Saturday, January 6, 2024 | Country Acres South • Page 1 PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #278 Madelia, MN 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave Sauk Centre MN 56378
SOUTH Saturday, y January y 6, 2024
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 2, Edition 15
Winning
PHOTO COURTESY OF CASE IH
Steve Wilson smiles Dec. 5, 2023, near the tractor he won that is now at his home near Rochester. Wilson is the recipient of a Farmall utility 75C tractor through a U.S. and Canada giveaway in honor of Farmall’s 100th anniversary.
and traditions and the tractors that started the farms.” Zanella said it was the most fun she’s had managing a campaign. Steve’s submission was a video. “You watch it and ... you hit every emotion,” BY AMY KYLLO Zanella said. “You’re STAFF WRITER crying, you’re laughing ROCHESTER — you get goosebumps, Driving tractor grounds and then when I finished Steve Wilson, a three-time watching I thought, ‘Oh, cancer survivor. well there it is.’ It was “(During) that time just, wow. It is just heartI was on the tractor, I warming.” didn’t have cancer,” Steve Steve said he is honsaid. “It was like it never ored and humbled to win. PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO happened.” “There’s so much Steve Wilson brings his new tractor toward the shed Dec. Steve is the recipient 12, 2023, at his home near Rochester. Wilson spent two days heritage in every one of a Farmall utility 75C working on the video submission that won him the tractor. of those stories,” Steve tractor through a U.S. said. “Every one of those and Canada giveaway in campaign manager for 2023, Zanella had a team 8,446 have a story of honor of Farmall’s 100th tractors, was in charge of judge that week’s subinnovation. They have a anniversary. Steve was planning the tractor give- missions. At the end of story of determination, ... one of 8,446 people who away, a campaign which the competition, a panel and they have a story of submitted an application she has been working on judged the top entries. relationship because they telling the company about for two years. “A lot of the stories all have relationships that their Farmall story and During the applicawere based off of their made that all happen.” what they would do with tion window, each week heritage or the history,” the tractor if they won. on Friday from February Zanella said. “We heard a Wilson page 2 Teri Zanella, Case IH 2023 through October lot of stories about family
Wilson’s video entry chosen in Farmall tractor giveaway
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Some of the photos Steve Wilson used in his video submission are shared Dec. 12, 2023, in his home near Rochester. Wilson wove a century-long story from his dad making cement for a new barn using Farmall tractor power to his own story of finding peace during cancer while on a tractor.
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Page 2 • Country Acres South | Saturday, January 6, 2024
SOUTH Published by Star Publications Copyright 2024 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: 320-352-6577 | Fax: 320-352-5647 NEWS STAFF Sarah Colburn, Editor, sarah.c@star-pub.com Amy Kyllo, Assistant Editor, amy.k@star-pub.com Mark Klaphake, Writer, mark.k@dairystar.com Tiffany Klaphake, Writer, tiffany.k@dairystar.com Ben Sonnek, Writer, ben.s@saukherald.com Hans Lammeman, Writer, hans.l@star-pub.com Story ideas send to: sarah.c@star-pub.com PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO
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Wilson from front Steve’s video starts with his mom, who, like Farmall tractors, was also born in 1923. Using family photos and his voiceover, Steve weaves a century-long story from his dad making cement for a new barn using Farmall tractor power to his own story of finding peace during cancer while on a tractor. “What clicked is when I realized, ‘Oh, my mother was born in 1923, Case IH was born in
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A Farmall memorabilia collection graces a shelf Dec. 12, 2023, in Steve Wilson’s home near Rochester. Wilson said he is humbled and honored to win the Farmall tractor giveaway.
PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO
Steve Wilson dumps wood chips with his new tractor Dec. 12, 2023, at his home near Rochester. Wilson’s video submission in the Farmall tractor giveaway was one of 8,446 entries.
1923,’” Steve said. “That gave the foundation to say, ‘What if we flipped the script and started and ended with my mother?’” Zanella said she wishes she had recorded the phone call she made to Steve to tell him he had won. “It was the greatest phone call that I’ve ever made,” Zanella said. Steve said he was home when he got the call from Case IH. “(Zanella) said, ‘Do you have a minute,’ and I said, ‘I think I have all day for you,’” Steve said. Within minutes, Steve
knew he was the winner of the grand prize. “You know mentally what’s happening in these moments, but you don’t fully grasp it emotionally for weeks, months and maybe years,” Steve said. Along with the tractor — which includes a cab kit, a loader and a bucket — there is also a $15,000 cash prize. The Wilsons will use the cash to pay the taxes on the tractor. Zanella said Case IH chose the Farmall utility 75C because it is their most popular tractor and could be used by a variety of recipients.
