and
Merchlewitz sit on a vintage fire truck Sept. 4 at the Ridgeway Fire Department in
on a k geway n ment in y have fire rea or
They have been part of area fi departments for over 40 years combined.
BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER
need pop and water. … That’s stuff I did to help out.”
Once Rodney turned 18, he signed onto the Ridgeway Fire Department Oct. 21, 1993.
“Once I got on the fire department, it was full-blown, all-the-way-around helping out,” he said. “A couple of years later, in January of 1995, I became an emergency medical responder. Ever since that time, I have been firefighter and medical all the way through.”
RIDGEWAY — For Rodney and Laceylyn Merchlewitz, fighting fires is a family affair. The father-daughter team have been part of multiple area fire departments for a combined over 40 years. Their involvement runs back into both of their childhoods.
“What has kept me going is the community,” Rodney said. “People tell you, ‘Thank you guys so very much for coming.’ It’s great to be there for the people.”
Rodney was raised on a farm near Homer. In his mid-teens, he worked for a local hog farmer, Kevin Spalding, who was on the Ridgeway, Pickwick and Winona fire departments. When he was called out for a fire, Rodney would often end up going with him.
“I couldn’t join any departments until I was 18, but I could still go and help out,” Rodney said. “I couldn’t go into any fires, but people
Today, Rodney is the assistant chief of the RFD. He also joined the Pickwick Fire Department nine years ago and the Winona Fire Department 13 years ago. Part of the reason he volunteered for the PFD was because Laceylyn had joined their explorer program.
Growing up, Laceylyn would often join her dad on calls, which was what initially got her interested in joining a fire department.
“I really liked helping people,” she said. “Especially with medical calls, I’d get to do a lot of patient care, and I really liked that patient relationship. … It’s nice to continue that relationship and know you are helping them as much as you can.”
Merchlewitz page 2
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Laceylyn joined the fire department Oct. 3, 2019, when she was 18. She had already served on the PFD for four years through their explorer program. She was not able to go into burning buildings, but she could pull hoses off trucks, keep track of personnel and help firefighters.
“I got to do a lot of groundwork at the exterior of any burning building,” she said. “I really got my hands into it with the fire side of things.”
Laceylyn went through fire school in January 2022 and earned her EMR license in August 2024.
When the pager goes off, Rodney and Laceylyn will often end up on the scene together. Because Rodney has seniority, he will normally be the one coordinating the firefighters and gauging the fire.
“When I was younger, people told me what to do and where to go,” he said. “The roles have changed a bit.”
Being on scene together can be nerve-wracking for one family member to see another go into a burning building. For Laceylyn, it helps to stay busy by helping other firefighters and moving hoses.
“Your adrenaline is already going with everything going on,” Laceylyn said. “When you see your dad run into a burning building, you’re just hoping and praying everything goes well. You know he’s very well trained, he’s been in these situations multiple times; you just have to think positive.”
Because everyone on the department considers their fellow members as family, it can be scary to see anyone put themselves in danger.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s your daughter in there or if it’s other firefighters in there,” Rodney said. “We never go into a house alone, so if Laceylyn were to go into a house, she’s going in with one of my colleagues, … so I feel comfortable with it. There’s always a risk factor; it doesn’t matter what we do, whether it’s a fire call or an EMS call.”
Publications bli ti
“The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.”
Laceylyn still keeps an eye out for her dad, though.
“He’s not very good at stopping,” she said. “You really have to pull him to the side and be like, ‘Dad, you need to take a break, drink some water, change your (air) bottle and let somebody else go.’”
The main reason Rodney has continued working as a fireman for 31 years has been the communities he has served. He said he has noticed fewer people joining their local volunteer fire departments in recent years. The average age of a firefighter has increased to around 35-40 years old.
“Back in the day, a lot of your volunteer fire departments were made up of farmers,” Rodney said. “Because of the economy and where everything has gone, unfortunately, we’re losing a lot of farmers, and they’ve all gotten full-time jobs in town someplace, so that is really putting a damper on the volunteer fire departments.”
Rodney said when someone dials 911, they expect there to be someone on the other end of the line.
“Everybody these days is so busy,” Rodney said.
“If people don’t start to volunteer to help out, you’re not going to have your volunteer fire departments anymore.”
Departments offer hands-on training for volunteers, including opportunities for classes and monthly training for fire and emergency medical services.
“Going to those trainings once a month, you really start to learn what to do,” Laceylyn said. “The people
Merchlewitz page 3
2
on the fire department are usually super-knowledgeable and super-nice. … If you don’t understand it, keep asking questions, and we’ll eventually get you there.”
