Focus 2018: Spotlight on Nonprofits

Kasey Manning, left, and Paul Vasilko, both members of CTI Music Ministry teams in the past, said their faith, relationships and careers were all affected because of the time they spent on the road with their music ministry teams. Manning is the current CTI program director.

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Saturday, April 21, 2018

Erica Dischino / Tribune

West Central Tribune

on

NONPROFITS

CTI Ministries Sharing music, changing lives

By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com

T

WILLMAR

he idea of sending a van full of teens and young adults across the country — and across the world — with a set of drums, guitars and talented singing voices to spend a night or two in host-family homes while they perform in jails, churches and colleges could seem like scheduling chaos.

But with more than 40 years of experience — and a passion for sharing their Christian faith — CTI Music Ministries has sent hundreds of young people to communities across the world to perform and share the gospel of Jesus Christ through music and personal testimonies.

And in the process they’ve changed lives.

Paul Vasilko and Kasey Manning, who were members of CTI Music Ministry teams in the past, said their faith, relationships and careers were

all affected because of the time they spent on the road with their music ministry teams.

Prior to Vasilko’s recent job change as a pastor at a Willmar church, they both worked for CTI. Manning is currently the program director at CTI. Originally called Carpenter’s Tools International, CTI Music Ministries started in 1975 in Willmar as a branch of the West Central Youth for Christ ministry program.

The program includes full-time and summer music ministry teams made up of people between the ages of 18 to 30.

Every year, 20 to 40 young adults spend a month in a foreign country performing in schools, churches and even on the streets, in partnership with Christian organizations.

The full-time teams need eight to 16 young adults who spend the year crisscrossing the United States performing in a variety of venues. They spend the last couple

weeks in a foreign country and conclude their mission by training the new summer teams.

Being selected for a CTI Music Ministries team includes a musical audition that helps organizers put together teams with the right combination of vocal and instrumental skills.

Participants, who are from all over the country, come to Willmar for two weeks to train for their music mission trips.

During that training period, they stay with host families at night and spend long days learning skits and songs — including at least one in the language of the country where they’ll be traveling, participating in Bible studies, sharing their personal stories of faith and getting to know their team members.

The trips are funded through donations, including money raised by each team member.

Over the decades, the purpose of the teams has remained the same, but the style of delivery has changed.

Vasilko said “music is always relevant,” but the type of music included in the performances has to “stay relevant” to get the attention of today’s audience so the message is heard.

The teams play music that is similar to what is heard during a Sunday morning worship service, as well as popular, family-friendly Christian rock music.

Erica Dischino / Tribune Performances also Kenny Ho, a CTI Music Ministries tour member, sings include short dramas and during a concert at Rock of Life CRC Church in Willmar. personal stories from team members about how God works in their lives.

In addition to honing their musical abiliCTI Music Ministries ties, learning leadership Established: Started in 1975, CTI Music skills, strengthening their Ministries was originally known as Carpenter’s personal character and Tools International. Funded through donations, adapting to new cultures CTI Music Ministries trains young adults for while on their music misChristian music mission trips. sion trips, Vasilko said Recent change: After this article was written, many of the young people CTI announced it will suspend all programs in involved with the program August, after the 2018 teams complete their tours. also pursue careers or lifeIt’s unknown at this time if CTI will continue long volunteer activities in operations after August but options are being left ministry and music. open to find new ways CTI can train young people While individuals on for a lifetime service to God through the Gospel. the teams grow through the experience, Manning For more information: 320-235-0155 or www.ctimusic.org MINISTRIES: Page D3

Hannah Vanderhooft, from left, Hillary Burdick, Will Dawdy and Brett Parson act out a Bible story to music during a CTI Music Ministries concert in Willmar on March 16.

