Progress 2017 Neighbors

PROGRESS • FEBRUARY 26, 2017

NEIGHBORS What’s inside?

“Every morning I wake up, I ask myself ‘How can I make patients’ lives easier?’ I’m learning every day.”

— AMANDA CREEN

LAKE MILLS CARE CENTER ADMINISTRATOR

Finding happiness caring for

PATIENTS

A growing school Alden-Conger students enjoy new classrooms with expansion.

Page 3

Reaping benefits Kiester mayor talks about the impact of the Preparation H commercial.

Page 5

Haircare line started Bricelyn woman’s ‘farm to fashion’ haircare products are expanding.

Page 8

Amanda Creen is Lake Mills Care Center’s newest administrator. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

New Lake Mills Care Center administrator loves job

By Jarrod Peterson

jarrod.peterson@albertleatribune.com

L

Promoting health Two couples renovate Geneva building, start a new gym for area.

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AKE MILLS — It takes everyone time to find their niche.

Some know sooner than others, some dip their toes in several different things and some continuously look for what peaks their interest the most.

For Amanda Creen, Lake Mills Care Center’s newest administrator, it took her some time after high school and a family experience to figure out that caring for the ones who can’t care for themselves anymore was what she wanted to do.

A native of Iowa, being born in Keokuk and growing up in Des Moines, Creen attended East High School in Des Moines and graduated in 2002. Upon graduating, she moved back to southeastern Iowa and attended Southeastern Iowa Community College where she obtained her associate’s degree. She then transferred to Iowa State University and graduated in 2013. She spent two years looking for a job, but had some trouble finding one.

“I couldn’t find a job, so I went to one of my education counselors,” Creen said.

“He asked me, ‘What makes you happy?’ And I said, ‘What makes me happy was the experience I had when my grandmother and uncle were in the hospital, and See ADMIN, Page 2

PAGE 2 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | NEIGHBORS | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017

ADMIN Continued from Front Page

I got to help them with their discharge planning and care for them.’”

From there, Creen discovered getting a nursing administration license would only take her a semester and a half from Des Moines Area Community College. She also had to complete a 400-hour internship, which she did at Madrid Home Communities in Madrid, Iowa.

“It worked out nice because I applied for the job in Lake Mills while doing my internship,” Creen said.

“I ended my time in Madrid on a Friday and started my job in Lake Mills on Monday.”

Creen arrived in Lake Mills in March 2016 as a provisional administrator.

She had to wait until November to become officially licensed.

So far, she has loved every moment of her job.

“I have a tremendous staff to help me out,” Creen said. “I am constantly learning every single day from my staff. We have some members who have been here for over 20 years, so why not learn from them?”

Creen said there is an open line of communication between all workers in the building, and it makes everyone’s job a lot easier.

“If you can’t work as a team in this profession, it will make it difficult for not

Lake Mills Care Center is a nursing home at 406 S. 10th Ave. E in Lake Mills. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE only you, but the patients, too,” she said.

Creen said her favorite part of the job is interacting with patients and getting to know them and their families, which is

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“It is important to know the families of the patients as best as you can,” Creen said. “It’s also important because the family deserves to know you, too, because you are taking care of their loved one(s).”

What happened between 2002 and 2013? What did Creen do with all her time?

“I went on a lot of

vacations,” Creen said with a smile.

Creen is a fan of extreme couponing, and said she saves big bucks while at the grocery store. She also has won many prizes and trips by entering sweepstakes giveaways. In an article posted in the Ames Tribune in January 2016, it stated Creen brought her monthly food bill from $700

down to $250.

She got married five years ago.

“While I enjoy the couponing and winning sweepstakes, helping care for people was what I have wanted to do,” Creen said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I was younger. In kindergarten, the teacher would wonder why my paper was blank

when I was asked to draw what I wanted to be when I grew up. I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”

Now that she has found what she wants to do, she plans on taking her game to a new level every day.

“Every morning I wake up, I ask myself ‘How can I make patients’ lives easier?’” Creen said. “I’m learning every day.”

By the numbers 10

2013

Months Creen has been at Lake Mills Care Center

Year Creen graduated from Iowa State University

75

5

Patients living at Lake Mills Care Center

Years Creen has been married

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | NEIGHBORS | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 3

Alden-Conger expansion ‘a draw’ for district

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

ALDEN — Alden-Conger Public School staff and students are already seeing benefits from a $10 million expansion and upgrade project at the school.

Construction on the 75,000-square-foot expansion began last May and was completed in October following MEA break, said Superintendent Brian Shanks.

In addition to the expansion, the school underwent upgrades to its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system as well as replacing the flat roof with a pitched metal roof. Crews replaced light fixtures throughout the school to make them more energy efficient, along with the plumbing fixtures, Shanks said.

The roofing project was slated to be completed at the end of January.

Shanks said the addition includes two kindergarten classrooms and a potential for two preschool classrooms, as well as a new elementary office, an office for the elementary dean, a conference room and a workroom.

“For me, that was a big one getting the preschool and kindergarten together,” Shanks said, pointing out that the two age groups can now collaborate more.

Clockwise from left, Owen Blanchard, Oliver Christensen and Jaxxon Farris play with animals in January in a preschool classroom at Alden-Conger Public Schools. SARAH STULTZ/ Aleckye Toledo plays with Legos in a preschool class in ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE January at Alden-Conger Public Schools.