Around National Fire Prevention Week, Rodney and Laceylyn remind people to check their fire alarms — know where they are, make sure they are functional and up to date, and replace batteries if necessary.
“If you don’t have a fire alarm in your house and something starts to go down and you’re sleeping, you’re going
to have no idea,” Laceylyn said. “Fire alarms are what
Carbon monoxide alarms are another prevention tool.
“Carbon monoxide gas is a silent killer,” Rodney said. “You do not know when you have carbon monoxide in your house. … Carbon monoxide detectors will detect that and start beeping before you go unconscious.”
Fires are never entirely preventable, and for that, the Merchlewitz family recommends joining a local fire department.
“Being able to help and knowing I’m doing something good is really what keeps me going, especially with the medical side of things,” Laceylyn said. “If you want to get involved, join your local fire department.”
Busby’s was founded in 1969, giving us more than 50 years in
MONDAY
8:00 am Overnight market cows/bulls
10:00 am Fed cattle, followed by day-delivered market cows & bulls
1:00 pm Dairy cattle, stock cows & breeding bulls followed by feeder cattle
4:00 pm Baby calves, arena 2
TUESDAY
8:00 amSheep and goats
11:00 am Feeder pigs
WEDNESDAY
10:00 am Hog/Sow/Boar Auction
2:00 pm Fed cattle, followed by market cows and bulls
THURSDAY
10:00 am Special feeder cattle auctions, September - April
FRIDAY
Closed Office open 8:00 am – Noon
YARD HOURS
Sunday Noon – 10pm
Monday 6am – 10pm
Tuesday 6am – 10pm
Wednesday 6am – 4pm (Open until 10pm, preceding special Thursday sales ONLY)
Thursday 6am – 4pm
Friday 6am – Noon
Saturday By Appointment
HAY AND BEDDING AUCTION
Fall is nature’s one season that the great world of marketing, sales and consumerism has given its own merch and decorations. I, for one, have bought in.
Last weekend, like the basic girl I am, I happily traipsed into Target on a mission: to find myself a candle for fall.
Do I have candles in my cupboard at home? I do.
&
Are they a fresh, unburned, twowick jar candle with a fall scent? They are not.
After smelling every candle, I determined “pumpkin pancakes” would be my next flame. Going past the Joanna Gaines section, I was drawn in by adorable glass pumpkins with candles poured inside. I easily persuaded myself to get an apple cider-scented flammable wonder of coziness.
The candles are really a necessity since I use them often. I am the biggest fan of turning on my lamps, lighting a candle and delighting in the beauty and peace of an evening.
Another fall must are pumpkins. Pumpkins are great, orange spheres of joy which should be coveted and displayed. Fall is not complete without them.
The marketing machine has also given us fall prescribed activities. Last year, I got the delights of basically every one of those activities all on company time during interviews.
I felt pleased with myself as I got a private tour of a pumpkin patch and corn maze on one interview. At another, I listened attentively to an explanation of wine making and got behind-the-scenes photos ops of the winery. At yet another interview, I bit into an orchard owner’s favorite apple as I visited with him and enjoyed the opportunity of capturing the simple beauty of his orchard with my camera.
Fall also has its own unique wardrobe. Part of the delight of fall fashion is that your cute cool weather outfit doesn’t get covered up by a coat. Outdoor scenes like the orchard make fun extra accessories like a leather jacket or a hat a little easier to style and pull off.
As fall grows older, Halloween gives an excuse to dress up in a different way. Growing up, we didn’t celebrate Halloween proper except some extra
chocolate candy Mom would buy. However, since I really enjoyed throwing parties, I hosted harvest festival parties whenever all the crops were in.
Dressing up was required at my festivals. Everyone in the family went all out. This was aided by the fact that it was a closed party for my immediate family so no one could be embarrassed.
One year I came as a court jester. For the hat, I used a toy plastic hard hat from the local power company’s customer appreciation event to which I taped three large paper cones. The rest of the fit was simply bright colored, but the hat was the crown jewel of the costume.
Another year, I came as the Statue of Liberty. I wore a green bed sheet toga style, covered my face in green face paint and carried a flashlight.
My family was pretty creative as well. I remember Dad and Mom doing a couple’s costume where Mom had wrapped Dad’s clothes in tin foil to make him a knight and she had made a dragon costume using a cardboard box.
Another of Mom’s costumes was Cruella de Vil. My mom’s hair is graying, and so a sleek black and white sweater, lipstick and a cigarette made of a rolled piece of paper made a simple yet convincing costume. She coupled the attire with assuming the personality and asking us in a creepy suave accent about whether there were any dogs around.
