Inspire(d) Fall 2026

FALL 2026 • NO. 86

CREATED IN

Decorah, Iowa

Inspire(d) DRIFTLESS

yep, it’s free!

AN EXPERIMENT IN POSITIVE NEWS

Toppling Goliath Taproom

20+ beers on tAP na-beer THC sparkling water TO-GO!

Pet friendly patio APPETIZERS to Entrées great for large groups indoor/outdoor dining

cocktails mocktails brewery tours

tgbrews.com events@tgbrews.com | located at 1600 PROSPERITY Road, decorah, IA | 563.387.6700

ONEOTA COMMUNITY

FOOD COOPErative decorah, iowa

Community of Care

SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE

Upcoming Events

Display Gardens | Trails | Visitors Center

Behind the Scenes at Heritage Farm

Visitors Center open March-October Decorah, Iowa · 563.382.6104 seedsavers.org/visit

September 12, 2026

Seed School* September 28–November 2, 2026 Virtual

*registration required

Request your 2027 catalog featuring over 600 varieties of untreated, non-hybrid, nonGMO seeds, including new varieties from our seed bank.

seedsavers.org/catalog

Orchard Tour & Apple Tasting October 3, 2026

®

Seed Savers Exchange | Heritage Farm 3074 North Winn Rd, Decorah, IA 52101 seedsavers.org

Secure Your Legacy Protect Your Future

Our Trust Services professionals provide tailored solutions to help protect and grow your assets.

LEARN MORE Scan QR Code

We provide comprehensive trust and estate management services, giving you peace of mind that your assets are in good hands.

- Erick Kephart, Trust Officer, VP

Connect with us today!

563-382-9661 Products provided by Decorah Bank & Trust’s Trust Services Department are NOT insured by the FDIC; are NOT deposits; and May lose value.

Center Stage Series 2026–27

Seraph Brass

Friday, Oct. 30 , 7:30 p.m.

Broadway’s Next Hit Musical

Saturday, Sept. 12 , 7:30 p.m.

Purchase tickets.

tickets.luther.edu

Gravity and Other Myths: 10,000 Hours Sunday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m.

FALL 2026 contents

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46

54

June/July 2010

WHAT WE’RE LOVING RIGHT NOW

09

ARTIST JEN NAHL / RARA AVIS POTTERY

16

AMANDA HESS + THE DHM TEAM

22

HAL CROPP

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MARIANN FANT & JOSH RATEL-KHAN

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INFOGRAPHIC: 19 LESSONS FROM INSPIRE(D)

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MENTAL HEALTH: EMBRACE CHANGE

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FUTURE FOCUSED: PERFECTION IS AN ILLUSION

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PAPER PROJECT: HEART ENVELOPES

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GROWING SEEDS (& COMMUNITY) FOR PEACE

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SUM BIZ: BLOSSOM HILL ORCHARD

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CONSERVATION: FALL MIGRATION

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FALL HIKING!

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PROBIT: ELLIOTT CHRISTEN

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Happy 19th INSPIRE(D)!

Fall 2014

Spring 2020

Summer/Fall 2020

Winter 2023-24

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FALL 26. #86 IMPACTFUL EDUCATION FINDING LESSONS EVERYWHERE WE GO

Inspire(d) est ®

FALL 2007

DRIFTLESS AN EXPERIMENT IN POSITIVE NEWS FOUNDERS Aryn Henning Nichols / Editor-in-Chief + Designer Benji Nichols / Head of Logistics + Advertising Sales

we couldn’t do it without

What’s the name mean?

CONTRIBUTORS Renee Brincks / writer Steve Harris / writer Laura Barlament / writer Clara Wodny / writer Niamh Mee / writer

Hooray for these amazing humans!

Olivia Lynn Schnur / mental health writer Craig Thompson / conservation writer Mary Thompson / conservation artist Marge Loch-Wouters / Driftless hiking writer Kari Yearous / center spread photographer Jen Nahl / cover artist

Interested in becoming a contributor? Email work samples to Aryn at aryn@iloveinspired.com, and we’ll see if we’re a good fit!

Roxie Nichols / Future Focused submission

HELP US MAKE THE MAG! Cover Artists Are you an artist based in the Driftless Region? Are you interested in having your work featured on a cover and in a story in Inspire(d)?

Reach out to aryn@iloveinspired. com with a couple photos of your art or a link to your work and we’ll chat.

Bonus: We pay $250 for your high-res digital artwork for the cover!

Center Spread Photographers

Probituary Submissions

Are you a Driftless nature or landscape photographer? We pay $150 for a high-res digital image to be used in our center spread spot. Preference to photos that highlight the Driftless landscape.

Are you interested in being featured?

Send a few samples or a link to your work to aryn@iloveinspired.com!

Readers, we need your help! We’ve been featuring wisdom from our elders in the Probituary section since the first Inspire(d) in 2007. Have you always wanted to interview your grandparent/parent/neighbor/loved one for this section? Please let us know! Email aryn@iloveinspired.com for more info. Thank you!

JOIN THE POSITIVE NEWS MOVEMENT 1. Buy local - We couldn’t make this magazine without our amazing advertisers and partners.

Visit or shop with one (or many) of our advertisers, and let them know you saw them in Inspire(d)!

2. Become an Inspire(d) Member at iloveinspired.com/membership -------- or scan: 3. Sign up for our Positive News Newsletter at iloveinspired.com/connect 4. Visit us online – website and social – and share with your friends and family!

find the gnome...

G-Gnome is hiding somewhere in this iloveinspired.com magazine! The first five people (no previous winners please) to send us his facebook.com/iloveinspired page location through our contact form at @iloveinspired iloveinspired.com/contact-inspired gets a free Inspire(d) 7-Year Pen in the mail!

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Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

WE’RE ON A MISSION TO CHANGE THE WORLD THROUGH POSITIVE NEWS, ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME. Inspire(d) – pronounced in-spy-erd... you know: inspired – stands for inspire and be inspired. The idea is that person one inspires person two. That person is now inspired. Then that person inspires person three (or person one again), who is now inspired. Then the cycle continues!

That’s what those arrows around the (d) are about! We’re here to remind folks that people are good! Our mission is, ultimately, to change the world… starting with our own community. We like to call it an experiment in positive news.

Inspire(d) Magazine is published quarterly

by Inspire(d) Media, LLC, 412 Oak Street, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. This issue is dated Fall 2026, issue 85, volume 20, Copyright 2026 by Inspire(d) Magazine.

Support Inspire(d) We want Inspire(d) to be accessible for all, which is why it is free on stands across the Driftless! But you can support Inspire(d) through Membership! We’ll send the magazine in the mail, to you or a loved one, for $35/year.

Visit the Membership page at iloveinspired.com for details, or send a check for $35 to Inspire(d) Magazine, 412 Oak St., Decorah, Iowa 52101.

Thank you for your support, and for joining the positive news movement!

Want to make a comment about something you read in the magazine?

Email aryn@iloveinspired.com.

Adventure in the

FROM THE EDITOR

DRIFTLESS Region

F

or me, fall feels like the most dramatic season shift of the year. From life to death. Colorful to drab. Warm to cool… all signaling the time to cocoon up in hopes that we will emerge in the spring as a new, beautiful thing. This hope for a better future – knowing that we must allow time for rebuilding, growing, learning – is something I love about the slowing of seasons.

Perhaps it’s ironic that it was autumn when Inspire(d) Magazine first came to life – October 7, 2007. 19 years ago! We weren’t slowing down then (sorry mother nature) and we’re not slowing down now, even as we learn the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

These life lessons that happen in between the ups and downs sometimes feel the most impactful. And, as our issue’s theme suggests, there are lessons everywhere we go, if we know how to look for them.

Cover artist Jen Nahl has some experience with ebbs and flows in making her work meld with shifting seasons of life. She infuses her pottery with inspiration and love, tucking messages and fun colors into many of her pieces. There’s a real light and positivity to her artwork, and I love it.

Community Builders also bring light and positivity to the world. We started this section of the magazine for our tenth anniversary issue. When we stepped back to assess the work of our first decade, it became very clear that creating a community is one of the most important things we can do in this life. I believe connection – seeing the ways we are the same, even alongside our differences – is the answer to everything. Imagine all the things we could accomplish if we were all working together, in the same direction, building community for a better future. Our Community Builders this issue are Amanda Hess and her team from the Driftless Half Marathon; Hal Cropp from Lanesboro’s Commonweal Theatre; and Mariann Fant and Josh Ratel-Khan, who are leaders with Decorah Pride, amongst other things.

In this issue’s infographic, I spend some time reflecting on 19 years of Inspire(d) Magazine, and the lessons we’ve learned along the way. That kicks off Olivia Lynn Schnur’s mental health piece, highlighting ways we can explore who we are and how to grow and change as we move through our lives.

And we’ve got lots of other impactful stories in this issue: The Future Focused column is from our daughter, Roxie, who turned 14 in August. She writes about learning the lesson that “perfect” is an illusion (wow, I love her).

Luther College student Phonnaphat Khamphinit spent the summer in her home country, Thailand, implementing her Growing Seeds for Peace project, a community farming initiative that won a $10,000 Project for Peace grant this year.

The Sum of Your Business interview is with Hillary and Dane Diede of Blossom Hill Orchard in Preston, Minnesota. Hillary and Dane have been focused on sweet pursuits in their communities since before they boomeranged to Southeast Minnesota in 2015!

Mary and Craig Thompson, our favorite conservation duo, are back with a piece about fall bird migration. I’m definitely adding “swandevous” to my vernacular and planning a trip to the Mississippi this season to watch the Tundra Swans. While I’m out and about, I might check out some of Marge Loch-Wouters fabulous fall hiking suggestions!

Finally, our probituary features Elliott Christen, who spent 50 years as a teacher and administrator, and 30 of those as a sports announcer for the Decorah Vikings and Luther Norse. We love the wisdom that comes from these interviews – which have been a part of Inspire(d) from the very beginning – and we hope you do too!

COME HAVE FUN!

WISCONSIN ROCHESTER

TREMPEALEAU

WINONA

FUN PRESTON

MINNESOTA

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LA CROSSE

WESTBY

LANESBORO

CRESCO

OSAGE

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LANSING

DECORAH

WAUKON

CHARLES CITY

POSTVILLE

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WEST UNION 63

GUNDER

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PRAIRIE DU CHIEN MCGREGOR

ELKADER

iowa

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VIROQUA

SPRING GROVE

HARMONY

GUTTENBERG

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COMMUNITY

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Design by

iloveinspired.com

Inspire(d) Magazine Driftless Region

What is the driftless?

It’s a region in the Midwest – Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin, and a wee bit of Northwest Illinois – that was skipped by the glaciers in the last ice age, leaving the area “lacking glacial drift” – i.e. Driftless.

The gist of that is we get to enjoy bluffs, valleys, coulees, and other fun geographical features that don’t typically occur in other parts of our states (the Mississippi River contributes greatly to the geography as well). It’s a lovely place to live and visit, and we’re happy you’re here!

rad cover art by...

JEN NAHL • etsy.com/shop/RaraAvisPottery Lovely cover art by Decorah artist / potter Jen Nahl.

Read more about Jen and her work on page 16!

Thanks for reading, friends. You inspire me, every dang day!

Looking forward,

Aryn Henning Nichols

Listen to the Spotify playlist that Aryn put together to bring the vibe of the issue to life!

iloveinspired.com \ Fall 2026

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Amish Tours of Harmony

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Just Savor the flavor with Winneshiek Wildberry Winery wines & food! beyond Share a day in the country at our tasting room & patio.

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Enjoy an exciting tour of Harmony’s Amish community with one of our knowledgeable guides!

Mini Bus Tours . Car Tours . Group Bus Tours . Spring thru Fall Call 507-696-1354. www.amish-tours.com

Check www.wwwinery.com for hours & menu. 563.735.5809

Only 30 minutes away from Decorah, this full-service community offers a variety of great dining options, unique antiques, gift shops and exciting recreational opportunities.

Plan your next visit at exploreharmony.com or by calling 507-886-2469

What We’re

Loving

right now

A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION THIS FALL...

THE MCGREGOR PROJECT

If you’ve kept up with us over the years, you know we love a good river town. And McGregor is a great river town! From Paper Moon Books to the Andrew Clemens sand art collection, this town is a real gem with amazing proximity to both the Mississippi River and Pikes Peak State Park!

And, awesomely, big things are happening in this rad river town through The McGregor Project.

