Community a

Progress COMMUNITY FEBRUARY 24, 2018

ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

ALBERT LEA CITIZEN OF

THE YEAR

Alden native and rural Albert Lea resident Holly Karsjens has been selected as the Tribune’s inauguaral Citizen of the Year. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

Karsjens recognized for advocacy and action to improve A.L.

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

t’s easy to see Holly Karsjen’s passion for Albert Lea when you see her out in the community.

I While the 29-year-old rural Albert Lea resident is known for starting her own business, which has become a center for creativity and the arts, she has also become a vocal advocate

for Albert Lea in the last few years through her words, passion for planning community events, working behind the scenes on community boards and offering a hand of service to those in need.

For these reasons and others, Karsjens was selected for the Tribune’s first-ever Citizen of the Year Award.

The six-member Citizen of the Year Award committee reviewed all of the nominations submitted for the award. They said they chose Karsjens for the award because of her positivity See AWARD, Page 2

What’s inside?

No stone left unturned

A labor of love

Filling a need

Another day, another ’do

Hospital group still diligent. Page A3

Church group creates quilts to give. Page A5

Humane Society helps animals. Page B1

Woman turns building into salon. Page B7

PAGE A2 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2018 | COMMUNITY | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018

AWARD Continued from Front Page

and advocacy for the community. They said Karsjens takes part in numerous community efforts without looking for anything in return.

‘I need to be a part of the change’

Karsjens grew up on a farm in rural Alden, living in the same house through high school and leaving the community at the age of 21 to move to the Twin Cities for three years.

There, she said, she worked for a company, essentially doing the tasks of an office manager, such as data entry and purchase ordering.

Though she enjoyed the job, she moved back to the Albert Lea area in 2014 because she was struggling to find housing for her and her dog Louie, a pit bull. Every other weekend she would drive down to visit family or her family would drive up to visit her.

After moving back to the area, at first she continued to work part time from a distance for the same company, while also teaching dance at Echo Step and taking photographs.

Though she had met her husband, Brian Karsjens, initially in 2007, she met him for a second time shortly after moving back.

Things progressed, and she remembers at one point having a conversation with him when they were ready to move in together.

“There was a conversation,” she said. “I said, ‘If I move in, that means we’re going to stay here.’ I said I need to be a part of the change. I said I don’t want to be a part of the other side of the story.”

She said she knew she needed to be a part of the solution and change in the community, whether that was through events or the social climate in Albert Lea. She married her husband in 2014 — the same year she left the company in the Cities — and in 2015 left Echo Step.

In the summer of 2016, she and her husband

purchased a building on Newton Avenue that they have renovated into what is now known as The Meraki Studios. Karsjens said in a previous interview that the space is meant to represent love, creativity and soul. It houses dance lessons for all ages and levels, musical instruction, artistry fairs, workshops and photography services.

She credits her husband, who has supported her every step of the way. She said he has a mentality of “if you put the work in, you can anything.”

Though it was and still is an undertaking to have Meraki and her photography business, Holly Karsjens Fine Art Photography, Karsjens’ involvement in the community doesn’t stop there.

She serves on the board of the United Way of Freeborn County and Experience Albert Lea and is on the event committees for Wind Down Wednesday, Autumn Blaze and The Big Freeze.

She said her focus overall has been on downtown.

“I feel that it’s the heart of the community to a certain degree,” she said. “It’s the place where my studio is, where I have lunch with people. I see the easiest growth opportunity here.”

#IAmAlbertLea

One day when she and her husband were renovating the studio, Karsjens said they had just framed up her office, and she took a picture and was going to post it on social media.

“I started typing and the lid came off,” she said.

She said she came to the realization that if she wanted something to be created she couldn’t rely on others to do it for her.

She said she hears people often say in comments on social media that “they” should create this event or “they” should do this in Albert Lea. “I don’t think people understand at all who ‘they’ are because if you’re going to be a part of the community, you’re part of the ‘they,’” she said. “I think the root of all of my posts is that fictitious ‘they’ is

Holly Karsjens helped organize efforts to hang balloons along the route of the funeral procession for Easton LaFrance in January. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE me and you and everyone.

