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Thursday, August 18, 2022
Nicollet County Ledger
American Legion Needs Community Support By Karen Fluegee The Nicollet American Legion is looking for community support to continue with an annual celebration and brought the matter to Nicollet City Council August 8. Brad Pyan, Commander, and Dave Holcomb, Adjutant, of the Nicollet American Legion explained their reasons for needing community and city support to be able to continue with a Friendship Days type celebration in Nicollet during the fourth weekend of June. “Our legion is struggling with our membership,” Holcomb said.
“We just don’t have the help that we need to hold Friendship Days. We are looking for ideas as it is just too much for the current members. I think we need to involve the city, churches, Fire Department, the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, and others to make it a community event. We need to look for a partnership with others or having Friendship Days is not going to work much longer.” Pyan talked about costs. “We talked about this last year and the year before,” Pyan added. “Everyone wants something for something. At the end we spread the love. Any profits we have,
Farmfest Candidate Forums Announced Farmfest will feature an exciting line-up of Candidate Forums in 2022. The forums will include candidates for Minnesota Governor, a special forum for Minnesota’s First Congressional District, and a Congressional Candidate Forum for Minnesota’s Second, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Congressional Districts. “This is a very intriguing lineup of Candidate Forums, and the Forums are quite timely, considering Minnesota’s statewide primary and special elections in the First Congressional District are being held the following week,” according to Kent Thiesse, Farmfest Forum Coordinator. The forums will be held August 2, 3, and 4, in the Wicks Buildings Farmfest Center, which is near the center of the show site. Farmfest is located at the Gilfillan Estate, 7 miles southeast of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, on U.S. Highway 67. The Minnesota Governor Candidates Forum is being held on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 10:30 a.m., and will feature the two major candidates in Minnesota’s gubernatorial race. Confirmed candidates are incumbent Governor Tim Walz, the DFL-endorsed candidate, and Dr. Scott Jensen, the Republicanendorsed candidate. The forum will be broadcast live on WCCO radio, and the forum will be moderated by the station’s analyst, Blois Olson. The questions will be asked by rural leaders and will focus on a variety of issues affecting the agriculture industry and greater Minnesota. Farmfest will host a special First District Congressional Candidate Forum for candidates from Minnesota’s First Congressional District. The forum is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 9:30 a.m., and will feature Republican Brad Finstad and DFL-candidate Jeff Ettinger. Both are vying for an open seat in the First Congressional District in a special election on Aug. 9, which was created by
the death of Congressman Jim Hagedorn earlier this year. A panel of agriculture leaders will pose questions to the candidates on a variety of issues affecting farmers and rural families. The Congressional Candidates Forum on Agriculture and Rural Issues will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 10:30 a.m. The following Congressional candidates from Minnesota’s Second, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Congressional Districts are confirmed to participate in the Forum: Second District Congresswoman Angie Craig (D), and her challenger Tyler Kistner (R); Sixth District Congressman Tom Emmer (R) and his challenger Jeanne Hendricks (D); Seventh District Congresswoman, Michele Fischbach (R) and her challenger Jill Abahsain (D); and Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber (R) and his challenger Jen Schultz (D). A panel of leaders representing various farm organizations and commodity groups will offer questions to the candidates on a variety of agriculture and rural issues. A special feature forum titled The “Must-Haves” in the Next Farm Bill will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 1:15 p.m. The forum will focus on many of the key policy issues that are being considered as Congress develops the 2023 Farm Bill. The forum panel will include: Scott VanderWal, American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President; Rob Larew, National Farmers Union President; Don Schiefelbein, National Cattlemen’s Beef Assn. President; Terry Wolters, National Pork Producers Council Past President; Tom Haag, National Corn Growers Assn. First Vice President; George Goblish, American Soybean Assn. Executive Board; and Ian Cunningham, National Assn. of Conservation Districts Vice President. Another feature educational Forum on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 1:15 p.m. is titled Getting the Most
we would ‘divvy’ out to those involved. At the end, we ask to get costs.” Holcomb said food is a great way to fundraise. “Someone could probably take over the hamburger stand, the pop stand, or the pork chops. We might want to keep the beer stand. We probably need a committee from each group. We plan to start organizing in September,” added Holcomb. Mayor Fred Froehlich weighed in. “I don’t think this situation is unique to you,” Froehlich said. “I have seen other cities change names and how they do events. I appreciate
your efforts to continue.” “Change is difficult, but we’ll get through it,” said Holcomb. Pyan concluded. “We will be picking a date in September to begin organizing for next June. The City really needs to be represented,” Pyan said.