The community minded civic and economic development investment has goals of breathing another century of life into McGregor’s downtown.

So far, The Station burger joint (pictured at right) opened this summer, a community development fund has been launched for local grants, and a major historic hotel restoration project is scheduled. McGregor has been enduring multiple seasons of major street construction in recent years, which is also wrapping up this fall. If you take a fall road trip to catch a burger or see the projects in-action, don’t forget to stop by and see Pearl the kitty at Paper Moon!!! Keep an eye out at themcgregorproject.com

APPLE JAM AT BLOSSOM HILL

You’ve read (or are going to read) about Blossom Hill Orchard and Farm’s Hillary & Dane Diede on page 54 (RIGHT?) – and you’ve

maybe even stopped by for bakery treats on your way through Preston, Minnesota.

But now you can plan on spending an amazing fall afternoon at Blossom Hill for the “Apple Jam” Festival October 3 from 12 to 9:30 pm.! Bring the whole family out for a full day of live music, delicious food and local beer, and plenty of activities for all ages. Wander through the orchard for apple picking, challenge your friends and kids to orchard games, and soak in the festive autumn atmosphere! Nicholas David & Demitrius Rallis will perform, and the Piston Whippin’ Party Penguins will cap the evening off - with Jeremy Jewell, Rachel Melby, and Schmidty keeping the music flowing through the afternoon.

Plus, you can book a Little Dipper Sauna session in advance! Fresh apples, fall bakery treats, great music, local beer? See you there!

Tickets at Eventbrite.com – more details at blossomhillapples.com

DECORAH GEAR EXCHANGE!

The Decorah Gear Exchange is lining up for its 5th year of helping gently used outdoor recreation gear find another life! Are unused kayaks taking up room in your garage? Do you have tents and backpacks collecting dust?

Are you storing bikes that are no longer sized correctly for your family?

Now is the time to start gathering those items for the Decorah Gear Exchange September 2627, 2026, at Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. at 207 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa.

The Decorah Gear Exchange aims to help individuals sell and buy gently used outdoor recreation items such as kayaks, canoes, tents, backpacks, fishing gear, bicycles, skis, lifejackets, car racks, Continued on next page

Theatre SHOWS

CENTER FOR THE ARTS ï DECORAH, IA

The Sound of Music IN CONCERT

OCT 22-24

The Cottage

NOV 19-21

LIFE IS DREAMING APRIL 8-10

Mark your calendars for Luther College Theatre shows! More info online at luther.edu/theatre iloveinspired.com \ Fall 2026

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What We’re Sarah Zbornik With you every step of the way

563-379-1292 | ajrealty.us 106 College Drive Decorah, IA 52101

Loving

right now

A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION THIS FALL...

Licensed in Iowa

camp stoves, and more. To note: No firearms or weapons will be accepted. The Decorah Gear Exchange also works to promote outdoor recreation in the Decorah area and support parks and recreation projects. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Decorah Parks and Recreation, further expanding recreational opportunities and resources in the Decorah area. Go to visitdecorah.com/ decorahgearexchange for event info and more details on how to sell and buy items at the Gear Exchange.

YOU PICK FLOWERS - UNTIL FROST!

50% OFF YOUR FIRST 2 WEEKS!

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You scream, I scream, we all scream for YOU PICK FLOWERS! Our friends at Bluffside Gardens in Decorah, Iowa, have been busy the past couple years not just situating their 11 gorgeous rental units, but also shaping up beautiful gardens that cover the hillside! Tucked into Park Street at Highway 9, the property’s gardens were started in 2023, with wildflower meadows, plantings, and trails planned as part of an evolving outdoor retreat. This summer’s zinnia crop was impressive – and promises to flower all the way to frost this fall. Bluffside Garden’s unique “U-Pick” system allows access anytime during daylight hours, with payment via a QR code or a drop box. So stop by the flower kiosk, grab a set of clippers (or bring your own), and wander the thousands of flowers to cut your perfect bouquet. Small bouquets are $8 and large are $15. There are mason jars on site for $1 extra, or you can bring your own (or just get the flowers home quickly before they wither). The Bluffside property has also added an on-site hot tub and group sauna for their rental guests, so you might just want to make a night or weekend of it?! bluffsidedecorah.com

LUTHER CENTER STAGE SERIES + 50TH!

Variety of yoga + strength classes 6+ days per week Decorah, IA (studio on 3rd floor of Impact Coffee) • www.driftlessyoga.org

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Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

Luther College has announced the 2026-27 Center Stage Series, including a special 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Center for Faith and Life (CFL) in early 2027. Season and individual tickets are now available at tickets.luther.edu.

“The upcoming 2026-27 Center Stage Series continues Luther’s

tradition of bringing a wide variety of performances to our corner of Northeast Iowa,” says Susan Potvin, director of programming and outreach at Luther. “You’ll see world-class talent without having to travel to a metropolitan area.” Catch one of these upcoming shows this fall and mark your calendars for the entire 2026-27 schedule!

September 12: Broadway’s Next Hit Musical, 7:30 pm Master improvisers gather audience suggestions and create a spontaneous evening of music, comedy, and laughter. The audience votes for their favorite improvised song and then watches as the cast turns this song into a full-blown, improvised musical. Every show is unique!

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED

laranadecorah.com

120 WASHINGTON ST . DECORAH, IOWA 563-382-3067

Wednesday 3-6 pm & Saturday 9-12 pm May - October October 30: Seraph Brass, 7:30 pm (pictured above) Now in its 12th season, Seraph Brass showcases the excellence of women brass players. Winners of the American Prize in Chamber Music, the members of Seraph Brass are passionate about music education; several hold faculty positions at Shenandoah Conservatory, Texas State University, and Texas Lutheran University.

Known for commissioning works from underrepresented composers, Seraph Brass performs a wide range of music, including original transcriptions, newly commissioned works, and core classics.

November 15: Gravity and Other Myths: 10,000 Hours, 7 pm These virtuosic acrobats return to Decorah to deliver a jawdropping love letter to the human body and the amazing things the body lets us do each day. “Ten Thousand Hours,” set to a live soundtrack, pays tribute to the deep practice behind every perfected movement — while shocking, delighting and inspiring audiences with breathtaking acrobatics.

Located in the Heivly Street parking lot, behind Oneota Co-op

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M-TH: 2-10 PM FRI - SAT: 12-11 PM SUN: 12-8 PM

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Open 7 Days A Week • 207 College Dr, Decorah • 563-380-3610

POSTVILLE SMITHSONIAN RURAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATE

The Smithsonian Rural Initiative recently launched their Rural Library Associates program with a clear belief: that rural libraries and small towns play an invaluable role in their communities – and that they deserve the same access to world-class cultural, educational, and enrichment resources as anywhere else! Woot! We couldn’t agree more at Inspire(d) HQ! The Postville Public Library is one of 16 libraries across the nation chosen to participate in the program, which will allow rural library leaders to connect in order to expand programming and bring new resources to their communities.

“We are so excited to be a part of the inaugural Smithsonian Rural Library Program,” says Postville Library Director Crystal Duffy. “This designation speaks to the work our community has done over the past several years to build connection and ensure that our entire community feels seen and welcomed.”

Continued on next page

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What We’re

library provides a center for the community to come together to learn and to connect with each other,” says Andy Mink, Founding Director of the Smithsonian’s Rural Initiative. “The Postville Public Library is a vital gathering place and gateway to experiences that might otherwise seem out of reach, and the Smithsonian’s Rural Initiative is thrilled to partner with them on this exciting new program.” More at www.postville.lib.ia.us

Loving

right now

ANUNDSEN BUILDING

A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION THIS FALL...

Through the Rural Initiative, the Smithsonian provides free content to each of the 16 members of the pilot cohort, with each library participating in regular professional learning meetings to support ongoing community engagement activities.

“A public library is much more than a place to borrow books. In addition to being centers of learning and information, the public

NICHOLAS C. ROWLEY

COURTNEY ROWLEY

For generations, the Anundsen Publishing Company buildings were part of the fabric of downtown Decorah, and now this historic corner is getting ready for a new chapter.

A major redevelopment of the buildings at 105 and 107 E. Water Street and 108 Washington Street are now underway, with the goal of breathing new life into the historic properties while keeping their character – and their place in Decorah’s story – intact.

The project, headed by Rebound Partners, will transform more than 15,000 square feet of downtown space into a mix of homes

DOMINIC PECHOTA

FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE, CIVIL RIGHTS, & EQUALITY

LAURA THOMPSON

KAREN ZAHKA

Being real Trial Lawyers means we don’t settle out cheap. We fight for full justice and nothing less and see our clients as human beings who we care about. We cherish and place great value on fundamental constitutional rights (Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness).

If you or a loved one ever need help, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Request a FREE consultation at 866-TL4J-LAW or info@tl4j.com.

WE ONLY GET PAID IF WE WIN • WE HAVE WON OVER $2 BILLION DOLLARS FOR OUR CLIENTS Albuquerque • Atlanta • Boston • Bozeman • Brooklyn • Casper • Chicago • Decorah • Denver • Des Moines • Irvine Juneau • Los Angeles • Minneapolis • Ojai • Providence • San Diego • San Francisco • Santa Barbara • Seattle • St. Louis Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death Cases Against Insured Defendants

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and businesses. Plans call for nine new upper-level apartments and more than 7,500 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor, creating opportunities for restaurants, retail shops, offices, and other businesses in the heart of downtown.

Parts of the buildings date back to the late 1800s, while the 105 E. Water Street building includes a 1938 Streamline Moderne addition that was later expanded by Anundsen Publishing. The historic details are being preserved as the buildings are adapted for modern uses.

Making a project of this size happen has required a true community effort. Financing combines historic preservation and redevelopment tax credits, workforce housing incentives, local support, regional loans, and investment from more than 20 local investors. The City of Decorah has also approved a development agreement that provides up to $350,000 in tax-increment payments. Construction is underway, with efforts being coordinated by Finholt Construction and Tryad Designs. The renovated buildings are expected to reopen for residents, businesses, and visitors in 2027.

THURS-FRI: 10-5 Saturday 10-4 & Sunday 11-4

New Home Decor & ANTiques

sept 10-13: vintage days at market 52!

319-939-3039

Bringing a smile to your space! stop by Nov 5-8

for our holiday open house!

get social with us!

ROCHESTER ART MUSEUM

The Rochester Art Museum, adjacent to the Mayo Civic Center, is offering two compelling shows this fall. The first, “Art to Resist & Survive Authoritarian Regime Change,” is on view through Sunday, November 1, 2026. If you think collage is just cutting up old magazines and gluing things together, the Rochester Art Center’s “Art to Resist & Survive Authoritarian Regime Change” may convince you otherwise.

The exhibition brings together work from Kolaj Institute’s Politics in Collage project, where artists use scissors, paper, photographs, and plenty of creative mischief to tackle some decidedly serious subjects you might normally avoid over dinner: authoritarianism, racism, sexism, xenophobia, capitalism, climate anxiety, media overload, and more. But rather than delivering a lecture, they mash up images and ideas in surprising ways, creating work that can be funny, unsettling, beautiful, and occasionally all three at once.

www.shopmarket52.com visit us at 3220 Highway 52. just 9 miles north of decorah, ia

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DELIVERY AVAILABLE!

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What We’re

Loving

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A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION THIS FALL...

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The second, “The Body Carries Everything,” by Graciela DeAnda, is on view through January 24, 2027. This immersive exhibition explores migration through memory, family history, and personal experience. Inspired in part by Graciela DeAnda’s father’s journey across the U.S.-Mexico border, the installation looks beyond the physical belongings people carry when they migrate to consider the emotional weight they carry as well – memories, fears, faith, family ties, loss, and hope.

Backpacks and everyday objects become portraits of individual lives, while materials such as corn husks, earth, wood, fabric, photographs, and sound create an environment that visitors can experience through multiple senses. Footsteps, water, voices, prayers, and oral histories evoke the intimate realities of migration.

Rather than presenting one universal story, the exhibition emphasizes that every migration carries its own history.

The Rochester Art Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am - 4 pm, small admission fees for adults, free 21 & under. rochesterartcenter.org

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Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

WHO’S BEEN WRITIN’???

