A Supplement to the Star Shopper
Friday, February 17, 2017 • Edition 2
ountry C cres A
FFocusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Die hard fisherman
Bauer fishes for chase, not limit By LAURA HINTZEN Staff Writer
PHOTO BY LAURA HINTZEN Jake Bauer has fishing memorabilia lining the walls of his living room, including his 32-inch walleye and two crappies. Bauer lives in Glenwood but has traveled as far as Canada for fishing trips.
GLENWOOD – There’s something to be said about learning a sport at a young age – it sticks with you. Jake Bauer, a graduate from Sauk Centre High School, was four years old when his dad brought him out for his first time ice fishing. Bauer, now 29, is lucky enough to have found a job that allows him to get out on the lake and catch his limit. From the end of April through December, he works as a general contractor in the Twin Cities dealing with sewer and water construction. “I used to put in 50 to
70-hour weeks, working seven days a week as much as I could and it paid for all of my toys so I could do this,” Bauer said. “But now I have a family so I don’t work on Saturdays and Sundays.” This past year, Bauer purchased a Polaris Ranger equipped with snow tracks which makes getting on and off the lake much easier. He will use his portable fish house around the area and if traveling farther, stays in one with living accommodations. Every year, Bauer buys a fishing license in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, BAUER continued on page 4
From a hobby to business Komises raise rabbits for market ated with it, they decided it was time to see if they could turn the tables and make a profit raising rabbits. The couple is also developing a AVON – Lee and Gerrie Komis herd of Herefords and Lowline beef of Two Rivers Farm and Rabbit- cattle, but rabbits have become a fory have their children to thank for cal point of their operation. sparking an interest in what has now Raising rabbits become a business. After much research, the Komis“Some 20 years ago, our kids had es now raise rabbits commercially. rabbits for 4-H. It was just a hobby, They have a herd that averages bebut we had several different breeds,” tween 400 to 600 rabbits, which insaid Gerrie, as she recently walked cludes the New Zealand Whites, New through their barn of rabbits. “They Zealand Reds and a few Lops they showed them in 4-H and ARBA still show. Mostly, the Komises raise (American Rabbit Breeders Associa- New Zealand Whites, which are the tion) shows.” ones they market. The New Zealand Gerrie and Lee went with their Whites have a body type classified as children to ARBA shows to show commercial. Most rabbits raised for their rabbits and began showing meat today have the commercial body some themselves. Their children are type, meaning they are well-muscled all grown now, and the only rabbits throughout their bodies. One major that they still show are Mini-Lops benefit of the New Zealands is their and some New Zealands. rapid weight gain, allowing them to “Mini Lops, French Lops, Dutch, be processed at a younger age. English Angoras, Jersey Woolies and “They are ready for market (beNew Zealands. We showed them all. tween 5.2 and 6 pounds) which takes But showing was not profitable,” about eight to 10 weeks,” Lee said. Gerri said. After 20 years of showing rabbits KOMIS as a hobby, and the expenses associcontinued on page 5 By HERMAN LENSING Staff writer
SUBMITTED PHOTO A New Zealand White doe carries straw to prepare a nest before kindling.