Back Roads
Winter 2023 THE JUNKYARD BAR
• Retreat center welcomes all
• Pottery artists’ dreams become reality
• Chocolate company’s growth
• Raising Clydesdales for 12 decades
Back Roads
©2023
Sentinel Publications
Editors
Matt Anderson
Nealy Corcoran
Greg Marsten
April Ziemer
Advertising
Laura Alvarez
Darcy Kolander
Tony Aizpurua
Sue VanBuskirk
Production
Eric Buelow
Nicole Gagner
Becki LaMar
Publisher Tom Stangl
Why Back Roads?
From ambitious local farms and charming main street stores to rustic breweries and homegrown artists, we thought the towns and villages near the “Minnesconsin” border deserved a little more attention�
So, four newspaper offices worked together to bring you Back Roads, a publication we hope speaks to this rural border community in all its complexity. Our vision? To profile artists, breweries, shop owners and farms from Baldwin to Grantsburg, Marine on St� Croix to Amery and everywhere in between�
This magazine is made for you and all those connected to this often-overlooked but remarkable place� We hope you like it�
Photo by Eric Buelow
Front page photo: The Junkyard Bar
The ARC welcomes all for respite and relaxation
By Matt Anderson Photos contributed
In the Bible, Mark 6:31 says, “Come away and rest awhile.” This is what The ARC in Osceola intends for all its guests to do when they visit. Using the property of a former radar base for the United States Air Force (USAF), The ARC (Association Retreat Center) now services the St. Croix Valley and beyond as an event center where all are welcome for fun and leisure.
The ARC is located in northwestern Wisconsin along the St. Croix River Valley roughly 45 minutes from the Minneapolis-St Paul Metropolitan area. Throughout 1954-1975, The ARC property was a fully operational radar base stationed by over 350 men. After it was aban-
doned for several years, the property was purchased by the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC) in 1979 and has since provided a year-round camp and retreat center for the last 40 years.
“When we took over in 1979, we started converting it from all the chain-link fences and barbed wire into what it is today,” said The ARC’s Executive Director Kirk Rautio. “Over the years there’s been a whole lot of fun making that happen. Now we’re a retreat center that sees somewhere between 10,000 to 12,000 guests per year.”
Since its formation The ARC aims to glorify Jesus Christ by providing a place where people can be equipped to make a positive difference in their lives and communities through team-building, leadership training, and physical and spiritual renewal without
pushing religion on its guests. “The main goal as a crew is to show our guests Christian love and hospitability without preaching to anybody,” said Rautio. “By doing that, we have a lot of people we know now on personal level. We know their families, they know ours, and it’s been a fun ride doing that.”
The ARC hosts both faith-based and non-faith-based groups. Family camps, Bible camps, craft and quilt groups, recovery groups and athletic groups are just a few examples of groups that come to enjoy retreats, conferences, camps and other events. The ARC has continued to expand its offerings and is now a year-round, full-service camp and retreat center with five main meeting rooms, a full-service kitchen, a manmade swimming lake and the ability to lodge up to 500 guests.
The crew Rautio referred to is relatively small with anywhere from six to 20 members on hand throughout the year. The number of crew members fluctuates during the summer and winter months, but they’re goal to spread Christian warmth and friendliness remains the same. A lot of those part-time and seasonal crew members are high-school age that take their summers to spend time at The ARC.
“That’s part of the joy of it too,” said Rautio. “You get to spend time with these youth, spend the summer with them and love on them, teach them
See The ARC, page 6
The ARC invites groups of all kinds to “come away and rest awhile�” They’ve hosted family reunions, church groups, Bible camps, school athletic teams, recovery groups and more at the former U�S� Air Force radar base�
“We’re here, we’re open, and we’d love to serve you the best we can�”
Kirk Rautio
The ARC
From page 5 and show them things they may not see in their home lives or within the school district. Then they’re off to college and leave us behind to be ridiculously good people.”