Here at Inspire(d) HQ, we’ve always been big believers in physical books. Nothing like the smell of fresh print! And we are, of course, big fans of all things local. Combine those two things and, lucky us, we have local authors! Our inboxes are overflowing with awesome new publishing news from some of our favorite local peeps. Here’s a short list of just a few, and don’t forget to check in with your local bookstore to see how you can get your hands on these beautiful pages! Find out more about local Decorah literary events at: dragonflybooks. com/events Aaron Lurth – Small Luxuries: Film Cameras Aaron Lurth, program director of visual communication and associate professor of art at Luther College, published his first book,

Small Luxuries: Film Cameras this past August. Lurth’s book is the second in the Small Luxuries series, which celebrates everyday objects that have helped shape American culture, published by the Quarto Group. Lurth’s coffee table-style book walks readeres through what a camera is, the history of the technology, camera brands and models, and more. With a degree in both graphic design and photography (LC ’08), Lurth received his MFA in photography and graphic design from the University of Iowa in 2012 before returning to Luther as a professor of art and visual communication.

Nick Wallin – The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston Calmar’s own Nick Wallin is a bestselling author known for combining sharp humor, social satire, and dark twists - perfect for the fall season! His previous books include It Takes a Village to Kill Your Husband and Love in the Time of Contracts, showcasing his knack for exploring complicated relationships with wit and a wicked sense of fun. Wallin’s latest novel, The Quiet Resurrection of Sister Evelida Livingston, ventures into smalltown occult horror, blending ritual magic, toxic friendship, queer terror, and the eerie atmosphere of New England. Join a lively conversation with Luther College Professor Andrew Hageman and Wallin on September 24, 2026 at 7pm, T-Bocks Upstairs, as part of Dragonfly Book’s author series. Everyone is invited to this free event sponsored by the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation, with support from T-Bock’s & Dragonfly Books.

Keith Lesmeister – Ask Me About The Money Northeast Iowa author Keith Lesmeister’s third publication, Ask Me About The Money, comes out October 3, 2026, bringing together a collection of stories that tracks everyday moments, decisions, and complications with money. A father-and-son duo investigates a bad check. A husband and wife drive 30 miles to use a free beer coupon. One character, living in a motel, is offered unsavory work opportunities.

Money takes center stage, but these stories include a host of other themes: family and relationships, Midwestern woes, and racial identity. From railroad tracks, to cheap motels, from garage sales to cow pastures, Keith Pilapil Lesmeister tunes our hearts to the powerful frequency of money. A book launch and signing will be held November 2, 2026 at 7pm, in the Pulpit Rock Brewing event room in West Decorah.

Melissa Koch – Stone by Stone Decorah author Melissa Koch writes nonfiction for children with the goal of making big ideas feel personal, accessible, and – most importantly – fun to explore!

Much of her work focuses on science and technology, and her newest book, Stone by Stone, explores “A Rocks Journey Through Time.” Earlier books include Forest Talk: How Trees Communicate, and 3-D Printing: The Revolution in Personalized Manufacturing. Before becoming a full-time writer, Koch spent 27 years in Silicon Valley designing award-winning learning technologies and experiences that encouraged young people, especially girls and students from diverse backgrounds, to pursue STEM. Find out more at melissakoch.com

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JEN NAHL: TRUST THE PROCESS

Plant pots have clever notes stamped into the clay. / Photo courtesy Jen Nahl

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BY RENEE BRINCKS

E

ducation naturally flows from the classes we attend and the books we read. But often, impactful life lessons also come from our favorite activities.

That’s certainly true for Decorah nurse and artist Jen Nahl. For example, yoga teaches her to find stillness in a noisy world. Trail running challenges her to stay curious and push past what’s comfortable. And thanks to pottery, she’s gotten less attached to outcomes and more comfortable embracing trial and error.

“Working with clay is not a fast process.

Everything happens in stages, and it takes time and patience,” Jen says.

Through Rara Avis Pottery (her studio name means “rare bird” in Latin), Jen crafts pretty, practical pieces embellished with positive messages and details drawn from nature. She first experimented with pottery as a child, working with the mud she’d dig up on her family’s farm near Calmar. In high school, Jen signed up for every art class available. In college, though, she studied to become a registered nurse. She has now worked at WinnMed in Decorah, most recently in home health and hospice care, for more than 15 years. Along the way, Jen became a mom, too, having the first three of her four children early in her career.

Jen and her dog with a handmade “Fur Child” bowl.

Over time, creating with clay took a backseat to / Photo courtesy Jen Nahl the business of daily life.

“But I’ve always had that love and passion for art, and specifically pottery,” she says. “I knew, even as a teenager, that someday I would make this happen.”

Eventually, while reflecting on her high school art classes, Jen made a list of the basics she’d need to establish a home studio. She found a pottery wheel first. Later, she and one of her children took a road trip to pick up a kiln she’d spotted online. Jen slowly set up her workspace and established an artistic routine, with occasional pauses for life transitions.

“The times that I was away from pottery, I’d find myself thinking about the things I’d love to create. I have journals with all these little sketches. Some of them I have made now, but there are always millions of ideas floating around,” she says.

One of the times Jen briefly pulled back from art was when she decided to add a Bachelor of Science to her nursing qualifications. But each time she sat down to tackle homework, her mind gravitated toward her studio. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she wasn’t interested in moving into health care management.

“I love working hands-on with my patients. The idea of going to college for another couple of years to get an extra couple of letters behind my name was not what I wanted,” Jen says.

She decided to drop those courses and apply for the Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour, which had long been a personal goal. When she was in her early 20s, Jen would get the annual tour map in the mail and circle all the participating potters. She’d visit each studio, paying special attention to the artists’ spaces, styles of work, and finished pieces.

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Some of Jen’s pieces include grooves, like the vase at bottom right, and / or bright colors, like this mug. At right, a tiny bowl is marked with a quote by Mary Oliver. / Photos courtesy Jen Nahl

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Jen has now been a tour artist on and off since 2015.

“Certain patrons come back year after year, and I love that,” she says. “It made me feel like an actual artist, at that point when people started showing up here saying, ‘We picked your spot to come to first,’ or ‘We come here every year.’”

The process of preparing for those early studio tour events also helped Jen view her pottery as more than a hobby.

While she wasn’t looking to leave her nursing career, she wanted to be more intentional about her creative projects.

Tour participation provided a reason to refine her style and the elements that distinguish her designs.

Today, Jen makes handmade and wheel-thrown pieces that are both artistic and functional. She crafts simple jewelry trays, textured dinnerware, stoneware planters, and other items intended for daily use. Some of her pottery is finished in bold, bright jewel tones. Other times, she chooses calming, earthy colors.

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Tiny clay birds perch on the rim of one of Jen’s small-scale birdbaths. / Photo courtesy Jen Nahl

Nature themes thread through her work. Jen adorns serving bowls with hand-carved lines that reflect the rolling hills of the Driftless Region. She presses leaves into wet clay as she makes planters. Her leaf-shaped tiles are cupped just enough to hold a few drops of essential oil, doubling as tiny diffusers and home décor.

Birds and feathers are another favorite focus. After all, Jen named her business Rara Avis for her love of birds.

“If I’m out on a walk or a run and I spot a feather out of the corner of my eye, I will stop and pick it up and stick it in my pocket or in my hat. I have a collection of feathers in a jar in my studio,” she says.

When she makes one of her small-scale birdbaths, Jen sculpts pint-size clay birds to perch on the rim. She’ll sometimes etch motivational or meditative quotes into those plate-sized pieces, too.

Her favorite birdbath features a pair of birds that she envisions as a mother and baby. Carved feathers and the words, “What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” swirl around the bowl.

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“Anybody can relate to that at some place or another in life,” Jen says. “All of us need that extra boost of encouragement once in a while.”

The encouraging phrases and poetry that Jen adds to her pieces get carved or stamped by hand before the clay is fully dry. That human, handcrafted touch appealed to Katie Kollasch of Sissa, a Decorah shop and community gathering space.

She first connected with Jen on social media and later purchased pottery inscribed with a meditation mantra.

“Jen is genuine and intentional.

Her art is not there to be showy.

It’s not mass production. She’s really using her emotions and feelings and experiences – and her connection with this region itself – in her pottery,” Katie says.

Sara Davis, a Guttenberg-based artist, got to know Jen after the two participated in the annual Art in the Park festival in nearby Elkader. Sara, who organizes Guttenberg’s summer Makers and Music event, invited Jen to be a featured artist.

“I love that she uses quotes that inspire us to be our best selves or see beyond just what’s in front of us,” Sara says. “When you look at her work, and when you hold her work, it has a sense of depth to it that I just love.”

Each time Jen finishes a piece, she likes to imagine who might ultimately pick it up and call it their own.

“I hope they feel like that piece is meant for them,” she says.

“Whether they’re sipping coffee from one of the mugs or sitting and watching the birds in one of the bird feeders, I hope it brings some inspiration or comfort.”

She remembers one client who requested a custom birdbath for a friend who had recently lost her father. As a hospice nurse, Jen recognized the significance of bringing light to someone’s life during a difficult time.

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“I don’t do many custom pieces because of the time limitations that I have. But it just felt right to make this one,” she says.

Pottery adds light and positivity to her own life, too. Jen is inspired by the process of creating art from lumps of earthen clay, and she finds the physical practice to be very grounding.

“I’ll sit at the wheel and time just dissolves. It’s a way to therapeutically unwind and let go of things that you don’t have control over,” she says.

Jen doesn’t always have a plan when she goes into the studio. She doesn’t use molds or measurements as she creates. She has learned to simply trust the process.

“There are so many things that art teaches you. If you’re just open to listening for them, the answers are there,” she says.

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SEE MORE OF JEN’S WORK

Step into Jen Nahl’s Rara Avis Pottery studio during the 2026 Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour (details below). You can also view her work on: • Instagram: @raraavispottery • Facebook: www.facebook.com/raraavispottery • Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/RaraAvisPottery

MEET 30+ NORTHEAST IOWA ARTISTS

The 29th annual Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour takes place October 9, 10, and 11, 2026. Participating artists open their workspaces to visitors between 10 am and 5 pm each day of the event. All studios are located within a 40-mile radius of Decorah.

Members of the public can tour studios, ask questions, and view projects in various stages of completion. More than 30 accomplished painters, woodworkers, weavers, jewelers, sculptors, ceramicists, and other artists will welcome guests during the self-guided event.

Visit www.iowaarttour.com to download a tour map and information on this year’s participants.

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COMMUNITY

BUILDERS

Amanda Hess +THE DRIFTLESS HALF MARATHON TEAM

Lansing, IA

BY CLARA WODNY

T

he annual Driftless Half Marathon is more than just another test of athleticism and endurance – it’s a uniquely supportive and community-driven race, perfect for runners of all experience levels. Routing primarily along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway between Lansing and Harpers Ferry, Iowa, it has affectionately been dubbed “the most scenic half marathon … EVER!” The Driftless Half Marathon (DHM) was founded in 2017 by Lansing’s own Amanda Hess, who had traveled all over the country to participate in various running events. Each time she returned home, she found herself admiring the natural beauty of the surrounding bluffs and river valleys, and realized it would be a beautiful place for a race.

“My love for the Driftless Region is what initially inspired me to start this event,” Amanda says. “It’s truly a unique area – plus, the distance between Lansing and Harpers Ferry is perfect for a half marathon!”

Once the idea was born, it didn’t take too long to get the event up and running, but it did take a village.

A nearby event organizer walked Amanda through logistics: permissions, insurance, sponsorships, and other safety measures. Once they received approval to host the event, the DHM board was formed, which, according to their website, includes a solid group of women (and one awesome dude!).

About Community Builders A community is defined as a unified body of individuals. You can build community in a neighborhood, city, region, state, nation… world, at any level. But it doesn’t have to be big to have a big impact. Building community is one of the most important things we can do in this life. Connecting with others helps us connect with our humanity, and realize we’re all in this together. Read more Community Builder stories at iloveinspired.com, and send us a note if you know someone we should feature here in the future!

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Above photo: The Driftless Half Marathon committee, from left to right: Mark Johnson, Kayla Smith, Amanda Hess, Amanda Robley, Rebecca Manning, and Becky Rea. / Photo courtesy the DHM

“I was probably one of the first people to hear Amanda’s idea to start this race, and I thought she was nuts!” recalls Becky Rea, one of the DHM’s initial board members. “But I was also all in from the start, and watching the event grow from an idea into what it is now has been truly inspirational.”

Each board member has a passion for running and a strong desire to give back to their community. The group had a year to organize, promote, and receive registrations for the first event, which took place in October of 2018 and hosted 185 finishers across all distances.

“I think the small town feel surprises and charms people,” says Maryann Baldwin, another DHM board member since its inception. “Sometimes expectations are low for a town of 1,000 people, but the attention to detail and enthusiasm brought by organizers and volunteers really goes a long way and makes a lasting impact.”