By the numbers 800

4

Students who have attended the Washington, D.C., trip over about 25 years.

Children Johnson and his wife, Janelle, have: Jay, Jack, Ben and Brock

The superintendent said with the addition, it is the first time in the school’s history that

there are now separate entrances: one for preschoolers through fifthgraders and the second

someone on the inside has to electronically open the door for each visitor. This brings better safety to all those in the school.

Years Johnson has The addition also opened worked for Worth County up other classrooms in the Extension. older part of the school for other purposes.

“We really were bursting for students in sixth at the seams,” Shanks said. through 12th grades.

“Any room that was vacated Both entrances are now we filled right up.”

In the old kindergarten secure — meaning that

35

classrooms, there is now a classroom for the school’s new transition program and another for the new early childhood special education program.

Shanks said he has heard many good comments from parents about the project — especially from those with younger students.

“It is a draw for us,” he said.

Passion for excavation trucks began as a 3-year-old child for business owner

By Kelly Wassenberg

kelly.wassenberg@albertleatribune.com

HARTLAND — Most typical 3-year-old boys get a kick out of playing with toy dump trucks in their sandboxes. Brandon Olson’s sandbox just happened to be a little bigger than most would expect.

“My mother tells a story that I started running a backhoe, by myself, when I was 3 years old,” he said.

Olson wasn’t at the playground or a neighborhood park though. He was out with his grandfather, Leslie Olson, who owned his own excavation company.

“He had five daughters, so when I came along, I was kind of the first son, so to speak, even though I was a grandson,” Olson said. “I really liked it and showed significant interest in it at that time.”

Decades later, Olson bought the company from his grandfather, and it’s still a multigenerational family business to this day.

His grandfather worked for him for seven to eight years before finally retiring at 80.

Olson’s brother and father-inlaw work with him now, as well as his 22-year-old son, Gage Olson, who’d like to take over the company one day.

The company has grown significantly since its early days, too. From its

Olson Excavating in Hartland uses a varies of excavation equipment, which allows them to tackle jobs of almost any size. During the winter, however, most of the equipment is stored on or offsite. conception in 1965 to 30 years later, Leslie Olson ran the company with only one other employee.

“The farming economy rose so much that it drove us to be bigger, more than anything,” Olson said.

Olson currently has five other full-time employees and has a couple others that help out during the summer. He is looking to potentially hire two more employees and feels he has secured enough winter work to keep them busy.

“Then we can give them a year-round position,” he said.

Like many companies that do seasonal work, Olson has diversified his

work to allow his business to thrive throughout year.

This includes working for the cities of Hartland, Freeborn, New Richland, Hollandale and Alden whenever they need excavation work done. Water lines, sewer pipes and storm drains repair are some of the projects they take care of for these cities.

The company also provides a number of other services in the area — farm drainage, basements, wetland restoration, dirt moving, site preparation, building site removal, hauling gravel and snow removal, among others.

“We do just about anything that revolves around

Gage Olson hopes to one day take the business over from his father, Brandon. KELLY WASSENBERG/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

dirt,” Olson said. “We’re really a well-rounded company as far as that goes.

There’s nothing we won’t really tackles, so to speak.”

Although they do travel to job sites, according to Olson they’re almost always within 15 minutes of home and for good reason.

“We have a very broad client base and we take care of a vast majority of the farm sites and the farmers in this area.”

Olson said he has a

dedicated customer base, and by expanding or growing much more, he could potentially put his ability to give them prompt service at risk.

“We really haven’t run into a project that is too big for us yet. We’re small enough that we can run out and do your half-hour tile repair fix,” he said.

The variety and flexibility of his schedule are important to him.

“It’s something new

every time and that keeps us interested,” he said of the projects he works on.

For Olson, it’s more than just the work that will keep his family business in the town of Hartland, though — it’s the people, the loyal customers and farmers that keep him busy even in times when the farming economy is seeing a dip.

“This is where it’s been since 1965,” he said of his business. “So I think we’ll just stay right here.”

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PAGE 4 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | NEIGHBORS | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017

Museum serves as bridge in town

By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

CLARKS GROVE — A history museum is allowing people to view interesting historical information, thanks to decades of work done by volunteers.

Clarks Grove Area Historical Museum opened in July 2015 and features pieces of local history. As of January, visitors from 19 states and one foreign country had been to the museum.

The Clarks Grove Heritage Society, founded in 1994, worked extensively to make the museum a possibility, even after it ran into difficulty.

“We just never had the financial means to do it,” said Kathy Jensen, secretary and treasurer. “We always talked about it. We checked out various buildings in town, but we didn’t really have any buildings we could undertake.”

The Heritage Society went to the city council for help and raised $30,000 for the project. An area history book released in 2006 has helped considerably.

Construction on the museum began in 2014, and it opened in July 2015.

The museum is open from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays from April to the end of October and by appointment, which can be made by calling the museum at 256-8011.

“Every Saturday is just exciting, because there are people coming in who we haven’t seen for sometimes many, many years, and they’re excited about seeing the things that went on,” said Everett Jensen, museum co-curator.

Clarks Grove, originally a Danish community, was home to the first cooperative creamery in Minnesota.

Kathy Jensen said visitors feel a personal connection at the museum.

“I think the thing that I hear about is, ‘Oh, my mother used to have something like this,’ or ‘My parents had this.’ That’s the thing I hear. It brings back memories.”

