Saturday, December 16, 2023 | 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 S OUTH Saturday, December 16, 2023
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 2, Edition 14
Jingling all the
way PHOTOS SUBMITTED
BJ Stoppelmoor drives the sleigh through the snow in a recent winter at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch near Stewartville. The ranch has Ironwood access to about 250 acres with trails. Springs Christian drawn wagon and sleigh and snowing up here and there’s relaxing. When people are in idea).” cutter rides through the winter snow on the trees,” Bashore the wagon and they’re listening One family has made the Ranch offers with weekly public rides on said. “There’s nothing like it. to the clump, clump, clump, rides part of their Christmas Saturdays and private book... It’s not something people clump ... and the bells, it’s very celebration and they’re 20 years winter wagon, ings. experience very often.” rhythmic. ... People will say into their tradition at Ironwood sleigh rides Tracy Bashore, who is the There are also a couple of they don’t like music, but they Springs Christian Ranch.
executive director at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch, said the rides have been going on since the beginning of the STEWARTVILLE — ranch in 1976. Brass bells jingle as a horseThere are 34 horses at drawn wagon glides genIronwood Springs Christian tly along a wooded trail at Ranch, and in the summer, they Ironwood Springs Christian offer trail riding youth horse Ranch, bringing a new dimen- day camps, womens’ equestrian sion to the classic Christmas and mother-daughter equestrian song “Jingle Bells.” weekends. “I just hope that they Last year, they did about (customers) have fun,” said BJ 50 horse-drawn wagon and Stoppelmoor, equine director sleigh and cutter rides, serving at Ironwood Springs Christian approximately 800 people. Ranch. “I’m providing a serThey begin each season using vice for them so that they can the wagon until there is proper enjoy part of my world.” snow pack for the sleigh and Ironwood Springs Chris- cutter. tian Ranch provides horse“It’s pretty cool when it’s BY AMY KYLLO STAFF WRITER
rabbits on the ride which guests can take turns holding. Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch has access to about 250 acres with trails. The horses for the wagon and sleigh and cutter rides are approximately 1,800 pound, nine and a half year old Belgian geldings. “It engages all your senses, smelling the freshness in the air along with hearing their footsteps,” Stoppelmoor said. “It’s very
don’t know they do.” Marriage proposals have occurred during rides, Stoppelmoor said. At one such proposal, she said there were tea light candles nestled in the snow on the benches at the proposal site, and there were roses and a photographer. “It’s just so fun,” Stoppelmoor said. “She acted like she didn’t know what was going on, but I think she (had an
Guests ride in the sleigh in a recent winter at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch near Stewartville. Last year, the ranch provided approximately 50 horse drawn wagon, sleigh and cutter rides, serving approximately 800 people.
ST R
Publications bli ti The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
This month in the
COUNTRY:
Watch for the next edition of Country Acres on January 6, 2024
Stoppelmoor said another family sings during the entire 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
Christmas program Amy Kyllo Column
9
Spreading the spirit Preston
5
A sweet legacy Plainview
13 A community Christmas story Plainview
Saturday, December 16, 2023 | Country Acres South • Page 3 A D I V I S I O N O F D A KOTA TA F L U I D P O W E R , I N C .
» Custom Hose Assemblies emblies » Hydraulic Motorss » Hydraulic Cylinders ers » Wet Kits ts » Quick Disconnects
Scan the QR Code to visit our website!
CZDec16-1B-TV
400 N. 10th St., Lake City, MN 55041 | 651-448-2232 | www.asi-hydraulics.com
PHOTOS BY AM A AMY Y KY KYLLO
H lid decorations Holiday d i stand d outside id the h C Castner Ridi Riding A Arena D Dec. 1 at IIronwood Springs Christian Ranch near Stewartville. At the ranch, they focus on individuals and families with disabilities as well as military families.