Now, the average registration number is 250. As interest continues to grow, the committee is considering a 350-runner cap, in order to preserve the peace and tranquility that comes with the natural area.

The DHM has been called “the most scenic half marathon ever!” / Photo courtesy Jared Kiley

Each year, many local organizations and businesses contribute to planning, promoting, and executing a successful event. Support from Allamakee County Sheriff Clark Mellick, Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker, the Lansing Street Department, and Brian Ridenour and his team at the Allamakee County Engineer’s office has been instrumental. Each year, these teams handle traffic management and emergency planning along the course. The local Harpers Ferry and Lansing Fire Departments have also played an integral role in ensuring smooth operations on race day, from providing a warm indoor space for the often chilly earlymorning registrations to using fire trucks for lighting before the sun comes up and more.

“The EMS and Fire Department volunteers donate so much of their time and efforts to the community,” says Amanda, who was so inspired witnessing the partnership between DHM and the local fire department that she went on to get her own EMT license, ultimately joining the Lansing department. “Now I get to be a part of this great group of people who just want to serve their community.”

The Driftless Half Marathon has always made it a priority to serve their community as well, donating 100 percent of their proceeds – since 2018, more than $37,000 – to local nonprofit organizations. These donations fund various projects, such as a “Kindness Campaign” organized by the Lansing Police Department last Christmas. Using $500 of donations, the police distributed gift certificates from Lansing restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations to people they “Caught in the Act” of doing something kind for others.

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Donations toward the Police and Fire Departments also go towards purchasing new life-saving equipment and sending their teams to educational trainings.

“Being from a small town, we know all the first responders, whether they’re family or friends,” says Becky. “I think we’ve all had to rely on them at one point or another, so supporting them was an obvious choice.”

Another recent donation from the DHM went towards training and veterinarian bills for the Lansing Police Department’s K9, Tyr, says Chief of Police Ross Kolsrud.

“Staff and participants of the DHM have always supported law enforcement, through generous donations but also by offering copious thank yous and waves throughout race day,” says Ross. “Out of our threeperson department, two of the officers have run the race previously, and our third officer is training to run it for the first time this fall. This is such a special event in our small community and makes a huge impact to support first responders around the area!”

Aerial photo of the DHM route along the Mississippi. / Photo courtesy Jared Kiley The committee works to support and promote other groups that have a direct and and the shared commitment to bringing resources, support, and meaningful impact on the lives of others as well, like Allamakee awareness to our community,” says Leah Hemseth, prevention Prevention Advisory, which operates under Northeast Iowa’s Helping coordinator with Helping Services. “Together, we can promote Services for Youth and Families. health and well-being while ensuring that individuals and families “The Allamakee Prevention Advisory is grateful for this partnership

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impacted by substance use, mental health challenges, and other life crises know that they are not alone and that help is available.”

Race participants can also add a donation to the Lansing Iowa Food Trust (L.I.F.T.) through the registration portal, and the committee hosts a food drive and raffle each year that benefits L.I.F.T. “We are incredibly proud of the ways our community partnerships and involvement has grown over the years,” says Maryann. “At first, people thought they needed to be A family running in memory of a loved one. / Photo courtesy the DHM runners to support the event. As time has gone on, more and more people have discovered how fun it is to come cheer, celebrate, and contribute, regardless of whether they are runners or not.”

Knowing the background stories of some participants can make the cheering even more fun. For many runners, the Driftless Half Marathon is their first-ever half marathon – one first-timer completed the race alongside his grandfather. And periodically, there will be large groups of family members and friends running in memory of their late loved ones who had been annual participants.

“With stories like these, the event becomes about so much more than running,” says Amanda. “Each story is personal for us. We are honored to be a part of each and every finish line memory.”

Clara Wodny is a 2025 graduate of Luther College, where she fell in love with the Driftless while studying English and Visual Communications.

Currently residing up north in her hometown of Duluth, MN, she is a freelance writer and artist, specializing in pottery and printmaking.

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A grandson and son finish the DHM. / Photo courtesy the Driftless Half Marathon

READY TO RUN (OR WALK)?

2026 Driftless Half Marathon, October 10 Register at www.thedriftlesshalfmarathon.com The Driftless Half Marathon is held annually on the second Saturday of October. The fall leaves are usually shining bright this time of year, and the views of the Mississippi River and the Great River Road are always iconic and worth the effort.

For those who would like to experience the magic of race day themselves, but aren’t quite ready for a full half marathon, there are plenty of other options. If you want to join forces with a running buddy, you can team up to run the half marathon course as a relay, each completing half the distance. The 10k+ option is just slightly longer than your typical 10k, coming in at 6.6 miles and winding along the Mississippi River. Finally, the family-friendly 5k routes adjacent to Highway 9, running towards the river and back, so you can take in the scenic views before crossing the finish line. Strollers are welcome!

In addition to the event t-shirt and finisher’s medal awarded to all course finishers, the winner of each age category receives a ceramic award, handmade by Compass Ceramics of La Crescent, Minnesota.

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Hal Cropp / Photo by Peterson Creative Photography & Design, petersoncreativephoto.com

COMMUNITY

BUILDERS

Hal Cropp Lanesboro, MN Building Community, One Play at a Time

BY STEVE HARRIS

H

al Cropp, long-time Executive and Producing Director of Lanesboro, Minnesota’s Commonweal Theatre, didn’t always know he was going to spend his life working in theatre.

“I was 13 and in summer camp when I came out of the infirmary to play the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz,” Hal remembers. “I later considered other career options, marine biologist to name one. But what grabbed me most about theater, what grabs most actors, I think, is a sense of being accepted by the audience. Along with that is theater’s tremendous potential to bring people together in ways that are unifying and spiritually satisfying.”

Hal encountered a number of key stops on his journey to Minnesota. Born in New York City in 1952, he grew up in the small town of Hornell in western New York state and graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. After that, he lived in

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the San Francisco Bay Area for 18 years, got a Masters in Nonprofit Management at Santa Clara University, and then headed to the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, Colorado, to pursue his study – and love – of theater.

It was in Denver in 1990 that Hal first heard about Lanesboro from a fellow actor named Eric Bunge. “Eric asked if I’d be interested in joining a summer theater project starting in a little midwestern town where he had family roots,” Hal says. “It sounded interesting, I said ‘yes.’ That summer went well, and we were soon planning a second.”

That season the fledgling company produced three different shows every week: Greater Tuna, Tintypes, and Love Letters.

“We even added a fourth in the fall, The Glass Menagerie,” Hal remembers. “It was a heavy schedule and lots of work, but we loved it! So did the audiences.”

Back in Denver that winter, Hal received an unexpected phone call from Eric. “He told me the Lanesboro project was facing serious challenges that threatened to close it,” Hal recalls. “He asked if I’d be willing to help the company get officially organized the following summer. I returned to Lanesboro where we got to work forming our own nonprofit. That’s how the Commonweal Theatre Company was born.”

What the Commonweal grew into is nothing short of remarkable.

With a mission “…to enrich the common good through actor-based storytelling that is both transcendent and relevant,” the Company is now in its 38th season, producing five plays each year with a current annual budget of nearly $1 million. A major capital campaign in 2007 raised $3.5 million to create Commonweal’s stunning 200-seat theater on the site of an abandoned cheese factory. The recipient of numerous state, national, even international awards, the Commonweal Theater is now widely recognized as one of the leading rural professional theatre companies in America.

Repair & Custom Design

The Commonweal Theatre Company. / Photo courtesy the Commonweal

Lanesboro obviously benefits from its presence. “20,000 people come from all over to experience shows in this space every year,” says Hal, “and that happens in a town of 700+ people. We’re a magnet reaching far beyond our town, which is an intentional strategy for us. That helps create economic stability here.”

The community, in turn, gives back to the theater.

“Lanesboro is a unique community,” Hal says. “People here are welcoming and share a strong commitment to where they live. They get involved. They volunteer. They want to be a part of what’s going on. I first experienced that years ago when a lady stopped me on the street. She’d seen our play the night before and wanted to talk about its story and characters. I was very impressed by that. People in Lanesboro are active and engaged.”

Hal can count himself as one of those active and engaged people.

In his nearly four decades in the community, he has served on Lanesboro’s City Council, its Economic Development Authority, and for multiple terms on the board (and as president) of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce. Hal was also a founder and original onair host for Commonweal’s “Over the Back Fence,” a live radio show that ran for 25 seasons. Currently he’s involved with “Team 250,” a consortium of community leaders helping Lanesboro prepare for major downtown road construction in 2027.

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“All of us need to help build the communities where we live.

It’s how we give back, it’s how we make life better for everyone. I encourage our Commonweal ensemble members to get involved locally. It demonstrates to our fellow citizens that just because we’re actors doesn’t mean we’re different from anyone else.

It’s also a way for us to bring energy to the town,” says Hal, who shares his adopted hometown with his wife, Adrienne Sweeney, a fellow Commonweal actor and the Company’s Associate Artistic Director.

The Commonweal family serves locally in many ways, from part-time jobs in local businesses and shops, to volunteering for seats on the Planning and Zoning Commission or the Library Board, to delivering Meals-onWheels every Friday. One actor is currently Executive Director of the Lanesboro History Museum. All that contributes to building a sense of place.

“Many things draw people to this community – its natural beauty, the bike trail, many fine businesses and restaurants. While they’re here, visitors discover our theater, too, and are Top: Hal & his wife, Adrienne Sweeney pleasantly surprised by the / Photo courtesy Hal Cropp quality of the work they Hal (left) at Team 250 in Lanesboro with encounter. We think of Joe Goetzke (center), Executive ourselves as offering 176 Director of the Lanesboro Chamber & special events every year; it’s Brett Clarke (right), Principal, Lanesboro High School). / Photo by Steve Harris our priority to make every attendee feel welcome and comfortable at each one. That leads people to come back. That’s good for them, good for the Commonweal, good for Lanesboro, and good for our entire region.”

“Drama unfolds where the Root River bends,” is the Commonweal tagline. Imagine how different Lanesboro would be if the Commonweal Theatre didn’t exist, and how Hal Cropp’s life would have been different if he hadn’t said “yes” in that phone call long ago. Thankfully we don’t need to imagine either of those scenarios.

Rather, we can enjoy and be grateful for the realities of what did happen, and for all the ways they have built – and are building – this very special little community.

Steve Harris a freelance writer and author of “Lanesboro, Minnesota” and “Dads Like Us,” has a personal goal of never missing a Commonweal Theatre play. (steveharrissauthor.com)

For more information about the Commonweal Theatre Company, including current and next season schedules, please visit www.commonwealtheatre.com.

Josh and Mariann at Luther College. / Photo by Laura Barlament

COMMUNITY

BUILDERS

Mariann Fant & Josh Ratel-Khan Decorah, IA Building Confidence and Boosting Community

BY LAURA BARLAMENT

O

ne year after moving to Decorah, Iowa, Mariann Fant and Josh Ratel-Khan faced a choice: Leave for a new job opportunity in Fayetteville, North Carolina, or stay and keep building the unexpected community that had begun to blossom for them in Northeast Iowa.

The choice was supposed to be easy. Fayetteville is a bigger city, located tantalizingly near beaches and mountains. They both submitted resignations to their employers – Northeast Iowa

Community College and Luther College – and prepared to move.

But then, they couldn’t say goodbye. Their heartstrings were truly attached to this community.

“In a way, it was like I actually chose Decorah that time,” Mariann says, as opposed to her job prompting the original move to the area.

“I have a purpose here, and I have things to do here, and people I want to know better.”

She and Josh halted their moving plans. And amazingly, they got their jobs back!

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Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

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LOCAL CONNECTION

Indiana natives, Mariann and Josh met through the speech team at Ball State University. After they finished their bachelor’s degrees in communication studies, they moved to New York to earn master’s degrees in communication and rhetorical studies at Syracuse University. Next, they were set to spend a year in Colombia, South America, thanks to Josh’s Fulbright Award for teaching English. But it was 2020, and the COVID pandemic closed the Fulbright program for the year.

They were in a desperate search for jobs when Mariann got an offer to teach communications at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa. She liked the idea of working at a college that supported a wide variety of students. “I had become disillusioned with what I call ‘capital Mariann and Josh in NICC shirts.

A Academia,’” she / Photo courtesy Josh & Mariann says. “It sometimes felt disconnected from the average person. What I like about community college is that it feels more practical.”