A display, which lists historic schools, is remembered by visitors, said museum co-curator Marvel Beiser.

The museum, which features dozens of displays, is rearranged each year to look different.

“We’re just very happy with what we got,” Everett Jensen said.

Donations — especially

An early 20th century radio is on display at Clarks Grove Area Historical Museum. SAM WILMES/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

By the numbers 19 States that visitors to the museum have come from

103

Street number for the museum on Independence Avenue

$30,000 Money raised in a fundraiser for the museum

“Every Saturday is just exciting, because there are people coming in who we haven’t seen for sometimes many, many years.”

Marvel Beiser, Everett Jensen and Kathy Jensen are making sure the Clarks Grove Area Historical Museum continues to suit the needs of local residents.

The museum serves as a bridge to former Clarks Grove residents, Beiser said. pieces that signify the his“It brings back people tory of the Clarks Grove who have lived here, and they come back and they area — are welcome.

— Everett Jensen, museum co-curator

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | NEIGHBORS | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 5

Kiester sees benefits from TV spot

By Colleen Harrison

colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

KIESTER — Over a year has passed since the town of Kiester was approached by a major brand to use the small town of about 500 people as a setting for a commercial.

The catch? The commercial would be advertising Preparation H — an ointment used to treat hemorrhoids — and would be playing on the town’s name and its likeness to a certain part of the human body.

Kiester Mayor Doug Trytten said Pfizer, the company that owns the Preparation H brand, originally emailed Kiester’s city clerk about possibly using the town as a commercial backdrop in March 2016. With April approaching, city officials thought the inquiry was probably an April Fool’s Day joke at first. After checking out the company through a Better Business Bureau, city officials told the company it was welcome to scout out the town as a possible location.

After initial location scouting, the commercial ended up being shot later that spring, and Doug Trytten said it took about 11 hours to shoot what would eventually be a 15-second TV spot. Doug Trytten and his wife, Dena, and their son, Jacob, along with a number of other locals were featured as extras in the commercial.

Local landmarks such as Kee Theater, Kiester

Kee Civic Theatre was one of the businesses featured in a Preparation H commercial that was shot last spring in Kiester.

COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

Market, the former Kiester school and the town’s fire hall can all be seen in the commercial. The cast and crew spent a lot of time in Kee Kafe and rented it out a few times, as well.

Doug Trytten said any businesses featured in the commercial were paid accordingly, and anyone featured as extras were paid for their time and were members of the Screen Actors Guild union for a day. The Tryttens, who previously owned Kee Theater

“There’s been plenty of jokes over the years. (The commercial) was well done and they treated us very respectfully.”

— Dena Trytten and now help take care of it through the nonprofit organization that owns it today, said the company was very generous to the theater and featured its marquee in the commercial.

The commercial, which

can be found on YouTube, debuted on June 7 and continues to run on television.

The company returned to Kiester over the summer to have a thank-you picnic for the community to thank everyone who helped with the

commercial, the Tryttens said. The crew provided food and sent attendees home with product samples, as well.

“We had fun with that,” Doug Trytten said.

“It was awesome,” Dena Trytten added. “They were very nice and generous and kind.”

Since the commercial aired, the Tryttens said people have stopped through the town to check it out after hearing about it, and some have said they

Freeborn Cemetery launches Avenue of Flags project

By Jarrod Peterson

jarrod.peterson@albertleatribune. com

There is nothing more peaceful than a cemetery.

Many people think cemeteries are gloomy, but they can be quite magnificent.

Fort Snelling National Cemetery is one of the most beautiful cemeteries the state of Minnesota has to offer. Over 220,000 soldiers are buried there, and on the Fourth of July, Veterans Day and Memorial Day, thousands of American flags are put out to represent the men and women who have lost their lives fighting for this country.

The Freeborn Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Freeborn County, and the local American Legion and Sons of American Legion are doing all they can to honor not only the fallen soldiers, but others who have passed on at the Freeborn Cemetery.

Gene Millagn, who is a Vietnam veteran and part of the Freeborn American Legion, is the man behind it all to decorate the cemetery with American flags in something called The Avenue of Flags.

“I’m the kind of guy who likes to stay active at something,” Millagn said. “I belong to a bunch of groups around the area, and I got to thinking it would be kind of cool if we had something like that in Freeborn.”

Last spring, Millagn headed to Wells, in search of some information on how to go about doing a big project.

“I went over to the VFW in Wells, and they told me what to do and what not to

11 Hours it took to film the Preparation H commercial in Kiester

15

Length in seconds of the commercial

500 People living in Kiester

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“It is a good way for people to fly the flag.

It’s a good way to respect the past.”

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Millagn said. “But we Hayward would like more people 2010 census: 250 to donate. We would like Median age: 44.5 to have the poles go all the Households: 114 way to the tree line. That’s Housing units: 123 what our goal is.”

Square miles: 0.6 The Freeborn CemeCity hall address: 107 tery has room for 30 flag County Road 26 poles, but it is maximizing City hall phone: 373-1222 its space by putting the Railroads: Dakota, Minpoles 40 feet apart. nesota & Eastern (Canadian “The point of putting Pacific) the flag poles 40 feet apart Highways: Interstate 90 is that if we get more pole donations, we can start Hollandale putting flag poles every 2010 census: 303 20 feet,” Millagn said.