Ironwood Springs from page 2 Stoppelmoor stayed home with her children — one who had open heart surgery and another who has Down syndrome — until they were in school before returning to the ranch. “Going through those challenges gives me perspective,” Stoppelmoor said. “When meeting all of these families, I can have a little more empathy and understanding what their challenges are.” Each year, Stoppelmoor tries to bring a new horse into the program. She looks for horses that are quiet, young and healthy. The horses
that are part of the program work in a variety of settings including wheelchair rides and horse painting. The ranch also recently started an equine therapy program. Once a horse is purchased, it costs several thousand dollars to maintain them for the one to two years it takes for them to be incorporated into the program. Stoppelmoor has been training horses for over 20 years. “Horses are such a deep passion of mine ever since I can remember,” she said. “I just can’t stand it. I love them so much.”
BJ Stoppelmoor harnesses one of the Belgian horses Dec. 1 for a wagon ride at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch near Stewartville. Preparation for a ride begins at least 45 minutes before the guests board as horses must be caught, groomed and harnessed.
See us for all your lending needs Tami Ardinger
Craig Schroeder
Brent Knutson
Caden Beckman
Rushford Office: 219 S Mill St. Rushford, MN | (507) 864-7755 Houston Office: 108 E Cedar St. rushfordstatebank.com Houston, MN | (507) 896-7755 CZDec16-1B-JM
Minnesota’s oldest farm mutual serving all of southeast Minnesota Find an agent at www.vsgmi.com or scan the QR code
CZDec16-1B-JM
137 North 4th Street P.O. Box 546 Cannon Falls, MN 55009-0372
507-866-2525 custserv@harmonytel.com
507-498-3456 contactus@sgc-coop.com
OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Thursday | 8 am - 5 pm Friday | 8 am - 4 pm
507-886-6422 support@mibroadband.com
CZDec16-1B-BL
Page 4 • Country Acres South | Saturday, December 16, 2023
Get in touch with Dave Puppe to see what we have this month
507-732-7860 or email dpuppe@centrallivestock.com 44326 County 6 Blvd | PO Box 185 | Zumbrota, MN 55992 507.732.7860 | dpuppe@centrallivestock.com
UPCOMING AUCTIONS
MONDAY 8:00 am 10:00 am 1:00 pm 4:00 pm
Overnight market cows/bulls Fed cattle, followed by day-delivered market cows & bulls Dairy cattle, stock cows & breeding bulls followed by feeder cattle Baby calves, arena 2
TUESDAY 8:00 am 11:00 am
Sheep and goats Feeder pigs
WEDNESDAY 10:00 am 2:00 pm
Hog/Sow/Boar Auction Fed cattle, followed by market cows and bulls
THURSDAY 10:00 am
Special feeder cattle auctions, September - April
CZDec16-1B-BL
We have MONTHLY SPECIALS!
Christmas program One of the special tradigraciously agreed to be part tions my family had while I of the yearly spectacle. Mind was growing up, was to put you, this man was in his late on a Christmas play. After an 20s at the time and agreed to enormous Christmas dinner, be dressed up in who knows possibly a nap and somewhat and act in a Christtimes a little last-minute mas program in front of his panic present wrapping, my in-laws. All I can say is my sisters and I would put on a sister chose a good man. Sunshine & Flowers rendition of the Christmas One of the most enjoyby Amy Kyllo story for my parents. able parts of the program, This Christmas program once the details were ironed was planned in top secret during Deout, were the costumes. We would get cember at the beginning of our school the big dress up box out of the attic and day during our usual Bible time. Plansupplement it with everyday items. ning it in itself was a happy tradition For shepherds, we generally wore leading up to Christmas. bath towels secured on our heads with Every year the program was broken strong headbands and used large striped up into the scenes of the Christmas story or checked blankets as our capes/robes. from the angel visiting Mary to the final For angels, the costume was always manger scene as the wisemen visited white whether it was the old bridal dress Jesus. we had or something else. The monoMy older sisters had graduated by chrome look was topped off with one of the time I finished fifth grade, so it fell my sisters’ dairy princess crowns for a on me to plan the program with full rein bit of celestial sparkle. for all my creative expression. Herod and the wisemens’ costumes After becoming chief planner and were the most