One year, my red-headed older sister strung a straightened coat hanger through her braids to make them stick straight out from her head to be the fictional Pippi Longstocking.
The last year I hosted the party, my oldest sister and her husband came wearing all black, with smudgy mascara creating the look of a black eye and the letter “P” emblazoned on their shirts in duct tape. They were the “Black-Eyed Peas.”
In the midst of fall, I hope you find the activity that brings you extra joy. Whether that means you are sniffing candles at Target, enjoying the beauty of the leaves turning while on a drive or maybe hosting a family dress-up party, we can all use an excuse to grab some seasonal brightness and bring it into the monotony of life.
Tuesday, October 8th (online only) Construction Retirement Auction for Tom and Sue Trnka; Mini excavator, enclosed trailer, construction materials, large assortment of power and hand tools, antiques and vintage items. Bidding starts closing Tuesday, October 8th at 10 am. (Maring)
Wednesday, October 16th (online only) Dispersal Auction for Brad Carlson; Chevy pickup, Allis Chalmers tractors, trailer, Polaris snowmobile, machinery manuals, dealership signs, toys and much more. Bidding starts opening Saturday, October 5th at 8 am and starts closing Wednesday, October 16th at 4 pm. (Maring)
Wednesday, October 16th (online only) Tom and Patty Oudekerk Farm Retirement Auction; John Deere and Case IH tractors, John Deere combines and heads, field cultivator equipment, grain vac and augers, International planter, Case dozer, Buckeye tile trencher, semis, grain trailers and enclosed trailer. Bidding starts opening Friday, October 4th at 10 am and starts closing Wednesday, October 16th at 10 am. (Hamilton)
Monday. October 21st (online only) Moving Auction for John and Joyce Remkus; Several good collector cars, New Holland 520, Farmall Super M, Toro Grounds Keeper Mower, John Deere Gator, International Semi Tractor, Semi Van Trailer, power and hand tools, car hauling trailer, old signs and more. Bidding starts opening Saturday, October 12th at 8 am and starts closing Monday, October 21st at 3 pm. (Maring) Tuesday, October 22nd (online only) Hutch and Sons Builders Retirement Auction; Vehicles, construction equipment, hand and power tools and construction materials. Bidding starts opening Friday, October 11th at 10 am and starts closing Tuesday, October 22nd at 9 am. (Hamilton)
Thursday, October 24th (online only) Dwayne Morse Farm Retirement; John Deere compact utility tractor, John Deere lawn mower, John Deere loader and attachments, Schweiss snowblower, Brillion seeder, Case Drill, John Deere small square baler, Honda generator, fuel barrel and 5th wheel camper. Bidding starts opening Monday, October 14th at 10 am and starts closing Thursday, October 24th at 9 am. (Hamilton)
Thursday, October 24th (online only) Retirement Auction for Paul Kavitz; Antique vehicles, Oliver tractors, Massey Harris tractors, Massey Ferguson tractor, power and hand tools, welders and welding table, air compressor, engine stands, sand blaster, cordless tools and support equipment. Bidding starts opening Monday, October 14th at 8 am and starts closing Thursday, October 24th at 10 am. (Maring)
Tuesday, October 29th (online only) Complete Dispersal of H&M Plumbing and Heating; Excavators, skid loaders, dump truck, dozer, wacker, trailers, man lift, well derricks, power and hand tools, new product inventory and much more. Bidding starts opening Saturday, October 19th at 8 am and starts closing Tuesday, October 29th at 10 am. (Maring)
Wednesday, October 30th (online only) 99.33 Acres of Prime Goodhue County Farmland from David L. Bobert Rev. Trust; Prime bare cropland located in part of Section 32 Leon Township, Goodhue County, MN. 89.5 tillable acres, 89.3 Crop Productivity Index and very good soils that lays very well. Bidding starts opening Friday, October 18th at 8 am and starts closing Wednesday, October 30th at 10 am. (Maring) Thursday, November 7th @ 10 am (live and online) Real Estate Auction of 219 Acres Located in Pierce County, WI; 219 acres of cropland, woodland, nice existing building site to be sold in 5 separate parcels. Live auction starts Thursday, November 7th at 10 am. (Maring)
Tuesday, November 12th (online only) Construction, Farm, Vehicles and Tools Auction for The Robert Adamek Estate; Loaders, excavator, 5th wheel travel trailer, tractors, combines with heads, tillage and planting equipment, grain trucks, machinist tools, welders, metal band saw, drill press, power and hand tools, lighted beer signs, framed prints and household items. Bidding starts opening Saturday, November 2nd at 8 am and starts closing Tuesday, November 12th at 10 am. (Maring)