While there is plenty do at The ARC year-round, the guests that visit are not limited to the property. The crew regularly drives business to Osceola, St. Croix Falls, Dresser and elsewhere in the St. Croix Valley. “When we have a group that wants to go find something to do off property, we direct them to Osceola for some local shopping, or we’ll send them to Trollhaugen, or Fawn-Doe-Rosa,” said Rautio. “We know a lot of the good local flair and base our suggestions on the type of group, so we try to let them know there’s more than just what’s on campus.”
The ARC crew has put effort into spreading the word about their retreat, but the majority of their traffic comes from personal testimonies from the guests that have enjoyed their experience there. However, word has gotten out, not just in the St. Croix Valley, but around the world that The ARC is a place for all to come and enjoy.
“A lot of our reach comes from suggestion and word of mouth,” Rautio said. “There are times where we get a bunch of small groups out here and you’ve got a church group, a family reunion, a birthday party all at the same time and the kids from all the different groups intermingle. It’s a lot of fun.
“But the really cool thing that a lot of people don’t know is that we have guests that come from all over the world. We had one group that covered five continents and something like 14 countries and 30
“But the really cool thing that a lot of people don’t know is that we have guests that come from all over the world�”
Kirk Rautio
different languages and dialects all in the same group.”
The ARC has had visitors from its past return to see what it’s become as well. Rautio recalls several times where some of the men stationed at the former radar base have taken the time to come and reflect on the property during their final tour.
“We see a handful of vets that come through here every year for their final tour and it has been an absolute honor to take them on a golf cart with me and tour the facility that they were stationed at,” said Rautio. “To hear the stories about when they were deployed overseas, to talk to them about that if they’re willing, to share in their history, their joys and their pains. Seeing some of these guys who are in their 80’s and 90’s sit there with tears in their eyes, and to be able to love on our vets is probably one of the biggest honors that I’ve ever had being here.”
With the fluctuation of staff, The ARC is always welcoming those who want to help. As a 501(c)(3), they also accept donations for ongoing projects, maintenance and more. “If this is a place that somebody feels they’d like to donate any of their time, energy or resources, we can usually put that to good use,” said Rautio.
Those interested in scheduling an event, donating, or working at The ARC can call 715-294-2877 or email at info@arc-aflc.org. Events can be scheduled out far ahead of time and spots for the 2024 summer season are almost full, so anyone wanting to schedule time is encouraged to reach out soon.
“We’re here, we’re open, and we’d love to serve you the best we can,” said Rautio. “That’s the essence of what we do.”
SUPPER CLUB
The ARC hosts anywhere between 10,000 to 12,000 guests every year from the St� Croix Valley and beyond� Their goal is to spread Christian love and hospitability to everyone who visits, hosting up to 500 guests at a time�
A dream coming true
By Jason Schulte
Photos contributed
The goal of being art teachers drew Jason and Emily Rohde together as they met in the pottery studio at Minnesota State University-Mankato.
That love of art, especially pottery, encouraged the married couple to become business partners in 2014 when they opened Rohde Pottery Farm out of their rural Woodville home. “Our inspiration was just following our dreams after we met in college,” Jason explained. “We also wanted to be part of an art tour and a destination people looked forward to coming out for.”
Jason Rohde talks about growth of Rohde Pottery Farm
Nearing a decade in operation, those dreams have become reality.
“It has surpassed our expectations by far,” he said. “I viewed this as my retirement job after teaching, and it’s been Emily’s full-time job due to the demand.
“She has had to balance being a homemaker, a potter, dog breeder, and a coach. The pottery business has really allowed us to expand our shop and upgrade our property.”
Jason recalled a couple of moments when they knew they had a hit on their hands.
“When we saw cars lining up to park, when there was standing room only in our shop, and customers were buying pottery as it came out of the fired kiln and the pottery was still 250-350 degrees hot,” he said.