fun to plan. Herod, since director, my real challenge became he was the only true villain in the story, managing my unruly cast. I remember was generally dressed in a black-mail sitting in my sisters’ room with my clip worthy costume that made him look as board the afternoon of the performance ridiculous as possible. talking through the planned program. The wisemen were also a bit out Inevitably, there would be somethere with shiny turbans secured with thing in the plans that my extremely broaches and their gifts of perfume, stubborn sisters did not want to do, a trinket box or something else fancy followed by the annual debate to get grabbed off my sisters’ dressers. them to follow my plan. (Luckily for The inn keeper generally wore a me, none of my sisters have a column in bathrobe — although no one exactly this newspaper to present their point of knows, why we assumed the person in view on the yearly skirmish.) the story would have been half asleep Often, the program had a theme. and ready for bed. One year we acted it out using sock Sometimes we would pony tail puppets. Another year, the theme was our hair around our chins to look like prophecy, with readings of Messianic beards. The whole play was done in the prophecies found from almost all 39 house, so no animals participated. One Old Testament books. Another year, the year I used my large bouncy ball as the theme was one of the Statler Brothers donkey to carry me — acting as Mary Christmas albums, with their songs — to Bethlehem. played throughout. As the program neared the end, Since there were only four of us, we I remember a feeling of excitement had to divide all the parts evenly while because after the program was over, we also making sure that no one was double always unwrapped presents. My parents booked in a scene. We never practiced loved to give gifts at Christmas, so the in advance and would always adlib or wonder and excitement was always read from the Bible on the day of. bright. When I was 14, the first hapless As we near Christmas and New brother-in-law joined the family. Since Year’s, no matter what your holiday he is a really nice man who worked tradition is, I hope the memories of hard to assimilate into the family and holidays past and present brighten your participate in his in-laws’ traditions, he December this year.
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
CZDec16-1B-BL
HAY AND BEDDING AUCTION ** ALL SELLERS MUST REGISTER IN THE OFFICE BEFORE UNLOADING ** ** ALL HAY AND BEDDING MUST BE REMOVED BY SUNDAY AT 5 PM **
** UNLOADING HOURS ** Friday 7 am – 4:30 pm Saturday 7 am – 9 am Sale starts Saturday at 10 am
44326 County 6 Blvd | PO Box 185 | Zumbrota, MN 55992 507.732.7305 | kponcelet@centrallivestock.com
(651) 923-4433 alison@fuainsurance.com CZDec16-1B-BL
Saturday, December 16, 2023 | Country Acres South • Page 5
A sweet legacy
PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO
Penny Hoekstra sits next to the stove and stirs caramel Oct. 27 at her home near Plainview. Hoekstra uses her mom Nadine’s caramel recipe.
Hoekstra stirs up small business using her mom’s recipe they’re not going to in my eyes.” Caramels were part of Hoekstra’s PLAINVIEW — As Penny growing-up years. She said she remembers Hoekstra sits on a kitchen stool next how her mom would make the caramels as to the stove stirring sweet, bubbling gifts for teachers, the veterinarian, emcaramel, the scene is similar to one ployees and more. carried out about 40 years ago Hoekstra’s mom had multiple sclerowhen her mom Nadine did the sis, and Hoekstra remembers how, as her very same thing.Hoekstra operates mom declined, she began to give entire Nadine’s Caramels and has perpans of caramels as gifts because she fected her mom’s caramel recipe, could no longer wrap them individually. which she sells at vendor fairs as Nadine entered the nursing home at a cottage food producer.Hoekstra the age of 49 and was in the nursing home started selling caramels in 2014. for 20 years. “I am not a forceful seller,” Hoekstra said. “They sell themselves, or Hoekstra page 6 BY AMY KYLLO | STAFF WRITER
Penny Hoekstra pours caramel from a pot into a pan Oct. 27 at her home near Plainview. Hoekstra learned tips from watching her mom Nadine pour the caramel into the pan so that it is smooth. (Right) A package of Audrey’s Sweet Raspberry caramels is on display Oct. 27 at her home near Plainview. The variety is named after her Aunt Audrey.