from Federal Ag Programs. The forum panel will include several state and regional officials representing various USDA agencies. Panel members include: Whitney Place, MN State Farm Service Agency (FSA) Director; Colleen Landkammer, MN USDA Rural Development Director; Troy Daniell, MN NRCS State Conservationist; Pam Stahlke, USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Regional Director; Dan Loftus, National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) State Statistician; and Stephan Schaefbauer, USDA APHIS Area Veterinarian. The Panel members will give an overview of current program efforts within their USDA agency and will be available for an audience question-and-answer session on the various USDA programs and issues that have arisen. A free pancake breakfast sponsored by MN Farm Bureau will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 8:00-10:00 a.m. that will include a special Ag Outlook Forum beginning at 8:30 a.m. that will feature several grain marketing, weather, ag policy, crop and livestock experts. Presenters will include Mark Schultz, Marketing Analyst with Northstar Commodity, Bernt Nelson, American Farm Bureau Economist, Dave Nicolai, University of Minnesota Crop Specialist, and American Farm Bureau Policy Analysts Courtney Briggs and RJ Layher. The Women in Ag Event takes place on Thursday morning, Aug. 4, at 10:30 a.m., and will feature keynote speaker, Michelle Miller, The Farm Babe. Her keynote address will help attendees bridge the gap between farmers and consumers and asks, “How can we as farmers and ranchers better tell the story of agriculture?” She will share her journey to social media stardom and inspire others to step up to the plate, fight misinformed activists,
and proudly communicate tough topics and all the success that is modern farming. At the conclusion of the panel, the five finalists for the 2022 Farmfest Woman Farmer of the Year Award will be introduced, concluding with the announcement of this year’s winner. A Farmfest tradition will continue with the annual Farm Family of the Year Recognition Program on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 1:15 p.m. Approximately 80 farm families from each county throughout Minnesota have been selected at the county level for this special recognition. This event is jointly sponsored by the University of Minnesota and Farmfest. The Linder Farm Network Noon Show will be held each day at Farmfest from 12 to 1 p.m., featuring many special guests each day. Other educational sessions include Market Disruptors in 2022 on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at 8:30 a.m., sponsored by CHS Hedging; Changing Hands: Practical Tips in Farm Estate and Succession Planning on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 2:45 p.m., sponsored by Farm Bureau Financial Services, and Farm Transition Planning: Where to Start and How to keep Momentum Going on Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 2:45 p.m., sponsored by Ag Country Farm credit Services. The University of Minnesota will also host a Manure Applicator Certification Program on Thursday, Aug. 4, from 8 to 10 a.m. For more details on the Farmfest candidate forums and other presentations, please contact Kent Thiesse, Farmfest Forum Coordinator at (507-381-7960) or kent.thiesse@ minnstarbank.com. For more information on the companies exhibiting, the full schedule of events, and other details at Farmfest, please refer to the IDEAg Farmfest website at: www.farmfest.com or contact Niki Jones, Director, Event Marketing at (816-863-3974) or niki.jones@ ideaggroup.com.
not? Should these people still be cared for through social services by government or faith-based organizations? Or should they be swept under the rug or onto the sidewalk so to speak? Robert A. Heinlein had a saying he used in many of his books: TANSTAAFL. There’s a good chance you are familiar with this as well. There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. Or in other words: Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained. In order to reap the rewards of our Hyper-Capitalist society you must be willing to take chances, put in the work, Do Something. Where does this leave the elderly, the infirm, the sick, the mentally challenged? How about the lazy, the tired, the demoralized? What does society, or us as individuals owe to these individuals? Does it make a difference in your thoughts on the subject when you consider them as actual individuals, feeling thinking living human beings instead of as faceless groups? What about when you think of them as “Americans” or “Immigrants” instead of “Humans”? Does it change your mind about a topic when it’s given a label, such as