If you’re going to be a part of this community, you need to invest.”

That day, a new effort was born in the community, known simply as #IAmAlbertLea. Over the last few years, the hashtag motto has resurfaced again and again, encouraging people to get involved and to be a part of positive change.

Karsjens said she is motivated to do positive things when she sees others who are negative.

“What does that help?” she said. “It doesn’t get anything done.”

She encouraged others to take the first step: “If you see the need for something in our community — whether it’s in your circle — you reach out to anyone.”

She used an example of Wind Down Wednesday, and said if people see a need for something at Wind Down Wednesday, they should not hesitate to reach out to one of the organizers and get involved.

“By being part of a community, it’s a responsibility to invest time or money or

whatever it is into growing,” she said.

Sarah Stueven, one of the people who nominated Karsjens for the Citizen of the Year Award, said Karsjens is a “huge advocate for this community and constantly works on ways to improve it.”

“I have noticed her speaking out about how great our city is and encouraging others who voice displeasure to stand up and change what it is they don’t like,” Stueven said. “I am confident that she has improved the quality of life right here in Albert Lea. “From her Meraki Studios, where she is constantly listening to community input and adding services that are provided there, to her work with the group Gather, who looks for fun ways to get an often times forgotten age group out and about, to lastly the huge part she plays on the Wind Down Wednesday committee and practically every other event committee in town. Not to mention she is such a kind-hearted person, a dreamer that is always encouraging others to strive

for their dreams as well.”

Responding to a need

In addition to helping boost community events and being a vocal community advocate on social media and in her daily life, Karsjens has taken the initiative multiple times to help organize events for people in need.

With the December death of 1-year-old Easton LaFrance, Karsjens was one of the people who helped organize volunteers to blow up balloons and tie them on a bridge the day of the little boy’s funeral in chilly temperatures to let the family know the community cared.

Easton LaFrance’s mother, Nicole, used to work at the studio before opening her own gymnastics studio in the industrial park in northern Albert Lea. “In situations like that people feel like there’s nothing they can do,” Karsjens said. “It feels like that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Chelsea Czenkus, another person who nominated Karsjens for the Citizen of the Year Award, said

Citizen of the Year Award nominees: • Melissa Barr • Holly Karsjens • Brad Kirchner • Carolyn Smith • George Marin • Eh Mwee • Pat Mulso • Marja Stenzel • Holly Karsjens, Sarah Hensley, Tami Staker and Paul Shea for work planning community events • Randy Kehr, posthumously

Citizen of the Year Award committee members • Crystal Miller • Sarah Stultz • Cindy Lunning • Rick Mummert • John Holt • Tom Sorenson

Karsjens is the type of person who would give the shirt off her back, even if it was the only thing she had.

“Her personality is one that lights up the whole room the minute she walks in,” Czenkus said.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2018 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE A3

‘We can’t leave any stone unturned’ GROUP STILL DETERMINED TO CHANGE COURSE OF LOCAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY

By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

On June 12, 2017, Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea officials announced they would transition most inpatient services to Austin over the next three years.

Shock and anger was immediately sparked for many in the community, and the Save Our Hospital organization was formed to keep most inpatient services in the community.

Eight months later, Save Our Hospital remains, thanks to the efforts of local volunteers who continue to evaluate all options to reach the group’s goal.

“We can’t leave any stone unturned,” said Angie Hanson, Save Our Hospital local organizing subcommittee chairwoman. “We have to try every single avenue to try to keep those services here or get those services here in some manner, and if we don’t do that, then we’ve basically failed all of the members of Save Our Hospital and our community, if we leave some stone unturned.

“We have to make sure we are doing everything we can.”

To accomplish the organization’s goal, Hanson led efforts to organize rallies last summer and inform the community of the changes Mayo Clinic Health System is making. Albert Lea and Freeborn County have discussed forming a community health board, and the group has informed state and federal lawmakers of the transition and requested their assistance in changing the hospital system’s plans.

