Northfield
now L I V E / W O R K / P L AY
WINTER 2020 • ISSUE 1
$2.00
Forget-Me-Not Over 25 years of sending flowers Beth Kallestad
New role is a natural fit
Nate Ryan
Carleton alumn finds success as photographer
Setting the Course Students see benefits from joint efforts between Riverland and Northfield HCI Page 16
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contents 6 Forget-Me-Not – Still growing Northfield connections via flowers after 25 years.
12 Making her mark – Beth Kallestad’s new
role a natural fit.
16 Students see benefits from joint efforts between Riverland and Northfield HCI. 20 Photo Gallery:
Carleton grad has work published in New York Times and more.
26 Get your sled on – Community service,
recreation keeps the Waterford Warriors out in the snow.
30 Passion for Hockey – Commitment, love
of the sport motivate Northfield Ice Arena staff.
34 Running through pain – Even with her
medical condition, Hawgood has no plans of stopping.
on the cover:
Maggie Lindenfelser and Ray Richmond attend Riverland Community College thanks to a partnership between Northfield Community College Collaborative and Riverland. (Sam Wilmes/ Northfield News)
Photographer Nate Ryan, a Carleton College alumnus, has parlayed a keen eye and a love of photography into a blossoming career. While he’s shot dozens of up and coming musicians as a photographer for MPR’s The Current, he’s also done a good deal of freelance work, including this image for Minnesota athletic wear manufacturer Podiumwear. (Image courtesy of Nate Ryan)
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Minnesota musician Frankie Lee puts his feet up in this photo taken by Carleton grad, Nate Ryan. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan)
northfield now calendar Candlelight ski 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Nerstrand
The play is written by Brian Friehl, directed by Peter Christian Hansen, artist in residence, and produced by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.
Visit Nerstrand Big Woods after dark to ski, snowshoe, or walk by moonlight, with candle luminaries helping to guide the way. Walk at your 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 and 15 and 2 p.m. own pace along the candlelit route during the Feb. 16 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 and drop-in program. Stay warm near the fire, and Saturday, Feb. 22 and 2 p.m. Feb. 23, Northfield enjoy cookies and cider in the visitor center. Arts Guild Theater, 411 Third St. W, Northfield. Limited snowshoes are available for rent for $6 The play is described as a “feel-good, farcical per pair on a first-come, first-served basis. comedy, a tale of unexpected romance, hilarious The event is free, but a vehicle permit is required gags, and mistaken identity.” Set in the 1930s, to enter the park. Vehicle permits can be an opera house was described as being near purchased at the visitor center. disaster when the principal tenor was unable to perform. Still, the show had to go on, and the opera managers must scramble to find a replacement. 7:30 to 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7,
“Lend Me A Tenor”
Sunrise at Midnight Weitz Center studio 165
The event features theater and original songs from the Kabyle folktale tradition from Algeria.
“Translations” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8, 13-15, 6 p.m. Feb. 9 and 2 p.m. Feb. 15, Kelsey Theater, St. Olaf.
High School choir concert 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 29, Northfield Middle School Auditorium Enjoy an evening of musical performances by Northfield High School’s many choirs.
Northfield
now L I V E / W O R K / P L AY
publisher: CHAD HJELLMING managing editor: Sam wilmes Regional Director of Sales: mark nelson advertising manager: JAY PETSCHE designer: Kate Townsend-Noet Send story ideas to: Sam Wilmes at Northfield NOW swilmes@northfieldnews.com Volume 3, Issue 1
Northfield NOW Published Winter 2020 by: Northfield News 115 W Fifth Street, Northfield, MN 55057 northfieldnews.com ©
All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertisers. This publication is copyrighted by the Northfield News and no content can be reproduced without permission.
This issue of Northfield NOW is delivered to all subscribers of Northfield News for the low cost of $1.00 per issue, deducted upon delivery from your account balance. If you decide it’s not for you, you can opt out of future issues by contacting customer service at 507-645-5615 or kmorrison@ northfieldnews.com. Non-subscribers can purchase copies of Northfield News for $2.00 each. NorthIeld
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After 25 years, still growing Northfield connections via flowers
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Story & Photos By ANNE KOPAS Northfield News
ending a flower arrangement is a gesture that often conveys far more emotion than words alone. Few know this better than Therese Chapman, owner of Forget-Me-Not Florist of Northfield. Chapman recalls falling asleep on ForgetMe-Not’s counters as a 10 year old while her mother, Jane Williams, worked. Williams had transformed the former Subway building into a florists’ shop in 1994, giving Chapman plenty of opportunity to learn the family business—first by simply playing in the shop, and later by learning floristry herself at age 15. These skills led her to Arizona after high school, where she worked with weddings and other events. She lived there for 14 years, all the while gaining experience in the event business, before returning to Minnesota in 2017 to be closer to her parents and
siblings. Chapman now lives with her husband and three children in Prior Lake. When Williams retired in January 2018, Chapman gladly took over the family business. Today, while she no longer sleeps in-shop, she’s kept the Northfield flower shop’s warmth and charm alive through its 25th anniversary, a milestone reached in October. But it’s still, as she describes it, “basically my second home.”
Inspire and connect Though Chapman repainted, remodeled and bought new furniture when she took over the store, she’s maintained its core mission: to create flower arrangements that inspire and connect people. There’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
NEXT PAGE: Therese Chapman holds a bouquet inside Forget-Me-Not, which she has owned since January 2018 after taking over from her mother, who opened the shop in 1994. LARGE: Some of Forget-Me-Not’s trendier offerings include air plants, pictured here. Last summer, succulents saw a surge in popularity, said Chapman.
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“I feel really lucky to be in the Northfield community, and we have a lot of repeat customers who are really fun to work with. I’m really grateful for that support. Supporting small business is how we keep doing the things that we love.” - Mariel Wheelock
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
11-member staff works hard to prepare arrangements and centerpieces in time for holiday celebrations. more to it than sending a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day, she said. Some of Chapman’s biggest business comes from customers ordering flowers for funeral services. When these orders come in, Chapman works with the family to build an arrangement as a tribute to the Houseplant therapy memory of a deceased loved one. Beyond fresh-cut flowers, the shop also sells a variety of plants— “If there’s one thing I absolutely love in this job, it’s getting to know from leafy houseplants to cacti, succulents and air plants—along with the grieving families,” Chapman said. “I always ask them about a unique keepsake vases and containers, story or how the person lived their life and gifts like perfume and scented soaps. or what they loved. I try to reflect that in Plant-filled homes are trendy, said my work to celebrate and honor them. To Chapman, and she’s frequently bringmake people really feel when they go to ing in new and unique plants to share the service, that means a lot to me.” with customers. College students are For example, Chapman might forage especially interested, and Forget-Me-Not outdoors for birch bark or other accents frequently “babysits” plants for students to represent someone who loved nature, while they’re out of town. or she might incorporate wood pieces in “It’s an amazing trend—I embrace memory of a woodcarver. it. It’s therapeutic for people. Plants help Whether a customer is celebrating people’s moods. It’s such an accomplisha birthday, expressing love or going ment when they get bigger or have new through a difficult time, Chapman’s goal growths,” Chapman said. is to make the recipient smile. Long-lived plants like a Christmas Forget-Me-Not’s busiest time of year A few pre-made bouquets sit ready for purchase. cactus or ficus can hold strong sentiis May, said Chapman, a month that Forget-Me-Not buys roses with a high petal count— mental value for their owners. Since includes Mother’s Day and graduations. which are more expensive, but also last far longer December is the second busiest, when the than cheaper varieties. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 TOP: Mariel Wheelock, Forget-Me-Not store manager, is pictured with one of the plants for sale in-shop. Wheelock, who has worked at the store for two years, is one of about a dozen employees. LARGE: Forget-Me-Not’s plant room is warm and green, even during the Minnesota winter. In addition to flower arrangements, the store also sells a variety of houseplants.
