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PUBLISHER Jennifer Heintzelman

EDITING & PAGE DESIGN Rusty Schrader

PUBLISHED BY Sauk Valley Media, 113 S. Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021

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March 2023

Articles and advertisements in this publication are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Lydia Sitter to our team!

egend has it that Paul Bunyan created the Grand Canyon by dragging an axe behind him.

Christopher Chapman created a business by throwing an axe in front of him. Both those statements may sound implausible, but only one of them is a tall tale. The other is Rustic Ridge Axe Throwing, where Chapman invites customers to take a hatchet in hand and let it fly.

Rustic Ridge Axe Throwing in downtown Oregon is a place where people can jump on the bandwagon of a sport that’s grown in popularity in recent years. Axe throwing is similar to archery, but you don’t need and bow and arrow, just an axe and an arm. A good eye helps, too, because the object is to hurl the hatchet at a target painted on a piece of wood. The closer to the bullseye, the better the score.

Once you pick up the axe, it can be hard to put it down — just ask Chapman. He first tried out axe throwing only a few months ago. Now he and his wife, Cassandra, have made a business out of it.

“It’s very addicting,” Chapman said.

The activity — fans will tell you it’s a sport — has grown in popularity in recent years, and governing bodies for tournaments have been established around the world. Axe throwing businesses have popped up throughout northern Illinois and Chapman has brought it to Ogle County.

“They enjoy how laid back it is, and enjoy the throwing,” Chapman said. “I actually had a birthday party recently and they left a Google review that they can’t wait to come back because my employees made it enjoyable. We try to get as many people as we can when we’re working with them to hit the targets well, give them the pointers we can, and go let them do their thing. If we see something that we can help correct, if there’s time, we can make a comment here or there and most times it will work, and they like that.”

Like any sport, equipment can make a difference. Axes come in many types, and people have a preference for their favorite, whether it’s head heavy or more balanced. It doesn’t take long pick up the basics of throwing — about 10-15 minutes — but as with anything else, practice makes perfect Chapman said, with the right coordination of stance, throwing and determining the right release point.

“A lot of it is power, it doesn’t take much to stick them in the boards,” Chapman said. “If you overpower it, you’ll over-rotate it. If you under-power it, you’ll underrotate it. There’s a lot more to it than just aiming it and throwing. Foot placement, hand placement on the axe, things like that.”

Chapman said that there are a couple of ladies in their league who never threw an axe before coming to Rustic Ridge, but now they really have a handle on it.

Chapman’s own business tale with the axes started a little more than a year ago. He and Cassandra own a ranch west of Oregon called Rustic Ridge and had thought about opening a western-themed store in town.

Then Christopher threw his first axe — and then another, and then another. He was hooked, and he figured other people could be too.

Rustic Ridge Axe Throwing opened May 28 and has been growing in popularity ever since.

“I looked at my wife the first time I actually threw one, and said, ‘Guess what we’re doing,’” Chapman said. “I’m kind of glad we did this instead of the western store.”

Rustic Ridge has seven lanes — three sets of two, and one all by itself — where people can throw, built by Chapman and a few friends. Cottonwood is used for the target boards because it holds up with to repeated throws, and Chapman goes through about a skid of them a month.

Rustic Ridge is affiliated with both the World Axe Throwing League and the World Knife Throwing League; Chapman is a certified coach through both leagues. Knife-based sessions also are available and leagues are being considered for the future, Chapman said.

Leagues run for 6 weeks and are on Tuesday nights. The one that ended in August had 26 participants, more than double what Chapman was expecting.

Though Chapman isn’t able to coach much — he’s busy keeping score — he enjoys seeing the helpfulness and camaraderie that comes with axe throwing.

“It’s a great group of people, and they’re very helpful with each other,” Chapman said. “I told them from the get-go that I can’t coach since I’m scoring and can’t tell you what to fix, but I have no issue with other players doing it. If other players want to give pointers, I encourage it. They want to see everyone get better and do better. They hit bulls eyes or kill shots and are whoopin’’ and hollerin’. They make it fun.”

Want the axe throwing experience to come to you? No problem. Chapman has a trailer set up for axe throwing that’s made appearances at corporate and church events, the Oregon Farmer’s Market, and festivals such as Let Freedom Ring in Mount Morris, Sauerkraut Days in Forreston and a Big Rig truck show in Franklin Grove in August — even a couple bridal showers.