Hanson spoke of her concern about patients and their families needing to take the more than 20-mile trip to Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin in possibly adverse weather conditions because of the changes.

“There’s real danger for people to have to travel that far,” she said.

Though Save Our Hospital members are open to having Mayo Clinic Health System provide inpatient services to the community, they plan to welcome another provider to Albert Lea if Mayo continues with its transition.

“If Mayo doesn’t want to keep their services, then we’ll look elsewhere to get those services,” Hanson said.

The hospital moved its intensive care unit last fall. Inpatient surgeries are expected to move this summer, along with inpatient behavioral health.

Medical and surgical hospitalization services are expected to move early next year, while childbirth services will move in 2019-20.

Jean Eaton, Save Our Hospital public relations chairwoman, said the transition is an economic impact issue.

A small business owner, she

Save Our Hospital members Jane Maiden, Angie Hanson and Joel Erickson are working to bring back a full-service, acute-care hospital to Albert Lea. SAM WILMES/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

be profitable. The only thing that is, that it will take time, because it will start with a clinic, then they’ll add.”

The group has consistently stated it is apolitical and diverse.

Hanson said Save Our Hospital’s biggest core value is respect.

“We can always say whatever we’re doing is above the line,” she said. “Mayo can’t say — they can say it’s not, but then they’re wrong.

We have always been above the line. Yeah, we will challenge them, but we will stay above the line, always. And I think that’s awesome.”

“That’s the message,” Erickson said.

The group remains confident it will change the course of health care delivery in Albert Lea and be an example of what community groups can do.

“We’re a grassroots community group that is going to make a difference — a huge difference,” Eaton said.

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Save Our Hospital members gathered Jan. 31 on Bridge Avenue to call attention to their concerns regarding Mayo Clinic Health System’s plan to transition most inpatient services from Albert Lea to Austin. said the transition effects many people and is part of a national issue regarding a lack of health care delivery options in rural areas.

“We’re a grassroots community group that is going to make a difference — a huge difference.”

— Jean Eaton Eaton has served as Albert Lea mayor and in other leadership positions.

“I’ve always had a passion for this community, and I care about the people,” she said. “I care about the services. I care about our economic vitality.”

Internal communications chairman Joel Erickson said though Mayo’s merging with Naeve Health Care in the 1990s went well, his opinion of the merger has since soured.

“They own the table of health care, and no one else can sit at the table except them,” he said.

Erickson emphasized Freeborn County and neighboring counties were establishing their own health care table and invited Mayo Clinic Health System to join.

“We own health care here in Albert Lea and Freeborn County, not Mayo,” he said.

“We will own the health care table. Mayo will no longer own the health

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Save Our Hospital is challenging Mayo’s statements that the Albert Lea hospital can no longer be profitable and cites the results of last year’s study health care consultant Quorum Health Resources LLC. compiled.

The company found if certain conditions were met, the hospital could be profitable.

Save Our Hospital takes issue with the hospital system’s plan to transition services farther away from medically underserved regions.

“It was bad to begin with, Erickson said. “Now they just made it worse.”

The organization has consistently stated its disagreement is with the hospital system’s administration, not the doctors or nurses who provide care.

“The Mayo Clinic is good at what they do, but they aren’t so good at rural health care,” Erickson said.

As of January, Save Our Hospital was evaluating hiring a consultant next month to guide them through the process, which the group has said would be a marathon. Despite possible difficulties, Hanson expressed confidence inpatient services would return to Albert Lea. “I don’t think it’s going to be that hard,” she said. “I’m convinced it’s not going to be that hard. Once we get a consultant helping us lead the way, it’s not going to be that hard to get someone here.

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PAGE A4 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2018 | COMMUNITY | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018

BACK ON BOARD

ALBERT LEA SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN RETURNS TO POSITION IN 2ND BOARD STINT

By Sarah Kocher

sarah.kocher@albertleatribune.com

Ken Petersen and the school board discuss updates to Hammer Complex. SARAH KOCHER/ ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

By the numbers 1976

8

Times Ken Petersen has been school board chairman

Year Ken Petersen moved back to Albert Lea

245

Approximate number of school board meetings Ken Petersen has attended over the years as of Feb. 20

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Over the course of one year, the Albert Lea school board takes several actions that affect the education and lives of hundreds of students in its district. For school board Chairman Ken Petersen, in the midst of his 11th year on the school board, there are a few favorite moments.