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Therese Chapman arranges flowers within their container. While many of Forget-Me-Not’s flowers are grown in Minnesota, some are also shipped from topical locations or from Holland. Therese Chapman assembles a holiday arrangement for a customer. Creating individualized arrangements is the “gratifying challenge” of her work, she said. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
plants often become family heirlooms and treasured pieces of customers’ homes, Chapman also runs what she calls a “plant rehab” for plants that need some extra help. Family is a strong theme throughout the business, both in its dedication to customer service and among its tight-knit group of employees. Store manager Mariel Wheelock, for example, was drawn to floristry after realizing she felt no fulfillment from her desk job. In her two years working at Forget-Me-Not, she said she’s found a new kind of family among her co-workers and in the larger Northfield business scene. “I feel really lucky to be in the Northfield community. It’s a supportive business community, and we have a lot of repeat customers who are really fun to work with. I’m really grateful for that. Supporting small business is how we keep doing the things that we love,” Wheelock said.
A gratifying challenge Forget-Me-Not also keeps business local by stocking plenty of Minnesota-grown flowers. But Chapman and company also order plenty from out-of-town, like tropical plants or flowers from Holland. (Chapman’s favorite flower: the delphinium.) Even for more common flowers, like roses, Forget-Me-Not’s interior is pictured here decorated for the holidays in December 2019. The last two weeks of December are the second busiest time of year; the first is the month of May, which includes graduations and Mother’s Day. (Anne Kopas/Northfield Now)
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Chapman pays special attention to buying hardier plants with higher petal counts. They’re more expensive, she said, but it’s worth it when customers report that their Valentine’s Day bouquets last up to three weeks. Even high-quality flowers need careful nurturing in order to last, though. The key to making an arrangement fresh, said Chapman, is frequent and plentiful watering. Ensuring the flowers have enough water in a vase or container is important, but it’s equally important to keep this water clean and clear, especially during a dry season. Before arrangements ship out, Forget-Me-Not staff keep
flowers in a feeding solution within a cooler, but they also send out arrangements with complimentary plant food packets so the plants can stay healthy within people’s homes. “I want people to know that we care. Having something sent to them is super special,” Chapman said. When customers call or stop in at the shop to order an arrangement, Chapman considers more than the occasion in making her arrangements. Whenever possible, she gauges a customer’s personality and incorporates that information into her arrangement. Someone who comes
across as a free spirit, for example, might lead Chapman toward an asymmetrical, airy arrangement, while she might make something more compact and balanced for a customer who appreciates order and structure. Rather than giving each customer the same thing, she views the task of individualizing the arrangements as “a gratifying challenge.” The challenge also keeps Chapman from becoming stagnant in her work. She frequently buys flowers outside her comfort zone to use in arrangements to keep her design skills fresh. If she keeps this variety in her work, she said, she’ll never be bored. Chapman’s excitement for her work is evident in the way she speaks to customers. Even on one of her busiest workdays, she took the time to ask one customer, who ordered a bouquet for her grandmother, where the recipient might display the flowers so that she could
consider this in her design. Forget-Me-Not is in the flower business, but even more than that, Chapman knows she’s in the business of connecting loved ones and bringing joy through small touches of beauty. “I think that flowers definitely touch people in one way or another, whether it’s birth or death or anything in between. You feel something when you walk into a room and see flowers,” she said. Reach Associate Editor Sam Wilmes at 507-6451115.
FORGET-ME-NOT Forget-Me-Not is at 502 S. Water St., Northfield. Reach the store at 507-645-4956 or visit forgetmenotnorthfield.com.
Therese Chapman stands at the counter inside ForgetMe-Not, where she grew up playing (and sleeping) as a child while her mother, Jane Williams, worked in the store. Forget-Me-Not, on Water Street, has been a fixture of downtown Northfield since 1994.
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Northfield Program Coordinator Beth Kallestad is not only assisting the city with current initiatives, she hopes to leave a footprint on the community for decades to come. (Sam Wilmes/Northfield News)
“I have always felt a strong desire to do things. It brings me a lot of contentment and feeling of accomplishment that I’m taking an active role in something that’s important to me, whether it’s around climate change, my family, my church.” - Beth Kallestad
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Story By SAM WILMES swilmes@northfieldnews.com
fter stints with the Cannon River Watershed Partnership and University of Minnesota Extension Service, bettering the environment and being a public servant were already integral parts of Beth Kallestad’s career. So becoming program coordinator for the city of Northfield and assuming a leading role in the city’s Climate Action Plan, strategic plan and initiatives relating to diversity and inclusion seemed like a natural fit. Kallestad was born in central Massachusetts near the often-polluted Black Stone River, which piqued her interest in environmental issues. She left the state after graduating with a biology degree from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, attending graduate school and graduating with a Master of Science degree in environmental sciences from the University of Iowa, where she met her husband, Steven. She then worked with the Minnesota Department of Health for six years in environmental health services, and in doing so undertook compliance-related work. “I think at that point really realized that I just didn’t like compliance,” Kallestad said. “I liked the educational aspects better than the enforcement aspects.” The non-profit Cannon River Watershed Partnership had an open watershed analyst position in 2005, and the opportunity suited Kallestad. She was expecting her second child and wanted to be closer to Northfield. She applied for the position and was hired. In that role, she conducted environmental data collection and report finding. Former Executive Director Dave Legvold then retired, opening the position for Kallestad. After serving as the organizations leader for seven years, she undertook consult-
ing work and later assumed the extension educator in leadership and civic engagement position for the University of Minnesota Extension Service. The city of Northfield this year created the program director position, something that appealed to Kallestad, especially because she could work in the community where she lives. “While there was nothing wrong with Extension, I wanted to give this a try,” she said. One of the top attractions of the position was helping to implement the Climate Action Plan, which charts the environmental course of Northfield for the coming decades. Included in the plan is the city’s commitment
to be carbon-free by 2040. In her work, Kallestad tries to find a balance between the city’s climate goals and taxpayer desires for economic development and lower taxes. “I’d like to be thought of as someone that helped to try to find that balance, to make the connections and build relationships and trust,” she said. To Kallestad, the work she is doing and has done throughout her career has been made possible only through working with other people. She is the bridge between the ideas city boards propose and their implementation. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
ABOVE: Kallestad (center) is pictured with Extension co-workers Susan Draves and Samantha Grant in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Kallestad)
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Kallestand attends a children’s fishing event while working with the Cannon River Watershed Partnership. (Sam Wilmes/Northfield News)
Kallestad accepts the 2012 TPL Conservation Leadership award for the Cannon River Watershed Partnership at a ceremony March 28, 2012, at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. The awards recognized outstanding achievements in supporting the conservation of Minnesota special places for hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife observation and other outdoor activities. The partnership was recognized for its dedication to the Cannon River Watershed and help protecting the Dora Lake Wildlife Management Area, Le Sueur County, in 2011. (News file photo)
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
“None of this is really just me,” she said. “This has always been a larger thing, whether it was at CRWP — that was very much a group effort. We had a large board of directors there, we had a membership base that helped to drive the work. With the city’s Climate Action Plan goals, that completely came out of the city’s Climate Action Plan group work.” Her commitment to combating the negative impacts of man-made climate change comes from her unbending certainty of the problem. Climate change has become a political issue at the federal level, and some politicians doubt that man-made climate change is real. She said in most countries, the issue is not political.