“We love giving tours of our shop and studio and explaining the process we use, usually we also do a live throwing demonstration�”
Jason Rohde
Jason was a long-time teacher at St. Croix Central Elementary before moving to the Stillwater School District a few years ago. He believes being a SCC teacher has helped, but being involved in the Creative Routes Art tour, when they had not started making pottery yet, really helped grow the business.
“We also entered into some larger and well attended craft sales such as Doe on the Go and Cranberry Fest,” he said. “Being a part of those two communities helped get our name out there and has continued to benefit us and it is great seeing old friends, families and students.”
The couple can also thank social media for its growth.
ing just rapidly took off, then our niece showed us how to use Instagram and that was another boost.
“We do have two online stores, etsy and rohdepotteryfarm.com.”
That has allowed them to ship their pottery to all 50 United States.
“Recently some folks from Colorado were visiting and had been given some of our pottery and their first stop after their flight was our shop,” Jason continued.
Over the years, Rohde Pottery Farm has hosted kids and adult summer classes, along with business team building events, 4-H groups, homeschool and virtual academy field trips and Girl Scout troop badge earning
A Purse Bingo event at Pheasant Hills raises money for charity�
“We exclusively use social media,” he continued. “The two platforms we use are Facebook and Instagram. We started with Facebook and the sharing, and the spread-
See Pottery Farm, page 10
Pottery Farm
From page 9 activities.
“We demonstrate how to throw, sometimes they get a turn to throw on the wheel and they decorate a premade item,” Jason said, on what occurs on those type of events.
One would think summer would be the busiest time of the year for the family. Not so fast, Jason said.
“Summer is a more relaxed restocking for the fall and our late July sale, kiln maintenance, kiln shelves being
AwardWinning Bacon
cleared and resurfaced. Our busiest time of the year is fall, which is difficult with school starting for five of us (the couple has four children), fall sports, other activities, coaching, hunting and the holidays.”
He said all four kids shared an interest in pottery at one time, but now, it’s predominantly with seven-year-old Hazel.
“Two years ago, she was making a bowl and her fingers goofed it up on the lip, so she grabbed a chunk of clay and squished it onto the oddball area and invented the ‘Couch Bowl’,” he explained. “The extra clay she felt resembled the back of a couch, so one can scrape their
Fresh Meats
Our Own Smoked
salsa or dip up the back, so it falls back onto your chip.
“Our children also are a big part of our operation, they decorate, make their own items to sell, and work the register or wrapping, shipping, and clothing departments.”
Additional volunteers include Mary Rohde, Mike Fleischhacker, Brooke Eggen, Chris Rohde, and Lexi Otis.
Rohde Pottery Farm is located on 245th Street in Woodville with store hours open by appointment. Upcoming sales are scheduled 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 2, 9 and 16.
“We love giving tours of our shop and studio and explaining the process we use, usually we also do a live throwing demonstration,” he continued. “We also explain the evolution of our buildings and business.”
In the future, Jason said, goals are going solar/energy efficient, along with adding a permanent pizza/food element.
“Our
Jason Rohde
Rodhe Pottery Farm owners Jason and Emily Rohde�
The Junkyard Bar
Think of it as Memory Lane, with a chaser
By Greg Marsten
Photos by Greg Marsten
The Junkyard Bar has a motto that’s both simple and about as good a description as anything: “Old cars, junk and cold drinks ... the bar that takes you on a trip down memory lane!” Yep. Spot on, for sure. Except you can say Memory Lane is right off County Road ‘X’ in Burnett County –where you roll into a literal convert-
ed junkyard, made into a stunningly cool place.
‘The Junkyard Bar’ is highlighted by the sights, vehicles and nostalgia of times past. Yes, a tavern in the middle of a vintage car-riddled forest is a strange sight. And too cool to miss.
It’s a celebration of a time when not only were old cars, trucks and motorcycles cool, but the ornaments, architecture and pieces of them were engineered art; As were the advertisements that sold them,
even the law enforcement and highway signs that tried to keep those pesky “hot rodders” under control.