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Spotlight

D2 Saturday, April 21, 2018

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Submitted photo

The Willmar Area Women’s Fund Steering Team is shown at the Willmar Area Community Foundation Awards in Philanthropy Celebration as honorees for the Innovative Impact Award in October 2017. They include: Kris Tone, standing, from left, Jodi Wambeke, Amelia Ryan, Cheryl Schmidt, Jean Geselius and Barb Swenson; and Kristal Dahlager, seated, left, and Dr. Kathy Nelson Hund. Team members not pictured include Sophia Mara, Val Amberg and Kit Smith.

Willmar Area Community Foundation Women’s Fund Funding and fueling the campaign against human trafficking

By Shelby Lindrud slindrud@wctrib.com

many different programs and organizations including Heartland CommuniWILLMAR ty Action Agency’s Kitchen hen the Willmar Kamp, Willmar Community Area Community Education and Recreation Foundation first Child Guides, Faith Lutheran Church, Minnesota and formed its Women’s Fund Wisconsin Lakes and Pines in 2008, it envisioned a Girl Scouts, and Kandiyohi group of women raising County Family YMCA. All funds to better the lives of the funds raised and donatfellow women and girls. ed were used for programs “The power of women and events geared toward being united in philan- women and girls. All totaled thropy,” Sara Carlson, the funded granted more executive director of the than $80,000.

Community Foundation, However, in 2015, the said of the program.

Women’s Fund found For the first seven years, a cause it couldn’t turn the fund raised money for away from and on which it

W

decided to focus its fundraising prowess entirely – homelessness and human sex trafficking in the Kandiyohi County area.

“All of us were in shock.

It is right here in our backyard. We had to do something about it,” said Women’s Fund Steering Committee member Cheryl Schmidt. “Of course what to do about it became the big question.”

Aware that there would be no quick fix, the Women’s Fund made a threeyear commitment to the cause, with 2018 the third

Willmar Area Community Foundation Women’s Fund

Established: 2008. Mission: To support and enhance the lives of women and girls facing challenges in the Kandiyohi County area. Vision: To empower girls and women and enable them to find their voice and gain control. Notable: In 2015 the group turned all of its attention to combating homelessness and human sex trafficking in Kandiyohi County.

FUND: Page D8

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Nonprofits

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Saturday, April 21, 2018 D3

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Patricia Cram, founder of Star Dreamer Ranch, guides her therapy dog Serenity over agility obstacles at her ranch in Litchfield.

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Patricia Cram, founder of Star Dreamer Ranch, stands in front of her therapy horses at the ranch in Litchfield. Cram founded the nonprofit to provide healing for humans and animals.

Star Dreamer Ranch

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Serenity, a therapy dog, walks through a tunnel obstacle at the Star Dreamer Ranch in Litchfield.

Trained therapy animals promote healing LITCHFIELD

O

n her business card, Pat Cram has a photo of her old dog Serena, an old trail horse named Tally and her niece Shelby Behnke as a small child.

The three were the inspiration for Cram’s nonprofit therapy dog business Star Dreamer Ranch outside Litchfield. The motto on the card: “Where animals and nature are the healers and teachers.”

Tally was an old trail horse brought from Colorado, and Serena was a collie. Both of them were calm and unflappable.

Shelby – “she has a real gift for working with animals” – was always her eager assistant.

“I knew they would make awesome therapy animals,” she said. “They led me on the search for finding out about training. ... And now I run my own business.”

Years later, her niece is a college student with her own therapy dog, and Serena and Tally are gone, but other animals have followed in their footsteps.

Cram’s current therapy dog partner is a sweet black goldendoodle named Serenity. Several miniature horses and a couple bigger ones are in a pen next to the shed she uses for training. Several of her pets are retired therapy dogs.

Training therapy animals is a long process, she said. They need to go through two levels of obedience training before beginning therapy training as human-animal partners. Their visits are always as partners.

“Serenity makes it look easy; it isn’t easy,” Cram said.

A therapy animal needs to learn to not be startled by things like wheelchairs or walkers. Cram and Serenity work as a team and visit nursing homes and adult day care.