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For his entry, initially, Steve wrote a story with pictures before switching to a video format. This format helped capture the story, Steve said. Steve’s wife, Jeanne, said when she read the written story, she did not understand the vision, but when she watched the video, she cried. Steve heard about the tractor giveaway from a friend in Iowa, Danny Stickrod. Steve said Stickrod was convinced from the beginning that Steve would win the tractor if he put in a submission. When Steve called to tell his friend that he had indeed won, Steve said he was deadpan. “He said, ‘Well, I knew you’d win,’” Steve said. “(He) was like, ‘That’s all you got (for news)?’” Steve has a degree in broadcast journalism and worked in radio for a few years before doing other things professionally. He and his wife have some acreage outside of Rochester and they work to be sustainable on their land, where they also have an Airbnb. He uses the tractor to maintain their land and their large Back to Eden garden, a regenerative organic garden that works to recreate the natural ecosystem.
PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO
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Steve Wilson grabs the door of his new tractor Dec. 12, 2023, at his home near Rochester. A three-time cancer survivor, Wilson said that driving a tractor grounds him.
Wilson page 3
Saturday, January 6, 2024 | Country Acres South • Page 3
Wilson from page 2
PHOTO OTO BY AMY KYLLO
PHOTO COURTESY OF CASE IH
J Jeanne and d Steve S W Wil Wilso Wilson smile ilil D Dec. 12, 2 2023, 2023 next to the h tractor Steve won that is now at their home near Rochester. Case IH chose the Farmall utility 75C because it is their most popular tractor and could be used by a variety of recipients.
Bob Shanks (from left), Steve Wilson, Teri Zanella and Morgen Dietrich stand together at the tractor giveaway presentation Dec. 5, 2023, at Minnesota Ag Group Inc. in Plainview. Wilson said the presentation included free Case IH merchandise on tables where guests could fill a bag with whatever they wanted, a lineup of tractors from 1923 to present as well as food and a ceremony.
Steve said since he enjoys making videos, it made it easy to work on his entry even though he knew his chances of winning were small. He spent two days working on his submission the Friday and Saturday before the contest closed. Jeanne said she did not think he had any chance of winning. “It just doesn’t happen,” Jeanne said. Steve’s family helped look for photos. “We’re all digging through as fast as we can,” Steve said. “(We were trying) to come up with old photos that might be able to get knitted together to create some semblance of a story.” Steve received the tractor at an extravaganza
at Minnesota Ag Group Inc. in Plainview Dec. 5, 2023. Steve was able to invite guests to the event and brought with 20 family and friends. “One of the things that I learned through this process is that it’s other people who allow you to generate joy,” Steve said. “If you’re just reminding yourself, ‘Oh, you won, you won!’ that’s OK, but the joy comes in sharing the news.” Steve said the presentation was an impressive event which included free Case IH merchandise on tables where guests could fill a bag with whatever they wanted, a lineup of tractors from 1923 to present as well as food and a ceremony. Before the festivities
began, Steve arrived early for media interviews. After the event, Steve’s tractor was delivered to his home with a camera person and drone operator present. Zanella said Steve has been an exemplary recipient. “Steve is such a genuine, nice guy, and he’s so appreciative,” Zanella said. “Him and his wife have both sent several thank you’s. ... They’re in constant communication with us and telling us how they’re using their tractor and how they’re so thankful that we ran the contest.”