The rural, small-town location made them a bit wary, but a person on her interview committee mentioned nearby Decorah, saying, “There’s a farmers market and art and hiking.” With time on their lease running out, Mariann accepted the NICC position. Josh landed a job with Luther College’s Center for Intercultural Engagement and Support. They headed west to Decorah.

“I’m someone who likes to learn new things, experience new things. I was not sure I would be able to have that in a small town,” says Mariann. Josh also felt some nerves about moving to a more rural community. “Especially being a trans person, I was nervous about if I could be out and open about my identity,” he says. “But seeing the organizations and community groups that existed, and meeting various people really helped me feel safe and secure, able to be my true self.”

They connected with like-minded people through Decorah Pride and Collective Action for Racial Equity. Josh was able to be out at his job and share his experiences as a trans person. They joined an abolitionist book club and took a class at ArtHaus, Decorah’s local artists’ hub. They visited the Decorah Zen Center and the Ryumonji Zen Monastery. They attended a pro wrestling event at Pulpit Rock Brewery. They discovered the hiking trails and learned about the nature that surrounded them. And they found they loved their students and colleagues at NICC and Luther.

GIVING BACK

Soon, they started volunteering and serving in community leadership. Josh served on the Pride Planning Committee and the Decorah Human Rights Commission. He gave presentations on LGBTQ history and pronoun training. Because of his love of teaching, he joined the NICC instructional staff.

Continued on next page

In 2011, founder Kate (Nelson) Rattenborg Scott opened the doors to Dragonfly Books in the heart of downtown Decorah, where it continues to thrive 15 years later. Taking over ownership and operations in 2026 are Kate’s daughters, Sarah Krammen of Decorah (R) and Rachel Rattenborg of Waukon (L).

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PLAY. EXPLORE. GROW. Top: Josh proposing to Mariann at Decorah Pride in 2021. Bottom: They were married in September 2025 and wore their wedding clothes for the Decorah Pride Parade in October 2025. / Photos courtesy Josh & Mariann

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Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

In the past year, he also founded a new grassroots advocacy organization, Decorah Community for Immigrant Rights. “The group has been amazing,” Josh says. “It’s been really wonderful to see different people in the community get involved and grow together as people and as a group. So many different ages and backgrounds are involved. I don’t think that we would have crossed paths outside of this work.”

Mariann is an avid artist, and she quickly moved from volunteering at ArtHaus to joining the board for two terms, most recently becoming its president. “Longevity in a volunteer role like that is hard, but can be really valuable for a nonprofit organization,” she says. “Just being able to see how the ArtHaus organization has evolved so much has been really cool.”

Mariann has been a central figure in organizing the ArtHaus drag show fundraisers, held during the Decorah Pride Festivals. “That has been one of my biggest joys, because it coalesces a lot of my passions together,” she says. “I get to do artsy things, queer things, and have my whole community support it. Every drag show feels like this really special moment where I see all my community members supporting this event, which always sells out. It made me think, yeah, my people are here, and I can do things that I’m passionate about and they are appreciated. And it benefits ArtHaus, which is a great organization.”

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For Mariann and Josh, their careers are another outlet for building community. “Teaching communication, and especially public speaking; that’s an important skill. Honestly, it’s mostly about building your confidence. So, I’m teaching my students how to build their confidence,” says Mariann. “A majority of our students are from farming backgrounds, and I’ve learned so much from them, too.”

“I think relationships are key to teaching, and I think it’s key to everything that we have done,” Josh continues, “Getting to know people, listening to them, hearing their stories, their perspectives and backgrounds has really been transformational.”

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Speaking of relationships, Josh and Mariann’s love story has flourished in Decorah, too, in a way that has benefited not just them but the entire community.

“What is very memorable about my first Decorah Pride [in 2021] is that I proposed to Mariann on stage, in front of the community,” says Josh. “That was really awesome to be able to do. It’s great to hear the impact that it’s made on other people too. I still have people come up to me and say, ‘Oh, you’re that guy who proposed at Pride, right?’ It was really special to be able to just proclaim and share our love story in this community, and it was so welcoming.”

They were married in September 2025 at the Decorah Community Prairie and wore their wedding outfits again when they served as the 2025 Grand Marshals of the Decorah Pride Parade.

Laura Barlament moved to Decorah in 2020 to work for Luther College and, like Josh and Mariann, found ways to get involved in the community — for example, volunteering for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church’s krumkake fundraiser at Nordic Fest.

LEARN MORE

• Mariann’s Balloon Art: Mariann has a business, Twisted by Mariann (find her on Facebook), making balloon art for fairs, festivals, birthdays, local businesses, etc.

• Join the Festivities: The 2026 Decorah Pride Festival is October 6-10. Check decorahpride.org for complete details.

• Learn more about ArtHaus at arthausdecorah.org iloveinspired.com \ Fall 2026

33

Why did the apple go to the gym?

To work on its core.

34

PHOTO BY KARI YEAROUS

“Sugar Loaf in Winona, Minnesota, viewed here from East Lake Winona, is the well-known rocky pinnacle rising 500 feet above the lake. Less widely known is that its shape is the remnant of quarrying at a bluff known as Wapasha’s Cap to the Dakota people. Through the late 1800s, settlers quarried the bluff for Oneota dolomite, leaving the landmark we recognize today,” Kari writes. “As a Decorah girl who now calls Winona home, I am continually drawn to the Driftless landscape around me. Sugar Loaf, with its history shaped by geology and human influence, is a compelling photographic subject any time of year.” See more of Kari’s work at www.winonagifts.com. iloveinspired.com \ Fall 2026

Create Folk Art! Online and In Person!

Registration is open now for new classes through March 2027 at Vesterheim Folk Art School!

For almost 60 years, Vesterheim Folk Art School has been offering handwork classes right here in Decorah, bringing people together to foster a love for the handmade in our local community. Come gather with friends, make new friends from all over, learn new skills, and enjoy making something by hand together! Rosemaling, woodcarving, fiber arts, metalworking, language, Nordic cooking, and more!

Sign up now at vesterheim.org/folk-art-school.

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Impactful EDUCATION

endured, every win claimed e’ve been is full of things we can making learn about ourselves, our Inspire(d) communities, the world, Magazine for 19 years – a and how we want to do vast majority of my adult things next time. life. I was 26 when we So, ultimately, I suppose started, so there have the number one lesson is been a lot of lessons along all about perspective. You the way. About running a can’t see the lessons if you business. Being a mom. (And INTRO & INFOGRAPHIC BY ARYN HENNING NICHOLS haven’t trained your brain to doing both at the same time.) recognize them. Sometimes Writing. Editing. Fostering a I like to take this literally and lie on the ground to think about readership. Connecting with communities. Realizing I still have something or take a walk with my thoughts… you could even to take care of myself. push up into a headstand. Physically looking at the world Some days the learning trickled in. Others, it crested like a 10differently can help pop things into a new perspective mentally foot wave. While the lessons weren’t always appreciated in the (and, depending on what you do – Dancing? Skipping? Hanging moment, I’m grateful I’ve learned to search for a bit of gratitude your head over the bed? – it can feel like a silly exercise, which for these opportunities to grow. shifts the mood as well).

I thought it would be fun to encapsulate 19 lessons we’ve I hope as we embrace this autumn season, you become learned in celebration of our 19th anniversary issue of open to shifting perspectives. I hope you learn to recognize the Inspire(d). The first Inspire(d) Magazine rolled off the presses wonder and beauty of the day-to-day world, because it’s there, October 4, 2007. Of course, there have been WAY more than friends, and it’s in you, too. Thanks for inspiring us for 19 years.

19 things learned in all those years, and that’s really the whole point of this issue. There are lessons everywhere, if you XOXO – Aryn just know how to look. Every challenge met, every hardship

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38

The world is full of kindness. Every day, everywhere. Notice it. Spread it.

6. Kindness is Everywhere

We’re all just trying to live/create a good life.

5. We Are Not That Different (at our cores)

If they’re not doing anything to hurt others, accept them. Be kind.

Show respect

3. Accept Others

Focus on the beauty, even as it lives alongside the terrible.

2. Stay Open to Wonder

Allow yourself to hope and dream.

Believe things can get better (and then work to make them so).

1. Embrace Optimism

19 Lessons We’ve Learned in 19 Years of Inspire(d) Magazine

Impactful EDUCATION

BUT

How boring would it be if we were all the same?

(Weird is a Compliment, IMHO.)

4. Our Differences Make Us Beautiful and Complex

Just put it in a cloud and let it float away.

13. Let the little stuff go

The more you think positive things, the more you’ll see positive things.

You have to be willing to dismantle a system that only serves you. We all have different starting points based on a variety of factors. Try to be generous with your privilege.

15. Equity, not just equality

Set a timer and spend five minutes writing down the things you love about yourself.

14. Love Yourself

Believe in your power.

One of Aryn’s faves...

Take classes. Explore hobbies.

Read (audiobooks count)! Talk about what you’re doing with others!

8. Be a Relentless Learner

We’ve just gotta get out of their way.

7. The Kids Are Alright

These emotions don’t serve you.

How can you better channel them?

What action can you take?

12. No guilt. No worry. No regret.

Instead of all of nothing, go for an “all or something” mindset. Need a reset?

Do a physical activity.

11. Take breaks, but don’t give up

And it goes hand-in-hand with physical health.

10. Mental Health Matters

Constantly evaluate how your time is spent.

Course-correct to fit your values/goals.

9. Put Down Your Phone

Now let’s go change the world!

If you can’t find your community, see if you can create it.

19. We Are All Seeking Connection

And don’t let that curiosity expire. Wondering about something?

Look it up, ask about it, explore before your curiosity fades.

18. Stay Curious

Be courageous with your enthusiasm and joy.

17. Love loudly

Small steps forward are still steps forward!

16. Progress is Progress

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39

HOW TO LEARN FROM EMBRACE and EXPERIENCE CHANGE Mental health counselor Olivia Lynn Schnur helps us reflect on life lessons.

BY OLIVIA LYNN SCHNUR MA, LMHC, LPC, CYT-200

T

he seasons are shifting once more.

The bluffs will shine with brilliant red, gold, and orange hues. Then the leaves will eventually fall and create a delicious scent of decay in the crisp autumn air. It’s a routine we rely on; a predictable sort of change.

Change is one of the few constants in life, but it’s not always easy to recognize when it’s happening within our own minds. We often think of our personalities, thoughts, feelings, and beliefs as fixed, but they’re not. Like the leaves, we are ever evolving in response to changes in our environment.

How can we learn to acknowledge these shifts, and find the life lessons in our experiences? A lot of that comes down to learning who you are (and are not).

YOUR ‘BIG FIVE’ PERSONALITY TRAITS

In psychological research, we often see personalities distilled down into five core traits, referred to as the “Big Five” personality traits. They are: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (OCEAN).

We all have some aspect of each of the Big Five personality traits.

Knowing whether you score high or low in each domain can help you understand your unique personality strengths and potential challenges. Below are just a few examples to help you get an idea of where you land.

As you read, keep in mind that scoring high or low on any personality trait is neither good nor bad; it’s just where you are right now.

•Openness to Experience Openness to experience represents your desire to seek out novel ideas, experiences, and connections. You likely score high in this domain if you enjoy conversations, cultures, and experiences that challenge your perspective. You probably enjoy novelty in the form of travel, learning, or creativity. You embrace growth and change but may struggle with routine and the more mundane aspects of life.

If you score low in openness to experience, you probably appreciate stability and predictability. Meeting others who 40

Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

share your values and beliefs can feel comforting. You might enjoy the status quo and see no reason to change.

However, you’ll want to be careful not to get stuck in a rut or too set in your ways.

• Conscientiousness Consciousnesses represents your attention to detail, responsibility, and productivity. If you are highly conscientiousness, you’re likely a selfstarter, organized, and efficient. You follow through with commitments and can work at a steady pace. But you may need to keep perfectionism and a desire for order in check.

If you fall within the lower levels of conscientiousness, you may be more spontaneous and impulsive. You likely thrive in flexible and fast-paced environments but may struggle with procrastination or task completion.

• Extroversion Scoring high in extroversion means you gain energy from others (AKA: you’re extroverted). You’re more likely to seek out social interactions, work well in lively and engaging environments, and enjoy sharing space and ideas with others.

If you score low in extroversion (AKA: you’re introverted), you recharge by spending time alone. You may enjoy being with others, but too much social interaction drains your energy. You’re more likely to enjoy solitary work and quiet environments.