Wednesday, November 13th (online only) 105 Acres of Farmland in Rice County MN for Earl Thom Trust and Marian Thom Estate; 105 acres of bare farmland located in section 21 Warsaw Township with 78.41 total cropland acres, 22.22 acres enrolled in CRP and a Crop Productivity Index average of 83.2 good soils. Bidding starts opening Saturday, November 2nd at 8 am and starts closing Wednesday, November 13th at 10 am. (Maring)
Tuesday, November 26th (online only) Clean Farm Equipment Auction for Austin and Elizabeth Bauer and Haven and Judy Bauer; Case IH combine, Case IH chopping corn head, Kubota and John Deere tractors with loaders, Kubota skid steer and attachments, Case IH planter, seed tender, Brent grain cart, DMI field cultivator and ripper, Krone round baler and mower, bale wagons, H&S rake, New Idea and H&S manure spreaders, PATZ TMR, grain trailer, livestock trailer, Dodge Ram pickup, augers, wagons and other farm support equipment. Bidding starts opening Saturday, November 16th at 8 am and starts closing Tuesday, November 26th at 10 am. (Maring)
Tuesday, December 3rd @ 10 am (live and online) Craig D Monnier Charitable Remainder Unitrust Auction located in Dexter, MN; John Deere tractors, John Deere combine and heads, Kinze planter, John Deere sprayer, Brent grain cart, semis and Timpte grain trailers. Online bidding starts opening Friday, November 22nd at 10 am and live auction starts Tuesday, December 3rd at 10 am. (Hamilton) Wednesday, December 4th (online only) Large Farm Equipment, Tools, Antiques and Household from the Lawrence Schweich Estate; John Deere utility tractor, 3 pt attachments, livestock equipment, power and hand tools, welders, metal working equipment, farm tools, very nice antiques, modern household and furniture, gas grills, patio furniture and much more.
Pork from page 8
my day job (I have learned) is people buy from people.”
my ha people
and his wife, Alyssa, purchased a farm from Grandpa and Grandma Spitzer, Franzen and Alyssa’s other grandparents. The next year, the families established Z&A Farms.
One of the ch Franzen said, is m
a c pay loca
Complementing their animal operation, the brothers-in-law raise their own corn for feed on their combined owned and rented land, which is just over 100 acres.
One of the challenges they face, Franzen said, is managing pricing, because the large upfront cost can be a challenge for customers to be able or willing to pay. Both men believe in the power of local dollars.
“If you’re supporting a local farmer, now that money’s going back to the community,” Franzen said. Thompson agreed.
“If you’re su farmer, now that to the community ag
Another task that keeps them busy is manure handling. Their pig building is not accessible via skid loader, requiring all cleaning be done by hand.
“If you to get re-spent ho said Franzen and f grewupintown
“If you spend $1 local, it’s going to get re-spent how many times,” he
Franzen and Thompson both have backgrounds in farming. Thompson grew up in town but began helping a local grain farmer in middle school. In high school, he worked for the Oian family. There, he learned to care for cattle, pigs and crops. He said the family treated him like a son and are the reason he is interested in agriculture today.
When Franzen was 13, he bought his first dairy cows and dairy farmed with his uncle. After his uncle sold the herd, he transitioned to working with his grandpa to finish 5-8 beef cattle a year.
In 2016, Franzen and Thompson both bought farms. Franzen and his wife, Ashley, purchased Grandpa and Grandma Franzen’s farm. Thompson,
“We’ll pitch manure for a while and then talk for a while and pitch manure again,” Thompson said. “It’s just a chance to connect and get closer.”
Teaching his children work ethic is something Thompson values.
“We got some young kids coming up that they’re going to learn to know what a pitchfork is,” Thompson said.
“How I want my kids to grow up is having to put some sweat equity into some stuff and work hard.”
At some point, he said he would like to build a larger facility where they could increase the number of pigs and be able to clean it with a skid loader.
Franzen said their customers are what drive him.
“I want people to come here, and I want them to leave happy,” he said. “I want them to come back and want to buy more.”
Age: 12 « Parents: Nathan and Jessica Morken
Hometown: Spring Grove « 4-H Club: Black Hammer Swift Scooters
Years in 4-H. This is my fourth year.
Tell about your involvement in 4-H. This is my fourth year showing market steers. I had two this year, one which I took to the state fair. He is a crossbred market steer named Kevin. I am the vice president of my club and next year will be the president.
Tell about your proudest moment in 4-H over the years. Last year, I had the reserve champion overall beef steer at the Houston County Fair.
