Page 10 • Dairy Star - Third Section • Saturday, October 27, 2018
Mechanic by day, musician by night Stadick follows grandpa as concertina player By Ruth Klossner Staff Writer
NEW ULM, Minn. – When Nick Stadick is not helping on his parents’, Mike and Tammy Stadick’s, dairy farm, he can be found working at an area implement dealer or entertaining folks with his concertina. Nick, 20, has been playing concertina since he was eight and made his rst public appearance at a bar one year later. “It was at Trip’s Bar in New Ulm,” Nick said. “They actually put my name on a banner outside kind of as a joke. My grandpa was playing there, and I played with him.” PHOTO SUBMITTED Nick’s grandpa is Johnny Helget, a Nick Stadick plays with his grandpa, Johnny Helget, at the New Ulm Farm City Hub Club’s Family Night on the Dairy Farm member of the World Concertina Hall in 2017 in New Ulm, Minn. of Fame and soon-to-be member of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. With Johnny leading the Johnny Nick especially enjoys playing for milking, eld work, feeding calves and “I interned there the previous sumHelget Band and Mike also playing dairy functions such as Holstein twi- xing things. He nished a two-year mer and worked part-time during my concertina, Nick grew up with old time light meetings and the New Ulm Farm course at South Central College in second year of school,” Nick said. … “I music. Picking up the concertina came City Hub Club’s Family Night on the Mankato, Minn., this past spring and like it. I grew up with it, xing a lot of naturally. Dairy Farm. went right to work as a service techni- things on the farm, and I was on the ag “Grandpa taught me a few things, His most memorable playing ex- cian for Miller Sellner Implement in mechanics team in FFA.” then it was lots of practice,” Nick said. perience, however, was getting to play Sleepy Eye, Minn. “I kind of started playing here and with his grandpa when Johnny was there with Grandpa. Then it was nurs- inducted into the Concertina Hall of ing homes for an hour or so, along with Fame in 2016. parades and bars with Grandpa …”. Over the years, Nick’s role with Nick now plays about three or four Johnny has changed. A few years ago, times a month, especially during the Johnny was the main player for the summer and fall when more events are family night on the farm with Nick sitheld. He has travelled as far as Apple- ting in during Johnny’s breaks. At the ton, Minn. to play at a retirement home most recent family night, Johnny sat in with Johnny. while Nick nished chores on the fam“I stay busy, but I like that,” he ily farm, then Nick took over. said. “We t it in.” “Grandpa is playing less now,” he The trips are often family affairs, said. with Mike and Tammy, Grandma LaOf the 30 or so regular numbers he Vonne Helget and two aunts traveling plays, Nick said the “New California with the musicians. Nick’s uncle, Rich Polka”, which was written by Johnny, Griebel, is also a dairyman and some- is the most requested. times drums with Nick and Johnny. “People really like that one,” he “I’m very thankful for my family said. driving with me,” Nick said. “Mom Nick grew up on the family dairy RUTH KLOSSNER/DAIRY STAR does a lot of organizing, which I’m not farm and continues to help on the farm Nick Stadick helps on his parents’ dairy farm near New Ulm, Minn. He also good at.” as he has time. He does everything from works as a mechanic and plays concerƟna.
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