M
E
R
R
Y
Christmas Thank you for your business, we look forward to serving you in 2024!
Now taking bookings for our African Safari Hunt | April 2024 Call for more info!
We will be collecting unwrapped toys, monetary donations and non-perishable food items for Christmas in Fillmore County & Fillmore County SEMCAC CZDec16-1B-BL
CZDec16-1B-JM
ENTERPRI YUM Since 1995 SES, LL O C FR Firearms & Accessories Bought, Sold, Traded, New Used
507-824-2372
46700 135th Ave., Zumbrota, MN 55992
Page 6 • Country Acres South | Saturday, December 16, 2023
Hoekstra from page 5 “She made the best of it,” Hoekstra said. “She never expected us to visit her. ... She never expected anything from us.” For the next 30 years, the recipe stayed in the family but was mainly unused by Hoekstra. In 2014, Hoekstra started making caramels at Christmas. It took her 40 attempts to perfect her caramel-making skills. Once she figured out the recipe, she began to take caramels with her as gifts. “I started carrying them around in a bag (at Christmas),” Hoekstra said. “When I saw friends, I’d give them some. It got to a point where everybody looked at me like, ‘Is she going to give me some?’”Hoekstra’s children helped her realize she should take her caramel-making to the next level. “My kids are the ones that said, ‘Mom, you got something here,’” Hoekstra said. “‘Your mom had something here. Why don’t you start making them and selling them so everybody can have A sign for Nadine’s Caramels stands next to a pan of some?’” Hoekstra named caramel Oct. 27 at Penny Hoekstra’s home near Plainview. It took Hoekstra 40 pans of caramels to perfect her craft. her caramel business
GIVE US A CALL AT
507-798-2371 FARM • AUTO • LIGHT TRUCK TIRES
CZDec16-1B-TV
401 Division Street • Millville, MN 55957
PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO
Penny Hoekstra cuts caramels in a pan Oct. 27 at her home near Plainview. Hoekstra likes to think about her kids, family, mom and her experience growing up with a mom with multiple sclerosis while she cuts and wraps the caramels.
in honor of her mom. Every step of making the caramels is done by hand, from stirring the liquid gold on the stove to wrapping each piece of hand-cut caramel in pieces of wax paper. The opportunity to think about life is one of the things Hoekstra enjoys about making caramels. “It’s mindless,” Hoekstra said. “I can get a lot accomplished in my mind wrapping caramels.” Many of her thoughts involve reminiscing. “I think about my kids,” Hoekstra said. “I think about my family. I think about my mom. We had it rough when she had MS, but you know what, we all survived. ... It’s a lot of memories while you’re sitting here.” Hoekstra initially offered one variety of caramels, Nadine’s Original. Recently, she expanded with three more flavors: Audrey’s Sweet Raspberry, Neva’s Rum and Neva’s Salted Rum. These flavors are named after Hoekstra’s aunt Audrey and grandma Neva, respectively.
The decision to expand her offerings helped bring in more sales. “The economy isn’t really good right now,” she said. “People aren’t going to buy caramels versus gas.” Most of Hoekstra’s sales come in the fall and into the holiday season. She said snow is good for her business because it puts people in the mood for the holidays. Hoekstra goes to vendor shows throughout the year, however. From January to October, she said the
sales are negligible. “(It is) almost all social,” Hoekstra said. “It’s hard to sell caramels when it’s 100 degrees out.” Hoekstra said the caramels will last six months in the freezer. Through selling at the vendor fairs, Hoekstra has made a network of friends, who are a part of her life and part of the reason she goes to vendor fairs even in slow months.
Hoekstra page 7
Penny Hoekstra cuts caramels Oct. 27 at her home near Plainview. Hoekstra started selling the caramels in 2014.
Merry Christmas to our wonderful customers!
Thank you for all you do!
MERRILL
Hardware | Furniture | Appliance Sales
CZDec16-1B-1B-JM
» Carpentry » Maintenance » Repairs • Barns • Garages • Cattle Barns
• Pole Sheds • Outbuildings • and much more!