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“To me, it’s not a thing to believe,” Kallestad said. “It’s like gravity. It’s a scientific fact, and so it’s sort of how we are choosing to, what we choose to do in response.” Even if climate change is not real, Kallestad works with the belief that there would be benefits to the plan. “We have an amazing group of people in this community that want to see life improve across the community,” she said. “And really a lot of this, it’s about a healthier community, an economically viable community, a livable community. These are all end products that are going to happen.” To achieve the city’s goals relating to diversity, equity and inclusion, Kallestad helps to in-
crease outreach to Hispanics and other minority groups. She is also working with former Extension colleagues on a local leadership program so people feel more equipped to participate in leadership roles. Kallestad hopes to bring a range of perspectives to ensure a broader perspective. “Minnesota in some ways is a little late to the game around diversity,” she said. “A lot of other parts of the country have more diverse communities than we do, but we are starting, and definitely seeing shifts.” “It is just going to improve the city overall, and so it’s nice to be a part of having that idea moved.” Kallestad’s tenure began during the first threeyear strategic plan period in the city’s history. She has been helping City Administrator Ben Martig and other staff members with the information they are tracking, how they share and track data and a number of other things. “This was our first attempt at a strategic plan, and so there is a learning curve involved there,” Kallestad said. “There are a lot of things that are important to a lot of people in this community, and it gives us something to come back to and be like, ‘OK, is this something that we should be working on right now? Does this fit into our priorities?’ So it’s kind of a good check and balance for us as a city.”
Kallestad receives praise from co-workers Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell said Kallestad’s work has been “instrumental” in moving the city’s strategic plan forward and in its work
CRWP staff, including Kallestad, and Sewer Squad members celebrate an Environmental Initiative Award in May 2013 at Nicollet Island Pavilion. Pictured from left: Paul Drotos, Bea Hoffmann, Kallestad, Bill Buckley, Sheila Craig, David Legvold, Aaron Wills and Ken Olson. (News file photo)
on focus areas relating to diversity, equity, inclusion and climate change impacts. Kallestad helped ensure the Climate Action Plan was delivered on time to the City Council. Pownell hopes the Racial Equity Plan, another initiative Kallestad is involved with, is soon delivered to the council. Once implemented, the initiative is supposed to tackle systemic and implicit biases, and ensure diverse viewpoints are represented on governing boards and among city staff. “Beth is really great at cross-sector collaboration,” Pownell said. “She does a great job. She knows the community.” Pownell believes environmental sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion are natural areas of focus for Kallestad. “Her tone as being a natural collaborator, bringing people together, make her an ideal candidate to bring on board as a city staff person,” she said. Kallestad’s former supervisor at the Extension Service, Holli Arp, remembers Kallestad for her organizational skills, eagerness to jump in and partner across Extension centers, and work with a grant that helped local residents engage decision-makers through an aquatic invasive species team. Kallestad’s city position is considered an offshoot of her prior work. “She was a great employee,” said Arp, program leader for leadership and civic engagement.
Kallestad’s goals include long-term sustainability Beyond concrete environmental results, Kallestad’s goals for the city revolve around sustainability in the coming decades. “I would love to see us be kind of a hub for sustainability work, whether it’s in some ways a tourist attraction for, ‘Hey, these are all the different ways sustainability can happen,” she said. “I’d like to have us have the most energy efficient homes in Minnesota. I’d like to see us have businesses that are working in the sustainability realm somehow. “It’s the promise to the next seven generations. I don’t own this land. I am stewarding it to the next generation.” In her spare time, Kallestad enjoys spending time outdoors doing activities such as kayaking, riding bicycles and attending her children’s soccer games. “I have always felt a strong desire to do things,” she said. “It brings me a lot of contentment and feeling of accomplishment that I’m taking an active role in something that’s important to me, whether it’s around climate change, my family, my church.” Reach Associate Editor Sam Wilmes at 507-645-1115.
Kallestad at a 2015 presentation while an Cannon River Watershed Partnership employee. (Photo courtesy of Kallestad)
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Riverland students taking classes in Northfield thanks to the local collaboration work together on schoolwork. (Photo courtesy of Katie Theis)
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Story By SAM WILMES swilmes@northfieldnews.com
or Northfielders Maggie Lindenfelser and Ray Richmond, the prospect of attending college was complicated by uncertainty and the understanding that for them a traditional college format might not be the best learning environment. The pair are not the only example of potential students shying away from a college education due to cost, job commitments and other obligations. One local collaboration, however, between the Northfield Community College Collaborative and Riverland Community College, is easing the barriers and providing a unique setting that is in some cases enabling students who used to struggle to reach new heights.
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The NCCC was founded under the umbrella of the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative organization. The collaborative allows for Riverland Community College professors to come to second-floor building space owned by the HCI in downtown Northfield. This semester, professors are teaching composition I, philosophy of social justice, general psychology and remedial math. As part of the partnership, Riverland professors are in Northfield from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, allowing the majority of students with full-time working schedules to still attend classes. Lindenfelser, 20, opted to attend Riverland after applying to a number of four-year colleges.
This May, Lindenfelser plans to graduate and move to Arizona to work in an administrative job on a military base near where her boyfriend lives. But she wants to be sure she can find a job. “At one point, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, which is why I chose the two-year, because I figured it would help me figure out what I wanted to do,” she said. “It has really opened my mind and made me more receptive to everything. Before I didn’t really want to branch out, didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know what college was really all about. And the NCCC has helped me to figure out all the different aspects of college.” Freshman Ray Richmond, a social work major, wants to work with families, including
children in potentially troubled situations. She hopes her career allows her to help children who are in a similar situation she was in as a 15-year-old girl entering foster care. “If this didn’t exist, I don’t think I would be in college,” Richmond said. “I was able to receive a lot of one-on-one. It’s just very helpful for me.” Richmond was motivated to enter the social work field after experiencing how her social worker helped her succeed while she lived in Chicago. She later moved to the area to be with her older brother. “It has helped make this journey easier, and I think if this didn’t exist, I don’t think I really would be in college,” she said of the CCC program. “This is a great option because I was able to receive a lot of one-on-one, which was perfect for me because I had trouble in high school. I had trouble learning in large groups. I didn’t learn like everyone else did, so being here helped me get that one-onone.” After graduation, Richmond plans to attend Augsburg University in Minneapolis.