In special circumstances, they’ll even visit someone at home. They visit schools, including colleges during finals week.

“It’s really cool, because not only do you bring a smile to someone’s face – with people with dementia, it can bring back memories,” she said.

Some start telling stories about the dogs they had when they were young.

“There’s such a need in our area, and Serenity just can’t do it all,” she said, laughing. That’s why she started her nonprofit.

So far, she has trained and certified 10 humandog teams and six more are in training. All of their work is done as a team.

About 10 years ago, she became certified in the TTouch training method.

The first T in the name stands for trust. It’s a gentle, positive approach to training animals that is designed to help build confidence in animals and their human partners.

She uses TTouch to train therapy dogs and in the AKC Canine Good Citizen classes she teaches. She is qualified to test dogs in either program. Cram also works with shelter dogs or other animals that might have behavioral problems.

Her dogs and horses can provide animal therapy to people who might benefit from it, too, she said.

“We don’t use any kind of force, ever,” she said of the TTouch method. The small obstacle course in the training building is the “playground of higher learning.” The course can help put a dog’s mind and body in balance and build confidence, she said.

Dogs are introduced to the course and try it out at their own pace. There’s always a treat waiting at the other side of an obstacle. The bigger the obstacle, the bigger the treat.

“High value” treats are hot dog pieces at the top.

The TTouch method can help calm rescue dogs and

MINISTRIES

her train more therapy animal teams.

The name of Cram’s nonprofit is drawn from the song “The Impossible Dream.” The song’s lyrics refer to dreaming an impossible dream and reaching for an unreachable star. That’s how it felt to start out on her own, she said.

Star Dreamer Ranch

Established: 2010. Mission: Training and certification for therapy dogs and other animals. Location: 29358 Minnesota Highway 22, Litchfield. 320693-6994 (leave message or text) pcram@hughes.net

www.maynardmn.com

From Page D1

ence members – including prison inmates – confirm the program has made a difference in people’s lives, Vasilko said, adding the “ripple effect” of changing one person’s life could result in the lives of many more changed for the good.

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said the purpose of the program is to bring the “message of the gospel” to others.

The impact that message has on people who see and hear CTI performances is more difficult to determine.

But letters from audi-

dogs who have behavior issues. Bad behavior often comes from a lack of confidence, she said.

“We give animals a lot of opportunity for choice, to choose the things they are ready to do,” she said.

For training therapy dogs, she said, she felt a nonprofit would be the best way to organize her business. She is looking for a grant writer to help

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Spotlight

D4 Saturday, April 21, 2018

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Submitted photo

Wiconi Wakan Ni Po means “Life is Sacred.” The group runs a suicide awareness campaign for youth through Dakota Wicohan. They came up with the name and had the banner created. The colors of life are used. They travel to community events and display their banner and hand out bracelets to other youth.

Dakota Wicohan

Preserving and restoring a proud language and culture

By Shelby Lindrud slindrud@wctrib.com MORTON

T Tribune file photo

Dakota Wicohan exhibits traditional Dakota crafts in 2015.

Tribune file photo

Language is extremely important to the Dakota people and Dakota Wicohan’s main goal is to make sure it stays a vibrant and alive.

Dakota Wicohan

Established: 2002 by members of the Dakota community living on and near the Lower and Upper Sioux Dakota communities. Vision statement: Dakota Wicohan’s long-term vision is to build a Dakota learning institute that prepares and empower individuals, generation by generation, to lead with wo’Dakota (Dakota values). Mission statement: To revitalize Dakota as a living language, and through it, transmit Dakota lifeways to future generations. Headquarters: in Morton

he Dakota word “Wicohan” (pronounced wee-chohan) means lifeways and for the past 16 years Dakota Wicohan has been working tirelessly to protect and revitalize the Dakota way of life through language, culture and education.

“We have been steadfast all these years,” said Dakota Wicohan board chairwoman Gabby Strong. “We have been really committed.”