Speaking of ‘hot rodders,’ that’s who’s behind the success of the Junkyard, which only opened this summer. Karolyn Kroll and Tim Baxter are the duo behind the place, with the Baxter name a familiar one locally, and not just in cars, but as in ‘Tim Baxter and the Mustangs,’ the local band that is known to play on the elevated stage above ‘The
From the loft above, the Junkyard Bar is a visual treat, with plenty to keep you occupied�
Junkyard Bar’ main room.
In fact, there’s music quite often, and there’s even been an occasional “hootenanny” breaking out when local musicians show up.
And that’s not all, as the Junkyard hosts meat raffles and fundraisers for several local charities, from the Humane Society of Burnett County to the Burnett Blizzard hockey team and others.
It’s also a common stop now for car and bike clubs, even families love to swing in and look around
– just keep the kids at bay in the junkyard, and in the adjacent Car Museum buildings, where there’s everything from hot rods in progress to multiple race cars of various eras, Mustangs galore, and nostalgic cars that are amazing to see in vintage shape.
You might have to explain to your kids what a ‘Pinto’ was.
It’s not uncommon to see Tim Baxter mingling with the crowd of hot rodders in one of the buildings, going over his projects,
favorites or unique cars.
Kroll and Baxter were the duo behind the hugely successful former ‘Siren Nationals’ drag races – upended due to FAA runway regulations – so the racing heritage on display is real, and cool to see, from the past, present, and future hot rods.
‘The Junkyard Bar’ is a collector’s paradise; It’s not only a motor head’s fever dream, but also celebrates design, creativity, historic
See Junkyard Bar, page 14
The Junkyard Bar owners Tim Baxter and Karolyn Kroll�
Junkyard Bar
From page 13 items, and much more. How about a table built out of a V-8 engine block? Or a seating area that is surrounded by stitched together vintage bikes – the pedal kind - with a 1970s John Deere snowmobile attached to the tree above you. It’s perched above a semi-buried, vintage 72-passenger school bus, covered in black marker signatures of customers.
You’re invited to sign it, as well. Just keep it clean!
‘The Junkyard Bar’ is literally carved out of an existing, working longtime junkyard, where everything from customized ‘airport’ limousines to school buses, snowmobiles, tow trucks, and motorcycles of all flavors sit beside, above and attached to hot rods, race cars and historic ‘one-offs’ – like a limousine-stretch, white 1965 Mustang GT convertible - famous in local parades.
The property is lined with dozens of retired race cars – many emblazoned with the Baxter family racing enterprises – and hundreds of vintage and very old vehicles, arranged like a ‘fence’ even on the perimeter along County Road X, where it meets Shrider Road, outside Hertel.
It’s an eclectic, brilliant and captivating place to grab a cocktail, a burger and fries and watch a game or just read the walls, which are filled with street signs, advertising tins, bizarre vehicle parts, or, well, you just need to absorb it for a spell.
If you’re lucky, there might be a band or musician paying, or maybe even an impromptu ‘burnout contest’ with a passing car club.
Just keep it easy on the gravel, boys.
“We’ve heard nothing
Brian and Melanie are now huge fans of the Junkyard Bar, and joined hundreds of others in signing their names to a partly-buried school bus�
but compliments on the Junkyard Bar and honestly, we’re so humbled hearing the compliments and beyond thankful that all of you keep coming back and bringing new friends week after week,” Tim and Karolyn said on social media. “Out here at the Junkyard we pride ourselves on being a family friendly atmosphere that you can come, bring the whole family and feel safe while also getting to relax.”
But there’s a bit of confusion, and it’s about the address, which is technically ‘Shell Lake,’ but ‘The Junkyard Bar’ is really just a few blocks north of Highway 70 in Hertel on County Road X, in Burnett County. Shell Lake is in Washburn County, so it’s quite confusing for newbie visitors.