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Saturday, January 6, 2024 | Country Acres South • Page 5
Preserving game Willard’s Taxidermy, Bluffland Custom Tanning works to provide memories BY AMY KYLLO STAFF WRITER
BROWNSVILLE — Jim Willard started doing taxidermy in 1987 with a $2,500 loan to take a six-week course. His first shop was an 8- by 8-foot fish house with an extension cord running to it. “Coming out, I was not a qualified taxidermist,” Willard said. “You don’t learn this in six weeks; you don’t learn it in six years.” Willard owns Willard’s Taxidermy and Bluffland Custom Tanning near Brownsville, alongside his wife, Vicki. The taxidermy business does big game mounts and the tannery processes capes for other taxidermists. “(I want) to provide (customers) an everlasting memory of the experience they had in the field,” Willard said. Willard does the taxi-
dermy by himself, and the tanning is done together with his wife. Vicki is in charge of the bookwork and paperwork for both businesses and also works part time in health care. White-tailed deer are Willard’s favorite animals to work with. “I enjoy the creativity part of it,” Willard said. “I like the art.” His favorite deer mount is a blending of mediums. On top, a shoulder mount buck looks back over his shoulder. The base of the shoulders is backed with rugged rock which runs from the back of the buck down the pedestal as if the deer is climbing rugged terrain. The mountain of rock itself is bursting out of the side of a neat wooden pedestal, creating a feeling of wildness. The items and colors of the mount are specific and thought out to blend the subject into the presen-
PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO
Jim and Vicki Willard d smile Nov. 21, 2023, at Willard’s wnsville. Taxidermy near Brownsville. o the The mount next to couple is Jim’s favorite. e.
tation, Willard said. Willard decided to become a taxidermistt because he enjoyed hunting nting and fishing and disliked ked the job he had at the time. In 1988, he quit his job ob and began doing full time taxidermy.
A taxidermized mountain lion walks on rocks Nov. 21, 2023, in the showroom at Willard’s Taxidermy near Brownsville. Jim Willard earned three blue ribbons from three shows in the master’s category with this piece.
Willard page 6
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Page 6 • Country Acres South | Saturday, January 6, 2024
PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO
White-tail deer sho shoulder mounts hang Nov. 21, 2023, in the showroom at Willard’s Taxidermy near Brownsville. White-tail deer are JJim Willard’s favorite animal to work with.
Willard from page 5 Willar At the time, his children were only 7 and 3. “Looking back at it, it was a mistake, but we made it,” Willard said. “If I had had any brains, I guess I would have hung onto the job I didn’t like for at least another couple of years ... to get that quality up with my hobby.” Willard said that it was not a problem to get specimens to
put in, and his accounting for the full amount of time spent on a mount, meant he was pricier than his competition. “The biggest thing is to get your work on once he let his friends and family confidence up to where you can charge a know he was learning taxidermy. good wage,” Willard said. “Fair enough “I wanted to be good at this trade,” to where you can make a living at it.” Willard said. “I was driven. ... I didn’t Willard said a white-tailed deer have a plan B really.” shoulder mount generally takes him about When he was beginning, he said he did not feel confident enough in his work 15 hours to complete. to charge what other, more experienced, taxidermists charge. Later in his career, Willard page 7 the extra time and attention to detail he
A taxidermized bear stands Nov. 21, 2023, on a rock in the showroom at Willard’s Taxidermy near Brownsville. Jim Willard said his job as a taxidermist is to make the animal look like it did in the wild.
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Jim Willard thins a cape Nov. 21, 2023, at Bluffland Custom Tanning near Brownsville. Thinning the skin helps taxidermists put the capes on mannequins.