“I was thankful I got to hand both my sons their diplomas,” Petersen said.

Petersen first served on the school board beginning in 1999 as a way to serve the community.

“I always believe that you should give back to the community,” Petersen said. “...

I’m originally from Albert Lea, and Albert Lea has given a lot to me.”

He said he left the school board in 2008 because he is “a firm believer in term limits.”

Petersen said he received phone calls and had conversations with people about returning as the chairman.

They were looking for more unity on the school board.

“I had a lot of encouragement from people,” he said.

Helping the board find that unity is the biggest thing Petersen wants to accomplish.

It doesn’t mean they will all agree, but it does mean they can make decisions to go forward together. Petersen said he has seen the school board do a good job of being unified this year.

School board member Jill Marin is in the midst of her third term and 12th year on the school board, and has been on the school board with Petersen both times he has been involved. She said she was one of the people who approached him about returning to the board.

“He tries to please those on all sides of an issue,” Marin said. “Ken has a pleasant and calm personality and is easy to work alongside on

Ken Petersen speaks with fellow board members Dave Klatt and Neal Skaar following a February school board meeting. the board, and I feel safer now with Ken at the helm, and I appreciate that.”

Despite the diplomahanding perks, Petersen said having no children currently in the Albert Lea school system is helpful for him as a board member in staying objective.

“I think not having students in the school is somewhat of an advantage,” he said. “The reason for that is when I was on the school board the first time, when I would get phone calls, it was always parents who were focused on their kids… and so sometimes you get a little narrow at what you look at.

For me, I can look at everything and I don’t have a bias.”

Marin said she sees Petersen’s business experience play in to how he runs the school board in an even-handed way.

Petersen is a general manager for the central U.S. with Hubbard Feeds.

“He just brings some business management expertise to the table, and when working with different sides of an issue, he tries to, you know, find a way to bring them together,” Marin said.

In turn, Petersen sees it as the school board’s job to bring students together.

“We have a wide range of, a wide range of students that are, you know very

active, have families, and we have those that things aren’t so good, so we’ve got to bring them all together and provide an education for everyone,” he said.

But while some things have changed — for instance, communication challenges associated with making sure the whole community is being adequately updated considering all the ways people receive information — others haven’t.

Petersen still loves to see the look on students’ faces when they graduate. He still enjoys finding out about the teacher of the year.

Furthermore, he has learned a lesson or two himself: “I think it’s how important it is to the community to have a great education system,” he said.

Petersen said the school board has also been a good exercise in learning how to work with various people.

“I feel pretty blessed with the people that I’ve served with and the things that we’ve been able to provide to students,” Petersen said.

Marin said it is not only the students Petersen has been providing for; it’s also been the school board.

“I’ve enjoyed serving with Ken,” Marin said.

“He’s a person who allows for all voices to be heard.”

Did You Know?

The Albert Lea Tribune reaches 70.1% of Freeborn County in either print or online.

Total Audience Market Survey

Freeborn County residents reported to Pulse Research that, in the past month, they have...

Reader Demographics Gender Male Female

43.6% 56.4%

Ages 18-34 35-54 55+ Average Age

18.3% 35.9% 45.7% 52

Income Less than $30K $31K-$49K $50K-$99K $100K+ Average Income

14.7% 15.6% 39.0% 7.7% $62,131

19.7% have read the Albert Lea Tribune online

65.8% have read Albert Lea Tribune in print

15.4% have read Albert Lea Tribune BOTH online and in print

AlbertLeaTribune.com was the #1 trusted online source in Freeborn County for both news and advertising.

Results from telephone survey conducted over a week period in July 2017. Results published August 2017.