“We’ve had some confusion because of our address so just to clear the air: The Junkyard is actually
in Hertel even though the address says Shell Lake!” Karolyn noted.
To be clear: From Spooner or Siren, you’d take highway 70. If you’re coming from Spooner, you’ll take a right on County Road X – in Hertel - and if you’re coming from Siren, you’d take a left on County Road X. Go about a half mile up County Road X and you’ll see Shrider Road on the right … It’s a dirt road. Take that and then The Junkyard is your first left.
“You can’t miss it!” Karolyn stated. “Can’t wait for you all to stop and experience it, see you soon!”
‘The Junkyard Bar’ is beyond unique, and hard to describe. Of course, it’s off of County Road X.
Actually, it’s 3784 Shrider Road, Shell Lake. (But you already know it’s in Hertel).
BR
By Nealy Corcoran
Photos by Nealy Corcoran and contributed
C From corporate careers to chocolatiers
hocolate is a deep, wonderful rabbit hole,”said Robyn Dochterman, co-owner and head chocolatier of St. Croix Chocolate Company (SCCC). “The more I learned, the more I realized there was to learn, and I just kept going deeper into the chocolate world.”
In 2010, Dochterman, along with partner Deidre Pope, opened the doors to this sweet little shop in the city of Marine on St. Croix, Minn., where they have been busy creating artisanal, award-winning chocolate confections ever since.
Most recently, SCCC won gold and silver in the United States division of the International Chocolate Awards, the largest craft chocolate
competition in the world. SCCC took home gold for their macadamia bon bon, qualifying them for the upcoming world finals in Florence, Italy.
The decadent treat features a layer of caramel (made with macadamia nut blos som honey from Ha waii), caramelized macadamias and a layer of brown butter macadamia shortbread wrapped in a milk chocolate shell.
“The milk chocolate is very special,” said Doch terman. “It’s a chocolate made by Fruition Chocolate Works in New York and the cacao beans are sourced in Central America by Uncommon Cacao.”
macadamia bob bon, and features a layer of bourbon caramel, caramelized pecans and a layer of ganache made by toasting cinnamon sticks over a fire and then infusing them in cream overnight.
“It feels fantastic and exciting to be recognized on the world stage,” said Dochterman.
“I’m so grateful for the care and effort that organizers of this event put into it. And it fills me with pride to be part of a worldwide community of people who are achieving success at this level.”
SCCC won silver for the burnt cinnamon and bourbon bar, which uses the same chocolate shell as the
Between 2013 and 2023, SCCC has received a number of awards including (but not limited to) National Good Food award, best in caramels and confections, interactive events and festivals, best small bud-
“I think our story is pretty compelling, it represents the little flicker that’s in all of us... of doing what excites us�”
Robyn Dochterman
get event, first place for hot cocoa and best new product.
Dochterman loves competitions, “because they give me a gauge for how we are doing in the broader world of chocolate and points me towards improving. They are also a window into what ingredients and flavors are trending.”
For Dochterman, a new confection usually starts with a taste she already likes, and she builds from there.
“For instance, I really love my grandmother’s recipe for molasses cookies. So, I start thinking of how I can incorporate that taste in a chocolate. Maybe it’s a cookie crust. Okay, so what would be good with that? Cheesecake? Yes. So, I’ll start playing,” she said.
Small town career changers make good
After leaving her career in jour-
Rita Minnichsoffer, a longtime employee at St� Croix Chocolate Company�
Chocolate Co�
From page 17 nalism, Dochterman studied fine chocolate techniques with top chefs including Andrey Dubrovik, Ramon Morato, Melissa Coppel and Christophe Morel.
She took classes at the French Pastry School in Chicago, The Chocolate Academy in Chicago and Montreal, Melissa Coppel’s school in Las Vegas, Savour School in Australia, and most recently, the Yorkshire Academy of Chocolate and Patisserie in York, UK.
“These classes were great because I could totally immerse myself in the experience of creating chocolates and confections,” she said. “We’d make 10 recipes a day and learned all about techniques and ingredients. Then at the end of class, we’d taste everything and learn to evaluate and display our creations.