Median age: 38.3 Millagn said the AmerHouseholds: 128 ican Legion and Sons of Housing units: 146 American Legion is taking Square miles: 0.4 donations from family, City hall address: 110 friends and businesses.

Park Ave. W. The project started out City hall phone: 889-4001 as being for just military Railroads: none people who have died, but Highways: Minnesota it is branching out.

Highway 251 “The flags are for evThe Freeborn Cemetery hopes to add more flags to its Avenue of Flags. The cemetery eryone and can be puralready has 17 flags and hopes to add more in the spring. JARROD PETERSON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE chased by anyone,” JaEllendale 2010 census: 691 cobsen said.

Median age: 39.6 do,” Millagn said with a Freeborn American Legion Tiger City Sports is Households: 296 smile on his face. “It is very has done meat raffles — and making the decals that go Housing units: 317 important to know what not that money goes directly on every pole.

Square miles: 0.9 to do. It is also important to into the Sons of American Cemeteries in Albert City Hall address: 505 cover the holes when you Legion account — but the Lea and Wells have done Second St. take the poles out for the group knew it was going to the Avenue of Flags, too, City Hall phone: 684-2681 winter. The guys in Wells have to diversify its means along with other cemeterRailroads: Union Pacific ies in the area. learned the hard way.” of gathering money.

Highways: Interstate 35, When it came time to buy “We got some money “It is a good way for Minnesota Highway 30 the flags and poles, it was from the meat raffles, but people to fly the flag,” MillSchools: NRHEG Elemenessential to Millagn and his we knew it wasn’t going be agn said. “It’s a good way — Gene Millagn tary School comrades — Chris Jacobenough if we were going to respect the past.” to accomplish what we sen and Roy Torgerson who are helping with the project Millagn made a few wanted to accomplish,” — that the poles and flags phone calls and found a Millagn said. “That’s why distributor in Willmar to we started asking for say “Made in the U.S.A.” “There was no way at all supply the flag poles. donations.” that we were going to buy Millagn said people and The cost of each pole American flags that said is $125, including the flag businesses in the area have Owner & TaxidermisT ‘Made in China,’” Torg- and sleeve, but that doesn’t donated money for the flags erson said. “It might cost cover the cost of cement and poles, and Freeborn Ph. 507.863.2202 a little more to buy it in used to ground each pole. Cemetery is up to 17 flags, Cell 507.383.4039 America, but it’s a sense Each pole uses four bags of but is looking to add more 212 5th Ave., Freeborn, MN 56032 of pride seeing a flag on a cement and some crushed in the next year. pole that was made in this rock.

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originally thought it was a fictional town made up for the commercial. Others have called and emailed trying to find merchandise with the town’s name on it.

While some community members were somewhat concerned when first hearing about the commercial idea, the Tryttens said most were supportive and weren’t offended by the play on words.

“There’s been plenty of jokes over the years,” Dena Trytten said. “(The commercial) was well done and they treated us very respectfully.”

Doug Trytten said he thought it had largely benefited the town, and that he hopes the company and crew feel free to come back and use the town as a location in the future.

“They talked about maybe coming back, and hopefully they do,” he said. “I think we’ve already reaped a lot of benefits from it.”

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PAGE 6 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | NEIGHBORS | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017

AREA FOUNDATION RELAUNCHED LAST FALL By the numbers

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

ELLENDALE — The Ellendale Community Foundation relaunched last fall out of an effort to strengthen its residents and the community.

The foundation was initially started in 1991, but after a several-year hiatus started again in November under the umbrella of Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.

Jennifer Nelson, SMIF vice president of development, said communities come to SMIF when they are interested in developing foundations.

SMIF provides these communities a 501(c)3 to work under, as well as training on topics such as fundraising and grant writing for the foundation’s board.

It also provides matching endowment fund dollars, logs the foundation’s checks and completes other office work such as developing communication plans and marketing.

“We always operate behind the curtain,” Nelson said. “The board is the face for their community.”

Stephanie Kibler, board member and Ellendale City Council member, said Ellendale leaders were excited

1991 Year Ellendale Community Foundation first began

2016 Year Ellendale Community Foundation was relaunched

5 Planned phases for the Ellendale Community Center project

Leaders of the Ellendale Community Foundation hope it will give residents more pride and interest in developing in the community. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE when approached about the opportunity.

“Most of us didn’t even know it was an option for us to have this,” Kibler said.

“As a City Council member, I said, ‘Absolutely we’d be interested in it.’”

She said they developed a solid committee with a variety of residents represented. They also started

coming up with a basic mission and goals.

One of those goals is to invest back into the community, whether through programs or education, as well as beautifying the main street and parks system. Through this effort, Kibler said, the board hopes to engage the city’s residents, so they have more pride and interest in

developing the community.

Initially, the board has a five-year plan to transform the Ellendale Community Center building on Second Avenue. That building has been used for many community events, including council meetings. It also was the city clerk’s office for a time. The council and clerk have since moved out,

but the Ellendale Heritage Foundation still uses it, as well as Semcac, she said.

There are also numerous fundraisers there, including for firefighters and the Lions Club.

Some of the updates the building needs are in the kitchen and in making doors handicapped-accessible.

“The five-phased plan will

depend on the fundraising,” Kibler said. “Our goal is to do one phase each year.”

In addition to this project, the foundation is working to start its founders club, as well as do more fundraising.