LO VE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2018 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE A5

A LABOR OF

Dorcas Circle currently has 12 members, but due to some of the members going south for the winter, they are down to five. Sitting in the front, from left, are Roxann Linthicum, Jody Nechanicky and Lona Berg. Standing in the back, from left, are Pat Draayer and Maryalice Hanson. TYLER JULSON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

Church group create 50 to 60 quilts every year to give people both near and far By the numbers

By Tyler Julson

tyler.julson@albertleatribune.com

The Dorcas circle at First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove has been doing its part to help out in the local community as well as communities in need all over the world. Dorcas, the group’s namesake, was a woman in the Bible who used her hands to make things and show her love for the poor and less fortunate by giving her creations to charity.

Meeting once a month for about five hours a day, the circle members get together at the church to craft quilts they donate to relief efforts or community events in the area as well as around the globe.

When the circle started back in the early 1970s, the group made fewer than 10 quilts a year. However, thanks to advancements in technology, the group now makes between 50 and 60 quilts each year.

“Back when I joined, they were still using a cardboard template,” said Pat Draayer.

“We did not have the nice cotton materials — we just took clothes apart. We were lucky to get out six quilts a year. Then came along the rotary cutter and electric sewing machines, and oh man, then we really had it down.”

Members of the congregation or community donate all of the fabric that the circle uses to make the quilts. The Dorcas said they never seem to run out of anything, but they are always looking for more donations.

Although the circle only meets once a month, they do a lot of work for the club outside of their monthly meetings as well.

Many of the women take the quilts and fabrics home with them to get some of the materials cut or sewn before their next meeting.

“We do quite a bit of

12

Members on the Dorcas Circle group

45 Quilts the circle made and donated to victims of Hurricane Harvey

50+ Quilts the group makes in one year homework each month,” said circle member Jody Nechanicky.

Normally the club has 12 members who attend their meeting each month, but due to many of the members going south to avoid the cold, they only have five crafters during the winter months.

Quilt-making is a long

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The group normally makes around 50 quilts a year and donates them to various charities and events throughout the year. The most recent donation was to relief efforts to the victims of Hurricane Harvey. and multi-step process. by working on many dif- same time.

Members of the circle are ferent quilts at different See QUILTS, Page A10 able to stay on their toes stages of the process at the

PAGE A6 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2018 | COMMUNITY | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018

Featured faces of the last year

Brittany Voigt has been the public relations coordinator for Albert Lea Area Schools since 2015. She live in Wells with her husband, Jon, and their two children, Vinny and Audrey.

TYLER JULSON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

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In 2017, first-grade teacher Cindy Shahan turned her hobby into a small business that she calls Cindy’s Cupcake Creations. SARAH KOCHER/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

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David Voller started as the new girls’ and boys’ swim and dive coach at Albert Lea High School in August. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

Shell Rock River Watershed District conservation technician Scott Christenson plans to work with other local government entities to clean local waters. SAM WILMES/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

Albert Lea High School students Calvin Petersen, left, and Michael Savelkoul started Yard Barbers of Albert Lea in spring 2017. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2018 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE A7

Freeborn Development Group plans to develop the Freeborn National Bank building and Jacobson Apartments into a 30-room hotel. TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

Group hopes to turn former bank building into destination hotel

By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

Two local Realtors are part of a group that hopes to develop the Freeborn National Bank building and Jacobson Apartments into a 30-room boutique hotel.

Craig Hoium and Rick Mummert of Freeborn Development Group plan to have nine of the rooms as extended-stay suites, with the rest a combination of king and doublequeen rooms and executive suites.

Plans call for the main floor to be utilized as a common community space that could host receptions, conferences and other options. Hoium said he hopes The Interchange Wine & Coffee Bistro would remain with expanded food options.

A parking lot behind the building is planned to be hard-surfaced and landscaped to tie in with the hotel, and a rod-iron fence or a guardrail would be installed around the lot to tie it in with the hotel.

Hoium said the project was planned after the group studied similar hotels in downtown districts in other communities.

“We’ve done some research, and they’ve been successful in other areas,” he said.

Hoium said the group needs investors for the

“The goal is to try to leave the inside as much as possible as it was when it was a flourishing building.”