Zane Merrill - OWNER 507-923-8625 | Rochester, MN
NO MATTER THE TASK,
JUST ASK!
CZDec16-1B-BL
VERSATILE SERVICES, LLC.
Busby’s was founded in 1969, giving us more than 50 years in business!
(507) 732-5232
321 S Main St #1543 Zumbrota, MN
Saturday, December 16, 2023 | Country Acres South • Page 9
Spreading the spirit Walsh family continues Christmas Day community meal BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER
PRESTON — For the last 20 years, people from across the Preston region have come together for a hot meal on a chilly Christmas Day. For half of those years, that meal has been prepared by Gabby Kinneberg and her extended family. “It’s just that warm feeling on Christmas,” Kinneberg said. “You have a warm meal, and it’s hard to dePHOTO SUBMITTED Area residents gather for the community meal at the Preston Servicemen’s Club pre-pandemic. Since the coronavirus pandemic, the annual scribe. It’s the joy of seeing meal has been held drive-thru style. people.” Kinneberg’s grandmother has even served as an opporpy on Christmas.” Connie Walsh, the matriarch on the stove. The aunts heat up food to serve hundreds of the turkey and begin preparing guests in a drive-thru style tunity for an older person to Each meal includes turof the family, her mother the side dishes. The volunteers at the Preston Servicemen’s provide a Christmas dinner for key, dressing, mashed potatoes Elizabeth Gatzke, husband, for the day range in age from Club. their family without the stress and gravy, a hot vegetable and daughter and the aunts, 8 to 85 and also include memThe recipients may be of cooking. Additionally, a cold broccoli salad complete uncles and cousins on the bers from the community. farmers pausing in their volunteers deliver a number with crumbled bacon fresh Walsh side, gather together “We all agree that we chores, widows, single people, of meals to people unable to from Kinneberg’s aunt and unevery year, most arriving at would much rather do this retired individuals and those drive. That interaction may be cle’s hog farm. The meals are the club carrying a roaster than sit around and look at who may have celebrated with the only person they see that prepared to-go, and each guest oven and turkey loins they each other at Christmas,” Kin- family on a different day and day. receives a container of hot roasted the night before. neberg said. are dining alone Christmas “It’s not a meal for the food and a container of cold The morning starts with Once everything is ready, Day. needy,” Kinneberg said. “We hot coffee as the smell of The meal, Kinneberg said, just want to make people haphomemade gravy gets started the Walshes start plating the Walsh page 10
New year.
NEW LINEUP. CZDec16-1B-BL
H Event iday Sales
going on now!
(507) 263-4532 | www.cannonpower.com | 31633 64th Ave, Cannon Falls, MN
Page 10 • Country Acres South | Saturday, December 16, 2023 The Walshes do accept a good-will for the meal if from page 9 offering a recipient is inclined. After the cost of grofood, including a piece ceries is covered, any of pie and sweets. additional funds go to The ingredients for an area family in need the meal are purchased or are donated to the by the family, and do- local food shelf. nations come from area The meal, Kinnefarmers, residents and berg said, would not businesses. be possible without
donations from local farmers and businesses. Farmers from the region donate milk, butter and often potatoes. Additionally, pie comes from Blossom Hill Orchard & Farm, and the dressing is made with breadcrumbs from Sweet Stop & Sandwich Shoppe, which also supplies treats. “A lot of people approach us, and we don’t have to solicit for a lot of donations,” Kinneberg said. The family begins planning for the meal around Thanksgiving, figuring out who is available to help and how many volunteers they will need. Kinneberg’s mother, Elizabeth Gatzke, managed Chic’s Pizza Place & Restaurant, and her long history in the food industry helps guide the meal planning. Kinneberg’s dad, Jon, used to leave the family farm to provide entertainment at the meal and visit with guests. He died in 2019. Now, the extended family begins meal preparation as early as Dec. 23, doing as much work ahead of time PHOTOS SUBMITTED as they can, including Gabby Kinneberg (left) and her mother Elizabeth Gatzke peeling potatoes. In the beginning, prepare for the Christmas meal in 2018. Kinneberg’s mother first got the family involved in organizing the meal the community meal, and now Kinneberg and her mom co-chair the effort. which is in its 21st year,
Walsh
was served indoors and everyone dined together. Since the coronavirus pandemic, recipients have received the food drive-thru style to bring home. Guests reserve their meals ahead of time and then pick them up between noon and 1 p.m. Christmas Day. Kinneberg’s mom is the one who initially took over the organization of the meal and got the family involved. The community dinner was managed by volunteers working out of a church basement. The dinner morphed over time, and it expanded from serving about 20 people to serving 100. “My mom couldn’t let it go,” Kinneberg said. With the Walsh family, and the ability to serve out of the club, the meal has continued to grow. They have had a recipient come from as far away as 20 miles to receive a meal, and Kinneberg said new recipients come every year. “It’s been a really fun and rewarding thing
Members of the Walsh family including (from left) Mary Specht, Andrew Walsh and Elizabeth Gatzke gather on Christmas morning in 2022 to begin preparing the community meal. Roughly 200 people receive food from the meal either in person or via delivery.