According to the Ellendale Community Foundation website, the foundation “strives to strengthen and enhance the Ellendale area community today and for future generations.”

People wishing to donate to the case can do so through the foundation’s Facebook page or through SMIF online.

SMIF has 26 community foundations, Nelson said.

Extension education specialist a mainstay of Worth County 4-H

By Sam Wilmes

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

NORTHWOOD — Teaching 4-H provides adults the opportunity to teach students lifelong skills, which can translate to success in adulthood.

For one Worth County Extension education specialist, teaching 4-Hers for decades has allowed him to do just that and build an elite program.

Dennis Johnson handles a variety of roles in his position. He works with farmers in crop and livestock production, farm management

and family finances, nutrition and parenting, along with 4-H youth and community work.

Johnson was hired in Worth County in 1981 after a six-year stint as a teacher at Glenville-Emmons and Lake Mills.

“I heard there was a little opening,” he said. “I thought, ‘well, that might be worth a try, just to experiment with it,’ and didn’t think I would get the job or anything. All of a sudden, 35 years later, yeah, it happened. It’s been a good run.”

During his tenure, Johnson has made sure 4-H

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participants have the experience to develop leadership, communication and citizenship.

More than 800 students have attended a biannual Washington, D.C., trip — coordinated by Johnson — over about 25 years.

“That trip’s been extremely successful, probably the most successful one in Iowa, pretty easily,” Johnson said. “Nobody’s had 800 people go to Washington, D.C., out of the county.

That’s pretty much a fact.”

Worth County has sent the most students to the 4-H State Conference in Ames, Iowa, over the last 25 years, Johnson said. The program has been consistently No. 1 in the state of Iowa in sending national and state delegates.

“Kind of a tribute to our county,” he said. “To say that we are not the biggest county in the state of Iowa — we’re about 94th in ranking in population — but we’ve always been first in the number of attendees at that conference for about the last 25 years.”

The opportunities provided through 4-H have allowed leadership skills be attained because of leadership roles and fun activities provided through the program, Johnson said.

He credits a strong Worth County Fair and thanks local leaders for playing a role in shaping a successful program.

“We’ve been pretty proud of the fact we can reach

Worth County Extension education specialist Dennis Johnson is overseeing a 4-H program, which has gained elite status in the state of Iowa. SAM WILMES/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE large masses of numbers of youth,” Johnson said.

Johnson and his wife, Janelle, have four sons, Jay, Jack, Ben and Brock.

Johnson said he wants to make a positive impact on the lives of 4-H’ers, and

he has heard from alumni about the positive impact 4-H has had on their lives.

“It’s all about making a difference,” he said.

“Making a difference in people’s lives … there’s gotta be kind of a reason

at the end of the trail. The making the difference part, did you develop someone to be a productive citizen, a productive employee, a productive community servant, community leader? That’s kind of what it’s all about.”

By the numbers 800

4

35

Students who have attended the Washington, D.C., trip over about 25 years.

Children Johnson and his wife, Janelle, have: Jay, Jack, Ben and Brock

Years Johnson has worked for Worth County Extension.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | NEIGHBORS | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 7

Isaac Kofstad is the owner of New Richland Auto Repair. SAM WILMES/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

Man develops lifelong passion into business

By Sam Wilmes

Isaac Kofstad

sam.wilmes@albertleatribune.com

NEW RICHLAND — To some, fixing automobiles is a lifelong passion, which can help a lot of people. One New Richland man is fueling his passion and helping the community in the process.

Isaac Kofstad is the owner of New Richland Auto Repair.

A 1996 NRHEG graduate, Kofstad began co-owning the business in 1998, and he assumed ownership when his co-owner left.

The business specializes in anything automotive or light-truck related. Diagnostics, wheel alignments, oil changes and regular service work, such as brake and tire work, are offered, among other things.

“We try to get a little bit of everything,” he said.

New Richland Auto Repair caters to its customers, Kofstad said.

“It’s always fun to try to get into something a little different,” he said.

Working in the area

Age: 39 Address: rural New Richland Livelihood: owner of New Richland Auto Repair Family: wife, Martha; children Will, Grace and Katheryn business with them.”

Kofstad’s time is spent keeping tabs in the office and in the shop, and he focuses on keeping the time his coworkers spend repairing automobiles uninterrupted.

To Kofstad, repairing automobiles has been something he has always enjoyed.

“I don’t know what else I would do,” he said. “I took a liking to wrenches and hands-on work at a very young age.”

He enjoys taking something broken and making it right again.

Mechanic Dylan Arnold fixes a tire leak at New Richland Auto Repair.

“Every job, it can be where Kofstad grew up pro- kind of know some stuff people who I have known gratifying,” he said. “It’s the vides him closeness with his about their lives and my whole life. It puts a sense of accomplishment at customers. some of their kids … just personal touch on doing the end of the day.”

“I know a lot of people personally,” he said. “I

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Kofstad wants his customers to know that they are getting the business’s best work at a fair price.

“Very much everybody who walks through the door we get along with great,” he said. “We have a good relationship with our customers.”

New Richland Auto Repair is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Kofstad enjoys the closeness of the community where he lives with his wife, Martha, and their three children, Will, Grace and Katheryn. The family owns a hobby farm at their residence in rural New Richland.