“Socialism”? We already have that ism to a great degree in this country. Public Schools, Social Security, Public Assistance, WIC, etc. Where do we draw the line? Is it acceptable to use public tax dollars to care for Women Infants and Children? What about strong able-bodied men? Does the race of these men matter as far as what level of care from society they are deserving of? The question at the other end of the spectrum: Is it acceptable to use public tax dollars to pay for the construction of tools of destruction, to Build Bombs? All in the name of National Defense of course, God Bless America and Commies Go To Hell. I agree with the need for defense. But what are we defending? A way of life and set of ideals for Some, or for All? Does everyone deserve access to the American Dream? Does that mean busting your butt every day so that your children can eat? Or is it more that All Are Equal and therefore deserve equal care, whether capable or not, by choice or not? In other words, What Do We Owe Each Other? What do we owe our children, and all future descendants? A healthy, thriving society
Ask a Trooper By Sgt. Troy Christianson of the have fenders, or other devices, that flare added on. Minnesota State Patrol are designed to prevent, as far as You can avoid a ticket—and a Question 1: Does a person need a hood on a vehicle to drive it down the highway legally? Answer 1: No. Question 2: What is the law regarding vehicle fenders and tires sticking out beyond the sides of a vehicle? Answer 2: According to Minnesota State Statute 169.734. “Every passenger automobile shall
practicable, water, dirt, or other material being thrown up and to the rear by the wheels of the vehicle.” So every vehicle MUST have fenders. In reference to wheels sticking out, if the wheels go out beyond the outside of the vehicle, then they would NOT meet the part of “…as far as practicable…”. If someone was to have wider wheels on their vehicle that stuck out past the fender, they would need some type of fender
crash—if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober. Help us drive Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848. (Or reach him at, Troy. Christianson@state.mn.us)
Other Business
The regular meeting agenda, the minutes from the July 11, 2022 regular meeting and the July 2022 to August 2022 bills for $207,568.77 was approved by the council.
Future Meetings
The Parking Ordinance needs
Sec. 151.72 MN Statute on Legal Trinity Lutheran’s Garage to be worked on. Tom Rieke said, Cannabis Drill advised the council that “Let’s get it going.” A workshop was City Clerk Vanessa Drill said that a letter has been received from the city attorney advising the city council of the Sec. 151.72 MN Statute for the Sale of Certain Cannabinoid Products. With no ordinance in the city to control any
Editors Column: In Other Words What Do We Owe Each Other? Have you heard this saying before? It’s a philosophy called “Contractualism” by T.M. Scanlon which was made popular by the television series The Good Place. The idea being that through helping others, learning from others, giving each other the care and respect that all living beings deserve, that is what binds us together as a truly great society. “I’ve Got Mine.” That’s another saying you may have heard. It’s also a song by Glenn Frey that starts like this: “Someone’s sleeping on the sidewalk as the winter sun goes down, someone’s drinking cold champagne in another part of town.” Yet, what do we truly owe each other? I understand the value of hard work. Whether it be by the toil of your muscles or the ideas of your mind, people should be rewarded for that “Git ‘er Done” spirit. For doing the work that needs to be done. Or for thinking of solutions to problems we all face or making a product that people desire. Likewise, should we reward those who choose to not get out and do the work? What about those who physically, or mentally can
sale of these products, the council approved a motion to have Drill contact the city attorney to write up a moratorium. This would serve as an interim ordinance to give them time to work out the licensing and zoning of these products for a final ordinance.
that cares for all sentient beings and the land upon which each calls home? Or a dysfunctional dystopian society where the Haves dictate life for the Have-Nots? It’s up to each one of us, every waking moment to continue to strive for and help mold the future we desire for our children. Count Your Blessings and perhaps you will find you have some to spare. Remember that every breath is a blessing, so now and again perhaps use a breath to thank someone. To let them know you care, to know that You Are Not Alone. Some people hide a great deal of pain from the world, to which many are indifferent. Here’s a spoiler for you all: In The End, We All Meet Up At Home. That’s when we truly remember that we are all truly one, from your bestest friend to your worstest enemy. We all come from the same home. Thank you for your uniqueness, we see you and love you and look forward to sharing our stories of this crazy beautiful thing we call Life. Remember that we’re all in this together, and together, we got this! Michael Lemmer August 16, 2022
Trinity Lutheran Church is preparing to build a garage on the west end of their property, just east of the swimming pool. They are requesting a curb cut on 6th Street for access to the garage. The council approved the request.
set up for Wednesday, September 28, at 4 p.m. At the same workshop, it was agreed to also have a workshop on the budget. The next regular meeting will be Monday, September 12, and Monday, October 10, each at 6 p.m.
