A salute to Dairy included with this edition!
JUNE IS DAIRY MONTH
celebrating
DAIRY
PUBLISHED IN THE
THURSDAY, JUNE 5
20 25
Parker Mashek proud to be among Dairy Promoters’ three Little Mr. Herdsmen BY ZACH JENSE STAFF WRITE N R
The Winnesh iek ers named three County Dairy Promotarea boys as Little Mr. Herdsm the 2025 9-year-old Parker en, and one of them, ward to represen Mashek, is looking forthroughout year ting the dairy industry and around the Mashek, the county. Mashek, said son of Josh and Gina he the title answere and other candidates for the Clover Kids d multiple dairy-re Little Mr. questions, includin 4-H program lated competed in , and he’s g how many Herdsm milked, and the Parker probably the he had to name cows he’s an petition at the bucket-bottle calf comoldest Mashe es — to which four cheesWinneshiek farm west of k smiles the cam he answered the last two County Fair the years. cheese, normal with “Swiss sissippi River.” Misfor era from cheese, string “It’s fun leading favorit white cheese.” cheese and Josh Mashek the calf e places one of his then talking Mashek said , variety is mozzare to the judge,” around and his favorite brother Tanner his calf pen — the he said. “My favorite heifer’s lla string baby his favorite on his their parents, and dairy product cheese, and she got me my name is Clover, because family’s Denwhi is vanilla ice cream, “becaus very first trophy.” ch nis and Barb, co-own dates farm, e it’s plain.” Mashek is planning back to Mashek said Hilltop Acres, (Photo on continuing he’s been farming farm when he 1854. northto years of his by grows west all up nine Zac of — when he’s life, and he Calmar, and playing football h Jen loves it — espenot the cially when sen) family shares he’s able to one of his three or trucking. If Mashek or duties on the help his dad the shop. He siblings continue farm, which in said he works the consists of family farm hard carrying 2-gallon milk 450 in adulthood, to work head of Brown pails the eighth generati they’ll be Swiss dairy to the baby calves. from the milk house cattle and 1,000 tillable on to work Acres since at Hilltop acres. Josh the farm was “The pails are said, farming Mashek established 1854. actually kind has become in he said. of heavy,” family tradition more than a “I’m very proud . Mashek also to see seven enjoys showing generations continue farming or eight calves for Mashek grandfather Dennis Mashek,” said his . “We’re continued on
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Vol. 160, Issue 23 www.decorahleader.com
B-6
Decorah, Iowa 52101 email: editor@decorahleader.com
Two Sections
Price $1.50
phone: 563-382-4221
The thrill of the hunt
MORE JEERS THAN CHEERS
Flavorful fungi prove profitable for young mushroom hunter
Hinson fields questions during Decorah town hall meeting
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson received very few cheers and many jeers during her May 28 town hall meeting at Luther College’s Center for Faith and Life. (Photo by Zach Jensen) BY ZACH JENSEN STAFF WRITER Applause for U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Marion, was sparse during a May 28 town hall meeting in Decorah. The congresswoman’s comments were often met with resounding boos from the audience which had gathered in the Center for Faith and Life on the campus of Luther College that afternoon.
Hinson began the body of her speech by saying Americans “overwhelmingly rejected the status quo” when they elected President Donald Trump during the November 2024 election, and she pointed to a gunman’s failed attempt on Trump’s life during a campaign stop on July 13, 2024. “I think God saved President Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, for (the) reason that he is helping us to save and redirect
the future of our country,” Hinson said. “He is helping deport criminal, illegal aliens rather than letting them roam our streets freely.” The federal lawmaker later claimed “Memorial Day’s gas, adjusted for inflation, was the lowest it’s been in decades, so we should thank his polices for that.”