• Agreeableness The domain of agreeableness looks at your preferences around cooperation, teamwork, social cohesion, and flexibility. If you’re highly agreeable, you’re more likely to set aside your own preferences for the good of a group, trying to find compromises and solutions that feel good for everyone. However, you’ll want to be careful not to fall into people-pleasing habits.

If you score lower in agreeableness you might be more independent, prioritizing your own needs and feelings instead of compromising. If this is you, you may work better in competitive environments that require making difficult decisions. However, being too independent or self-focused can make relationships more difficult.

• Neuroticism Neuroticism represents your level of sensitivity and emotional stability. High scorers in this domain might struggle to regulate emotions or experience a broad range of emotional fluctuations within a shorter period of time. You likely feel your emotions deeply and may find joy in expressing them through art or writing.

Those high in neuroticism will likely benefit from working with a therapist to ensure your emotional sensitivity does not lead to rumination, excessive worry, or instability in relationships.

If you score low in neuroticism, you might perceive yourself as calm, resilient, or capable of managing your emotions. This can help you experience greater stability in relationships and sense of self, but it may also lead to difficulties expressing empathy or sensitivity.

HOW PERSONALITIES CHANGE

Although our personalities are relatively stable, they can change with age and experience. Many of us will develop higher conscientious and more agreeableness in adulthood as we navigate changing roles in our work, family, and community. Furthermore, we tend to build greater resiliency and emotional stability with age – therefore reducing levels of neuroticism.

If you find you’re wanting a little change or growth in your life, practicing openness can help. People with high levels of openness to experience (the first domain we discussed) are often well-suited to learn from their experiences. Even if you’re quite low in this domain, there are times when you might benefit by remaining more open. You simply need to understand how and when it would be most beneficial to you. Wherever you fall on the scale, start by setting aside expectations and judgements when confronted with the unknown. See the worksheet following this article for ideas on increasing your openness to experiences.

HOW THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND BELIEFS CAN KEEP YOU STUCK

Sometimes we get stuck. We say things like, “this is just who I am,” or “that’s the way I’ve always done things.” We can also get caught up in our feelings and confuse them with our personality; “I’m just a sad person,” or “I’m an impatient person.”

This is called cognitive fusion; it occurs when we mistakenly fuse who we are with what we think, feel, or believe. It can cause us to place too much weight on passing thoughts and feelings and forget that we have control over our actions.

Your thoughts, feelings, or beliefs will shift and bend in response to life. The harder we try to hold onto them or build our sense of self around them, the more confused we will become.

So, who are we, really? The practice of cognitive defusion (the opposite of cognitive fusion) can help you explore your sense of self.

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330 MAIN ST ONALASKA

PRACTICE COGNITIVE DEFUSION

Cognitive defusion is a concept that allows us to create space between our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. Derived from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which uses mindfulness and acceptance strategies, cognitive defusion helps us to see that our sense of self is more constant than our fleeting thoughts or feelings. This can be especially helpful for people with anxiety, depression, obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD), or those who often find themselves distressed by their thoughts.

In cognitive defusion, therapists use a variety of techniques to help clients create distance between themselves and their thoughts. One is to label thoughts using the phrase, “I am having the thought that…” So, for example, someone crippled by the belief, “I will fail,” can swap it out with, “I am having the thought that I will fail.” Do you see the distance this subtle shift creates? Try it out with a thought that causes you distress.

You can also practice cognitive defusion with an exercise called “leaves on a stream.” Imagine your thoughts and feelings floating by. You do not need to attach meaning or analyze them. Just allow them to pass by like leaves on a stream.

Notice how you are the observer. You are the person who has those thoughts, feelings, and beliefs – but they are not you. Who you are is much more stable and ever-present.

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As you notice your thoughts, you might observe a pattern of negativity. This is called a negativity bias, and it is fairly common. Our minds often seek out worst-case-scenarios in an effort to keep us safe. You can disrupt this pattern with something called cognitive reappraisal.

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Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

People with a fixed mindset struggle to see how malleable their minds are. They resist challenge and fear failure because they believe it is permanent.

A growth mindset reflects the belief that change is possible with effort. People with growth mindsets embrace failure because they view it as an opportunity to learn.

They understand that situations are not fixed. They recognize that hard moments don’t equate to a hard life.

Therapists often use a strategy called reframing – which means changing your perspective of a situation to find new emotional depth, meaning, or potential for growth. Practice a growth mindset by reframing hardships as temporary situations that resolve with time and effort. When life gets hard, train your brain to search for silver linings.

Failure is just proof that you tried. What can you learn from it? Try again and let that lesson guide you.

A NOTE ON GROWTH

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When you notice a negative thought, take a moment to reflect. Is there another way to view the situation? Ideally, you’ll walk away with a more balanced, neutral, or even positive outlook.

When we look back on challenging moments in life, it can be easy to find regret or grief. Realizing that we may have misjudged a situation, reacted poorly, or missed out on an opportunity can be difficult to face. As you reflect on difficult moments, allow yourself to feel whatever comes up, but don’t get stuck there. Mine those moments for life lessons you can apply moving forward.

Remember, a therapist can help you explore your past in a safe and contained space – especially when it comes to working through trauma or complex grief.

Psychology has given us so many strategies to help us learn from our experiences – cognitive defusion, cognitive reappraisal, reframing, or practicing a growth mindset can help. That said, your personality, beliefs, and thinking patterns took a lifetime to develop.

Change rarely happens overnight.

Learning to embrace failure and overcome hardships is not easy, and our feelings often take time to process. It can seem impossible to find silver linings when we’re in the thick of our emotions. A therapist can help you process your experiences and eventually find meaning and growth along the way.

The more you learn about who you are (and are not), the easier it becomes to bend and flex in response to the world around you – without losing yourself along the way.

Olivia Lynn Schnur has a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist. Olivia is also a Certified Yoga Teacher and Reiki Master. You can learn more about Olivia at oliviaschnur.com

LEARNING TO BE MORE OPEN Being more open to experience can help you open your mind and learn from life. Explore this in a way that works with your personality. The point is to experiment with change. Try on a new experience and see how it feels. What are you hoping to learn? How would you like to grow? Here are a few prompts to get you started:

LEARN MENTALLY

Travel to another culture, learn a new language, or watch a movie with a main character from another culture.

Try to explore a way of life that shakes up your expectations about how the world operates. Write your ideas here: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

LEARN SOCIALLY

Seek out perspectives that challenge your own. Strike up a conversation with someone new or read a book where the main character is vastly different from you in race, gender, religion, or class. If you’re a liberal, attend a Republican event; and vice versa. See what happens when you interact with others outside of your comfort zone with the goal of understanding their perspective. Write potential opportunities here: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

LEARN SPIRITUALLY

Challenge your beliefs. Remember: The goal isn’t necessarily to change what you believe, just open up to new or other views on the larger meaning of life. You can practice this by attending a religious service that differs from your own or trying a new method of communing with your own higher power (like prayer, meditation, chanting, or group study). Finding new ways to connect with nature or conservation groups can also be a great spiritual exploration. Write your experiments here: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

LEARN PHYSICALLY

Your body is capable of learning, just like your mind. Practice new styles of movement and notice any emotional or physical shifts in experience. If you’re typically high energy, try slowing down with yoga, tai chi, or mindful stillness. Alternatively, find ways to safely pick up the pace if you enjoy a more sedentary life – hike, run, dance, or play. Write your goals here: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ iloveinspired.com \ Fall 2026

43

PERFECTION IS AN LISTENING TO THE NEXT GENERATION ILLUSION

BY ROXIE NICHOLS, AGE 14

I

’ve lived 14 years and have had many experiences and learned many things, a lot of which can’t completely be subjected to words. However, a big lesson I’ve picked up on lately is how nothing will ever be perfect.

In the society we live in, there are a lot of unrealistic, “perfect” stereotypes. But things are constantly changing and so is the picture of “perfect” in everyone’s eyes. That person you saw online or at school or work who is living your dream with a perfect appearance and a perfect job and perfect friends and a perfect life most likely isn’t experiencing perfection. That person might not actually enjoy their appearance and is constantly striving to change things about themselves. They might hate their job and struggle to find the energy to get out of bed and go to work in the morning. Their friends might argue and complain about each other behind their backs. No one wants to show others the bad stuff in their lives, and this creates the illusion of perfection. They’re not really living a perfect life.

For me, I love to run and sing. I might see someone running on the trail, going super fast looking like they must have been running for their whole lives and think, “Wow, that shows a lot of dedication and strength”.

But maybe they’re thinking, “I can’t afford to lose another race.” Or perhaps that singer who has been amazingly successful in life and has millions of dollars and millions of fans who adore them, can’t handle the stress of the industry any longer.

There are things people don’t want others to see in fear of judgment or scrutiny, and this creates the illusion of perfection.

What I’m trying to say here is that there will always be someone who is trying to be a different “perfect” than they already are. Striving for perfection will lead you in circles and squares and octagons but will never be an attainable goal. They say “practice makes perfect,” but practice makes progress.

The difference between the two is that progress is a constant, and perfection is an illusion. This lesson could be implemented into so many different situations and examples and has been for me.

I’ve recently been trying to teach myself to accept imperfection and learn that comparison and judgement aren’t the right way to gauge what is good and what isn’t. It’s difficult for me to see the people around me struggle with lack of perfection and doubt themselves and how they look and act. Especially as a teenage girl (but also as a teenage boy and other teenage people), it’s so hard to feel good about yourself when it seems like someone else fits the perfect, unrealistic stereotypes that have been formed over many, many years of unrealistic expectations.

Hearing someone talk about their beautiful body in a bad way hurts my heart, especially when it’s a friend or someone I know. So, I hope I can continue accepting and bettering myself and helping others to do the same, loving our whole selves and all other beings around us, always. Progress and change are better things to recognize than this illusion of perfection that invades many minds. Success is not reaching perfection, it is continuing to grow, change, and learn, and do the best one can every day.

Roxie Nichols (daughter of Inspire(d)’s Aryn and Benji) is an eighth-grader at Decorah Middle School. She enjoys spending time with friends and being outside camping and hiking.

We created Future Focused, a regular Inspire(d) column written by pre-teens and teens, to help give the next generation an opportunity to share their voices. During the school year, we partner with Dana Hogan, the Extended Learning Program teacher at Decorah Middle School, for student submissions. For the Fall Inspire(d), our daughter, Roxie, writes a piece.

You can read all the Future Focused pieces published so far at iloveinspired.com/category/future-focused.

Here’s to Listening to the Next Generation! - Aryn

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Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

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step-by-step instructions at ILOVEINSPIRED.COM iloveinspired.com \ Fall 2026

45

GROWING SEEDS (AND COMMUNITY) FOR PEACE

Phonnaphat Khamphinit, known as QQ, with plants ready to go in the ground for the Growing Seeds for Peace demonstration farm in Ban Prue Yai, Thailand. / Photo courtesy Growing Seeds for Peace

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Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

BY NIAMH MEE

A

pproximately 8,500 miles away from the Driftless Region sits a town called Ban Prue Yai in the Khukhan District of Thailand. It is home to 20 villages, with 2,505 households dotted along the gently undulating hills of the Khorat Plateau.

Despite its fertile floodplain landscape, this region struggles with poverty and limited access to nutritious food.

Phonnaphat Khamphinit, who goes by the name QQ, pronounced cue-cue, is a junior at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, but as a child, she would visit her grandparents in Ban Prue Yai, where her father grew up.

“Every time I went there, I struggled with eating, even when I was a little kid,” QQ says. “It is really hard to access food. People mostly rely on only what they can grow at home.”

The average household income in this region of Thailand is $1,789 per year, and the primary occupation is rice farming. Farmers only make money during the harvest season, and rice prices tend to be insufficient to support a family. Commonly, working-age adults move to larger cities in search of economic opportunity, leaving their children, and their farms, in the care of elderly relatives. Children have limited access to education, and are at risk of undernutrition.

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QQ saw these issues during visits to Ban Prue Yai and wanted to do something about it. She created a plan for a community farming initiative and submitted it for a Projects for Peace grant. Her project, Growing Seeds for Peace, was selected as one of the 2026 winners of a $10,000 grant.

Projects for Peace is a global program that funds undergraduate students who are pursuing innovative, scalable, and communitycentered projects that address the root causes of conflict around the globe. The late internationalist and philanthropist Kathryn W. Davis founded Projects for Peace in 2007, celebrating her 100th birthday by supporting 100 Projects for Peace. This launched an effort to “bring about a mindset of preparing for peace, instead of preparing for war.” The grant is open to all undergraduate students currently enrolled at one of the Davis United World College Scholars Program partner schools. Since its establishment in 2007, Projects for Peace has funded more than 2,200 initiatives, and students from Luther College have been the recipients of 27 of these grants, supporting projects in more than 25 countries.