The NCCC experiences substantial growth Courses began with 28 students the first semester. That number grew to 40 last fall. Three students so far have graduated after initially taking classes elsewhere. All general education courses transfer to public four-year university and some private schools. Northfield Community College Collaborative Director Katie Theis hopes to expand the program to offer multiple night classes for students and potentially offering a partnership on a bachelor’s degree in collaboration with a university. “We will look at the classes with the students and help navigate how to do assignments or when they are due or where to put them and find tutors for students, and so it is a multi-faceted way of accessing classes,” she said. The Community College Collaborative has taught students how to conduct research and see different perspectives. It has also alerted students to the quality jobs offered by having AA degrees, including assistant and social work positions. Before, the Northfield HCI had noticed Northfield High School students were either graduating high school without a plan, commuting to the Twin Cities to attend two-year schools or skipping college because they could not afford it or had other barriers such as family obligations. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
ABOVE RIGHT: Students pose in front of the Northfield Community College Collaborative building, 105 Fourth St. (Photo courtesy of Katie Theis) RIGHT: For Maggie Lindenfelser and Ray Richmond, the decision to attend Riverland Community College thanks to a partnership between Northfield Community College Collaborative and Riverland could pay dividends long into the future. (Sam Wilmes/Northfield News)
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LEFT: Northfield Community College Collaborative Director Katie Theis is helping students in the collaboration in a number of ways before and after they attend school. (Sam Wilmes/ Northfield News)
BELOW: The classes try to minimize the student-teacher ratio and create a welcoming environment for students. (Photo courtesy of Katie Theis) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
“We saw that the need was definitely there,” Theis said. “We wanted students to be able to access their associate’s degree without having to leave Northfield.” Richmond just completed an interpersonal communications course during which she learned how to communicate through non-verbal ways and how different cultures interact through different styles. A psychology class instructs students on psychological studies and theories, and Richmond described the religions of the world course she took as “super informative.” “There was a huge push in the past 10 years for students to get their Bachelor of Arts or
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Bachelor of Science degrees, and we are now needing students who are graduating with associates degrees and can enter the work field without having thousands of dollars of debt and build their way up in the degree and receive training at the job itself as well,” Theis said. She added that launching NCCC meant an initial learning curve for both teachers and students. Prior to the Northfield Community College Collaborative, Riverland had been involved with Northfield High School for Tackling Obstacles and Raising College Hopes (TORCH) program, which works with academically prepared but underperforming students.
“It’s just been this great opportunity,” said Riverland Dean of Academic Affairs Kelly McCalla. To him, local support for the program shows the community’s commitment to its students’ success. Riverland is pleased with the program because of enrollment figures, the number of developmental classes and it being approximately costneutral for the college. A lot of the professors are local to Northfield and work there part time. “They know the students,” McCalla said. “They know the community. They’re invested in the success of the program. “It’s been pretty beneficial for us.”
A recent Riverland graduate from the Northfield Community College Collaborative poses with her family outside the college. (Photo courtesy of Katie Theis)
Beyond the classroom For Theis, the one thing she wants students to say about her work is that is goes beyond the classroom. In her position, she helps set up the courses, works with youth to create plans that identify areas of need, interventions and goals, maintains contact with alumni to provide continual support and guidance, and trains and supervises interns, AmeriCorps service members and volunteers. “I hope that they see me as a resource and they’re not afraid to come to me with non-academic questions, because I think through community partnerships and collaborations that we have, we don’t ever want to have a student slip through the cracks or not be able to achieve their dreams,” she said. And she does care. That was easy to see as she became emotional about describing what CCC students mean to her. Her mission becomes Anyone interested in clear as she describes a student enrolling in classes, learning who received a 3.8 grade point more, or volunteering is average as a CCC student advised to contact Theis at after experiencing barriers in alumni@northfieldhci.org or high school that limited her call or text 507-301-6021. academic performance. “They’re my students,” Theis said. “They’re wonderful human beings, and they deserve to be cared for. And I think some of our students, they don’t have familial support, they don’t have support coming from other people, and so I want to support them and show them how much I love them.”
HOW TO APPLY
Reach Associate Editor Sam Wilmes at 507-645-1115. NorthIeld
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Carleton grad is making waves as a
national photographer By RENATA ERICKSON
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Ryan has done freelance work for clients including athletic wear manufacturers, Lulumemon and Podium Wear. Several of the images he’s produced are shown here. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan)
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tepping onto the turf to capture St. Thomas facing off against St. John’s for a New York Times article, photographer Nate Ryan was reminded of the start of his career behind the camera at Carleton College. “I’ve done a bit of MIAC [Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference] photography at Carleton events,” Ryan said. “It was fun to be on the sidelines for a MIAC game again.” Ryan is a photographer for 89.3 The Current, creating portraits of artists who visit the
Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) studio, and filming and directing live concert streaming. The Current is one of three regional services of MPR, a public radio station that serves nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states, producing programming for radio, digital and live audiences. On top of his career with MPR, Ryan also works as a freelance photographer. With St. Thomas attempting to make the leap from Division III to Division I, The New York Times asked Ryan to photograph the St. Thomas versus St. John’s football game for an article. “The game was a place to illustrate that jump,” Ryan said. “I didn’t have to get the CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 Nate Ryan self-portrait NorthIeld
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While Ryan’s freelance work includes clients like Lululemon, left, he’s also shot photos for The New York Times, Minnesota United FC and the Minnesota Orchestra. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan)
BELOW: Ryan’s photos of author Marlon James accompanied a February 2019 Minnesota Monthly feature story on the Macalaster College professor. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan)
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peak play of the game; I was looking for a bit bigger picture: the game and the atmosphere around the game, including the St. Thomas student section and the passion of the students.” As the game drew to a close, Ryan noted the Tommies section thinned as St. Thomas lost to St. John’s 38-20. A 2010 Carleton grad, Ryan was familiar with this setting as he spent his time as a student building his photography skills on the courts and fields of the MIAC. “Football, basketball, soccer, cross country, baseball, I covered almost every MIAC sport at least once a season,” Ryan said. “I 22
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worked three of my years at Carleton in the Sports Information and Media Relations departments. They really gave me the opportunity to hone in on my photography skills.” His work with the two departments became instrumental in his career after college. “In some ways the departments prepared me for both editorial and commercial careers,” Ryan said. “The library of images was used for game recaps and also used for promoting the teams. Media Relations gave me the opportunity to photograph events, including concerts. Concert and music photography led to working at The
ABOVE: Stillwater native, musician/ songwriter Frankie Lee hired Ryan to take publicity photos for him. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan)
A portrait of Minneapolis singersongwriter Tyler Burkum taken by Ryan is featured on Burkhum’s website. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan)
Current. I’ve been at The Current for nine years now.” In his search for a college, Ryan was especially interested in a liberal arts education and ended up graduating from Carleton with a double major in studio art and geology.