“I learned so much so fast. Like how to set up a kitchen, how to use equipment, how to think for production, how to be clean and efficient. I’d watch in class, then come back to the shop and try the techniques on my own until I got them reliably perfect.”
According to Dochterman, she
Robyn Dochterman
couldn’t have done any of this without the help of Pope, who left a career in the non-profit world to support Dochterman on her culinary adventures. Pope uses her administrative expertise to oversee operations at the shop. She is the busybody behind the counter greeting everyone that walks
through the door, chatting with folks at the counter, managing the flow of chocolate trays coming from the kitchen and coordinating all the behind-the-scenes needs of this bustling business.
Bloom where you are planted
Over the years, SCCC has relocated and evolved, but it has always called the charming village of Marine on St. Croix its home.
“At first, the shop was more of an opportunity than a clear vision,” said Dochterman. “It was sort of a bloom where you are planted deal… When I started exploring possible careers in artisan foods, I wanted to rent a commercial kitchen so I could do proof of concept with chocolate confections.“
Marine resident Dan Froiland said he had a little place for sale, but Dochterman said she didn’t really want to rent it.
“So we made a deal, and I turned the little house into a chocolate kitchen. We thought we’d just do wholesale, but Peter Curtis, our architect, suggested we make some sales out the door to help pay the
““The more I learned, the more I realized there was to learn, and I just kept going deeper into the chocolate world�”
Robyn Docherman
bills, so off we went, into this amazing adventure.”
Originally, Dochterman thought they would start with chocolate and add a full bakery as finances allowed.
“But we never got to the bakery, since chocolate became our main love, and the focus of all our time and energy,” she says. “We detoured a little bit when we offered pizza at the Judd Street shop, but we ultimately decided we didn’t want to split that focus. We’re all in on chocolate.”
Through the years, Dochterman says the Marine community, “has been wonderful to us, supporting us through road construction, the pandemic and other challenges, and sharing our good news with friends, too. Being part of the local community is integral to who we are, and we try to show that through donating to numerous fundraisers and organizations throughout the year.”
A couple of those events include the beloved Dino Days and Caramelpalooza, which Dochterman could talk about, “endlessly.”
This past spring, in partnership with Alight, SCCC hosted a chocolate workshop for Ukrainian refugee families resettling in the Twin Cities. The workshop was a way to help the Ukrainian family and their sponsors bond and enjoy a fun and safe opportunity together.
“Some of these families had only been in the U.S. a few weeks,” said Dochterman. “We showed them how to decorate Easter eggs, mold bunnies using chocolate and showed them they were welcome here. I think it meant a lot to them, and we ended up getting so much out of the experience, too.”
Most days you can find longtime employee Rita Minnichsoffer in the kitchen doing anything from roasting hazelnuts to creating ganache or hand painting chocolate.
“Robyn has the gift of seeing opportunities and potential. Opportunities to challenge herself creatively and to connect with the community where she lives and works,” said Minnichsoffer.
“She is the best kind of mentor, one who sees a person’s potential and helps them find the path to their best selves in that environment. She and Deidre give their employees every chance to grow and learn in a supportive, forgiving environment. They’re the real deal!”
In a (delicious) nutshell
Since their recent win at the International Chocolate Awards, the shop has been going non-stop. Each day has been a whirlwind of making chocolate to selling out of chocolate to preparing for the holiday season and the upcoming world finals in Florence.
As to their success, Dochterman explains, “I think our story is pretty compelling, it represents the little flicker that’s in all of us...of doing what excites us. It does challenge us to make sure we know what success looks like for us. Is it just more customers? For us, it’s only success if we get to keep creating delicious chocolates and welcoming people to the shop like they were old friends. Hopefully, we can keep telling our story and inspiring others to invest in themselves. Hopefully, we can keep giving people meaningful and creative work.”
