From the Editor

FEBRUARY 2022 • VOLUME 17, ISSUE 2

MAGAZINE EDITOR

Robb Murray

DESIGNER Christina Sankey

PHOTOGRAPHERS Pat Christman Mansoor Ahmad

COPY EDITOR Kathy Vos

CONTRIBUTORS James Figy Jean Lundquist Kat Baumann Leticia Gonzalez Ann Rosenquist Fee Pete Steiner Nell Musolf Michael Lagerquist Natalie Rademacher Renee Berg

ADVERTISING SALES Danny Creel Jordan Greer-Friesz Josh Zimmerman Theresa Haefner Tim Keech

ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Barb Wass

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Christina Sankey

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Justin Niles

PUBLISHER Steve Jameson

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Joe Spear

Mankato Magazine is published by The Free Press Media monthly at 418 South Second Street, Mankato MN 56001.

To subscribe, call 1-800-657-4662 or 507-625-4451. $35.40 for 12 issues.

For all editorial inquiries, call Robb Murray 507-344-6386, or email rmurray@mankatofreepress.com.

For advertising, call 344-6364, or e-mail advertising@mankatofreepress.com.

By Robb Murray

This month in Mankato Magazine we’re focusing on some of the most compelling aspects of our region’s history.

Obviously no one issue of the magazine can adequately sum up a history as complicated as southern Minnesota’s, but we hope we’ve given you a good dose to start with.

Anchoring our coverage this month is our cover story on Dave and Sarah Brave Heart.

The work Dave has done in the community to raise awareness for Native American issues would warrant its own feature story. But now, with the community rallying around his recent ALS diagnosis, the story of Dave and Sarah and how they are facing a potentially fatal illness together is inspiring.

Dave has led the Mahkato Wacipi celebration for nearly a decade. Under his leadership, the event has grown and become something the Mankato community can be proud of.

“I have my moments where I break down and cry. I try to say, ‘OK, this is really happening,’” he said. “But yeah, it’s hard to imagine down the road what it’s going to be like. I can’t dwell on it too much. The only thing I really can do is be in a moment.”

The Brave Hearts chose to relocate to Mankato, they said, to be a part of the healing that continues to this day. To get a fuller understanding of that healing and the history behind it, I’d suggest checking out Natalie Rademacher’s piece on the education efforts underway by local historical societies, particularly Nicollet and Blue Earth counties.

No proper telling of the history of this land is complete unless it delves into the lives of the Dakota. Our historical societies have gone to great pains to make sure the Dakota’s stories are told. The historical societies’ efforts are invaluable as we, as a welcoming community, strive to ensure everyone feels welcome here.

And if you’re doing a piece on the Mankato area history, you simply cannot omit Minnesota State University. Writer Mike Lagerquist goes into great detail about the impact of the university on the city. In fact, its relationship with the city is so layered that one without the other simply wouldn’t be the same. The city has benefited from the youthful energy of the students and bright minds of the faculty. And the university has benefited from a welcoming and hospitable city host. The city’s businesses often partner with the university, the university’s graduates often go to work in the Mankato area. A perfect match that has made for success on both ends.

Elsewhere in this issue, we introduce you to 14-year-old Madison Harbarth, our youngestever subject in our Familiar Faces feature. Madison is an extraordinary girl. She was born with a rare disorder called sacral agenesis syndrome, which is characterized by abnormal development of the spine. Readers may remember her from a 2014 Free Press article by yours truly, when she was just 6 years old.

Since then, Madison has grown up quite a bit. She participates in wheelchair basketball, band and choir, robotics and other activities. And, most recently, one of her drawings was chosen for the 2022 Ace Hardware calendar.

Robb Murray is associate editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at 344-6386 or rmurray@mankatofreepress.com.