What are some of your favorite activities to be part of in 4-H and why? We do sledding for club meetings during the winter, and we make cookies. We had a grandparents day where everyone brought pies and we celebrated. The fair is one of my favorite parts of 4-H. Through these activities, I get to hang out with my friends and family and have fun.
What have you learned through 4-H and how has it made your life better? During the summer, I work together with my siblings and cousins each day to get our animals ready for the fair. This year at the fair all the beef kids worked together because not everyone was going to be there all the time, so people had to do things for other people. You have to learn that it can’t just always be about yourself.
4-H page 12
Houston 4-H from page 11
If you were going to design a social media campaign to encourage other kids to join 4-H, what would it look like and what would you tell them? TikTok, because that is one of the most popular ones that most kids who would be 4-H age are using. I would tell them 4-H is a good experience, and though you may not want to show at the fair, you can still be part of 4-H. It is for everybody.
507-498-3456 contactus@sgc-coop.com
What goals do you have for 4-H next year? I am going to try to make it to the state fair again. I am going to try to improve on my showmanship and herdsmanship.
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Years in 4-H. Seven years.
Tell about your involvement in 4-H. My family shows and raises market goats. We have a business called North Star Boer Goats. This year I actually showed pigs for the first time, and I loved it. I also love to do static projects at the county and state fair. I took a variety of different things to the county fair. I took photography to the state fair this year.
Tell about your proudest moment in 4-H over the years. My first year showing at the state fair, I got reserve grand champion overall
Age: 15
Parents: Jon and Erin Quam
Hometown: Kasson 4-H Club: Oslo Allstars
market doe, and I made it into the ribbon auction. Being in the ribbon auction with all these amazing species and knowing that I made it in was just a great accomplishment.
What are some of your favorite activities to be part of in 4-H and why? Showing. I’ve actually been showing since I was 2 years old. I showed on my second birthday at the county fair, so I’ve been showing for 13 years. What I love most about 4-H is how much I learn new things. One of the best things about 4-H is the people in it. You get to know each other, and its fun when you travel to shows with other people that are in 4-H. The state fair is always a big, memorable part of it. What have you learned through 4-H and how has it made your life better? Responsibility. A big way that happened is taking care of my goats and having responsibility doing static projects. Creativity — learning how to work with what I have. I feel like those are really good life lessons. In 4-H, I have learned so many things, and I have grown as a person from being able to socialize with so many people.
If you were going to design a social media campaign to encourage other kids to join 4-H, what would it look like and what would you tell them? I would do TikTok. I would post all the fun things we do together in our club or some of the different things we do in the 4-H show and the county fair. I would post videos of my species and other 4-H students and show how fun it is.
What goals do you have for 4-H next year? My biggest goal for next year is that I want to make it into the 4-H Purple Ribbon Livestock Auction at the state fair with a market goat. I love showing and raising goats, and I hope that all of my hard work year-round can pay off.
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Years in 4-H. Eight years, since kindergarten.
Tell about your involvement in 4-H. My two brothers and I show pigs, chickens and turkeys. We have been showing pigs and chickens since we began 4-H. We started turkeys last year. We have always shown brown egg layer chickens. We raise them from chicks. We breed and farrow our own pigs. We also mix our own feed. I do static projects such as refurbishing, preservation projects and super shopper.
Tell about your proudest moment in 4-H over the years. Last year, which was our first year doing turkeys, I won overall turkey and reserve overall market bird. That was my first year not in Cloverbuds. My other proud moment would be our first time doing a cesarian section on our pigs with the help of a veterinarian.
What are some of your favorite activities to be part of in 4-H and why? I like showing animals and getting to raise them and then going and showing off what you have done. I like the different kinds of friends that you make at 4-H. There’s a bunch of different people, and it’s cool to see what they do and how they do it. I like coming up to the state fair and picking what trip you want to go on and being in the atmosphere.
What have you learned through 4-H and how has it made your life better? Perseverance. You do not win most times, but either way, you get to come, and it’s cool to see how much you grow. You can tell which kids are in 4-H based on how they can talk to people. Also, it is cool to learn how to keep going even when you don’t win. You still get up and do it again.
Age: 13 « Parents: Josh and Melissa Boraas Hometown: Mazeppa « 4-H Club: Zumbrota Busy Bees
If you were going to design a social media campaign to encourage other kids to join 4-H, what would it look like and what would you tell them? I would use Instagram. I would probably start with saying what a brighter future you would have when you join. I would talk about the different types of people you can meet and the skills you can learn, along with learning a lot of new things about animals that you can’t see by just looking at them. I would also share about being more comfortable with talking and having less social anxiety. It is a good environment for kids to be in no matter what your age.