“Everybody just seems to care,” he said. “It seems like people like to pool together anytime somebody is going through a tough time, no matter what it is. People donate their time, donate their resources, money, whatever. It just seems like everybody cares for the other person.”

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PAGE 8 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | NEIGHBORS | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017

‘FARM TO FASHION’ HAIRCARE LINE STARTED

By Colleen Harrison colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

BRICELYN — One Bricelyn woman is using her local ties to revolutionize haircare products, based on the relationship between hairstylists and their customers.

Paulette Legred launched Lis’n — a line of “farm to fashion” haircare products — in September 2016.

Having grown up on a Bricelyn farm and being married to a farmer, Legred has stayed true to her rural roots.

Legred said she started working on the products two years prior to the launch, after she saw a need for haircare products that those in the industry could trust to be safe.

“I just knew that stylists needed a company they could trust and customers needed a company they could trust, too,” she said.

All of the key ingredients in the Lis’n products are naturally farm-derived, Legred said. For example, a protein used in the products is derived from sheep’s wool. That protein is used to moisturize hair and make it strong. There are other moisturizing components derived from corn and soybeans, and oil that is derived from macadamia seeds. Legred worked on those components with her chemist, another Minnesotan with a farm background, who Legred met through mutual friends.

When Legred first started to tell her friends about her idea, she expected them to tell her she was crazy. Instead, the responses she got were, “Of course you did,” “It’s about time” and “What can we do to help?”

She said she named the product line after the word listen, a name meant to celebrate the relationship between a hairdresser and the guest. Legred said most haircare lines are started by famous stylists or are celebrity-endorsed, and she

By the numbers 6

Months since Legred launched Lis’n

5

Lis’n products available, with another set to debut in March or April

2 Years Legred spent working on the product line before it launched

wanted to give voice to the hometown hairdressers that everyone goes to, as she used to be one herself.

Legred originally started out as a hairstylist years ago, or as she likes to say, “250 years ago.” She went on to own her own hair salon, before traveling the U.S. and Canada to teach Paulette Legred of Bricelyn launched her line of haircare products back in September. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE different programs to hairsaid. “All the key ingredi- hair and body oil — and is stylists. She said a lot of her ents are farm-derived in looking to debut a defining contacts and friends she has Minnesota.” wax in March or April. The known from her years in Once the products are products can be purchased the haircare industry are ready to ship, they are locally at the salons previsome of the people who stored at Legred’s Brice- ously mentioned, or by have helped her the most lyn home. She said one going to www.lisnbeauty. in the launch of Lis’n.

Since September, Lis’n of the more difficult ad- com. has shown up in salons lojustments she has had to The biggest contribucally and is now in eight make is fashioning her tor to any success she different states through business from a smaller has had is due to her suptwo different distributors. standpoint, as manufac- port team, Legred said.

Legred, however, said that turers are used to dealing Her husband, Kevin, it’s the local support that with larger companies their children Justin and means so much to her. and pricing materials in Alicia, their son-in-law and Lis’n is available in both bulk quantities. While she daughter-in-law, Legred’s Expressions Salon & Spa said the startup has been mother and their friends and Dinah’s Style in Albert somewhat difficult, she has have all been imperative in Lea, as well as Ultimate found companies that will launching Lis’n. Legred’s Design Salon and Dayspa daughter-in-law, Amy, has work with her. in Wells.

“The hardest thing is helped Legred through “Without that local supbeing the little guy,” Legred her web design expertise port, it would all feel kind said. and Legred’s daughter — of hollow,” she said.

Legred works on Lis’n a lawyer — has helped Legred prides herself full time, and is hoping Legred with any legal on the fact that everything to eventually hire some matters, such as model about Lis’n is Minnesotafull-time sales and educa- releases. Legred said her based, from her bottler to tion staff. She currently sister also acts as one of her label-maker, applicators uses some independent her sales directors up in and fillers. contractors. the Twin Cities.

“That’s what I’m very Lis’n has five products “Nobody does something proud of, that everything’s like this without a support available — shampoo, Legred’s haircare line, Lis’n, currently has five products made in Minnesota,” she available for purchase. A sixth is set to debut around March conditioning balm, styling team,” she said. “And I’ve elixir, styling mist and a got the best in the world.” or April.

Proud to be family owned and operated since 1893

Wells bank merger seemed like a natural fit

By Julie Seedorf

news@albertleatribune.com

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WELLS — Sept. 12 marked the day Peoples State Bank opened for the first time with Paragon Bank of Wells under its umbrella.

This merger was unique because both banks were of similar asset size before the 3:38 PM acquisition.

According to Lauren Schuster of Peoples State Bank, in the banking world this is extremely rare — with larger banks usually buying smaller banks. This means Peoples State Bank was considered strong enough by the state and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to complete the acquisition.

Security State Bank, which changed its name to Paragon Bank in August 2000, was approved for charter in May 1925 and opened Aug. 31, 1925. Vincent and Thomas Hart purchased the bank in 1958, and Hart descendants operated it in later years. In August 2000, Security State Bank changed its name to Paragon Bank, which means a model of excellence, operating under that name until its acquisition by Peoples State Bank in 2016.

Peoples State Bank is at 98 Third St. SE in Wells. PROVIDED Peoples State Bank of Wells was granted a petition for organization on Feb. 29, 1924. It has provided residents and businesses of Faribault, Freeborn and Waseca counties with a variety of dependable financial services since then.

