Deep Roots

30 COLORS 26-29 GAUGE Standard all around durability

“Look at this huge one!” my son Jordy how thrilled the kids are — even with exclaimed as he reeled in a sunfish the the tiniest fish. My friend then shared size of a half dollar. We had been spend- about a recent fishing outing she had ing a beautiful evening on Lake Minnie with her father where the sunnies were Belle fishing for sunnies as we listened practically jumping in the boat! I asked to Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline. The sun her where they went — half expecting a had started to set and we still had not response of, “a secret lake off of hushfound the “honey hole” we were looking hush avenue.” On the contrary! She for. We had caught plenty of sunfish shared that they had been at another throughout the evening, but nothing big DEEP ROOTS central Minnesota lake using canned enough to keep. The excitement was all By Whitney Nesse corn for bait! the same for the kids though. A fish on is a fish on! Low and behold, a week later, Karl and I packed up the kids and the boat and headed

A few days later I was chatting with a friend toward the lake. We motored around for a bit, checkabout our recent evening out which had left our ing out the lake, speculating where the fish might hearts full, but our bellies empty. We laughed over be. I helped our kids bait some hooks and we tossed a few lines out as Karl anchored us in. Another fisherman trolled by and asked if we were fishing for sunnies. I told him indeed we were and he shared with us exactly where to catch them — 20 feet from the weed line. I thanked him and wished him luck as he continued and Karl repositioned us to the precise place our fellow angler suggested. Within mere seconds of throwing out lines, we had rods bending. Five of us were fishing that day and we reeled in one sunnie after another. In total, we brought home 22 sunfish and threw back dozens more. That evening, my son Easton learned how to clean our catch and we ate to our hearts content.

Our fishing success was based on the fact that our fellow fishing enthusiasts were willing to share helpful information. Had it not been for those few tips, we would have come home empty handed again.

In Matthew 4:19, Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!” In this text, Jesus is gathering disciples — calling them from their vocation to follow him. Not only is he calling them to follow him, but Jesus is also asking them to minister to others. The word “fishers” here, according to Pulpit Commentary, suggest care, patience, skill and endurance. Those are great words to link fishing and ministering!

When we choose to follow Jesus, we are willingly becoming fishers of people. Some of the folks we have the opportunity to minister to might not be ready to bite. Other times, people may be so hungry for the things of God that they practically jump in the boat!

Friends, let’s be generous with our fishing information. I wonder, if we choose to share fishing successes and tips, might we be able to see hearts and rods bending?

Whitney Nesse is a sixth-generation livestock farmer who is deeply rooted in her faith and family. She writes from her central Minnesota farm. v

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Iowa Dept. of Ag wants dicamba reports

If you have experienced a suspected dicamba incident, contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-8591 to file a report. You may file an “Incident Report” or a “Documentary Report” with the IDALS Pesticide Bureau.

54th Annual Butterfield Threshermen’s STEAM & GAS ENGINE SHOW

Saturday, Aug. 21 & Sunday, Aug. 22

Butterfield, MN • On Hwy. 60 in Southwestern MN

Bring your gas or model engines! Visit the construction corner for demos!

FEATURING . . . Cockshutt tractors and Fairbanks Morse engines!

• Free parking • Camping facilities available • Shaded lakeside site ADMISSION — Adults, 13 & older: $10 Children: FREE

EQUIPMENT PARADE

Sat., 2:15 p.m. Sun., 3:15 p.m.

BLUEGRASS MUSIC

On stage daily in the shade of Voss Park

ANTIQUE TRACTOR PULL 5:30 p.m. Friday

Reporting dicamba incidents helps evaluate the impact of dicamba use in Iowa and provides valuable information.

If you choose to file an Incident Report, IDALS will collect information about the incident and will visit the site and do pesticide applicator follow-up. Additionally, the report needs to contain the name of the person allegedly responsible for the application of said pesticide; the name of the owner or lessee of the land on which the crop is grown and for which damage is alleged to have occurred; the date on which the alleged damage occurred; and a brief description of the incident.

This report must be filed within 40 days after the alleged date that damages occurred. If a growing crop is alleged to have been damaged, the report must be filed before 25 percent of the crop is harvested.

More information on filing an Incident Report can be found at https://iowaagriculture.gov/pesticidebureau/pesticide-use-investigations-and-enforcement.

If you request to file a “Documentary Report,” IDALS will collect information about the incident but will not visit the site or do any applicator follow-up. Documentary reports are included in IDALS’ total number of pesticide complaints.

This article was submitted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. v