Page 8 • Country Acres South | Saturday, January 6, 2024
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Country Acres South • Page 1 PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #278 Madelia, MN 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave Sauk Centre MN 56378
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NAME: PHOTOS SUBMITTED
snow in a recent winter at Ironwood
. The ranch has Springs Christian Ranch near Stewartville
BJ Stoppelmo trails. idea).” Ironwood access to about 250 acres with relaxing. When people are in One family has made the snowing up here and there’s wagon and sleigh and the wagon and they’re listening rides part of their Christmas Springs Christian drawn snow on the trees,” Bashore to the clump, clump, clump, cutter rides through the winter said. “There’s nothing like it. celebration and they’re 20 years clump ... and the bells, it’s very into their tradition at Ironwood Ranch offers with weekly public rides on people something not It’s ... say will bookrhythmic. ... People Saturdays and private Springs Christian Ranch. experience very often.” they but winter wagon, music, like don’t ings. Stoppelmoor said another There are also a couple of they know they do.” Tracy Bashore, who is the don’t sleigh rides family sings during the entire rabbits on the ride which guests Marriage proposals have executive director at Ironwood
can take turns holding. Ironoccurred during rides, StoppelSprings Christian Ranch, said wood Springs Christian Ranch moor said. At one such proposthe rides have been going on has access to about 250 acres al, she said there were tea light since the beginning of the with trails. 1976. in candles nestled in the snow ranch — The horses for the wagon STEWARTVILLE There are 34 horses at on the benches at the proposal rides are cutter and sleigh and Brass bells jingle as a horsesite, and there were roses and a Ironwood Springs Christian 1,800 pound, tely approxima drawn wagon glides genthey summer, photographer. Ranch, and in the nine and a half year old Beltly along a wooded trail at horse youth riding “It’s just so fun,” Stoppeltrail offer Ironwood Springs Christian womens’ equestrian gian geldings. all your senses, moor said. “She acted like she camps, day dimennew a “It engages Ranch, bringing didn’t know what was going and mother-daughter equestrian smelling the freshness in the sion to the classic Christmas on, but I think she (had an weekends. with hearing their along air song “Jingle Bells.” about did they Last year, “I just hope that they footsteps,” 50 horse-drawn wagon and (customers) have fun,” said BJ sleigh and cutter rides, serving Stoppelmoor said. Stoppelmoor, equine director approximately 800 people. “It’s at Ironwood Springs Christian They begin each season using very Ranch. “I’m providing a serproper is there until the wagon vice for them so that they can snow pack for the sleigh and enjoy part of my world.” cutter. ChrisSprings Ironwood “It’s pretty cool when it’s tian Ranch provides horseBY AMY KYLLO STAFF WRITER
gs Christian Spring n at Ironwood Springs nte winter nt wi ent tely 50 Guests ride in the sleigh in a recent pp ximately ppro pprox aapprox d approxima ded provided nch provided ranch ra ran th t ranch r the ar, yeaar, ye rtvi . Last year, ewartville. Stewa Ranch near Stewartville im telyy 800 xiimatel oxi o app ox appr g approxima ng in serving s, serving es, e des id rid rri ter rides, utter ccu d cutter nd an sleigh and slei ssle g n, sleigh ago wago wagon, nw horse drawn people.
eRY:: thTRY rUN STLoRok fo ST UNT CO e next issu January 20 This month in the
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ride. “They always do ‘The Twelve days of Christmas,’ and they always had us participate,” she said. Preparing for a ride begins at least 45 minutes before the guests board. Horses must be caught, groomed and harnessed before the ride begins. Afterward, in winter weather, the horses must be cooled down. Immediately after unharnessing, they get a cooler — which is like a big blanket— put on them. This helps wick away their sweat. It is changed every 30 minutes until they are dry, which can take up to two hours. Their necks and stomachs are towel dried.
Ironwood Springs page 2
4 5
program Chris Christmas Amy Kyllo Column sw legacy A sweet Plainview Plain
9
Spreading the spirit Preston
13 A community Christmas story Plainview
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Saturday, January 6, 2024 | Country Acres South • Page 9
Gaining knowledge, connection
Annie’s Project provides information on farming operations BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER
RUSHFORD — Jessica Heiden did not grow up farming, but she knew when she married Tony, the seventh generation of Heiden Century Farms, it was in her future. She has always been a sounding board for her husband and his work, but her personal role on the farm changed. She stayed home and raised the kids for several years, playing a supportive role, but as the kids grew, so did her responsibility on the farm. “As time has gone on, it has become more encompassing and you learn more,” she said. Today, she knows how to do all the things
in the cattle yard from sorting to loading. She can drive a combine and a tractor, and while Tony handles the planting, she helps in the fields during harvest. She also operates Hart Country Meats, featuring their farmraised Angus beef. When Heiden saw an Annie’s Project program was being held 10 minutes from her home in the winter of 2023, she signed up for the opportunity to meet other farmers. The project is a national non-profit that has been educating and empowering women in agriculture across the country for the last 20 years. “It was a great way to learn more about the farming industry and meet other women in
similar roles,” she said. Heiden nudged a few of her neighbors to join the class with her. “It was really interesting learning about other people’s farming operations,” she said. “Farming is kind of like the wild, wild, west. There’s no one way to do it, and people do what works for them.” She heard from dairy farmers and crop farmers and colleagues who were focused on agritourism. Through the course, she heard from experts on a number of topics including grain markets, farm succession planning and resources available to farmers.
Heiden page 10 PHOTOS SUBMITTED
(Right) Jessica Heiden combines in 2022. Heiden participated in the Annie’s Project program to connect with other women and learn more about farming operations.