In November 2002, Peoples Bank moved its location from Main Street to a new building at 98 Third St. SE. The former Peoples State Bank building had been remodeled and expanded twice, but the lack of parking and room for a drive-thru made a move and a new building the logical choice.

Looking to expand, the opportunity to purchase Paragon Bank in 2016 seemed a natural fit. The acquisition puts Peoples

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Peoples State Bank in Wells has 14 employees, which is double the size that it used to be before it merged with Paragon Bank.

State Bank in a position to provide community banking services into the future.

It is a true community bank with decisions for the operation being made locally.

According to Schuster, the employees take pride in their work because they incorporate ethics and small town morals into everything they do.

Peoples State Bank has 14 employees since the acquisition — doubling the staff.

Today, Peoples has a larger lending limit, allowing it to service more needs of the area. Because of this, it also can contribute to more community service projects

— such as their scholarship program, which has given over $114,000 in the past 16 years — and can commit to helping make the community stronger by volunteerism and donations to community organizations.

Peoples State Bank has been family owned by the Smith family from southern Iowa since 1978. It offers a full range of financial services, including agricultural lending, home mortgages, home equity loans and all types of consumer loans. Internet banking, debit cards, online bill pay and e-statements allow customers to bank wherever they are. It is FDIC-insured.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 | NEIGHBORS | PROGRESS 2017 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PAGE 9

COUPLES TRANSFORM BUILDING, OPEN GYM FACILITY OFFERS PLACE FOR RURAL RESIDENTS TO BE ACTIVE

By the numbers 24 Hours a day The Gym Geneva is open for members. Members use a programmed key pad to enter the building

By Sarah Stultz

sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com

GENEVA — Two Geneva couples have opened a gym to help area residents stay active.

The Gym Geneva opened in May at 100 N. Central Ave. in the home of the former C&C Liquidators.

Tim Krohn said he was approached by his brother-inlaw, Dak Sorenson, about the idea, and with a background in fitness, Krohn said he thought it was something he and his wife, Brooke, could play a part in.

Krohn has worked at fitness centers in the past, as well as District One Hospital in Faribault.

He said the building was in rough shape, and they started out with a lot of demolition.

Sorenson’s wife, Lydia, and her sister, Abby Murray, from The Marketing Plant, helped in the visioning of the color scheme for the building.

The remodeling took most of the winter in 2016, with the help of many local companies for things such as electricity, heating and plumbing, to name a few.

The finished building features mostly black walls with highlights of bright green to match the business’s logo. There is also some exposed brick throughout.

“It has been good,” Krohn said. “(People) were really excited to have something close and to see something in the building.”

There are treadmills, weight machines and free weights, along with other equipment such as jump ropes, battling ropes and tubing. Eventually, Krohn said, he would like to offer classes in the gym.

The gym is open for

9

Months The Gym Geneva has been opened on Central Avenue

2 Couples who own The Gym Geneva

members 24 hours a day.

He said so far, they are getting people from Geneva and the surrounding rural areas, including Hollandale, Clarks Grove and Blooming Prairie.

Growing up and living in New Richland, Hartland, Ellendale and Geneva throughout the years, he said he would have loved to have a gym like this when he was in school.

With a background in fitness, Tim Krohn and his wife, Brooke, are co-owners with Dak and Lydia Sorenson of The Gym “Me growing up, having Geneva. The business opened in May. SARAH STULTZ/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE something like this — it would’ve been unheard of,” he said.

A variety of people use the gym, including some high school students. Kohn said he wants to reach out to more of these students, as well as senior citizens.

He said he wants to help seniors realize the benefits of exercise.

Krohn said the business this year is now equipped to handle insurance reimbursements. He also hopes to organize some sessions where people can learn how to use all of the equipment properly.

“It’s cool to see,” said Krohn, who works at Northstar Power Sports during the day. “Back in the day there was nothing.”

He recommended people keep an eye on the company’s Facebook page for updates.

In addition to cardio machines, there are sets of free weights for club members to use.

Owners hope to start classes at the gym in the future.

Stop in and check out our large inventory!

Becker Auto

Transport company finds success in Hayward

Sales & Transport

By Kelly Wassenberg

Mark & Joan

kelly.wassenberg@albertleatribune.com

HAYWARD — Some things just happen naturally — like a toddler taking their first steps. One step leads to another and another, and before you know it they’re off and running.

Mark Becker’s journey into becoming a businessman was just as natural of a progression for him. Growing up watching his parents sell semis in Alden, he decided to go into a similar line of work after graduating high school in 1989.

Becker started his transport service that year. He he was hired to move vehicles from one location to another — typically for auto dealers who purchased stock out of state and needed it brought to them. He added a truck sales and service division, specializing in three-quarter ton and one ton trucks, in 2000.

Thirteen years ago he moved his operation to Hayward, moving one more time to his current location at 80944 Freeborn County Road 46 in Hayward in 2009.

In the beginning, there was a gas station on the lot that he never utilized. He razed that building in 2010 to build his current facility, which allows him to fit both his transport business and truck lot onto one property.

While he’s now on a more visible corner, Becker notes people seem to think little of the drive to Hayward to check out a vehicle.