Brandy Haynes of Oregon is one of two employees at Rustic Ridge, and like her boss, it didn’t take too long for her to get addicted to throwing an axe at a target.

“It’s really addicting,” Haynes said. “You’re going to be a little anxious about trying it out because it’s something sharp and something you haven’t done before, and new things are scary. Having a safe, controlled environment to do something like that, you can get the adrenaline and get the pride when you actually hit a bullseye.”

Rustic Ridge Axe Throw-

When the lanes are full, there’s a waiting area with tables where people can sit and chat, and maybe even sharpen their bragging rights. Snacks and beverages are sold at the front counter, and outside food can be brought in, but outside beverages aren’t allowed. Chapman plans to have arcade games in the waiting area, and maybe a pool table, too. The waiting area also has a small kid-safe toy target for anyone to try.

In order to throw, participants must wear close-toed shoes and fill out a liability waiver before throwing their first axe. Those ages 14 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult; those 10 to 13 must also be approved by Chris personally before they can heave one at a target.

Axes are available on site, and customers can bring their own, too — but only certain types. They must be World Axe Throwing League approved and looked over by Chapman.

The cost is $20 per person per hour, or $35 for 2 hours, with discounts available for large group reservations or parties. Reservations are encouraged to ensure availability of a lane for a specified time.

One way Chapman gets the word out about Rustic Ridge is through the sale of T-shirts and they come with a perk. Wear it to the next throwing session and get a discounted rate.

Axe throwing is a niche business that often is found in a larger towns, but Chapman is glad to have it in Oregon alongside the town’s other host of unique businesses and activities.

“Being in a small town kind of makes it fun,” Chapman said. “I have a lot of regulars who have come back several times. It’s kind of a middle ground with other people where you can be buddy-buddy with everybody here and not have to worry about it. I grew up in a small town and I love seeing stuff like this.”

Rustic Ridge Axe Throwing, 117 N. Fourth St. in downtown Oregon is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday. Find it on Facebook or Instagram (@ rusticridgeaxethrowing), email info@ rusticridgeaxe.com, go to rusticridgeaxethrowing. com or call 815-881-8217 for more information or to join a throwing league.

Artist Laura Readdy (insets on facing page) enjoys exploring different mediums in her work. At right is a painting done on music sheets printed on canvas. Religious works are one of her favorite themes.

PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/ CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

BY CODY CUTTER SAUK VALLEY MEDIA

nspiring people is what Laura Readdy strives to do every day, and she does it with class.

Most days that class is at West Carroll Primary School in Savanna, where the Chadwick art teacher spends 9 months of the year teaching art to grade-schoolers. When she’s not doing that, you can find her teaching people the joy of painting, by putting the ‘art’ in ‘party,’ through her business, Inspired Painting Parties.

Readdy’s talents have brought her to many people’s homes for painting parties, where she heads up classes of up to a dozen people. She’s also coordinated the children’s 3-day art camp at Lake Carroll for the past couple of years, and has monthly “Ladies Night” painting parties at Plumtree Lodge.

Helping people break out of their creative shells and tap into their talents has been a labor of love for Readdy, and she’s not the only one who loves it. Last year’s art camp attracted 62 children to a pair of 3-hour sessions: one in the morning for preschool through first-graders, and one in the afternoon for elementaryaged children. During that camp she invited people to “Go jump in a lake” — in a nice way — with paintings, crafts, and games revolving around a lake theme. One highlight was a session where children painted different kinds of fish; Readdy said some of them were made as Father’s Day gifts for dads who were big into fishing. This year, she’s casting a wider net for her creative canvas. The art camp theme will be “Explore, Dream and Discover, from Ocean Space to Outer Depths.” The camp will be from June 13-15 at the Lodge. Readdy came up with the theme after having a hard time deciding whether to focus on outer space or ocean scenery.

This year, like last, there will be a lot more to art than just painting.

“I’m very excited about the art camp again,” Readdy said. “We’re going to do fun things like space-related stuff, make rocket ships and galaxy jars and coral reefs. It’s science intermixed with the art, kind of like a STEM theme [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics]. The galaxy jars will have cotton balls, oil, paint and glitter. When you shake it, it moves and it looks like

Left: About 60 kids took part in the Lake Carroll Art Camp last June at Plumtree Lodge. Children from preschoolers to pre-teens enjoyed painting, crafting, games and activities revolving around the featured theme, “Go jump in a lake!” a galaxy. The kids will love it. We’ll paint a couple of things, too.” Can’t make it to the art camp at Lake Carroll? Readdy also will have similar art camps at her studio in Chadwick from May 29 to June 2, and at the Savanna Moose Lodge from June 5-9. Those camps, like the one in Lake Carroll, will be split into two sessions, a morning one for the youngest children and older kids in the afternoon. Go to inspiredpaintingparties.com to register.