for us,” Kinneberg said. “Being in these small communities, everybody takes care of everybody.” When the serving
and delivering is complete, the Walsh family sits down together at the hall for a shared
Walsh page 11
CZDec16-1B-TV
Your local residential and commercial experts since 1922
A handmade sign of Santa and his elves announce the opening of the 2020 Christmas dinner in Preston. The free community dinner is held drive-thru style at the Preston Servicemen’s Club and serves a couple hundred people.
• Jetting clogged or frozen parlor lines • Jetting clogged or frozen pump and gravity manure lines • Vacuuming out large settling tanks • Clearing trench drains • Hydro excavation • Televising of sewer lines We can clean anything from 2” to 60”
2840 Wilder Rd. NW Rochester, MN 55901
(507) 288-4275
rochph.com
CZTFN-1B-JM
SERVICES:
Saturday, December 16, 2023 | Country Acres South • Page 11
CALL US TODAY!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Winter is coming, if you’re not prepared, you’re unprepared.
Mon. - Fri. 7:30 am-4:30 pm CZDec16-1B-TV
56 SW 3rd Street Plainview , MN 55964
Call us for LP, Heating Fuel, Blended Winterized Diesel, #1 and Kerosene. Be Prepared!
(507) 534-2020 (800) 836-5752
GAS | DIESEL | PROPANE | OIL | GREASE | LUBRICANTS
Available Now!
Walsh from page 10 other, but we don’t see each other that often,” she said. “It’s a good opportunity for us to work together and bond.” Kinneberg said hosting the meal allows their family to do something meaningful. “Seeing those peoples’ faces every Christmas, it’s just fun and rewarding,” she said.
109 Broadway | Goodhue, MN 55027
Voth Insurance is focused on providing high-quality service and customer satisfaction - we will do everything we can to meet your expectations. Trust in Tomorrow.®
CZDec16-1B-BL
Brandon
651-923-4048 www.vothinsurance.com
On Hand! and!
Call fo for price
HAMMELL AMMELL EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT INC. HAMMELL EQUIPMENT
Chatfi Ch atfi at tfield, eld el ld M MN N Hwy. 52 S (507) 867-4910
Eitzen, Eit Ei tzen MN tzen 300 Iowa Ave. S (507) 495-3326
Harmony, H Harm a mon onyy M MN N 330 Main Ave. N (507) 886-2255
Rushford, R Ru ush shffo fordd MN 415 Minnesota 16 (507) 864-2845
See our equipment listings at
www.hammellequipment.com
SELLING AGRICULTURE LAND, FARM & CONSTRUCTION ASSETS
Merry Christmas!
Jerry
BPX90 Bale BPX9010 Processor Proc
“Trust in Tomorrow.” and “Grinnell Mutual” are registered trademarks of Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. © Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, 2019.
Coming Soon! 2024 Auction Schedule
Contact us to schedule your 2024 Auction!