Deidre Pope
Wall of awards
Love for the Clydes
Stalhiem Farms in Amery, Wis�
By April Ziemer
Photos contributed
It will not be all that long before the Stalhiems will be able to say their family has been raising Clydsdales for 12 decades - that’s right…120 years. A quick trip back in time will take you on a wagon ride showing how one family’s love
for a horse breed has been passed through many generations and continues to bring joy to an entire area.
Two states west of Wis. is where Nels Stalhiem farmed his North Dakota land, purchasing a pair of Clydesdale-crosses to bear some of the load. Not only were these animals a true testament to the term “work horses,” according to Nels’ grandson David, they provided a bit of class as well.
Clydesdales are one of the largest horse breeds in the world. They can grow up to up to 19 hands tall (6 feet+) and weigh over a ton (2,000
pounds). Their impressive size makes them an awe-inspiring sight to behold.
They are incredibly strong and muscular horses, but despite their size and strength, Clydesdales are known for their calm and gentle temperament.
Clydesdales have a distinctive and unique appearance that sets them apart from other breeds. They have long, flowing manes and tails, feathered feet, and a large, muscular build. Their striking appearance makes them a favorite in parades, shows, and other events.
Clydesdales have a rich history that dates back to the 18th century in Scotland. They were originally bred as draft horses to work on farms and pull heavy loads. Today, they are still used for these tasks, as well as for carriage rides, shows, and other events. Their history and heritage make them a beloved breed around the world.
Nels Stalhiem knew from the start, he had found something special when he found his two Clydesdale crosses.
There is even a story about the Clydesdales once returning Nels home safely during a horrendous North Dakota snowstorm that could have taken his life.
Nels and his wife Karina eventually moved to Iowa, where Nels was originally from. The hard-working farmer battled his way through the Great Depression, moving his family 13 times before finally settling in southern Minnesota, always trusting Clydesdale-crosses to help him with a hard day’s work. Nels passed away in 1974.
His son Kenton was gifted two colts by Nels. Raising the Clydsdale-cross horses was the start to his passion with horses, which was the basis for his long career in the horse industry. Kenton was a horse trainer and trader. Timing is everything and right as Kenton was starting his career as a trainer, it was the end of Prohibition. Anheuser-Busch not only celebrated this milestone, they also shined the spotlight on Clydesdales.
Kenton was the first of the Stalhiems to use his Clydesdales to work his farm and present their majestic beauty in the show ring, bringing home many well-earned ribbons in the 1930s.
Kenton married his wife Gertrude in 1940 and farmed in Iowa. He found it difficult to find Clydesdales after Word War II. They had never been a plentiful breed to begin with, and once horses started being replaced with tractors and vehicles, it became even harder.
Kenton traveled long and far to secure colts for breeding stock. He even travelled to Canada to purchase.
While attending a big horse auction in Austin, Minn. Kenton caught word of some black Clydesdales owned by a gentleman named Bob Davis in a rural town called Amery, Wis. In 1954 Kenton and Gertrude made the long haul to Amery to see those Clydesdales, arriving at a red brick
Clydesdales pass through a showring�
farmhouse south of the little city. The property had a handful of outbuildings and a barn. Something about the property spoke to the couple and wouldn’t you know it? The property was for sale.
This is the beginning of the next Clydesdale/Stalhiem chapter. The part of the book where the first generation of the Stalhiem family lives in the red brick house south of Amery. Today, the fourth generation of Stalhiems are living in the iconic property, but of course they are the fifth generation to be smitten with the large and lovable Clydesdales.
Kenton’s life on the farm included expectations of hard work and on point exhibiting from both his horses and his children, including David.
David graduated in 1966. His brother was serving his country and was stationed in Vietnam. Kenton’s health was not great, and David was able to get a deferment to work on the farm with his father, this led to him becoming a partner.