When it comes to finding inspiration for her paintings, Laura Readdy takes a page out of her own playbook. When she jotted down the words “Explore. Dream. Discover” in her notes for this year’s Art Camp, she could have been talking about her own process. Sometimes she’ll just explore the countryside and see something that sparks her creativity and makes her think: “That’s a painting!” “Carroll County is one of the most beautiful places in the world,” she said. “I really believe it.

Readdy said she enjoys working at Lake Carroll because of the support the community has shown her. Coordinating a crowd of youngsters can be a challenge, especially for just one person, but fortunately the recreation staff — usually a few adults and a few older teenagers — help out with activities and provides material and refreshments. Those helping hands allow her to focus more on the task at hand: working with the kids.

For the past 3 years, Readdy has also hosted Ladies Night painting parties at the Lodge. She comes up with a theme, draws the outlines on canvas and helps participants put their own artistic stamp on their piece, from mixing paints to making the picture come to life. January’s class, with a Northern Lights theme, had a great turnout, Readdy said.

She also plans to have a painting party at Candlelight at Lake Carroll, and she already has her first subject in mind: a rooster, in keeping with one of the diner’s signature menu item, Chicken George.

“We have fun there. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to work with the people at Lake Carroll,” Readdy said. “They’ve just been fabulous and there’s no complaints.”

Readdy also offers painting parties at her Chadwick studio, businesses, churches, local social clubs, schools and in people’s homes. When she first began the parties in 2015, her materials were stored at her home, but as their popularity grew, so did her business, and she moved into a studio of her own — a former feed and grain station near the main railroad junction in town — in August 2021. Its walls have become a gallery of Inspired creations, both her own and some done by her students and customers. The parties usually last 3 to 4 hours, but sometimes go longer if participants are really engaged. Readdy will provide the materials, all you have to do is come up with a theme when it’s booked, which allows here to do the painting prep work: coming up with a design, outlining it on the canvasses, and coordinating the colors.

Several of Readdy’s works based on religious and rural themes are on display at the Spirit of the HeArt Gallery at CGH Hospital’s Main Clinic in Sterling.

“Usually about 8 to 12 people is typical for me; some parties are bigger, but I do about that size,” Readdy said. “The host or hostess picks the painting, I draw them all out ahead of time, and I bring everything from the aprons to the easels, the paints and brushes, everything. I’ll set it all up, everyone sits down and we talk, we yak and we have fun. Everybody paints, and in front of them I show them out to do it. I’ll walk around and make sure everyone’s happy and goes home happy.”

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While the parties generally follow a theme, that doesn’t mean the paintings are the same. Each budding artist brings their own character to the canvas. She finds painting brings a lot of smiles to people’s faces, especially for the folks exploring painting for the first time and discovering a newfound pride.

Readdy enjoys sharing in that pride; she’ll take a group picture of the class with their finished paintings that they can share on social media.

“It’s very important to me that everyone feels inspired and proud of themselves,” Readdy said. “I want them to be, like, ‘Look what I did!’ ‘This is awesome!’ Then they can go home and show it off to their family. If they aren’t doing that, I feel like I’m not doing my job.”

Readdy fell in love with art as a young child growing up in the Chicago suburbs. Her aunt Cari, who Readdy said was an amazing artist in her own right, saw Ready’s passion, and turned a tragedy into an opportunity. After Cari became a quadriplegic due to a car accident, she gave her painting tools to a 12-year-old Laura. Later, in high school, she took adult-level art classes, became a member of the DuPage Art League and took private lessons at the Art Nook studio in Villa Park.

Readdy often credits her aunt in helping write her story as an artist. “She gave me her box of oil paints and brushes. I had always been into art, but she said, ‘I want you to have this. I believe you’re going to do something good with it.’ It was kind of intimidating for a 12-yearold to get this. I dived right in and she coached me through stuff, even though she could no longer paint, she was very good at helping me.”