Th The sun sets over an alfalfa field in 2020 at Heiden Century Farms near Rushford. Cattle graze in the background of the seventh-generation farm.
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Page 10 • Country Acres South | Saturday, January 6, 2024
Heiden from page 9
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Colleen Carlson is in her fourth year of teaching Annie’s Project classes. She and her colleague Susanne Hinrichs coordinate the program at the state level. Carlson said she sees the program as an awakening, helping women realize and uncover what they already know and connecting them and helping them grow. “We provide that reassurance and edge of confidence to what they’re already doing,” PHOTOS SUBMITTED Carlson said. The Heidens fill the planter in The classes focus 2021 near Rushford. Jessica on farm management, Heiden and her husband, the importance of com- Tony, are in partnership munications and farm/ operating Heiden Century production meetings, Farms with Tony’s parents, farm finances, agriKerry and Faye. cultural resources and marketing, among other in the online session, Carlson took students things. The topics are tailored to the attendees on a virtual tour of a each session to provide livestock auction barn where sheep, goats, catrelevant information. Though there is an tle and pigs were being sold. initial structure to the Another prong to course, Carlson said there is a bit of individ- the program is providuality too. Carlson said ing attendees with resources including those a facilitator took one from the University of of their in-person St. Cloud classes on a tour Minnesota Extension. to Redhead Creamery as Heiden page 11 part of the course, and Jessica Heiden assembles fertilizer tubes on a planter in 2021 near Rushford. Heiden has a number of responsibilities on the farm including helping in the cattle yard, operating Hart Country Meats and driving a combine and tractor when needed.
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Jessica Heiden works at Heiden Century Farms in 2022 Jessica Heiden checks on the 2023 corn crop. The Heiden near Rushford. She also operates Hart Country Meats, family monitors plant health and soil fertility so they featuring their Angus beef. have better crops and healthier soil.
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Heiden
overwhelming,” Heiden said. “It’s one of those from page 10 things you should probably always be thinking “We plug them into about.” a vast array of inforHeiden said it was mation,” Carlson said. refreshing to hear from “That benefits them other women across the and makes them more region, each in their resilient.” own stage of life on the For Heiden, one of farm. the biggest takeaways “It’s good to be able was the information to hear what other peoshe learned from other ple are experiencing, farmers. and you might be able “It is really interto bring some of those esting to hear about ideas or ways to work how they work and through it back to your what they’re working own farm,” she said. through,” Heiden said. Carlson said it also For her, the discus- gives women insight sion on farm succesinto the various ways sion was a big topic. they and their colHeiden said succession leagues contribute to planning is something the farm. From running all farmers should con- to get parts and taking sider and one not many care of the family to people fully underloading cattle, driving stand. tractor and evaluating “There’s just so genetics, Carlson said much to it that it can be each job is important.
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nectedness too,” Hinrichs said. “Farming can be kind of isolating. … This provides that opening for women who are in the same situation. They might not be in the same kind of farming, but they’re producing food, fiber or fuel, and have a connection with others who are doing similar things.”
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Jessica Heiden, with daughter Jora and son Archer, pause for a photo in 2021 in a field at Heiden Century Farms near Rushford. Heiden learned about succession planning during her Annie’s Project program.
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“They’re equally as valuable, and we need to recognize their contributions individually,” Carlson said. “Without them, they couldn’t function (as a farm).” The class attracts not only women new to farming, those with a decade or more experience, but also some who have put as many as three decades of work into their farms. Heiden said the class was a way for her to gain more insight into farming and spark more conversations with her husband. “I was able to ask questions of him about our farming practice and learn more about the different topics we covered in class and relate them more to what was actually going on here at the farm,” Heiden said. Susanne Hinrichs, an extension educator with the agricultural business management team who helps lead the statewide Annie’s Project effort, said topics can include everything from risk management and crop insurance to human resources, legal issues and production risks. Typically, the course lasts six weeks. The next class in Preston launches in mid-January and an online version will launch in April that’s open to people across the state. Usually, Hinrichs said, there are no more than 20 participants in a class. Classes are held throughout the state Jessica Heiden rides along with her son, Kail, as he hauls and many draw from a corn during harvest in 2021 near Rushford. The Heidens three-county region. operate Heiden Century Farms. “It’s (about) con-
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