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Local members play vital role at National Holstein Convention
Holstein board member candidate Ashley Swenson, center, spoke during a question and answer period after giving speeches Alex Schroeder’s detailed work on his “The Basics of Embryo Thursday afternoon. Candidate Jeff King, left, was elected to the post; candidate Richard Hartzell is pictured on the right. Transfer” display earned him a first place award in the scientific category of the folding display board contest.
By Ruth Klossner More than a dozen Nicollet County Holstein Association members travelled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to volunteer their time at the National Holstein Convention June 27 through July 1. Even though the convention was held “across the border,” it was planned and hosted by the Minnesota Holstein Association— which includes Holstein enthusiasts from South Dakota. About 700 adults and youth from all parts of the U.S. took part in the annual event. Work on the convention started well in advance for three Nicollet County women on overall convention committees. Ashley Swenson of Nicollet served on the Executive Committee and was the Sponsorship Chair — successfully raising more
than $300,000 toward the event. Megan (Herberg) Hahn of St. Peter was a Farm Promotions Co-Chair and Michele Schroeder of Courtland was the Publicity/PR Chair. All the volunteers were equally busy at the convention. In addition to her other roles, Swenson was one of three candidates for the Holstein USA At-Large Director position. Though she wasn’t elected, Swenson gave a strong speech in an effort to become the third woman ever to serve on the national board. Schroeder provided history display items, set up and decorated the junior dairy bar, and was a photographer for the Wednesday Southern Scenes Tour. Other Nicollet County members taking active roles at the convention were Jean, Matthias and Leif Annexstad of Norseland, Jacob
Pehrson of St. Peter, and Ruth Klossner of Bernadotte. Jean Annexstad was a judge for the junior division speech contest and hosted the junior dairy bar. Pehrson, as a state youth advisor, was especially busy. He worked with convention registration and set up, organized, and conducted various youth events throughout the week. Matthias and Leif assisted with many of those events. Klossner submitted historical photos ahead of time, provided items for the history display, and was a convention photographer. Junior members from Nicollet County — Jasenko Gavranovic of New Ulm and Alex Schroeder of Courtland — were recognized in youth programs. Gavranovic was one of 12 semi-finalists selected ahead
of time as semi-finalists for the Holstein Association USA’s 2022 Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) Awards—the highest honor awarded to juniors, ages 17 to 21, in recognition of their commitment to the Holstein breed and their involvement in a variety of agriculturerelated activities. Established in 1922, the DJM contest is the longest running Holstein youth program. The DJM semifinalists were interviewed at the convention, with six DJM finalists announced during the Junior Awards Banquet July 1. Attending the convention with Gavranovic was Hannah Nelson of New Ulm. Schroeder was a top winner in the junior contests, taking first place in the Folding Display Contest, Junior Division (9-13 year-olds) — winning a plaque and a $100 cash prize.
Sadly, the Schroeders had returned home Thursday evening — with the awards not presented until Friday. However, Pehrson was happy to deliver Alex’s award on his return after the convention. In that contest, entrants created a free-standing folding display board, no larger than four-by-four feet, on a topic of their choice, relating to the dairy industry. Entries were made in two categories — creative and scientific. Alex was also an entrant in the junior speech contest and served ice cream at the National Convention Sale Thursday late afternoon. Another Nicollet County Holstein member who was very busy throughout the convention was Emily Annexstad of Norseland. As Marketing and Communications Manager with Holstein USA, Emily was involved with all aspects of the
convention. Ashley’s Swenson’s parents, Paul and Cindy Swenson of Nicollet, left the hayfield back home long enough to attend the business meeting and candidate speeches Thursday afternoon, then headed back home. The Nicollet County representatives joined those from many other county groups to make the convention fun and successful. Their work was greatly appreciated by the overall committees.
MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 3
Fitzners win the 2022 corn contest by Ruth Klossner
Although we only had four entries this year, all came In spite of our late spring in at 79 inches or taller. and dry June, the tallest corn in When Mark Fitzner our annual corn contest came called his entry in to the Ledger, in at 100 inches when we went he reported corn that was 98 out to measure it early Monday inches tall but the first plant we afternoon. That may be a sur- measured in the field was 100 prise to some, considering the inches. We’re not sure if it grew conditions, but Mark and Jerry that much from the three-tenths Fitzners’ field, up near the house inch of rain that the farm got on Jerry’s farm yard, was a good that morning, or if we just found looking field of tall corn. a taller plant.