— Real estate agent Rick Mummert project, so as of early this month Freeborn Development Group had a consultant calculating the return on investment the project would have for investors.

Hoium called the plan “a good project” that is “more of a fitting use of the building than just having them as apartments.”

To make the project feasible, Freeborn Development Group is seeking historic tax credits for the project.

Unsuccessful plans by Kansas-based developer Cohen Esrey last year called for turning the buildings into 21 apartments on the upper floors, with The Albert Lea Art Center and The Interchange on the ground level.

“The goal is to try to leave the inside as much as possible as it was when it was a flourishing building,” Mummert said.

He said the project will fit well in downtown

Albert Lea. “We believe it will bring in clientele that would utilize the downtown, other businesses, and it would be what you would call kind of a destination hotel, where people would come there because of what it is, and that’s what we’re looking for, that’s a piece of what we’re looking for,” Mummert said.

Earlier this month, the group estimated it would be 30 to 45 days before it would know if its project is selected instead of another project under consideration by the city.

By the numbers 30

Rooms planned for the hotel

4 Times the city has tried to develop the Freeborn National Bank building and Jacobson Apartments

1922 Year the Freeborn National Bank building was originally constructed as a bank on the first floor and medical and professional offices in the upper floors.

The building’s upper two floors were added in 1923.

Realtor Craig Hoium hopes to help develop the Freeborn National Bank building into a 30-room hotel. SAM WILMES/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

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PAGE A8 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2018 | COMMUNITY | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018

‘Can’t imagine trying to move it anywhere else’ By the numbers

By Colleen Harrison

colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

A family business for nearly a century, Albert Lea Seed House isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

The business was opened in 1923 by Louis “Lou” Ehrhardt, after he had gotten into the nursery business through Wedge Nursery, which was run by his wife’s family. He opened Albert Lea Seed House on Broadway in the former Gulbrandson building, in the area where Wells Fargo is today. Lou Ehrhardt focused in on the seed side of the business, growing and managing it until 1950, when his son, George, joined him and then managed the business through the ’90s.

In 2001, George Ehrhardt’s sons Mac and Tom became majority owners of Albert Lea Seed House.

Tom Ehrhardt, vice president of operations for Albert Lea Seed House, said what has dramatically changed the business over the years is farmers starting to use hybrid corn and hybrid soybean seeds, as well as other hybrid products. He said those turned into cash crops, and completely revolutionized the industry.

Unlike 20 years ago, Ehrhardt said 50 percent of Albert Lea Seed House’s offerings are now certified organic. While the company had a GMO brand of seeds in the past, it sold off that brand a couple of years ago. The storefront still sells genetically modified seeds, but does not produce any under its seed brand, Viking Seed. Instead, it focuses more on organic and non-GMO products.

While Albert Lea Seed House has always been a family business, Ehrhardt said it was not always a given that he or his brother would become involved as adults.

He said they both went off to college and did other things for a while, but eventually came back to settle down in Albert Lea and get involved with the family business.

Ehrhardt said the business

1923

Year Lou Ehrhardt started the business that would become Albert Lea Seed House

1950 Year Lou Ehrhardt’s son, George, joined him in the business

2001

Year George Ehrhardt’s sons Mac and Tom became majority owners of the business

Brothers Mac, left, and Tom Ehrhardt own and operate Albert Lea Seed House, which has been in the Ehrhardt family since the 1920s. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE is part of a very steady industry, but one that has gone through a lot of change. Seed breeding used to be done almost entirely through universities, which came up with different hybrids and varieties. Now, the majority of seed development is no longer done publicly, but privately, through companies such as Monsanto. Ehrhardt said there is still some development done through universities, but those seeds tend to be speciality food products, such as a certain type of barley for a microbrewery, for example.

Albert Lea Seed House has maintained strong relationships with universities and other organizations looking to maintain quality, nonGMO and organic products, Ehrhardt said.

While Mac and Tom Ehrhardt didn’t necessarily expect to be running the family business, Tom Ehrhardt said it has brought with it a lot of opportunity.