What goals do you have for 4-H next year? I would like to take turkeys up to the state fair again. At some point, I would like to take pigs to the state fair. We have never done that before because we have never had pigs that were good enough. Our county is very competitive when it comes to pigs.
Tell about your involvement in 4-H. I started because my brothers were going to show dairy. I started with doing a lot of indoor general projects like photography, flower gardening and food nutrition. My mom showed poultry, and she said I should start market chickens. Now, I show more than just market chickens; I show ducks, brown egg layers and white egg layers. 4-H has also gotten me involved in a lot of leadership aspects. I became a club officer and joined my county federation. I was the county federation president, and I was also president of our county travel exchange. I was a 20232024 Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador last year. I’m getting close to aging out of 4-H, and I’m working on mentoring youth. I also participated on the national level at the National 4-H Conference in April.
Tell about your proudest moment in 4-H over the years. At my county fair this past year, watching this little girl I mentored and helped show ducks get grand champion showmanship made me so happy. It is sad to be aging out, but I’m happy to get to pass it along to the next generation. I also sold her my Call ducks so she can have them to breed for next year.
What are some of your favorite activities to be part of in 4-H and why? Definitely the state fair. I love to go see all the people I’ve met at other events like the Youth Exploring Leadership and Learning Opportunities conference, which I helped put on this year. 4-H camp is another favorite — I enjoyed being a camp counselor a lot.
What have you learned through 4-H and how has it made your life better? I have definitely learned how to be a leader. This is going to help me in life because learning how to be a leader is going to help you in a job setting and ultimately with doing hard work and having a work ethic. It is not easy to get up every morning and do your chores or pull an all-nighter the week before the fair to finish your 4-H projects. The other thing I’ve learned is that you can be friends with somebody you are competing against. It’s not rivals in 4-H; it’s your friends from your county, and you all want to see another person succeed.
from page 15
If you were going to design a social media campaign to encourage other kids to join 4-H, what would it look like and what would you tell them? I definitely would make a point to show that 4-H is not only about animals. Many people believe you have to have animals to show in 4-H, but it’s not about that. There is a lot of leadership. I like to share what 4-H has done for me to be able to public speak and present. Also, I would want to share that it is free. It’s something you can afford. Not every event is free, but there’s a way to make it work. It also has helped me meet people across the county. You make friends who have the same interests as you, so it’s really a community.
What goals do you have for 4-H next year? I’m not sure what my plans are for 4-H next year because I’m going to a welding school down in Missouri. I want to be helpful in my club and mentor younger youth.
Age: 13
Parents: Ryan Pulley and Kyle and Sara Mollert
Hometown: Winona
4-H Club: Saratoga Challengers
Years in 4-H. 6-8 years.
Tell about your involvement in 4-H. I show swine, and I do a corn project and a soybeans project. I also do 4-H livestock judging.
Tell about your proudest moment in 4-H over the years. This year, I won intermediate showmanship at the Winona County Fair. I was the youngest in the class. My other proud moment was making it to state fair with my pigs. I didn’t think I would make it this year, and I did.
What are some of your favorite activities to be part of in 4-H and why? Swine. I like to travel and go places. I’ve made so many friends showing swine — it’s fun. It has opened up new things in my life that I never thought I’d be able to do.
What have you learned through 4-H and how has it made your life better? I’ve definitely learned how to talk to people more. I used to be so quiet before 4-H. I learned teamwork. I never used to ask someone for help if I needed something. 4-H really let me know that there is help. 4-H has also made me more confident.
If you were going to design a social media campaign to encourage other kids to join 4-H, what would it look like and what would you tell them? I would use Instagram. I would post pictures of things you do in 4-H. I would show all the options you have and all the things you can do. It’s not just showing animals; there’s so many projects and events you can take part in. There’s something for everyone. I never thought I’d show pigs and here I am.
What goals do you have for 4-H next year? I definitely want to try to win showmanship. I want to go to more jackpot shows and train the pigs more. I definitely want to get the pigs out more. I want to gain knowledge on the pig industry overall for the interviews for the showring. I also want to learn more about how to train a pig for the showring.
BY AMY KYLLO | STAFF WRITER
KASSON — For many, a favorite movie or book character is a friend they spend time with but never have the chance to meet. Thirteen-year-old 4-H member Ruby Kellogg has created a business to change that. Kellogg, an eighth-grade student from Kasson, launched Ruby’s Rentals about a year and a half ago. Her business model is to bring one or more of her four
beloved children’s TV/book characters to events like birthday parties, the
or
Kellogg’s parents, Justin and Luann McMahan, are supportive of her business. Luann attends every event with Kellogg as her character handler, and Justin often helps as well inside a character costume.