Marriage and children would later limit the time she could devote to art, but as her children got older, she found more time to enjoy painting again. She eventually earned a teaching degree, and that led her to teaching art at Milledgeville Elementary School and Unity Christian School in Fulton. She’s been at West Carroll Primary since 2020, where she teaches around 350 students in grades K through 5. More than just teaching techniques, she also incorporate aspects of history, literature and STEM themes into her lessons.

On top of painting parties, running a business, and teaching, Readdy still finds time to paint for herself, and even does the occasional commissioned work. She sells her paintings and photo prints of her work online. Much of her own work incorporates biblical themes, as well as Carroll County scenery. She’ll often work from photos, but sometimes inspiration strikes and she’ll file it away for her next project. It can be as simple as something she sees when she’s driving around. She’ll see something and say to herself: “That’s a painting!”

“Carroll County is one of the most beautiful places in the world,” Readdy said. “I really believe it, especially when the seasons change, and when they’re cutting all of the corn. It’s just a beautiful places to live. I’ll go out and take pictures. It’s just stunning, those views. You can see for miles.”

Readdy’s talents have also been tapped to give people a boost while they’re healing at the hospital. About 40 of her pieces are on display at CGH Hospital’s Spirit of the HeArt gallery in Sterling. The gallery was created in 2016 as a way to celebrate local artists and help patients and families by promoting the healing and health benefits of artwork. Readdy’s exhibit runs through mid-March.

She’s even found herself spreading The Word overseas. In 2019, she taught at a Bible camp for teenagers at the Word of Life Bible College in Tóalmás, Hungary, a suburb of Budapest. She has friends who were missionaries there, and they’ve invited her to come back in July.

While there’s only so much space on a canvas, Readdy can’t imagine running out of space in her heart for art.

“I like what I do,” she said. “I live and breathe art. It’s who I am.”

Laura Readdy's Inspired Painting Parties has a studio at 57 S. Main St. in Chadwick. Find “Inspired Painting Parties with Laura” on Facebook, go to inspiredpaintingparties. com, email inspiredppwl@gmail.com or call 815-590-4071 for information on art classes and special events. Go to laurareaddyart.com for pictures of her works. Go to lakecarrollassociation.pixieset.com/2022artcamp to view pictures from last year's Art Camp at Lake Carroll. For more information about art classes at Lake Carroll, contact Recreation and Events Coordinator Christine Barron-Montiel at christine@golakecarroll.com or 815-213-4973.

By Cody Cutter Sauk Valley Media

eople have really been sinking their teeth into the farm-to-fork movement in recent years.

The movement that strives to shorten the journey between farmers’ food and the consumers’ tables has been growing in popularity as people have embraced the idea of sourcing their food directly from the farm, which not only benefits their health, but the local economy too.

Fruits and vegetables, jams and jellies, a honey of a deal and more — from breakfast to dinner, you can put a lot on your plate thanks to growers in Carroll County, and as winter begins its retreat and spring begins its March forward, those growers are gearing up for another year of tilling and toiling and planting and picking. It won’t be long before farmers markets return and people can get a taste of what Carroll County has to offer.

But where do you go when you want your menu to have a local flavor? The county is home to a number of growers who are more than happy to put food on your plate, and on the following pages is a list of some them. So get ready to hop in your car, put the key in the ignition and get a fresh start!

Schell Farm Produce

John and Janice Schell’s homegrown produce has found a home at farmers markets throughout Carroll County for nearly 15 years. The Schells farm nearly two acres, growing five varieties of potatoes, 200 tomato and green pepper plants, 700 asparagus roots and 2,000 onion sets. They have also grown blueberries, apples, herbs, radishes, beets, kohlrabi, okra and garlics; and also sell local honey and cheese. They sell from April through November, and bulk orders and preorders are available.

Strawberry Stewards Plants & Produce

12968 state Route 78, Mount Carroll 815-238-1997

Jason and Esther Yoder and their five children make farming and raising produce in an organic, chemical-free way a family affair. The Yoders opened shop in 2020 north of Mount Carroll at the east end of the Elizabeth Blacktop after spending a couple of years solely as a vendor at local farmers markets. Flowers are the store’s primary product, coming in both potted and hanging varieties, but they also have a selection of fruits and vegetables, eggs, maple syrup and pastureraised chicken. Pasture-raised turkeys are sold in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Call for updated store hours and opening dates. As for the name, Strawberry was the name given to an old oneroom school on the property many decades ago.

The Yoder family — dad Jason, mom Esther, and Jonas, Judah, Jabez, Hadassah, and Teddy.