They’ve liked staying in Albert Lea, as he said it has

Albert Lea Seed House is at 1414 W. Main St. in Albert Lea. been a good place to raise their children.

“It’s a good business, you have to work it,” Ehrhardt said.

“Geographically, we’re in a pretty sweet spot. …

I can’t imagine trying to move it anywhere else.”

Fifteen years ago, the

business moved its storefront and offices to its current location at 1414 W. Main St., next to its seed plant that had been near that location since the 1970s.

The business also has three other warehouses around Albert Lea. Today, Albert Lea Seed House employs

35 full-time positions.

Ehrhardt said being near the intersection of interstates 35 and 90 has been beneficial for transportation, as Albert Lea Seed House sells products all over the United States. The business’s diversity and depth of the products it offers also plays to its

strengths, Ehrhardt said, and being based in the Midwest is a good place to be in connection with the universities and farms it works with. He said Albert Lea Seed House has established and maintained relationships with reputable farms throughout the Midwest and has developed connections with crop production outfits locally and regionally.

Ehrhardt said the way Albert Lea Seed House differs from others in the industry is that it has a physical storefront people can walk into to purchase seeds and other products. He said it’s good for the company to have a physical presence, and it has helped the business form an established brand in the community.

Albert Lea Seed House has been involved with local community efforts and organizations, such as the Albert Lea Family Y and Riverland Community College, and has been involved with other causes, Ehrhardt said. He said the business has been approached to put up money for studies done by the universities it has worked with in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, as well.

“You can’t run a small business in Albert Lea and not donate to a lot of causes,” Ehrhardt said.

Best Fresh

Progress - Albert Lea 1/4 Page Horizontal

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2018 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE A9

‘There’s no better feeling than going out and helping someone’ By the numbers

they’re laying on the floor with a heart attack, people who you see every day, who you work with every day,” Anderson said.

Though there are hours of training and meetings firefighters must attend, Thisius said after a couple years, no one regrets joining a fire department.

Matt Webb compared the building of a fire department to the growth of a good sports team, meaning if the department’s reputation is solid, the department will see an increase in personnel.

He said the department receives one call about every four days, which he prefers to a workload of about one call per month.

“It keeps people motivated to keep going,” Webb said.

The firefighters thanked local businesses for allowing employees to attend to calls during the work day.

Freeborn County fire departments have a longstanding relationship with each other, with reportedly the longest lasting association in the state, which will turn 66 this April. Fire departments meet monthly, and firefighters said a relationship between them exists that is not prevalent in many other counties.

Firefighters throughout the county share the same desire.

“Whatever situation (it) is, that whatever we can do to make it turn out the best,” Wes Webb said.

By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

Long nights battling fires to harrowing medical calls following car crashes are situations volunteer firefighters face in their positions.

For five local firefighters from three departments, the difficult situations are worth it because they help people.

Carl Anderson of the Clarks Grove Fire Department has been on the force for 39 years, serving as fire chief for 29. In his position, he has been paged to fires in the middle of night in temperatures that have ranged from 20 to 30 below zero.

“There’s been a few incidences where we’ve had tough times after the call,” he said. “But we go back as a group and debrief, we debrief or we just sit and talk with each other about what happened at the incident.

“And work ourselves through it, because a lot of times you go home at

39

Years Carl Anderson has served on the Clarks Grove Fire Department

27 Firefighters in Glenville

130 Structures damaged from the 2001 Glenville tornado

night after a tough one and you can’t get back to sleep because you keep thinking about the incident, and those times are tough. They’re tough. Good thing we don’t have a lot Volunteer firefighters Wes Webb, Carl Anderson, Steven Thisius, Matt Webb and Greg of them.”

Anderson’s position has Bartsch are five people who help save lives. SAM WILMES/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE led him to miss family time.

“My wife would tell you I “When the page goes, you 16th year at the depart- said. “It gets to be quite a ment. He said the main thing. That was a memowas married to two people: go.” her and the fire departGlenville Fire Chief Matt reason why he joined was rable moment.” ment,” he said.