“I think I had a lot of great practice working on campus, sports especially,” Ryan said. “It was a great training ground for my photography and the liberal arts background gets you prepared to work in many fields. Similarly, photography CONTINUED ON PAGE 25 NorthIeld
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Nate Ryan captured this shot of now Grammy-nominated artist Lizzo in May 2019 during a performance for MPR’s The Current. Minneapolis lays some claim on the rising star, who lived in the Twin Cities from 2001-16. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan/@The Current)
FAR LEFT: This portrait of boygenius — Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus — was taken in November 2018 at The Current Studio. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan/@The Current)
LEFT: Texan Leon Bridges has been a subject for Ryan on several occasions. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan/@ The Current)
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A trio of Nate Ryan images, from left, Susie Park, Minnesota Orchestra’s first associate concertmaster; musician/songwriter Frankie Lee, and singer/songwriter Reina del Cid. (Photos courtesy of Nate Ryan/@The Current) CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23
allows you to work in a wide range of spaces and meet a wide range of people.” After graduation, Ryan interned with MPR and was offered a full-time position at The Current and Classical MPR a year later in photo and video production. During this time, he was also assisting freelancers in commercial photography in the Twin Cities area. “I transitioned from assisting in freelance work to picking up clients and doing my own commercial and editorial work,” Ryan said.
“I also worked with Minnesota Monthly and some other publications including Rolling Stone, Smithsonian and Voice, the Carleton alumni magazine, out of college.” Ryan also emphasized the helpfulness of the Carleton alumni network as a place where he met mentors who assisted him in starting his career and who he keeps in touch with today as he continues to reach new heights in his career. Reporter Renata Erickson is a freelance reporter based in Faribault.
LEFT: In black and white, this image of Minneapolis synth-pop band Polica, has a very sultry quality. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan/@The Current) RIGHT: British artist Frank Turner performs a solo acoustic set in The Current studio in October 2019. (Photo courtesy of Nate Ryan/@The Current) NorthIeld
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E Story By MISTY SCHWAB editor@northfieldnews.com
Community service, recreation keeps the Waterford Warriors out in the snow
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mbedded in the winter snow, over 22,000 miles of trails run throughout the state of Minnesota. Largely used by snowmobilers, not everyone stops to consider how these trails take formation or who makes them interconnect. Waterford Warriors Snowmobile Club of Northfield installs and maintains over 50 miles of snowmobile trails, plus an additional 22 miles for the snowmobile club in Randolph. “A lot of people who ride [snowmobiles] think the trails are just there, and that’s not true,” said John Peterson, Waterford Warriors treasurer. “A lot of volunteer time goes into making that possible; a lot of people take that for granted.” Vern Koester, trail administrator and longtime member of the Waterford Warriors, largely credits the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Grant-in-Aid program for establishing the trail system for snowmobile clubs to install and maintain across Minnesota. Before the Grant-in-Aid system took effect in 1982, Koester said trespassing posed a problem for snowmobilers and landowners. The Minnesota DNR also administers grants to the various snowmobile clubs throughout the state, based on such factors as trail miles, the length of the winter season and the amount of snow during that time. Established in 1972, the Waterford Warriors Snowmobile Club is self-funded from registrations, trail passes and unrefunded gas tax. It’s a fact many of the club’s own members don’t even realize, Koester said. He himself became a member of the club a couple years after it began and has held multiple positions, like many members. Currently, around 80 members in Northfield and surrounding areas make up the Waterford Warriors Snowmobile Club. All members are required to also join the Minnesota United Snowmobile Association, which was instrumental in getting the Grantin-Aid program going. “Basically [it’s about] the camaraderie,” Koester said. “A lot of people were doing it, and it’s a fun way to enjoy the winter. One of the things I like about the club is all the volunteerism.”
Grooming trails The Waterford Warriors Snowmobile Club divides 55 miles into seven sections for grooming. A different club member is in charge of each portion, and with the help of a group of friends, Koester said it takes about six hours to install each trail section. In his opinion, it “goes fairly quickly.” It takes 22 to 24 hours to groom all the trails, and most is accomplished during daylight hours. Many groomers are farmers, including Johnson, who brings experience with machinery to the trail installation process. “It’s just relaxing to go out there and make the trails nice for everyone to ride on,” Johnson said. Although grooming the trails is a major aspect of the Waterford Warriors, which was established in 1972, the club depended on neighboring snowmobile clubs to groom its trails for many years. The Northfield club began charitable gambling in 1996 with the goal of purchasing grooming equipment, and in 1998, the group purchased its own grooming drag and rented a tractor to pull it. The club purchased its first tractor four years later. There’s a science to determining the best time to groom. Koester explained that sometimes it’s better for snowmobile traffic to pack down snow before the groomer sets to work. Taking the wind into account, sometimes it’s best to wait until the snow drifts subside. Milt Berg, Waterford Warriors member, contacts all the groomers to find out who has time to install and maintain the trails on any given day. While club volunteers install and maintain trails with the groomers, there’s another group of people who CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
ABOVE: Before the snow comes, Waterford Warriors make sure bridges are safe for snowmobiles to cross. The group repairing this bridge included Matt Braun, Lowell Eng, Cole Schuler, Brad Schuler, Rise’ Thibodeau, Milt Berg and Dean Schuler. (Photo courtesy of Jerry Wicklund) LEFT: A couple Waterford Warriors members enjoy the trails on a sunny winter day. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Peterson) PREVIOUS PAGE: The Waterford Warriors host a cookout on the trail at least once a season. (Photo courtesy of Amanda Peterson) NorthIeld
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ABOVE LEFT: Waterford Warriors repaired this bridge on a landowner’s property before snowmobile season began. Pictured from left: landowner Jerry Wicklund with club members Milt Berg, Dean Schuler and Matt Braun. (Photo courtesy of Jerry Wicklund) ABOVE RIGHT: Bridge repair is part of the work before the Waterford Warriors can have their thrill snowmobiling. (Photo courtesy of Jerry Wicklund) LEFT: This groomer and tractor, owned by the Waterford Warriors Snowmobile Club, grooms miles and miles of snowmobile trails each winter. (Photo courtesy of Jerry Wicklund)
to landowners who lend their property to the trail system, the Waterford Warriors send gift cards and host a special recognition night each March. While respecting the wishes of landowners who don’t want the disturbance of snowmobiles near their homes, Koester said most farmers are cooperative with the club. Laughing, he recalled one woman who complained because the trails didn’t run close enough to her house. It turned out she wanted to count the snowmobiles passing her property.
Focus on youth CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27
help make the system come together. “The other big volunteers are the landowners who allow our trails to go across their land,” Koester said. “I think it’s incredible for them to do that without any charge.” Peterson added it can take a lot of encouragement to regain permission to use land, but signing the permission slip takes much liability off the landowners as the land then goes on the state’s liability insurance. To show appreciation
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Since many active snowmobilers like to pass down their interest to their children, the Waterford Warriors host a youth snowmobile safety training annually. Waterford Warriors Dawn and Larry Conrad have hosted the snowmobile safety training at their farm for the past 22 years, but the club began hosting the training at least 35 years ago. “It’s really fun; the kids are so appreciative,” Dawn said. “They’re so happy when they get their certificate that they have passed the course and … that just makes you feel good.”