CZDec16-1B-TV
SCAN ME
(507) 272-4068 • www.nicksskidsteer.com 54599 Minnesota 42 • Plainview, MN 55964
130 State Hwy. 16, Dexter, MN 55926 (507) 584-0133 AUCTIONEERS: Andrew Hamilton, Bill Hilton; Sales Associates: Jeff Thorsen, Bob Grass; CLERK: Hamilton Auction Co.
WWW.HMAUCTION.COM
CZDec16-1B-JM
Christmas meal of their own. Kinneberg’s uncle and aunt, Steve and Brigid Eickhoff, operate CCPC Farms near Preston. The Eickhoffs step away on Christmas to volunteer for the meal. Brigid said it is a chance to give back to the community and to see her family. “All my siblings, all five of us, live within 7 or 8 miles of each
New Equipment
CZDec16-1B-JM
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Maggie Walsh, along with members of the Walsh family, and additional community members, package meals in 2018 to be given to guests for the annual Christmas meal in Preston. The family gathers donations to cover the cost of food.
Saturday, December 16, 2023 | Country Acres South • Page 13
A community Christmas story “We’re that one main attraction in town that really brings the Christ back to Christmas.” Bedtke and her children, who are BY AMY KYLLO dairy farmers, STAFF WRITER volunteer all night. The live Nativity was PLAINVIEW — A held this year horse-drawn wagon full from 5-8 p.m. of people riding through Plainview’s Olde Fashioned Dec. 2. “Olde Christmas pauses on the Fashioned dusky nighttime street before a spotlight-lit scene of Christmas in the first Christmas. Through Plainview is absolutely the air, the sounds of a magical, but narrator telling the biblical story are punctuated by the it takes so many people occasional sound of anito make it mals. The scene is the live Na- that magical,” Bedtke said. tivity put on by Immanuel Lutheran Church as part of “So, this is a small way that our family can contribute.” Plainview’s yearly ChristThe event is managed by mas festivities. volunteers. Besides the actors “It’s kind of the staple, outside, there are volunteers the forefront of Christmas,” Amanda Bedtke said. helping with food and cos-
People come together at Immanuel Lutheran Church for live Nativity
PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO
Shirley Bartsh helps Ethan Neumann find items for his wiseman costume Dec. 2 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plainview. Bartsh has been helping with costumes for around 20 years.
tumes inside as well as people working to coordinate and care for the animals and, of course, the farmers who lend their animals for the evening. Adam Lamprecht is a coordinator for the event. “If you’re going to have people do something like this, everyone has to be involved,” Lamprecht said. “It isn’t going to happen unless you have 50 to
a hay bale structure not far from the church flanked on either side by wooden gates with the bigger animals tied to them. In front of the stable, the smaller animals are tethered. Inside the church basement, costumes are laid out on tables and volunteers help get actors arrayed in suitable garb for their role. Shirley Bartsch lives in the country and has been helping with costumes for the Nativity for about 20 years. “(It has) gotten to be kind of a mission of mine,” Bartsch said. Like Bedtke, Bartsch appreciates the deeper meaning of the event. “What a way to witness ... the real reason for the season,” Bartsch said. There are plenty of costumes, so actors can trade shifts without needing to 60 people.” swap with one another. The The event uses sign-up costumes are oversized and sheets to coordinate the hour- easily fit over warm winter long shifts standing in the clothes. Nativity. The Nativity building is Nativity page 14
Members of the live Nativity take their places Dec. 2 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plainview. The Nativity members serve hour-long shifts.
JULIA MULLENBACH 507-438-7739 julia.m@star-pub.com Olmsted, Filmore, Winona & Houston
BOB LEUKAM 320-260-1248 bob.l@star-pub.com Goodhue & Dodge
Reach your
Reach over 10,000 homes and TIM VOS businesses 320-492-6987 tim.v@star-pub.com in 7 counties.
Sarah Colburn sarah.c@star-pub.com 612-670-2000
Contact us with any story ideas— we’re interested in the people you know and what is happening in your counties and want to tell those stories.