Webb is heading into his because his father, Wes Anderson recalled last Webb, was a firefighter in fall’s fire that destroyed Glenville.

Freeborn County Sheriff’s “It’s a lot of good mo- Office Chief Deputy Todd ments, a lot of good guys,” Earl’s house as a moment where firefighters conMatt Webb said.

• Homeowners Insurance • Life Insurance • Business or Commercial There are 27 firefighters nect their jobs to the perin Glenville, and a majority sonal lives of community of their calls involve medi- members. cal situations, he said.

“You would never think Greg Bartsch of the their house would burn, and Geneva Fire Department you pull up there with the said people sometimes don’t fire truck and you just can’t “I AM PROUD recognize community mem- believe that you’re at their TO BE YOUR bers are on the Fire Depart- house, or you get a mediwww.farmersagent.com/jtalamantes ment until they are assisted cal call at 2 in the morning LOCAL FARMERS by them. To Bartsch, help- to somebody’s house and 702 Main St AVE 109 ES NEWTON ing others is a top priority, aLBERt LEa, MN Mn56007 56007 AGENT.” ALBERT LEA, no matter the situation.

“You don’t even think about it,” he said. “You just do it.”

Clarks Grove Fire Chief Steven Thisius said though being a volunteer is “kind of a thankless job,” he still enjoys his work.

“There’s no better feeling than going out and helping someone,” he said.

Wes Webb said though it is difficult to say that one moment during his career stands out, the 2001 Glenville tornado that caused damage to 130 structures The Glenville Fire Department is one of the fire departments was difficult. that relies on volunteers to protect citizens from fires and “It was really trying,” he other situations.

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PAGE A10 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2018 | COMMUNITY | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018

QUILTS Continued from Page A5

Dorca’s Circle member Maryalice Hanson works on the stitching for one of the many quilts the group is working on.

TYLER JULSON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

First, all of the materials must be cut to exactly the right size. Then a design needs to be laid out, followed by the design being stitched together — and that’s just one side. That doesn’t include the other side, the stuffing in the middle or sewing and tying the pieces together at the end.

Some of the quilts made go to local organizations or families who have been struck by tragedy, while some of the quilts make it as far as Honduras to help the less fortunate there.

Most recently, the club donated 45 of their quilts to relief efforts in Houston to victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Although many of the ladies had different reasons as to why they enjoy making the quilts, all of their end reasoning’s were nearly the same.

“All of these quilts have

“All of these quilts have been wrapped in prayer. It just puts a smile on your face knowing that now we get to give this to someone and how delightful it would be to snuggle under that.”

— Circle member Maryalice Hanson

been wrapped in prayer,” said circle member Maryalice Hanson. “It just puts a smile on your face knowing that now we get to give this to someone and how delightful it would be to snuggle under that.”

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377-9202

BACK ACRES DAY CARE

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• B.S. Social Work • Licensed daycare provider • Crafts & lots of Jaclyn outdoor outings Flatten • Culturally diverse 510 E • Fenced backyard Hawthorne • Close to 369-5171 Hawthorne

Debbie Baas 1816 Lakewood Ave. 373-5466

Ann Knutson 507.402.1777

Debbie Pirsig 709 Hammer Road 373-0869

Jaclyn Flatten 510 E Hawthorne 507-369-5171

Laura Back 71205 255th St 826-3585

Freeborn County Licensed Day Care Association Referral 373-5466

Cherie Osmundson 2305 Margaretha 377-9202

Susan Graham 611 Cherry Ave 507-473-0453

Elaine Bohlen 208 Fredrick Drive 402-0162

Wende Taylor 1220 Martin Rd. 377-3242

Sue Rechtzigel 1919 Brookside Dr 373-0912

Mary Gilman 402 Wedgewood Rd. 377-0060

Judy Gulbrandson 306 E. Hawthorne St. 373-4301

Robin Helgerson 1909 Stevens Rd. 373-8089

Jordan Kernes 2130 Grand Ave. 712-363-3228

PROVIDERS ARE NOW INTERVIEWING FOR OPENINGS

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018 | COMMUNITY | PROGRESS 2018 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE A11

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