’ve all heard “don’t count your chickens before they hatch” and “don’t run around like a chicken with its head cut off.” Sauk Centre’s native son, Sinclair Lewis, apparently got some guidance from chickens. According to one source, his description of one woman as “this brainless little fluffy chick” in “Elmer Gantry” brought the word “chick” into American slang when referring to a young woman. It had been used before, but after his use, it became part of the vocabulary. It is interesting that, despite having been originally bred for fighting, the word “chicken” is also used to describe someone who is afraid. That was not always the case. The ancient Greeks used chickens to provide lessons in fighting spirits. They were not the only ones to use the birds for lessons. The Romans saw chickens as a source of omens; in the Chinese Zodiac, those born in the year of the rooster are said to be observant, hard-

working and brave. Most of us view chickens as a meat source. That view started in about the 10th Century when a series of religious reforms included avoiding meat from fourlegged animals on fast days (at that time, about 130 days a year). This resulted in people looking to the chicken as an alternate source of meat. It wasn’t the only time religion and chickens were tied together. A Hindu practice calls for tying a chicken in the house of a deceased person in order to trap evil spirits that would want to torment the deceased family. After a few days the bird is released back to its flock. A Jewish tradition used chickens as sacrifices for sin. Rooster ornaments on church steeples and domes were said to remind people of St. Peter and his denying Christ; and the egg symbolizes the empty tomb of Jesus. In some voodoo practices, the chicken is a key element to ceremonies. Still, for all the attention of access to divinity or portents, about the only magic chickens display naturally is always knowing when the sun is rising. They, like Tolkien’s rooster, remind any who hear that it is a new day, and a new hope.

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“A cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of war nor of wizardry, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn. And as if in answer there came from far away another note ... Great horns of the north wildly blowing. Rohan had come at last.”

Friday, June 5, 2020 - Country Acres • Page 19

COUNTRY COOKING Lasagna

In honor of June Dairy Month, we asked several staff members and dairy princesses to submit their favorite dairy recipes. Enjoy!

Submitted by Joyce Frericks, Partner, Star Publications

Cheesy Chicken Hotdish Contributed by dairy princess Samantha Young of Holdingford • 3 cups shell noodles • 1-1/3 cups milk • 3 Tbsp. butter • 3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese • 1/3 cup red bell pepper, diced • 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese • 1 onion, finely diced • 1 can (4 ounces) mild green chilies • 1 tsp. chili powder • 3 cups cooked chicken • 1 can cream of chicken soup Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook shells al dente according to package directions. Cook onion and pepper in butter until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in chili powder. In a large bowl, combine cream of chicken soup, onion mixture, milk, Parmesan cheese, and 2 cups Cheddar cheese. Mix well. Stir in chicken, pasta and green chilies. Spread into a 9x13 casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese. Bake 30-35 minutes.

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef • Lasagna noodles, cooked 1/2 medium red onion, chopped according to package instructions • 1/2 yellow onion, chopped (I use the oven-ready lasagna 2 jars spaghetti sauce (I like garlic noodles from Creamette) spaghetti sauce) • 1 to 1-1/2 cups shredded Mexican • 1 tsp. dried basil cheese mix • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano • 1 to 1-1/2 cups shredded • 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes Mozzarella cheese Chives, optional Brown ground beef; add onions, spaghetti sauce and herbs. Simmer for 10 minutes. In 9x13 inch pan, alternate three layers of each in this order: lasagna noodles, meat sauce and cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour. If it starts to get too brown before it is done, cover with aluminum foil. Experiment with various types of cheese for a different taste.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Submitted by Jaime Ostendorf, Sales “We love anything broccoli & cheese at my house. Here’s an easy five-ingredient broccoli cheese soup!”

Easy Baked Brie in Puff Pastry Submitted by Jenn Coyne, staff writer; recipe from SimplyRecipes.com • 1 large sheet puff pastry dough OR • 2 Tbsp. raspberry or other sweet 1 tube refrigerated crescent dinner jam rolls • 1 Tbsp. brown sugar • 1 round or wedge Brie cheese • 1/4 cup maple syrup Preheat oven to 350° degrees. Brie rind is edible but if desired, carefully slice the thin top of the rind off with a sharp knife. This may help the crust stay with the cheese when served. On a lined baking sheet, lay out the puff pastry or the crescent rolls flat. Place the brie round or wedge on top of the puff pastry. Spread jam on brie, fold dough over top, cutting off excess dough. Drizzle maple syrup and sprinkle brown sugar on top. Bake for 30 minutes; pastry should be golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve with crackers or apple slices.

• 4 cups broccoli, cut into florets too) 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup heavy cream 3-1/2 cups chicken broth 3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (vegetable or bone broth work In a large pot over medium heat, sauté garlic for one minute, until fragrant. Add the broth, heavy cream and chopped broccoli. Increase heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-20 minutes, until broccoli is tender. Add the cheese gradually, stirring constantly, and continue to stir until melted. (Add 1/2 cup, simmer and stir until it melts fully, then repeat 1/2 cup at a time until all the cheese is used up.) Make sure to keep it at a very low simmer and avoid high heat, to prevent seizing. Remove from heat immediately once all the cheese melts. Enjoy!

Dairy Delicious Fruit Dip Contributed by dairy princess Jessica Ohmann of Albany

Chili Cheese Dip

Submitted by Mike Schafer, Sales, recipe from AllRecipes.com

• 1 (15 ounce) can HORMEL Chili No prepared cheese product, cut into Beans 1/2-inch cubes • 1 (16 ounce) package pasteurized In medium microwave-safe bowl, stir together chili and cheese product; cover. Microwave on high, stirring once, 4-1/2 to 5 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted. Serve with corn chips, if desired.

• 8 ounces cream cheese • 1/4 cup brown sugar • 1/2 cup sour cream • 1-2 Tbsp. maple syrup • 1/4 cup sugar In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, sugars and syrup. Beat until smooth; serve chilled. I like to dip fresh-cut strawberries in my dairy delicious dip!

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Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. • Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

62.97

HARVEST BRANDS PRODUCTS

50# Trace Mineral Block $

6.17

40153

14.37

Z41971

50# White Salt Block $

YOUR COMPLETE FARM & HOME STORE

HARVEST BRANDS PRODUCTS

COMPASS MINERALS

2274881

200#

2274849

20% Protein Tub

6.97

Valid June 5-18, 2020

200#

106.97

Hunting & Fishing Licenses Available At All Locations!

No Cash...No Problem. Charge It!

1050 Centre Street, Sauk Centre • 320-352-5261 WWW.FLEETSUPPLYMN.COM

40626

Get your Propane tanks filled here! Available at all Fleet Supply Stores

CA_June5_1B_WS

Attachments transform your Bobcat® power unit into an equipment combination that saves time, reduces labor and generates income.

THE INDUSTRY’S LARGEST SELECTION OF ATTACHMENTS AUTHORIZED BOBCAT DEALERS

• Dassel 888-679-4857

• Long Prairie 320-732-3715

Visit Bobcat.com/Offers or stop by today for details.

80+

genuine Bob ® attachme cat nts

• St. Cloud 844-262-2281

• Willmar 877-484-3211

One Tough Animal

CA-June5-1B-WS

Country Acres - June 5 edition

Articles inside

Country Cooking

Of Humans and Chickens

Cucumbers in the Washing

Alexandria