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QQ and team cut bamboo and built a vegetable trellis for the demonstration farm. At right, a micropond is situated in the middle of the farm.

The mission statement of QQ’s Growing Seeds for Peace project is to create “a model of sustainable agriculture that inspires rural communities to learn, share, and shift mindsets toward self-reliance, while cultivating positive peace through food security and shared responsibility in connection with the land.”

QQ sees the project as addressing three facets of peace: social, environmental, and economic. Social: Farming is a tool for peacebuilding through collective action and shared responsibility.

Villagers work together, contributing the skills or tools they have, for the eventual return of the farm’s harvest for the community.

Environmental: In using diversified crops along rice bunds, QQ hopes to improve soil health and food diversity, as well as reduce dependence on a singular seasonal rice harvest. Economic: Ideally,

the community will experience greater economic stability, which will prevent some of the out-migration and family separation that divides the community.

So, in the summer of 2026, QQ spent five weeks in Thailand, working with villagers and schoolchildren to create the first Growing Seeds for Peace demonstration farm. The farm was established on one rai of land, which is 0.4 acres, provided by QQ’s family. Following the Khok Nong Na model, it includes a micro-pond, mixed crops, and small livestock like chickens and fish. (Khok means mound, nong means pond, and na means rice field.)

Promoted by King Rama IX after the 1997 Asian economic crisis, the Khok Nong Na model is designed to shift agricultural practices away from revenue driven corporate mono-cropping, and towards

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self-sustainable economy. This integrated farming system is similar to permaculture design, and agroforestry. Farms are divided into proportionate sections of water, horticultural forest, rice paddies, and living space. The Khok Nong Na model has been present in Thailand for many years, but debt, agrochemical lobbyists, and the cost of transitioning from a mono-cropping system have prevented farmers from fully embracing the model. Recognizing its value, the Thai government has now started to create regional grant programs for Khok Nong Na farming, and schools of all levels are required to integrate the model within their curriculum.

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Students learn about the project. / Photo courtesy Growing Seeds for Peace

QQ’s project is based around the school in Ban Prue Yai, which serves children from kindergarten through ninth grade. In the first phase of Growing Seeds for Peace, QQ met with the school and villagers to fully understand community needs, like preferred crops and lunch shortages. Community members and students worked to build the farm together: preparing the soil, constructing rice bunds, and choosing mixed crops that fit their diet.

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Students get hands-on learning when they visit the Growing Seeds for Peace farm. / Photo courtesy Growing Seeds for Peace

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Coordinated visits with the local school will integrate curriculum like planting vegetables, saving seeds, and making compost.

Harvests will be shared with the school for their lunch program, and community members will benefit from extra harvests. Villagers can also observe the functionality of mixed crop bunds and micro-pond and explore the possibilities of their home farms.

“The younger kids helped mix the soil and plant smaller vegetables, while the older students helped with more challenging jobs like digging holes, planting bigger trees, and learning how the water system worked” QQ says. “Every job mattered, so everyone played an important role.”

With the money from the Projects for Peace grant, Growing Seeds for Peace was also able to pay villagers to help build the farm, circulating additional income within the community. More than 20 villagers and 50 students actively participated. It was an opportunity for problem solving and education for all the people involved, QQ included.

Chickens (and eggs) add diversity to the farm’s output. / Photo courtesy Growing Seeds for Peace

“Sometimes I didn’t know the names of certain plants, but the students did, so we ended up teaching each other,” QQ says. “It felt like we were all putting together different pieces of a puzzle. It was a little chaotic because they were young and super excited to try everything, but that made it even more fun. At the end, I went over everything we had done together, and I realized they had actually learned a lot. I hope they’ll be able to take what they learned back home and maybe even use some of those ideas with their families.”

After digging a micro-pond, preparing the soil and land, constructing an animal stall, tool shed, vegetable plots, and a food pantry, QQ and her team also planted banana, papaya, guava, and mango trees. They added bamboo shoots, as well as Chinese kale, lettuce, and herbs. Then they stocked the pond with fish and added chickens to the micro-farm.

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“It was my first time building a vegetable trellis, cutting wood, and cutting bamboo. Other people learned how to mix nutrient-rich soil, take care of the fish, and understand how the water system works,” QQ says. “That was one of the best parts of the project: We were all learning from each other. It made me really happy to see everyone laughing, smiling, and having fun while we worked.”

QQ looks forward to seeing how the project progresses in the future.

“I hope to see all the fruit trees fully grown and producing a harvest every year,” QQ says. “I hope the farm can continue to provide food for the community and eventually be able to support other people beyond the first group of participants. In the future, I would also love to develop the farm into a smart farm by using technology to make farming more efficient and sustainable. My dream is for this project to become a long-term community space that not only grows food, but also creates learning opportunities, supports local families, and inspires other communities to build something similar.”

The farm will be managed by QQ’s father, an engineer-turnedfarmer, along with a committee composed of school community members, villagers, and a student representative. Eventually, QQ plans to partner with United World College (UWC) Thailand, a school QQ attended before coming to Luther. UWC Thailand is in a global network of schools and colleges that aims to promote intercultural understanding. Students from UWC schools participate in an annual experiential learning week, and QQ plans to have them visit the Growing Seeds for Peace farm to participate in farm maintenance, learn about farming, and bring new ideas and hands-on support to further meet the needs of the community.

On top of the Projects for Peace grant, QQ took on a research project about rice policy and farmer equity in the Asia-Pacific region this summer. She also received a Steen Fellowship, which supports

student-led investigative research projects that relate to their field of study. QQ investigated how rice policy designs across several AsiaPacific nations can affect economic risk and opportunity for smallscale rice farmers. After finishing her degree in political science and international studies at Luther in 2028, QQ eventually hopes to work as a policy analyst at the United Nations.

QQ looks forward to seeing Growing Seeds Growing Seeds for for Peace progress into the future.

Peace is a project / Photo courtesy Growing Seeds for Peace rooted in agriculture, but QQ hopes that it can grow into a space that welcomes people from backgrounds beyond agriculture, allowing an entire community to find a sense of belonging. She believes that human connection and understanding are essential to the process of healing divisions.

“I see this farm as more than just a place to grow food,” QQ says.

“I want it to become a space where people can come together, spend time with one another, and naturally interact. To me, that is a real form of peace by creating a place where people feel connected, supported, and part of a community.”

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SUM BUSINESS OF YOUR

INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURS IN THE DRIFTLESS

HILLARY & DANE DIEDE BLOSSOM of HILL ORCHARD

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Fall 2026 / iloveinspired.com

Baked goods are a specialty at Blossom Hill Orchard (and apples, of course)! / Photos courtesy Blossom Hill

INTERVIEW & INTRO BY BENJI NICHOLS

B

right, crispy, field-fresh apples are the stuff of fall. Fresh baked turnovers, a perfectly browned lace crust apple pie slice, and a golden-hued afternoon are all part of what make apple orchards a special place in our book! Hillary and Dane Diede foster exactly this kind of fall haven at Blossom Hill Orchard in Preston, Minnesota.

It was a “Triumph” that, even with roots in Rochester, Minnesota, these orchard keepers found their “First Kiss” in Colorado. Though they graduated from the same high school, they didn’t get to know each other until they were both spending time in Colorado after college and educational pursuits. Call it a “SweeTango” of the Universe that brought the two together a thousand miles from home (OK, we also promise to let up on the apple variety puns…).

Dane attended the University of Minnesota, and during his time in Colorado, he “really put that history degree to work,” taking a job on a vegetable farm. After his first season he was hooked and knew that growing good food for people was his passion. Hillary attended the Apicius School of International Hospitality in Florence, Italy, where she earned a culinary degree before returning to the states and working in restaurants in both Rochester and Colorado.

Fast forward to a chance opportunity when a small orchard just outside of Preston came up for sale. The couple jumped, Hillary and Dane at Blossom Hill Orchard. / Photo courtesy Blossom Hill purchased the property in 2015, and dove in – first living in a fifth wheel camper on the property that spring, getting married in June, and closing on the property in July. The learning curve was real, and the challenges stacked, but the young couple was up for it!

A thousand early morning Farmer’s Market starts later, throw in a couple kiddos, a whole bunch of community involvement, countless 50lb bags of popcorn, a little “Pazazz” (sorry we can’t give it up) and what you have is an absolute “Keepsake” of a family-run apple orchard.

Blossom Hill Orchard grows over 30 varieties of apples, including First Kiss, B-51, SweeTango, Triumph, Kudos, Evercrisp, and Honeycrisp. The retail shop and (awesome!) bakery holds fresh apples, as well as local jams, cider, maple syrup, and honey from bees that are kept in their orchard to help pollinate apple blossoms each spring. The bakery showcases Hillary’s decades of restaurant experience, with an assortment of delicious, freshly baked pies, turnovers, muffins, kolaches, and more. (Benji says the caramel apples can substitute an entire magazine distro run lunch, well, maybe with a chocolate chip cookie as well.) The Blossom Hill shop also has a variety of local gifts like handmade soap, pottery, candles, and more.

To top it off, this sweet family has ramped up the regular fall fun with their annual “Apple Jam” music festival and celebration – October 3rd this year, with five bands, fresh brews, delicious food, and All the Fall Feels! Do not drive by without stopping the next time you are going by on Highway 52, just south of downtown Preston.

The Basics: Name: Dane and Hillary Diede Age: 41 Business: Blossom Hill Orchard Year Business Established: July 2015 Business address: 645 highway 52 east Preston MN Website: blossomhillapples.com

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1. Tell us about the “leap” moment. When/how did you decide to jump in and become your own boss?

In 2014 we found out the apple orchard just outside of Preston was for sale, and we started pursuing the opportunity immediately.

Dane was working at a vegetable farm, and Hillary was a chef at a restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado.

2. What’s the best thing about being your own boss?

Taking chances on different ideas and having those ideas turn into something really great. Not having anyone breathing down our neck.

Creating our own path in life.

3. How about the worst?

When one of those ideas we had doesn’t work and loses money after putting blood sweat and tears into it.

4. Was there ever a hurdle where you just thought, “I can’t do this?” How did you overcome it?

The first few years were tough.

We lost the crop our second and fourth years owning the orchard due to late frosts and hail. After the second time losing Blossom Hill grows over 30 varieties of apples. the crop, we / Photos courtesy Blossom Hill knew something had to change, and that is when we partnered up with another orchard in Lake City, Minnesota. This helped to spread out risk and ensure another source of revenue for the farm.

5. Any mentors/role models you look to/have looked to?

Dane has always looked up to his former bosses at the farm he worked at in Fort Collins – Nic and Katie – for their dedication to their farm and their insane work ethic. Chuck Bremer (long time orchard owner in Lake City, Minnesota), has been instrumental in mentoring Dane in growing apples.

Hillary’s former employer at ZZest in Rochester, Leeann Zubay, is always someone Hillary has looked up to. Also Cynthia Daube – original owner of Daube’s bakery and the restaurant in Rochester, as well as Jaspers – had a huge influence on Hillary, which also made her decide to go to Culinary School.

6. What’s the one thing you wish you had known before you started?

How to grow apples! Seriously.

Dane knew how to grow 50 different types of vegetables, how hard could apples be? Turns out, hard! Very hard.

The learning curve is steep, with many tasks in the orchard.

We get one shot a year and if timing is off or whatever, the damage to the crop can be significant.

Also, how to run a business. We knew that this business could work but had never run a business before, we were learning as we went and we are still learning.

7. How do you manage your life/ work balance?

We try to make it a point to not work on Top: Caramel apples are a fan favorite (Benji agrees!). Bottom: The Diede family poses for a the weekends and keep photo. / Photos courtesy Blossom Hill that time for family.

Sometimes, though, there are things that need to get done. We also have a much lighter workload in the winter so that gives us much needed time to rest up from a busy season.

8. What keeps you inspired?

The future. We know there is so much more that we want to accomplish.

Don’t miss the Apple Jam at Blossom Hill Orchard More Bands, More Beer and More Apples!

October 3, 2026, 12-9:30 pm Grab your friends, bring the family, and get ready for a day packed with live music, local food and drinks, kid friendly activities, and tons of apples!