Kellogg page 20
“I like seeing kids really happy because it always just puts a smile on your face,” Kellogg said. “Especially if I was ever having a bad day, (doing this cheered me up). … It’s just a little thing that makes somebody’s day, and it could also make yours.”
from page 22
Jon and Betsy’s kids, Jonah, Everett and Madelyn, will help with chores as they are able to throughout the year. Eckdahls’ grandkids can be found picking, washing or sorting apples.
“After we pick them into 20-bushel bins, they are brought up to our washing shed,” Patty said. “Once they are washed, they are then sorted between selling (and) baking. The ones we can’t sell we make into cider.”
Eckdahls enjoy having their guests walk around the farm and pick their own apples or fresh produce if the season permits. However, the family always has some prepicked apples for sale.
“This year, there is a really abundant crop, so we can have people go pick their own,” Patty said. “Some years, we aren’t able to provide pick your own because there just isn’t enough on the trees.”
There are about 20 acres of apple trees on the property. There is also a 6-acre field the Eckdahls use to plant annual crops.
The Eckdahls’ farm is also home to farm animals including goats, chickens, rabbits and pigs. The animals are an important part of the farm because it offers kids the chance to have a learning experience so they can see what goes into taking care of an animal.
“(The grandkids) love to play on the farm and run around,” Patty said. “However, when we ask them to help, they do.”
While the apples are the main focus at the orchard, visitors can also find pumpkins, gourds, decorative corn and other fall ornamentals including flowers. Activities include a corn maze, kids corn
Fruit fills a branch of an apple tree Sept. 10 at Northwoods Orchard near Oronoco. The Eckdahls are working with breeders to develop additional varieties of apples that could hit the market.
maze, picnic areas and wagon rides.
There is also a portion of the farm people can reserve for a variety of private family and friend gatherings and activities. The reservation includes the use of the area and access to the corn maze. Throughout the season, the family will have some changing group activities.
Steve said another aspect of the orchard is that it becomes a photo area for many photographers in the area.
Since 1986, the farm has seen many changes, with the first trees planted in 1989 and the last ones planted in 2017; however, the vision has not changed.
“Steven worked on an apple orchard when he was in high school and college, and it was his dream to own his own,” Patty said.
Eckdahl page 24
“We named it Northwoods Orchard because we both grew up north of here,” Patty said.
At their orchard, they are working to create more hybrid apples. In order to do this, the couple has a nursery to house saplings, and they have trees with implants.
“One of our more recent projects is looking to develop additional strains of apples that could hit the market, so we are working with some breeders,” Steven said. “There is nothing better than a SweeTango, which is a cross between a Zestar and Honeycrisp.”
In five years, the couple hopes to be mentoring someone to take over the orchard on both the business and field aspects.
When the couple started looking for their farm, they looked for one with a close proximity to Rochester with southern slopes and wooded areas.
From September to October, the Eckdahls will host school groups, offering a day of fresh air, learning and fun. There are four former teachers and librarians who help out full time with the school groups to make sure the students have a fun and safe experience at the orchard.
There are also two part-time helpers who fill in when needed and a tractor driver.
Even while enjoying their work and sweet apples, there is one thing the couple looks forward to even more.
“We like to see the families come out together,” Patty said. “We didn’t start it to get rich; we wanted to provide a place where people could get out of the city and see the country. We don’t have anything fancy, and it is just to see the families come out and have fun, learn how to pick an apple and (learn) what it is like in the country.”
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BY BEN SONNEK| STAFF WRITER
PLEASANT GROVE — You never know what you are going to find at a farmers’ market. That variety is especially vivid at the table of Val Wynveen, who has been part of the Chatfield Growers Market for over five years.
“It’s always good to be adaptable,” Wynveen said. “If I make something and it doesn’t sell, I can always find something else to take the place of that.”
The Wynveen family — Val, her husband, Lance,
and their two children, Sam and Graeme — moved from Rochester to the area near Pleasant Grove in 2018. Their involvement in the Chatfield Growers Market began the next year, after the family got ducks. They did not know what to do with the eggs they laid, so they took them into town to sell.
Those eggs are not part of the Wynveens’ current offerings for now, but they do have a range of other products, like jams, jellies, aprons, dog bandanas, candles, tote bags, breads and vegetables.
Wynveen’s jelly journey began with flowers.
thing a recipe for peony jelly, and I thought, ‘That sounds disgusting, but I should probably make some and see.’ … I still do a couple of batches every year and usually sell out.”