Children 12 and older are eligible to take the snowmobile safety training, and their certification is noted on their driver’s license whenever they pass their driving test. Dawn said the number in attendance each year has fluctuated from 50 children many years ago to 25 in more recent years. If the Conrads host the training on a day that conflicts with a family’s schedule, the good news is other area snowmobile clubs also offer safety training. A DNR officer talks to the students, and the Waterford Warriors provide the snowmobiles for the behind the handlebar training. Years ago, students needed to complete eight hours of classroom time before taking behind the handlebar training. Now, students need to pass an online course before attending the training in person. Parents attend the safety training with their children and may help them with the online course work. The Conrads set up a course in the snow, even if the snow is hard to find. Students then have an opportunity to practice the hand signals and abide by the safety rules. Apart from the snowmobile safety training, the Waterford Warriors also distribute scholarships for $750 each to students at Northfield and Randolph high schools. Typically, Dawn said the club selects students interested in an engineering field for these scholarships. The club donates au-
dio equipment to Northfield Schools annually, and has also donated $2,500 to the Northfield trap shooting team.
Being a club member The Waterford Warriors meet the first Thursday of each month throughout the year. Even during the summer months, when snowmobiles are tucked away for the season, the club members typically organize a night in the Dundas Dome ballpark and host picnics outdoors. The big kickoff to the snowmobile season is the Defeat of Jesse James Days Parade. Club members gather together to build a float, which raises awareness of the Waterford War-
riors and also serves as a bonding opportunity for those involved. As for donations, the club doesn’t only focus on youth but finds other opportunities to give back to the community. The Waterford Warriors purchased ATV tracks for Northfield Fire and Rescue and a no-till drill for Rice County Soil and Water. Members buy animals at the Rice County and Dakota County fairs and donate to the Veterans Memorial Ride organized by the Minnesota United Snowmobile Association. Ditch cleanup is another task the Waterford Warriors complete twice a year. “It’s kind of fun to get together, catch up with members and do community service,” said Johnson, who participates in the ditch cleanup.
As members grow older, Koester finds it helpful when younger members like Johnson meet the needs of the club. “I think guilt is the wrong approach,” Koester said. “People should join for the camaraderie and the community service.” A number of younger members have joined the club in recent years, Dawn added, as well as a first-time member in his 70s. Families have also played an ongoing role in the club. “You have a wide spectrum of people from all walks of life,” Dawn said. “So it’s interesting and fun to meet new people, and we’re always open to having more people join.” Reporter Misty Schwab can be reached at 507-333-3135. Follow her on Twitter @APGmisty.
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Drives Northfield Ice Arena staff
A group of skaters hold hands during an open skate session at Northfield Ice Arena.
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A pair of skaters spin around during an open skate session at Northfield Ice Arena.
A young skater learns how to skate at Northfield Ice Arena.
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Story & Photos By NICK GERHARDT editor@northfieldnews.com
aturally during the winter, Northfield Ice Arena sees a flurry of activity between practices and games but there’s a lot of work that goes into making sure the arena is ready for players and skaters. For Northfield Ice Arena and Pool Supervisor Tom Spooner and his staff of six, each day means a close monitoring of the ice rink as well as keeping the facility and equipment in good shape. “I love being around the people,” Spooner said. “I’m a hockey guy. It kind of gets into your blood, this sport. Something you enjoy being around, you see the kids and it’s a lot of fun. People are always happy at the ice rink.” The day typically begins at 8 a.m. at the rink and that’s when a lot of the ice maintenance takes place. Staff will edge, chip and flood the rink so that the ice sheet continues to have proper ice depth, usually around 1 1/4 inches to 1 1/2 inches. That can mean shaving the ice on the outside where it can build up and flooding the middle part when it tends to thin out more. “I would have to say that we have one of the best ice sheets around,” Spooner said. “I take pride in our ice surface. We’ve got really good ice here.” Arena staff maintains the ice with an electric Zamboni the city purchased in 2017 to alleviate any possible air quality concerns associated with the old propane Zamboni. The Zamboni is outfitted with
studded tires to maneuver around the ice as its two set of augers shave the ice and a hot and cold water system work to lay down new ice as the machine collects ice shavings on the rink. Once the rink opens in the morning there’s not a lot of down time for staff like Spooner and Recreation Operator Mike Klimek. There’s typically 15 to 20 minutes of prep time before and after each session. The Zamboni takes about 10-20 minutes to fill up with water and then it takes about 15 minutes to resurface the ice. After resurfacing is done, the Zamboni’s augers are cleaned and the snow from the rink is dumped outside of the arena. “It eats up a lot of your time,” Spooner said. On top of all that, staff logs ice depths and keeps track of how many resurfaces have taken place. Auger blades get taken in after 75 to 100 surfaces to get sharpened. In addition to the ice maintenance, arena staff cleans the arena throughout the day and checks the mechanic equipment like air filters, compressors and humidifier. CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
ABOVE RIGHT: Mike Klimek checks the edges of the rink as he resurfaces the ice at Northfield Ice Arena. NorthIeld
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ABOVE LEFT: Mike Klimek deposits snow from resurfacing into a pile outside the Northfield Ice Arena. ABOVE RIGHT: Mike Klimek cleans off the auger of the Zamboni at Northfield Ice Arena. Klimek started working in ice arenas at 17. LEFT: A young skater gets a hand while learning how to skate at Northfield Ice Arena during an open skate session. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31
Love of the game Spooner grew up in Grand Rapids where his love of hockey grew when he started playing. He started at the Northfield Ice Arena in 2005 as a part-time employee. He became a full-time employee a few years later before taking over as the ice arena and pool supervisor a year ago. “I’ve always enjoyed the game and I really enjoyed the job when I took on the job as a part-time position and I kind of evolved into a full-time job,” Spooner said. Like Spooner, Klimek developed a passion for the job and hockey. Klimek started working at the Hastings Civic Arena while still in high school. He wants to become an ice arena manager in the future after he attended Minnesota State University, Mankato for sports management. He continues to work at the Hastings Civic Arena in addition to Northfield Ice Arena. Prior to working at the Northfield Ice Arena, he worked at Doug Woog Arena in South St. Paul.
“I’ve always been a big hockey guy,” Klimek said. “My family was always growing up around hockey and I liked being around the rinks, driving the Zamboni, sharpening skates, taking care of the facility as a whole, working with people. I like it all. I’m very passionate about it.” Klimek grew up playing hockey in Hastings and always wanted to drive a Zamboni. “It’s just like driving a more advanced car,” Klimek said. “It’s not too hard but once you get the hang of it, it’s fine.” Northfield Ice Arena opened in 1975 behind the effort of residents, and though the age of facility presents some challenges, updates continue. New boards were installed in 2008, according to Klimek, and new heaters for the stands were put in place in December. “I like this one,” Klimek said of the arena. “It’s got that old-school style to it.” When there is downtime, staff will spend time sharpening skates before the rink shuts down around 11 p.m. on high school game nights. “This time of the year it gets to be pretty busy as people are using them on outdoor rinks and backyard ponds.” Spooner said. “They can be sharpening their skates a couple of times a week.”
Maintaining the ice Ice usually goes in at the arena in September and comes out in March. It’ll go back in during June or July for camps and clinics and then out again after they’re done. The ice does the best in temperatures between 20s to 30s outside, Spooner said. Inside, staff likes to keep the temperature between 45-55. “The bitter cold, obviously, you don’t
Mike Klimek checks the inside of the Zamboni as he resurfaces the ice at Northfield Ice Arena.