Wabasha
Amy Kyllo amy.k@star-pub.com 507-601-9039
customers. Country Acres Read your country living stories. SOUTH SOUT H
Page 14 • Country Acres South | Saturday, December 16, 2023
Recycling & Disposal
FOR ALL YOUR ROLL OFF & GARBAGE NEEDS!
(651) 345-4224 401 S 8th St, Lake City, MN 55041
CZDec16-1B-TV
Lake City
Come see us for Beekeeping Supplies
Honey • Beeswax • Pollination
B& B Honey Farm
CZDec16-1B-JM
5917 Hop Hollow Road Houston, MN 55943 • 507-896-3955 bbhoneyfarms.com
PHOTO BY AMY KYLLO
Ann Mussel and Butch Mussel play Mary and Joseph; (back, from left) Dayna Wingert, Bella Raths, Adalyn Bedtke and Dawn Schroeder play angels Dec. 2 at the live Nativity at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plainview. The event is managed by volunteers.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
14”-32”
Nativity from page 13 CZDec16-1B-TV
Chainsaws
SCHEDULE YOUR MAINTENANCE TODAY!
Bars on hand
SALES & SERVICE SINCE 1950 | 507.534.2431
665 N Wabasha | Plainview 507.534.2431 www.pierceoutdoorequipment.com
Lewiston
Wykoff
Spring Valley
225 East Main St.
102 Gold St. N
640 N Broadway Ave
Lewiston, MN 55952
Wykoff, MN 55990
Spring Valley, MN 55975
Bartsch said that it is not a fashion show. Some of the costumes include fake beards, which are washed between years and are placed in a bin after being worn. Bedtke’s 16-year-
old son, Ethan Neumann, has been part of the Nativity for many years. “I was helping pretty much as soon as I was able to stand out in the cold,” Neumann said. Each year, the Bedtkes bring at least one animal — usually one of the kid’s 4-H project animals that are broke
to lead. This year, they brought a beef heifer. The Bedtkes go to shows throughout the year from April to October. Bedtke said bringing animals to the live Nativity helps her kids stay connected to their projects during the offseason. Before bringing an animal, they take their
temperature in the days leading up, make sure their vaccinations are up-to-date and comb them. In addition to the Bedtkes’ beef heifer, there are also dairy heifers, sheep, goats, a donkey and a mule in the display.
Nativity page 15
CZDec16-1B-JM
DJ Heppding (left) and Ethan Neumann stand as wisemen Dec. 2 in the live Nativity at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plainview. Neumann said he has been part of the Nativity since he was old enough to stand in the cold.
TOM HEFFERNAN 651-345-5313
Low Overhead on New & Used Cars & Trucks WE PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR USED CARS 507-876-2122 | 50 Center Ave. S., Elgin, MN 507-8
Celebrating 50 Years! 310 N LAKESHORE DRIVE | LAKE CITY, MN
CZDec16-1B-TV
See our inventory: TomHeffernanFord.com
Wisemen costume items and props sit on a table Dec. 2 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plainview. Costumes for the live Nativity are big enough to accommodate warm winter clothing underneath.
Page 16 • Country Acres South | Saturday, December 16, 2023
Welcome to Solar Connection. Services Install for businesses, homes and farms
Testimonial Solar Panels for the Passive House: John & Nancy After years of searching for the perfect home that fits their needs or would be excited to renovate, John and Nancy decided to build! Around that same time, they attended the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center’s presentation about the Passive House movement – an exceptionally rigorous building standard that results in a home which, using the latest technologies, has the smallest carbon footprint currently possible. The concept hit home. John says he doesn’t consider himself an “environmentalist” per se; he just believes in living within his means. “We believe in energy conservation. We believe in protecting our valuable non-renewable resources. But we’re also big believers in electricity and living the lifestyle we’ve come to know within reason, but just to do it more efficiently and more economically.”... To see more testimonials visit us at www.solarconnectioninc.com
6254 34TH AVE. NW, SUITE A ROCHESTER, MN | (507) 292-8400 | EMAIL: INFO@SOLARCONNECTIONINC.COM
WWW.SOLARCONNECTIONINC.COM
CZJuly15-1B-JM