Lafayette Nicollet Ledger P.O. Box 212, Lafayette MN 56054 Office: 766 Main Avenue
Congratulations to the Fitzners
TownshipTownship Inches Courtland 100.00 Courtland Township Courtland 90.00 Courtland Township Lafayette 85.00 Lafayette Towship Courtland 79.00 Courtland Township
Inches 100.00 90.00 85.00 79.00
Previous Ledger Corn Contest Champions
New Ledger owners
umns as the paper moves forward. Lemmer previously served as news director for KNUJ Radio in New Ulm for ten years, covering news in the local 15-county area. He was also a news contributor for KDNK Radio in Carbondale, Colorado as well as Aspen Grassroots Television. Lawson has several years of printed news experience, including in the Twin Cities suburbs, freelance editing work with a bilingual Spanish/English publication, with the Stillwater Gazette, the Maple River Messenger, in Roswell, New Mexico, and numerous other newspapers and digital media. He stated that it is a great honor to be involved with a long-running local paper and is looking forward to providing local news to the communities of Nicollet County. Klossner will continue to cover high school sports and some feature stories. Story submissions and news tips may be submitted to The LedgerEditor@gmail.com.
the years. Winner of the six-month Ledger subscription, awarded in a random drawing from entries received, is Dusty Voges of Courtland Township.
2022 Ledger CornLedger Contest Entries 2022 Corn Contest Entries
Name Name Fitzner FitznerBrothers Brothers Perry Hulke Perry Hulke Steve Sjostrom Steve Sjostrom Dusty Dusty Voges Voges
Rob Lawson and Michael Lemmer, new Managing Editor and Copublisher of the Lafayette Nicollet Ledger newspaper.
The Lafayette Nicollet Ledger newspaper has been acquired by a new owner. Michael Lemmer of New Ulm took ownership of the 116-year-old publication in mid-June and has now taken over as the managing editor. The paper will be published by the newly-formed South Central News and Media, an LLC that Lemmer has formed with business associate Robert Lawson. The paper will expand its coverage to include all of Nicollet County in the near future. Lemmer stated that the primary focus will always remain with Lafayette, Nicollet and Courtland and will include the various townships and other communities of the county. The expanded paper will also place a greater emphasis on local news than in recent years. Lawson will be responsible for the majority of the publishing and sales aspects with Lemmer primarily focused on editor duties. Ruth Klossner, Karen Fluegge, and Mary Bruns will continue to contribute articles, photos, and col-
The DeKalb 5771 corn was planted May 10, a little later than the Fitzners would have liked, but the wet spring kept them out of the field until then. The Fitzners farm 730 acres, with 370 acres in corn this year, and the rest in beans. Like the winner, the second and fourth place entries both came from Courtland Township, which seems to have been a hotbed of tall corn over
Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Mark (back) and Jerry Fitzner of Courtland Township topped the 2022 Tall Corn Contest. They are pictured with Mark’s Grandson, Luke. 119th Year • Number 27 ©2022 Lafayette Nicollet Ledger
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Inches 114" 96" 112" 89" 110" 104” 104” 100” 122” 137” 88” 110” 110” 123” 86” 133” 140” 101” 101” 120” 127” 104” 115” 97” 118” 119”
Phone: 507-228-8985 • Fax: 507-228-8779 Website: www.prairiepublishingmn.com Email: ledger@prairiepublishingmn.com
Owner Dennis & Eric Sjogren Dave Bode Dave Bode Tom Martens Dave Bode Tom Hayes Ralph Bode Perry & Monty Hulke Dave Bode Scott Rudenick Paul Eckberg (Tie) Cody Reinhart and Perry Hulke Perry & Monty Hulke Mike Dallmann Dave Bode Jesse & Tad Voges Cody & Randy Reinhart Tad & Jesse Voges Dave Bode Jesse & Tad Voges Doug & Desmond Wills Tad Voges Monte Hulke Dusty Voges John Luepke
Township Entries Cornish 20 Nicollet 13 Nicollet 15 Oshawa 14 Nicollet 19 Bernadotte 23 Courtland 21 Courtland 19 Nicollet 24 Nicollet 27 New Sweden 25 Courtland 24 Courtland Courtland 25 Nicollet 20 Nicollet 18 Courtland * 12 Courtland 8 Courtland Nicollet 14 Courtland 20 Granby 12 Courtland 7 Courtland 13 Courtland 7 Courtland 9 * measured on July 17
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