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Northfield Ice Arena employees check the depth of the ice each time they resurface to ensure the ice is good.
want that,” Spooner said. “The building itself can get really cold, which is hard on the ice.” Between youth games and practices, high school games and practices, as well as rec league hockey and Carleton club hockey, the arena stays busy through the winter. “It always seems to be busy at once,” Spooner said “When you’re busy, you’re busy. It’s always the night times and weekends.” But in Minnesota, the state of hockey, that’s the norm so people can enjoy the game they love so much. Nick Gerhardt is a freelance reporter based in Northfield. Northfield Ice Arena and Pool Supervisor Tom Spooner sprays a skate after an open skate session at Northfield Ice Arena. Spooner has worked at the arena since 2005.
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Even with medical condition, Hawgood has no plans to stop running
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I
Story By MICHAEL HUGHES mhughes@northfieldnews.com
n some ways, Bryony Hawgood doesn’t understand the fuss. The St. Olaf senior, who runs for the school’s cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams, was born with pelvic hip dysplasia. The conditions boils down to her left femur not fitting properly into her pelvic bone. The condition is Hawgood’s reality, and has been since birth, so there’s nothing abnormal about it for her. In other ways, though, the Zimbabwe native possesses a greater understanding of personal tragedy, resilience and self-doubt because of the medical condition, which didn’t allow her to run at all until she was 17 and nearly derailed her collegiate running career as a sophomore. “I don’t know what normal feels like,” Hawgood said. Until she was medically cleared to run in high school, Hawgood competed in the one sport she was cleared for — swimming. To this day, she’s the fastest Zimbabwean, man or woman, to swim the open water mile. When she was cleared - Bryony Hagwood to run, she naturally started immediately. She ran cross country in high school and then was convinced, because of her ability in the water and natural running speed, to compete in triathlons. Initially, that’s what she planned to compete in at St. Olaf, but the triathlon club closed before she arrived in Northfield. So, she sent an email to Chris Daymont, who then was the women’s cross country coach for the Oles. Daymont, not knowing anything about Hawgood, asked for her fivekilometer race time. “I had never raced a 5K outside of a triathlon, so I had
“I’m not from America, and the main reason I wanted to do a sport when I came was to make friends. This definitely introduced me to a family that I didn’t even anticipate. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I got myself into something pretty good.”
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St. Olaf senior Bryony Hawgood overcame a lifelong hip injury to be named an All-American this fall in cross country. Despite needing to relearn how to run after a setback two years ago, Hawgood said she loves running and has no regrets pushing herself. (Michael Hughes/ Northfield News)
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to give her my 5K split from a triathlon,” Hawgood said. “I remember feeling kind of out of place at the beginning. “I mainly signed up for it because (Daymont) said she catered to everyone from All-American to people that have never run before,” she added. “I thought I would fall somewhere in the middle.” By the end of the fall cross country season, Hawgood was running in the top group for St. Olaf, and then qualified for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships as a sophomore. Shortly into her sophomore winter track and field season, though, something changed. After the high of cross country season, Hawgood wanted to parlay that success into track season immediately. “I came out of cross country and came into indoor track, and indoor track is a lot of left turns on a hard surface,” Hawgood said. “You’re running inside a lot of the time because you’re in Minnesota, so it’s just a lot of putting that consistent pressure on it, and then the races also tend to be a lot faster.” That caused her left hip to flare up, inflaming so much it was painful to run at all. After
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consulting with a doctor, she was recommended for surgery, which was a non-starter. “It would be at least a year until I started running again,” Hawgood said. “Not just competing, but I could only start running after a year. I wasn’t prepared to give up my four years of collegiate racing and I decided I would try running and if it didn’t work it didn’t work.”
Rebuilding her stride Around that time, Daymont retired and Erica Maker was hired as the women’s cross country coach. During one of the introductory meetings to the team, Maker was going after summer training plans to make sure her team returned to campus in the fall ready to race. “I was sitting and trying to hold in tears, because I was like, ‘Right now you want me to race a 6K in a couple months and I can’t run a mile,”’ Hawgood remembers. “I remember crying to my teammates.” Of course, Maker said there weren’t any expectations for Hawgood to compete early that fall, but that didn’t lessen the feeling of guilt. That summer in Zimbabwe, she broke down
her stride to its basic parts and built from there. “I literally had to teach myself how to run,” Hawgood said. “From the beginning of that summer I was running a mile at a nine minute, 30 second pace, just so I was focusing on a technique that didn’t hurt and a comfortable technique. That’s literally what I built off.” The factory reset worked, and allowed Hawgood to not only find a running style that allowed her to run on the damaged hip without significant pain, but also return to, and surpass, her previous limits. “She worked so hard in the summer in Zimbabwe and she didn’t miss a beat,” Maker said. “We were shocked actually with what shape she came back in and that she was really just able to flow in.” Her training regimen, while always a bit different than her teammates, underwent significant alterations. She tries to stay under 35 miles a week, and does plenty of cross-training on the bike, elliptical or in the pool, which she credits her triathlon experience for. “You should see her on the equipment, she looks like she’s going to break it,” Maker said. “She gets the most out of those pieces of equipment, let me tell you.” While Hawgood was physically back to
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100%, mentally she was lagging behind. The trauma and fear from the hip flare up lingered in the back of her mind at the start of every race. “My junior year I approached running scared and was trying to not overdo anything,” Hawgood said. “Each step could be your last, so it was definitely more trepidation. When I got onto a start line I was very nervous. As time went on, and with each step, Hawgood realized there was not much point in running scared. Time was ticking away on her collegiate running career, and living in fear of future health problems wasn’t preventing a potential re-injury. So, Hawgood essentially cast aside her fear. “That’s why I think she’s been so successful,” Maker said, “because she said, ‘I can do everything I can to prevent it, but I’m not going to focus on it and it’s not going to define me.’ That’s been her biggest jump maturity-wise, too, is being able to make those decisions and committing and going for it.” That helped Hawgood qualify for her second straight cross country national championships as a junior, and in November, she not only returned for a third time but finished in 28th place, to earn All-American recognition. “The shift that happened this year was more mental,” Hawgood said. “I decided, ‘You’ve got the experience, just go out there and do it. You know what will make your hip hurt and you know how to feel good. Control that and let everything else go.’”
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Bryony Hagwood was born and raised in Zimbabwe, where she still holds the country’s open water mile swim record (for men and women) and competed as a triathlete. (Michael Hughes/Northfield News)
“I definitely want to join some type of running club wherever I am. My dream is to just go and run half marathons in national parks. Go to all the national parks and do the non-standard half-marathons.” - Bryony Hagwood
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37
Why keep running? That’s a valid question, but one Hawgood never seriously considered. After the first 17 years of her life, when she was medically not allowed to run, she wasn’t handing back that ability during what she considers the most important four-year stretch of her athletic life. Not only that, but running, and running for St. Olaf, has changed Hawgood through the last four years. “I’m not from America, and the main reason I wanted to do a sport when I came was to make friends,” Hawgood said. “This definitely introduced me to a family that I didn’t even anticipate. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I got myself into something pretty good.” While it might sound crazy, she appreciates the health scare her sophomore year. During her time away, and while she was rebuilding her running stride, Hawgood learned to lean on her teammates and take better care of
herself. “It’s weird, because I’ve always loved sport,” Hawgood starts, before trailing off while fighting back tears. “Sorry, but running has just made me really grateful for a lot of things,” she continues. “It’s easy to take so many things for granted, like physical health, mental health — it’s just easy to take it for granted. Having my hip and being able to run at the same time really puts everything into perspective.” At the moment, there’s no plan to go under the knife fur surgery, or even stop running, after graduation this spring. She’s not entirely sure about her future plans (like other college seniors, she’s stressed about landing a job), but is certain those will involve running in some form or another. “I definitely want to join some type of running club wherever I am,” Hawgood said. “My dream is to just go and run half marathons in national parks. Go to all the national parks and do the nonstandard half-marathons.” Reach Sports Editor Michael Hughes at 645-1106. Follow him on Twitter @NFNewsSports.