“When we moved out here, we had a bunch of peony bushes,” Wynveen said. “I had seen on Pinterest or some-
Wynveen page 27
reusable, cloth ‘paper’ towels Aug. 15 at Val Wynveen’s home near Pleasant Grove. Wynveen fi her fabric from many sources such as vintage stores and page 27 Ribbons tie up rolls of aper’ Aug at Val me near ve. finds fabric from sources as ntage stores and rummage sales.
At 25-35% kernel moisture, we can achieve 100% kernel fracturing.
We can grind at a rate of about 2,700 bushels per hour, and we will work around the clock to get the job done! We can also utilize a Dohrect Enject Applicator, which is designed to apply water soluble inoculants in a concentrated form.
from page 26
Wynveen describes the jelly as having a delicate taste similar to how the flowers smell. It is not for everybody, but Wynveen thinks it is pretty good.
Peony jelly is not the only unique variety Wynveen takes to the farmers market; she likes to bring other types people are unlikely to have tried before, such as rhubarb ginger or pomegranate.
“There are tons of recipes you can find on Pinterest or in canning books,” Wynveen said. “Rhubarb ginger just came to me, I think.”
Some of the lesser-known recipes have turned into new favorites for Wynveen, like strawberry jalapeno. She uses that one as a glaze for chicken on the grill.
Wynveen has a few vintage aprons she likes to use while working in the kitchen, but they have started to fall apart. She has used these aprons as patterns for new ones, and some of those aprons have ended up at the farmers market as well.
While Wynveen likes her aprons to be comfortable and have pizazz, she also wants them to be practical, so pockets are a must. It takes her a little over an hour to make an apron. She prefers to use 100% cotton fabric.
Vintage sheets are a material Wynveen likes to use when making aprons. She is able to find those and other materials from all over, including vintage stores and rummage sales.
“I’ve had a couple of aprons (made of) some vintage sheets, and I’ve had several people — four or five older ladies — who said, ‘Oh, I had those on my bed when I was a little girl,”
Wynveen said.
The extra apron material often is used for the dog bandanas Wynveen sells.
“They’re pretty simple; they’re just a couple of triangles sewn together,” Wynveen said. “I use little breakaway buckles so you don’t have to tie them and you know they won’t get caught up on anything.”
When selling the dog bandanas, Wynveen said she considers it an advantage to have a table at the farmers market because customers can bring their dogs shopping with them more easily.
“You can tell the people who like to dress up their dogs,” Wynveen said. “They can try (the bandanas) on and make sure they fit.”
For the candles she sells, Wynveen makes them by placing a wick and pouring soy wax into teacups and saucers she finds at sales, often with the help of her sister, Terry Wilcox. If the teacup is thin enough, the candle glow is visible through the cup once the wick has burned lower.
Wynveen uses coffee scents and essential oils. She said she likes to use scents that are connected or related to tea or coffee such as blueberry muffin.
Once customers are done with the candle, they are left with a cup they can use.
“I had a lady buy one just because she had that same tea set at home,” Wynveen said. “It was the same pattern; she was like, ‘I don’t really want the candle, but I want the cup.’”
The Wynveens’ empty feed sacks from their ducks and chickens find new life as the tote bags. Wynveen cleans them, lines them with fabric and adds pockets and handles.
“(Customers) like them,”
Graeme
Wynveen said. “We use them all the time at home as library bags and that type of thing. They’re handy.”
Uniqueness also comes into play when Wynveen bakes bread to bring to the farmers market. She started selling sourdough bread this year, but for some time, she has made what she calls her Italian pull-apart loaf, which has spaghetti seasoning in the dough and is topped with fresh garlic butter and parmesan.
“I don’t know how I came up with that,” Wynveen said. “It’s not from a recipe I’ve seen.”
Wynveen uses organic flour in all of her baked goods.
The homegrown vegetables the Wynveens bring to the farmers market typically include tomatoes
and beans.
“This year, my garden got decimated by rabbits, so I didn’t get any cabbages or anything like that,” Wynveen said.
Wynveen’s family helps by being willing taste testers. Because Graeme is homeschooled, he goes with Val every Thursday to help at the farmers market.
“He’s getting to be quite a good salesman,” Wynveen said. “If I happen to be chatting with one of the other vendors or a customer, he will offer samples of bread and can explain what’s in everything. He knows what he’s doing.”
Wynveen does not have particular plans for new things to
bring to the farmers market, but she is always ready to see what other people bring.
“The people who have been doing the farmers market who’ve (been) with me since I’ve started are wonderful,” Wynveen said.
“It’s like we’re a family. You know you’re going to see someone every Thursday, and if you don’t, you’re giving them a call to see if they’re OK and stuff. It’s such a great sense of community … and definitely worth the time you put into it.”
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