Kenton eventually took a Feed Mill job while David kept working the farm and horses. He had a love for it and as fate would have it, he found someone who loved his love for it. Her name was Linda and she ended up loving Clydesdales too. They married in 1978 and moved into the red brick house in 1981 when David’s parents moved down the road. Kenton passed away in 1995.
See Clydesdales, page 22
““We are very blessed with horses and I love sharing them,”
Spectators are in awe as the pristine Stalhiem
Sarah Stalhiem
Clydesdales
From page 21
David and Linda raised their three children, Christy, Andrew and Justin, the same way David had been raised, “Work hard and show hard.”
The Stalhiem family showed at the Minnesota State Fair in 1957 and has every year since, with the exception of 2020. In 2008, David received a plaque for 50 years of participation in draft horse classes. The family continues to participate in many shows, and it is truly a family affair.
It is now David and Linda who live just down the road and Andrew and his wife Sarah who now live in the red brick house with their two children.
Andrew and Sarah met at a draft horse show, while Sarah from Elkhorn, Wis. had a history with draft horses, she was raised with Belgians. Now she is a true Stalhiem, a Clydesdale girl. They moved to the farm in 2012, which was the very same year Andrew’s parents and grandparents were inducted into the Draft Horse Breeders Hall of Fame.
Sarah shared showing during the busy summer months is quite the
production. “We usually travel with anywhere between 10-15 horses to every show. We take a semi-truck and trailer, two other trucks and trailers and a motorhome. That is our caravan going down the road,” she said with a large grin.
She said the main semi holds six horses and all of the equipment including the wagon, cart and other tack. The other vehicles carry the other horses and hay.
Traveling with Andrew and Sarah are their children who are 6 and 8, David and Linda, Christy and her daughter Addison (Kobernick) as well as Sarah’s niece, Taelyn Smith.
also took second in the Eight-Horse Hitch. “It was incredible and a very cool experience,” said Sarah.
Andrew sits on the Board of Directors of the Clydesdale Association. He is also a farrier and has been since he was barely out of high school. He began working for Anheuser-Busch at 21. Sarah shared he is an Independent Contractor as a farrier, that many times sees him in Missouri at the breeding farm for Budweiser.
Of course, Budweiser is well-known for their breath-taking Clydesdales. More than one of their horses has come from Stalhiem’s farm, including a stallion being used for breeding at the Budweiser Farm.
The newest generations in the red brick house are staying quite busy. They have plans to offer some sleigh rides this winter and said it will depend on snow. Sarah said people can watch the Stalhiem Farms Facebook page for details as they are solidified. Like always, they will also have the Clydesdales at the Holly Jolly Stroll in downtown Amery on Dec. 2, 2023, from 2-4 p.m. for free rides, it has been a hit for years.
She said showing ranges from one horse, all the way up to an eighthorse hitch.
This year the family took 14 horses to the World Clydesdale Show in Manitoba Canada, an 11-hour trip one way in July. They took home many awards. They won the Mare Six-Hitch and the Feed-Team race. Sarah said, “This really shows the versatility of our horses. They can be in a fancy hitch or they can do farm work too.”
David drove and won the “Not So Junior Driver class (65 and older), Addison took second place in most youth classes and Sarah took Reserve Champ in the Ladies Team class. They
Sarah said they are able to do what they do because they know they have family support. “Andrew’s parents, Christy, and his brother Justin, as well as other family friends; they will always help us out and we appreciate it,” said Sarah.
While the Stalhiems are well known in the draft horse world, it is the little city of Amery who is proud to call them their own. It is their friends and neighbors who love to peek at the horses in the pasture as they drive by, who are curious if any of the Budweiser Clydes they see had its humble beginnings here in northwest Wisconsin and who adore a chat with the family and a pet of a gentle giant any chance they can get.
Sarah said, “We are very blessed with horses and I love sharing them, teaching others about them and seeing the joy they bring.”
The Stalhiem Family celebrates their 2022 award for being the National Champion in Mare Six Horse Hitch�
NIGHTLY SPECIALS