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Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Bridgewater Twp. OKs new annexation agreement with city, steps away from incorporation By SAM WILMES
swilmes@northfieldnews.com
have good community support here. We have a strong superintendent who is very supportive.” The fulfillment Terry gets on the job comes from seeing his students develop, grow and achieve through the school’s FFA program. Throughout his more than 40 years at the district he has taught town leaders and major players in the ag sector. The evolution of the farming industry during Terry’s teaching career is hard to fathom. In 1968, items like GPS systems and GMOs were not on the radar. Those changes to the industry have forced Terry to adapt. Despite the changes to the industry, including the decrease in the number of small farms, Terry said teaching ag courses at the high school level remains important.
Bridgewater Township on Wednesday approved a three-year annexation agreement with Northfield. The agreement, which was expected to be approved by the Northfield City Council Tuesday, means the township cannot seek incorporation until the agreement expires or one of the two entities withdraws from the agreement. A six-month notice must be give before withdrawal. The agreement includes quarterly meetings between the two boards to discuss a possible new an- Castore nexation agreement for joint planning and zoning, which could include a provision that Bridgewater can use the city’s zoning authority in the township. “That’s what we are going to investigate,” Bridgewater Supervisor Glen Castore said Thursday. The city would agree not to initiate litigation against the township during the agreement. Castore said the township has been seeking additional control of zoning and is willing to work with Ness the city to address the issue so it can avoid the cost posed by petitioning for incorporation. “We had some objectives that we were trying to reach,” he said. “Incorporation was one of the means.” The township is grappling with the projected loss of the county landfill within the next 20 to 25 years. Castore said 25 percent of the township’s monthly revenue is generated through the landfill. The county pays a fee to the township as that’s where the landfill is located. “We’re looking to replace revenue we know we’re going to lose. That’s what got this all started,” Castore said. He noted the township uses the funding to buy gravel, and he believes the township would do a worse job of maintaining roads and mitigating flooding if that is lost. “One option for replacing that revenue is to have some agriculturerelated businesses locate in the township,” he said. “In order to do that, we probably need to control the zoning, which is currently controlled by the county.” Castore also sees board action has a preventative step. “The city does not want us to incorporate, plain and simple,” he said. “If we don’t incorporate and have any annexation agreement, we don’t have any protection at all against annexation.” Northfield City Councilor Brad Ness said the agreement is “kind of a starting point in our negotiations.” He supports extending the agreement and expects it to one day take on a longer term. “Hopefully we’ll get an agreement that’s acceptable to both parties,” he said. Ness said although zoning decisions are controlled by the county, the city would likely support zoning measures Bridgewater takes as long as they do not infringe on a Northfield development.
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Randolph High School ag teacher Edward Terry places his hand on a tractor in the school shop Thursday. The nearly 50-year educator was recently recognized with the Minnesota Outstanding Agriculture Teacher of the Year. (Sam Wilmes/Northfield News)
Randolph educator named Outstanding Ag Teacher of the Year By SAM WILMES
swilmes@northfieldnews.com
Randolph agriculture teacher Edward Terry has been a teacher for nearly 50 years. Terry, who now teaches on a part-time basis while remaining a full-time farmer, received recognition for his instruction by being named the Minnesota Outstanding Agriculture Teacher of the Year in July in Brainerd. The award covers ag teachers at the high school and college level along with farm management instructors. He was the first part-time ag instructor to be selected for the honor. “It’s very much a peer process,” he said. A 1964 Northfield High School graduate, Terry’s first ag teaching job was from 1968-74 in Farmington. “I had a good experience with my ag teachers in Northfield, and so I went to col-
lege and got a degree in teaching high school agriculture,” he said. Following his father’s retirement from farming in 1974, Terry and his brother, Dave, assumed control over the operation. Terry then took a three-year break before he was contacted about the Randolph ag teaching position for the 1977-78 school year. “They finally wore me down, and I sat down with my wife and my brother, and we decided we’d find a way to make it work, to give these kids opportunities,” he said. Today, Terry is the school’s FFA advisor and instructs a core curriculum that includes a introductory course, and classes on forestry and conservation, animal science, plant and soil science, and farm power, and mechanics. Terry, who will be 74 by the time this school year ends, says he still enjoys both of his jobs. “I feel good,” he said. “Kids are good. We
Bill requiring new state sex ed guidelines drives conservative opponents’ rally By ANDREW DEZIEL
adeziel@faribault.com
Sex education curriculum in Minnesota could soon be operating under new guidelines if a piece of legislation sponsored by Rep. Todd Lippert, DFL-Northfield, is approved. And that concerns some conservatives. Lippert’s bill, HF 1414, would require sex education to be medically accurate and age-appropriate. In addition, curriculum would be expected to cover a wide variety of topics, including genderbased violence, affirmative consent and contraceptives, and would be required to be inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community. Among the largest groups in support of the new legislation are Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA). Adrianna Perez, Prevention Program Coordinator for MNCASA, said that in many school districts, current sex education is falling short, failing to provide students needed information about healthy relationships. “Districts don’t spend a consistent amount of Northfield student Grace Muth testifies March 1 before the House Education Policy Committee time talking about certain topics,” Perez noted. on a bill, sponsored by Rep. Todd Lippert, right, which would, in part, require the Education “We want folks to be well informed so they can Department to identify one or more model sexual health education programs. While the bill faltered in the Senate, opponents plan a rally Sunday at the capitol to oppose the bill. (Photo by make healthy decisions for themselves. Part of it is healthy relationship consent piece, and oftentimes Paul Battaglia)
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that is not adequately taught in school.” Under the law, Minnesota school districts would be allowed to propose their own sex education curriculums and would submit them to the state Department of Education for approval. Currently, Minnesota lets districts put together their own sex education curriculum and is one of 37 states which currently does not require sex education curriculum to be medically accurate. Lippert’s bill passed in the House last session, but stalled in the Senate. Conservative opponents of the measure reacted with outrage, arguing the measure would pre-empt local and parental control of sex education. The Child Protection League, a socially conservative Mankato-based nonprofit, holds a rally at the state Capitol Sunday in opposition to the measure. Child Protection League Board Chair Julie Quist, of St. Peter, said that ultimately, the decision of what to teach children in sex ed needs to be left up to local school boards and parents. “(Supporters of the bill) say that what’s taught is inconsistent, that some places teach some things that other places teach others,” Quist said. “That’s what local control is.”
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