Light for the Way
Feed the Fire By Pastor Micah Plocher Trinity Lutheran Church
I love a good bonfire. It’s just the epitome of summer—the smell, the s’mores, the sitting in the backyard or the woods or wherever with friends and just watching the flames. If you enjoy a good bonfire, you understand that the amount of joy you get out of a bonfire is more or less directly correlated to the height of the flames. Maybe you have to stand halfway across the yard because it gets too hot, but it’s worth it to see the flames jumping 15 feet in the air. But the thing about even the biggest fires is that they all burn out at some point. If you don’t keep adding fuel, the flames die down. The sparks stop flying. It’s not long before there’s only coals where once a bonfire roared. In 2 Timothy 1, we hear Paul talking to and mentoring Timothy, a young pastor whose flame—whose enthusiasm for God’s kingdom—was burning low. He was dealing with all sorts of stuff that was making life hard: his ministry was hitting snags, there were people in his congregation that opposed him, there were former friends who spread false doctrine. Where once Timothy had been on fire for the gospel, burning with eagerness to tell others what Jesus had done for him, now he wasn’t quite so sure where he stood. Now he was afraid—to make a mistake, to be rejected, to fail. You may not be a pastor with a congregation, but just like Timothy, you also have a ministry. Your ministry is to serve God in whatever situation you find yourself in—in all the roles and callings you have in life. To put him first when making your decisions. To look for opportunities to show the love that he’s shown you. To be prepared to speak
when he opens a door for his powerful gospel to be heard. Do you find yourself in Timothy’s shoes? Is the fire of enthusiasm for your service to God and people burning low? Do the troubles and pressures of life ever leave you a little timid, even afraid to go all-in on serving in God’s kingdom. Does the fear of being rejected hold you back? If so, Paul urges you along with Timothy, “Fan into flame the gift of God!” When your zeal burns low and your faith is tending toward inaction, breathe some oxygen onto the fire. Throw on some more fuel. Feed your faith and your zeal with the fresh air of God’s gospel. It’s that gospel that was the fuel and the spark for your faith in the first place. It’s that gospel that “brought life and immortality to light” in your heart, by telling you of “God’s purpose and grace.” That purpose and grace sent his Son to save you from your sins and to lay up in heaven for you an unimaginably rich treasure that God is guarding and keeping for you there. If your enthusiasm for God’s kingdom is burning low, it’s that gospel that will rekindle the fire God put in your heart with “a spirit not of timidity, but of power.” There is no reason to let fear kill your enthusiasm for God’s kingdom—for your personal ministry. Even when you suffer in the course of your service, you can confidently say with Paul, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” You believe in your Savior Jesus, and he is guarding your eternal inheritance. Nothing can take it from you because nothing can take it from him. So stand confidently on the gospel, even in the face of trouble, and let your flame burn bright.
Guest Column NEWS & INFORMATION Agriculture and Farm News – NEWS RELEASE Emma Severns Extension Educator-Agricultural Production Systems Nicollet/Sibley County 111 8th St. Gaylord, MN 55334 Ph. 507-237-4100 Source: Emma Severns, Extension Educator- Ag production Systems Tree Care in Dry Weather GAYLORD, Minn. (8/11/22)— When driving along streets in Gaylord I have noticed many trees that are showing signs of stress. I have seen many maple trees that are experiencing chlorosis, a common nutritional disorder causing leaves to turn yellow except for the veins which remain green. Some trees have leaf scorch and many trees have wilted leaves. As we are experiencing yet another dry summer in Sibley County, trees are facing difficult conditions to survive and thrive. Homeowners can help ensure that trees survive through dry periods with proper watering techniques. It is important to be strategic in how much and how often you water trees. The amount of water your tree needs depends on your soil type, tree type and age of the tree. Established trees can withstand dry periods better than newly planted trees. More developed root systems on established trees allow them to reach greater depths for moisture
in the soil. However, if the top nine inches of the soil near established trees is dry, you can use an overhead sprinkler to water them. Make sure to cover the spread of the roots when watering. Watering these trees once a month should be sufficient, depending on rainfall received. Newly planted trees require more frequent watering than established ones. Their roots are located near the trunk and are fairly shallow. A weekly watering schedule is ideal for seedlings planted in the spring. Watering trees in the early morning or late evening is a good technique to help roots absorb all the moisture before it evaporates in the hot, afternoon sun. Another way to help keep moisture in the soil is mulching around the tree. Mulching helps to keep the soil temperatures low and retain soil moisture. It also discourages competition from grass and weeds. For tree health, keep mulch away from the trunk of the tree. During times of dry weather, it is important to avoid overwatering your trees. Frequent watering can create trees with shallow roots which makes them less able to survive when you stop watering them or the soil dries out. For other tree care tips, visit our Extension website at extension. umn.edu or call the Sibley County Extension office at 507-237-4100. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