“A lot of guys don’t stock the stuff we stock, so we got

80944 County Rd. 46 • Hayward, MN 56043

507-373-3170 Cell: 507-676-0192 Find us at www.findcars.com

www.freebornconstruction.com Mark Becker, owner of Becker Automotive, has four semis that delivery vehicles across the country. KELLY WASSENBERG/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE our own niche,” Becker said.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that it has all been smooth sailing for the entrepreneur, though.

“Everything changes, so you just have to roll with the changes,” he said.

Many times this means dealing with fluctuations in the market.

“We rely on the farmers,” Becker said. “If the farmers don’t make money, we don’t make money.”

In that respect, his businesses complement each other well.

He’s able to transport the trucks he buys to his property, and if one aspect of his business isn’t looking the best, he has the other to fall back on.

“If things start going downhill, you just change your plan.”

Becker doesn’t fret much

these days. After spending many years on the road hauling cars across the country, he’s more focused on his truck sales. His company still does plenty of transport work, which is done by either himself or his staff.

According to Becker, most of his work comes to him these days. Eighty percent of the people who buy trucks from him buy their subsequent vehicles from him as well, and he gets plenty of work from referrals when it comes to the transport end of things.

Over the years, Becker said he has worked with 60 to 80 different businesses, and they often send more business in his direction, including that of snowbirds who contract Becker to bring their vehicles to them as they go south for the winter.

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PAGE 10 | ALBERTLEATRIBUNE.COM | PROGRESS 2017 | NEIGHBORS | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017

The Glenville POET plant has played an active role in the surrounding community for years. Pictured are General Manager Steve McNinch and accountant Jenni Hanna. COLLEEN HARRISON/ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE

GIVING BACK A PRIORITY FOR BUSINESS

By Colleen Harrison

colleen.harrison@albertleatribune.com

GLENVILLE — One local business branch is all about giving back to the community that supports it.

The Glenville POET location has been heavily involved with area causes for years. Having partnered with the Salvation Army for the past three years, the company’s employees have taken part in providing meals for families around Thanksgiving and Christmas, toy giveaways, bell ringing and sponsoring less fortunate families during the Christmas season.

According to Glenville POET General Manager Steve McNinch, the business’s charitableness was ignited after competing with a sister plant in Hanlonton, Iowa, years ago over which branch could donate the most. Since then, McNinch said the employees in Glenville have taken it upon themselves to support the surrounding area.

“It was very impactful in that first year,” he said. “It went a long way in raising awareness.”

According to Glenville POET accountant Jenni Hanna, the plant then partnered with the Salvation Army to get lists of what was needed and when. Along with the Salvation Army partnership, Hanna said the

POET and the Salvation Army have partnered together for the past three years to help those in need. PROVIDED plant’s outreach work has expanded through other outlets, as well, and it especially focuses on ways to provide agriculture-based support and ways to benefit youthoriented organizations.

Over the years, helmets that cleared newer concussion-awareness guidelines were donated to the Glenville-Emmons High School football team, new uniforms were purchased for the high school’s volleyball team, new equipment was donated to the marching band and winter outerwear was provided for school children in need.

The plant also helps sponsor the Corey Goodnature memorial golf tournament

“To be a successful business in the community, you have to help the community.”

— Glenville POET General Manager Steve McNinch each year, and helps support Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever events.

It contributed $25,000 to Naeve Hospital renovations and sponsored veterans memorial bricks.

Employees have also donated additional time and

resources to the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, among other events and organizations.

McNinch said God and faith are specifically listed in POET’s vision statement, and through that mission statement the business encourages its employees to be more conscientious about the local community.

That vision statement also largely applies to the Ethanol Cares foundation the company has been a part of for about 15 years, during which time Hanna said over $55,000 was raised to help over 350 families in need through the foundation.

“Companies like ours

POET employees Josh Kermes, Dustin Boyer, Rod Peterson, David DeVries and Jenni Hanna load potatoes and onions to be donated. PROVIDED can’t exist without the local population,” McNinch said.

“If they need something they know they can call us.”

Hanna said awareness has also supported the plant’s own employees in their times of need, especially when one of their own employees lost their home to a house fire last year.

“You never know when it’s going to be you that

needs help,” Hanna said.

McNinch said that spirit of charity and giving is something that persists in all of the POET plants throughout the six different states they occupy.

“I think it’s what you’re supposed to do,” McNinch said. “To be a successful business in the community, you have to help the community.”

NEIGHBORS BY THE NUMBERS Emmons

2010 census: 391 Median age: 43.4 Households: 174 Housing units: 190 Square miles: 0.8

City hall address: 219 Main St. City hall phone: 297-5707 Railroads: none Highways: U.S. Highway 69

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Where good service is our way of business 448-3914

251 W. Main St. P.O. Box 125 Glenville, MN

448-3474 fax Larry & Robert

Glenville

2010 census: 643 Median age: 44.2 Households: 278 Housing units: 290 Square miles: 2.2

City Hall address: 221 W. Freeborn Main St. 2010 census: 297 City Hall phone: 448-3916 Median age: 38.9 Railroads: Union Pacific Households: 120 and Cedar River Housing units: 130 Highways: U.S. Highway 65 Square miles: 0.2

GLENVILLE-EMMONS ADVERTISING Are you looking to promote your business?

Call Jessica Glassel at 507-379-3429

City hall address: 402 Park St. City hall phone: 863-2204 Railroads: none Highways: none

NICK'S USed CarS

Trading Post

dependability Since 1950 Gordonsville, MN 56036

507-448-3302

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