ountry C cres A A dazzling Christmas tradition
A Supplement to the Star Shopper
Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 • Edition 18
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Strands illuminate yard with lights, decorations By JENNIFER COYNE Staff Writer OPOLE – As one enters the Strands front yard, they are greeted with strings of lights on either side of the driveway, directing them throughout the property. On the right, Santa and his reindeer are taking flight off a rustic hay elevator. The other side displays various Christmas themes and lights dancing to the rhythm of music. If one comes at the right time, Santa is present to hand out candy canes. For many in central Minnesota, driving through the Strands’ light show PHOTO BY JENNIFER COYNE
STRANDS continued on page 6
Lonnie and Mike Strand decorate their lawn with lighted Christmas pieces at their home near Opole. The couple’s light display has been a must-see in Central Minnesota since they moved to the area in 2006. Previously, the Strands decorated their home in Eagan.
ALWAYS WILD
By KATELYN ASFELD Staff Writer
Linz raises Plains bison
steers. There was not much of a market for Holstein steers at the time, so after selling his steers, he decided to get out of the business. RICHMOND – Walking Linz’s brother-in-law, to the pasture with snow Mark, started raising bison, crunching underfoot and which sparked an interest in wind biting at his face, Randy Linz. Linz, of Shady Creek Bison “I thought, hmmm, that in Richmond, says, “Watch might be interesting,” Linz this, they will just run from said. the corral because they know He bought his first bull you’re coming.” from a friend, Danny Meyer, Sure enough, the herd of in Sauk Centre. bison bolt together out of the “He told me to come corral and into the pasture. over and get him. The bull at Then they turn back, watching the time I got him was just a from a distance. little over a year old. When Linz points “There’s one I went there, the bull got his of the bulls. Let’s see if he’ll head under the gate and threw come closer.” PHOTO BY KATELYN ASFELD Danny and broke his arm. The bull, standing over six Danny looked at me and said, feet tall, slowly approaches. Two bulls stare curiously on a cold Friday afternoon at Shady Creek Bison near Richmond. The bulls are a part of a 50-bison herd ‘Are you sure you want to do His face is full of dark curled owned by Randy and Milissa Linz. this?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I want hair and a beard of longer hair to do this,’” Linz said. under his chin. Pieces of grass hay stick Spanky zips around under the cold wind. From there, Linz bought four on his face, a result of grazing on a round enormous feet of the bison, sniffing the Linz observes his bison. He knows hay bale. ground. The bison turn their big heads to each and every one’s personalities and pregnant 2-year-old heifers that would Spanky, the Linzes’ tiny pug dog, watch him, somewhat unimpressed. behavior. After raising bison for 24 years, calve in the spring. After that, Linz said it was like a fever. runs under the fence, barking at the herd. The calves, standing next to their he knows a thing or two about these “That dog is not afraid of them at all,” mothers, watch too. Their horns are just magnificent animals. ALWAYS WILD Linz said chuckling. “Look at that tiny buttons, but will eventually start to curl. Linz started raising buffalo, or bison, continued on page 8 dog with those big buffalo.” They all stand in a line, unflinching in the in 1993, after raising a few Holstein