Pistol Whippin’ Party Penguins are headlining, the Little Dipper Sauna will be on site with slots available to be booked in advance, and Los Padrinos food truck will serve up the best Mexican food in the area. Blossom Hill Bakery will be open until 9 pm serving slices of pie, ice cream sandwiches, charcuterie boxes, and more, and there will also be another food stand serving brats and hotdogs.

Mark your calendars and then get tickets in advance at www.eventbrite.com (search Apple Jam).

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Artwork by Mary Thompson

SOUTHERN WINGS

BY CRAIG THOMPSON • ARTWORK BY MARY THOMPSON

“Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.” From Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

A

s summer wanes and the goldenrods begin to flower, shortening days give rise to physiological changes in birds, too. Migratory species become restless, increase food uptake, and add layers of fat in anticipation of the most demanding and perilous event of their peripatetic lives – migration.

Then, responding to internal cues and prevailing weather conditions, they leave their breeding grounds for warmer climes. Their numbers are legion. It is estimated up to five billion birds depart Canada’s vast boreal forest every fall. Sweeping southward on a broad front, they’re joined by hundreds of millions more from the United States. It is a spectacle of global proportions, rivaling even the great wildebeest migration of Africa’s Serengeti.

For songbirds, fall migration is a leisurely affair, notable for its silence when compared to the high-octane vocalizations of inbound spring migrants. It is dominated by somber-plumed birds. Most species of warblers trade their sparkling spring duds for subdued greens and browns, the equivalent of avian khakis.

Many, like the canopy dwelling Cerulean Warbler and the incessantly musical Red-eyed Vireo, will spend two months traveling to their ancestral wintering grounds in South America. Others, like the tuxedoed Rose-breasted Grosbeak, will abbreviate their autumnal journeys, avoiding the rigors of a frigid winter by settling in tropical forests extending from Guatemala to Panama.

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Landbird migration in the Driftless peaks by mid-September with the passage of glittering hummingbirds and a vanguard of warblers, vireos, grosbeaks, and orioles. Earth-toned northern thrushes – Hermit, Swainson’s, and Gray-cheeked – depart by early October. Hungry hawks and falcons quietly trail the flocks, snatching unsuspecting migrators along the way.

Brown-hued sparrows comprise the rear guard, flitting south by late October.

The waterbirds’ migration follows suit.

Blue-winged Teal, one of the smallest North American ducks, and Wood Ducks, perhaps the gaudiest, begin arriving on the Mississippi River en masse by early September. They beat a hasty retreat southward

by October, just as the dabbling ducks – so named for their habit of sticking their heads under water to feed while their tails point skyward – begin to arrive. The roster of “dabblers” includes Mallards, Northern Pintails, Gadwall, and American Widgeon, all of which gather in large congregations known as rafts to fatten on aquatic plants, insects, and snails until cold weather pushes them south of the snowline. Diving ducks – Canvasbacks, Redheads, Ringnecked Ducks, goldeneye, and mergansers – are made of tougher stuff. They arrive throughout October, just ahead of cold, Canadian air masses. While feeding, they submerge completely, sometimes diving to depths of 30 feet to plumb the river for fish, aquatic invertebrates (snails, mussels, and crayfish), and plant tubers. They remain on the river until November ice forces their departure.

Fall migration ends with a literal splash as flocks of snow-white Tundra Swans arrive from arctic breeding grounds by early November. Their enormity – five feet long from bill to tail with a six-foot wingspan – contributes to the spectacle of swan migration. Up to 45 percent of North America’s eastern population of Tundra Swans stages (i.e. stops to rest and feed) on the Upper Mississippi River every year. It’s possible to see 10,000 or more these beautiful birds in a single day. Their Tundra Swans collective vocalizations add a delightful sonic / Creative Commons dimension to fall migration. As with diving ducks, river ice sends them packing, all the way to the East Coast’s Chesapeake Bay for winter. Until they depart, Reick’s Lake Park north of Alma, Wisconsin, and the Brownsville Wildlife Overlook, south of Brownsville, Minnesota, offer excellent swan viewing opportunities.

This autumn, as you’re putting your gardens to bed for the season, consider the miracle of fall migration. And before Old Man Winter sets up shop, head over to the big river to delight in a “swandezvous.”

Mary and Craig Thompson live in the bluffs north of La Crosse. On moonlit nights in November, they enjoy bundling up and heading outside to hear the ancient calls of migrating swans.

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ow cool is the Driftless? Mighty cool, especially if you decide to do some fall hiking. You not only have fairer weather (and fewer bugs) as you hike, but also a feast of colors for the first half of the season. As a bonus, you can continue to hike well into November and see sights that are usually hidden from view due to thick forest growth.

THE COLOR!

Fall color is one of the big draws for autumn hiking. Here in the Driftless, reds, oranges, purples, and yellows climb up the area’s steep bluffs. This means any trail, whether flat and low or high along blufftop rims, affords unparalleled views of the changing leaves.

Those who come from flatter areas marvel at the vertical palette of colors reaching above the river.

With shorter days and cooler temperatures, leaves begin their long goodbye in a truly spectacular fashion. Trees with orange and yellow pigments formed by carotenoids have colors that have been masked by the green chlorophyll during spring and summer. As fall begins, chlorophyll production slows and stops and yellow and orange begin to appear. For trees with red and purple leaf pigments (anthocyanins) that color is produced in fall when leaf cells start building up in the stem, trapping sugars. Those sugars bring on the color. In years with abundant rain, the colors tend to be more brilliant; drought can dull the vibrancy. Frost will also hasten sugar production resulting in brighter hues.

The best part of Driftless fall hiking is that you can shift your outings from north to south locations to catch peak seasonal color.

Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa all have “color-finding” sites that keep you updated on where colors are peaking. They can be a huge help in deciding on your hiking destinations.

ONCE LEAVES ARE GONE

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Don’t let bare trees put an end to your hikes. Late October into November is migration season for many waterfowl including tundra and trumpeter swans. These birds are in no rush to reach their wintering grounds in contrast to spring migration when birds are speeding towards their summer nesting grounds. You can access a

number of overlook and wetlands hikes along the Mississippi River to enjoy their raucous company and flyovers.

The second half of autumn is also a great time to do some bluff hiking, and not just because the cooler temperatures beckon you to climb sweat-free. You can see amazing rock formations that have been hidden by brush and leaves and wide-open vistas and river views. Plus, a clearer forest floor lets you see more of the colorful fall fungi that fruit in damp weather.

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HUNTING SEASON SAFETY

The Driftless has a number of hunting seasons for waterfowl and game in autumn. With a few commonsense precautions, you can be safe and enjoy all that autumn hiking has to offer.

• Wear neon blaze colors (orange, pink, yellow) hats, jackets, light vests help hunters see you.

• Know your state’s hunting seasons – you can find the seasons on your state’s DNR website.

• Pick destinations where there is no hunting – check whether the public land is posted for hunting. During your state’s deer gun hunting seasons, explore trails in nearby states with different gun season dates.

• Respect closed trail signs on public lands – the trail you want to hike may be near private land. These closures are temporary until hunting season ends.

• Stay on trails – hunters are aware of trail locations and usually avoid them. This is not the time to bushwhack.

• Respect hunters – if you come upon hunters, be courteous by hiking quietly as you share space. Many have been waiting silently for many long hours and your respect is appreciated.

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Here are some trails that can give you great autumn views whether you stay on low accessible trails or climb up to blufftop rims. Trails designated as family-friendly are very accessible and feature gentler slopes, less overall elevation and are safer in general.

Apple Blossom Overlook Park (MN) – With one of the highest overlooks on the upper Mississippi River, this Winona County park recently opened even more vistas with judicious logging (familyfriendly). 169 County Hwy 1, Dakota, MN Mt. Hosmer (IA) – Take the screamingly-fun hairpin turns up to this city park for great views along the rim or challenge yourself on any of the trails (family-friendly). End of N. 6th St, Lansing, IA Grandad Bluff (WI) – This iconic overlook features tree-canopied city, bluff, and river views. There are many trails below the bluffs from easy to challenging (family-friendly). 2020 Grandad Bluff Road, La Crosse, WI Community Prairie and Butterfly Garden (IA) – This very accessible set of prairie trails on mown grass is a riot of fall plants surrounded by tall tree-covered rock formations. (4 Ohio St, Decorah, IA) For extra fun, head up to Phelps Park (613 Park St, Decorah, IA) and walk along the CCC- built stonework trails for views of the Upper Iowa River and this prairie below (both trails family-friendly).

Hiking in blaze orange at Levis / Trow Mounds. / Photo by Nola Larson

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Magelssen Park (MN) – Hike up to the top or simply drive to the blufftop park and walk along the rim to catch the views (familyfriendly)! GPS: N43 48.841, W91 45.730 on Winona St for hiking trails; Magelssen Drive off Hwy 30 for the park rim trails

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Fall hikers. / Photo by Marge Loch-Wouters

Levis Trow Mounds (WI) – This complex of shared-use hiking/ biking trails takes you up to the mound rims that give incredible views of the forests below. A true color delight. N1589 Fisher Ave, Neillsville, WI 44.47676, -90.72377 Marge Loch-Wouters is a Minnesota Master Naturalist and avid hiker living in La Crescent MN. Her Hiking the Driftless Trails blog follows the changing seasons and encourages everyone to get out in nature, no matter one’s age or condition.

Scan this QR code to check out Marge’s blog and some great hiking trails in the Driftless!

STATE FALL COLOR TRACKERS

Wisconsin: travelwisconsin.com/fall-color-report Minnesota: dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors Iowa: iowadnr.gov/programs-services/forestry-resources/fall-color-report

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PROBITUARY – A NOTICE OF LIFE!

Elliott Christen

Interviewed by daughter Jana Albers

E

lliott Christen was born in Ridgeway, Iowa, in November of 1933 – 93 years ago! His family moved to Decorah, and he went to a one room schoolhouse through eighth grade. Elliott graduated from Decorah High School in 1951. Fun fact, he also played quarterback in high school but was the backup, as the legendary Jerry Reichow (who went on to play nine years in the NFL) was the starter. Elliott graduated from Luther College in 1955 where he majored in speech. He then worked with Ken Bjerke at KDEC Radio. He also served in the US Army from 1955-57. Bev Halverson and Elliott were married in 1958, just before he returned to Luther to earn his teaching degree – a career that would take the couple to various places in the following decade, including Northwood-Kensett from 1961-63 and Newton from 1963-70.

He completed his Master’s degree at Truman State before returning to his hometown of Decorah, where he taught, coached, and was the Junior High Principal until he retired in 1995. While coaching ninth grade football at Decorah with Roger Williams for 25 years, Elliott and Roger had a record of 140 wins, and just 17 losses, including 12 undefeated seasons! They also assisted the varsity coaches with practices and scouting during a period that Decorah High School won five state championships. Elliott also served as the long time PA Game announcers for both Luther College and Decorah High School, known widely as the “Voice of the Vikings”. Elliott and Bev raised an amazing family during this time, including two children – Kyle and Jana – three grandchildren, and one great grandchild!

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? When I interviewed for the Jr. High Principal job, I told Superintendent Wayne Burns I wasn’t sure I could do it - be in charge of 30 teachers and 500 teenagers? Wayne said, “There is more than one way to do this job!”

How about the worst? While in the Army, a sergeant told me, “Do not volunteer for ANYTHING!” After retiring, I made a “second career” out of volunteering; Luther College, Winn Med, First Lutheran Church (ed note: With the “A” team!), and the Decorah Food Pantry (to name a few).

Editor’s note: Elliott received the very first Meritorious Service Award in 2014 from the Luther College Athletics Department for more than 30 years of volunteering as the Luther Football (and other sports!) PA Announcer.

What did you want to be when you grew up? A Radio Announcer.

What do/did you do? I had a long career as a teacher, principal, and a coach, and I also served as the PA Announcer for Decorah HS Football Friday night games for over 50 years.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?

Family, Food, and Friends!

Try to describe yourself in one sentence. A sports “nut”!

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Spaghetti, shrimp, or a good steak.

Name one thing you could not live without. Radio!

Tell us about…

Your wedding day: I married Bev Halverson in August of 1958, with a honeymoon in Northern Minnesota.

Do you know someone you’d love to interview for this page? Let us know! aryn@iloveinspired.com

Your first job: Coca Cola bottling plant in Decorah - .75cents / hour!

Your favorite memory: Attending 10 Iowa football bowl games with family, and traveling with Bev – California to Arizona to Florida, and most of the Midwest.

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