Hinson
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Decorah Parks and Rec to take second swing at rules for Van Peenen’s shared trails BY DENISE LANA STAFF WRITER The Decorah City Council has sent a list of 11 proposed rules and etiquette guidelines regarding equestrians’ use of designated trails in several Decorah’s parks back to the city’s parks and recreation board. The board voted 4-1 to send the rules to the city council, but council members felt several aspects of the drafted rules required more clarity before further approval could be given. The Decorah Parks and Recreation Board held a special
meeting May 29 to finalize its proposed rules, which specifically related to horseback riding in city parks, namely Van Peenen Park. The 102-acre property was gifted to the city in 1976 by Barbara and Hubert Van Peenen as an undeveloped wildlife preserve for walking, horseback riding, backpacking and simple camping. Mountain biking was considered as a possible use within the park during the early 2000s, and bike trails were eventually established in Van Peenen Park. Tensions stemming from shared use of the park have persisted between
equestrians and cyclists, and the Decorah Parks and Recreation Board voted 3-2 in November to allow horseback riding on five of the eight miles of trails in Van Peenan Park as well as access to the North 40 trail loop off of Van Peenen and Old Randy’s, The Luge and Upper Ice Cave Trails above Dunnings Springs. Under the rules recently proposed during the park board’s May 29 meeting, equestrian use would open May 1 if weather
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Golden oyster mushrooms are found growing wild on a tree trunk on the Propson farm. The best time to hunt mushrooms is mid-April to early June. The elusive treasures thrive when temperatures are warm and on humid days after a good rain. BY ROZ WEIS STAFF WRITER Young Hans Propson has been hiking the woods for less than an hour, when he spots his often-elusive quarry – edible wild mushrooms. A quick sprint up a hill and Hans carefully plucks his tasty reward – specifically a supply of golden oyster mushrooms. Encouraged by recent rains, the young enthusiast and his father Scott scour the hillsides at their 80-acre Decorah farm for the finest in morel, oysters and other mushroom varieties. The 11-year-old Decorah boy is believed to be the youngest licensed forager in the state, and he’s taking on this year’s late mushroom season like a pro. For Hans, who will enter the sixth grade in Decorah this fall, the pride comes from finding the perfect specimen and sharing his find with others. The young forager has learned plenty of interesting facts about the unique characteristics of the different mushroom species he seeks. Morels, for instance, are a highly sought-after variety due to their short season. They have a honeycomb-like appearance and have a hollow interior. Oyster mushrooms are widely consumed and easily recognizable with their yellow, oyster-shaped caps. Gills run down the stem
us online - www.decorahnewspapers.com City councilVisit unanimously rejects bid for new Decorah sports complex Officials cite over-budget price tag, stagnant donations BY DENISE LANA STAFF WRITER The Decorah City Council voted unanimously on Monday, June 2 to reject the bid submitted for the city’s proposed athletic facility, which is to be constructed on the former Dahlen property north of Walmart on Old Stage Road.
A single bid from local company Skyline Construction was submitted for the first phase of the 30-acre project. Initial designs included two multiuse ball fields, four pickleball courts and a paved parking lot for 100 vehicles, in addition to minor amenities like portable bathroom enclosures, batting cages and dugout structures.
According to Decorah City Manager Travis Goedken, Skyline’s bid came in at more than $250,000 over the city engineer’s estimate for the project, which was just shy of $3,000,000.
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Councilman Randy Schissel (left) was in full support of rebidding the athletic complex project, saying he questioned the high costs of amenities included in the previous bid. He also hoped northeast Iowa vendors would be interested in completing the project at a lower cost compared to companies based out of larger cities. (Photo by Denise Lana)
11-year-old Hans Propson is believed to be the youngest licensed forager in the state. (Photos by Roz Weis) of the oyster varieties. Every year in the spring, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Ames offers classes for those who desire to become certified to legally sell wild-harvested mushrooms in Iowa. Last year, Hans attended the workshop with his parents and asked if he could enroll in Iowa State’s certification workshop, which covers identifying and distinguishing the mushrooms from lookalikes — such as varieties of false morel mushrooms, which closely resembled the highly-sought fungi but can be poisonous,
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