In 2001-2002, a group of Dakota, living in and around the Lower and Upper Sioux communities along the Minnesota River, were growing concerned about what the future held for the Dakota language and culture. There were only a handful of first-language Dakota speakers alive. When they died, they took their language and history with them.

“They recognized our language was in crisis,” Strong said of the founders, who included her mother.

Dakota Wicohan was

formed to make sure the language and culture were not lost to time and instead were passed on to the younger and future generations.

“They plugged away really small. It was a very grassroots, a community of practice,” Strong said.

Since those humble beginnings, the nonprofit has helped teach a new era of Dakota speakers, along with spreading the Dakota culture and art statewide.

Today, there are only an estimated five first-language native speakers of Dakota alive. But thanks in large part to Dakota Wicohan, there are several new Dakota teachers, who apprenticed with those native speakers. Those teachers are now continuing the tradition of the Dakota language, keeping it alive and vital.

“That was quite a vision back then, creating those teachers,” said Eileen O’Keefe, Dakota Wicohan program director.

The group has also been working on a Dakota history and culture curriculum for the state’s sixthgrade students. The hope is to make it part of the social studies standards required in all Minnesota public schools.

“It is striving to tell the story of Dakota people,” Strong said.

Sharing the history of the Dakota people could also lead to more cross-cultural understanding. It could help the youth from all backgrounds relate to each other.

“A positive history, not just the War of 1862,” O’Keefe said. “You have to have an understanding of one another.”

Dakota Wicohan also looks to the youth by providing groups and activities geared toward them and their needs while giving them a safe and secure place to come.

“Our youth know this is one of those places,” Strong said.

There are leadership groups for both young men and women, in which the older youth teach the younger how to be leaders in the community while participating in a wide range of activities from arts to sports. The girls’ group focuses on many different areas including safe relationships, financial literacy and public speaking.

“Stuff that is relevant today,” said Doris Strands, program assistant.

Another group is helping the youth tackle the heart-

breaking issue of suicide while also teaching them that their life is worthy.

“We use our language to enforce how our life is sacred and important,” Strong said.

Dakota Wicohan also has programs which focus on the Dakota’s important relationship with horses and cultural art. Recently, the Minnesota Arts Board awarded the group a grant to form a master-apprenticeship program for tanning, quilling and star quilting – all traditional Dakota arts.

“We are trying to bring our Dakota culture and heritage into it,” Strong said.

There have been many individuals and groups who have been touched by Dakota Wicohan and then gone off to continue the mission in new and other ways across the state.

“We are all part of the web of the language revitalization,” Strong said.

While the work of Dakota Wicohan is ongoing and continues to grow, it definitely has come a long way from its first days.

“It is amazing when you think of the impact our little office has had,” O’Keefe said.

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Each year the news staff at the West Central Tribune works together to put out a “Focus” section, centering on a theme that showcases people from the region.

This special edition to the paper is always well-received by our readers, and gives our reporters a chance to get out and do something different from the day-to-day coverage of their beat topics.

This year’s theme is: Spotlight on Nonprofits.

From the United Way to Lutheran Social Services, Goodwill and car clubs, there are a number of nonprofit organizations helping out the community in a vast many ways. Some provide emergency services while others provide opportunity to explore or enjoy a pastime or hobby for those looking for something fulfilling in their life.

There are many, many clubs and organizations that fall under the “nonprofit” category, way too many to cover here. However, we tried to include a cross-section of organizations – and some you may not be aware of – across the region to get people thinking about all the nonprofits that operate right here amongst us all on a daily basis.

We hope you enjoy this year’s Focus edition.

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Nonprofits

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Saturday, April 21, 2018 D5

Anne Polta / Tribune

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Participants use ankle weights to lift their legs with more resistance during a “Bone Builders” class provided for older adults through the Atwater Area Help for Seniors at the Atwater Community Center.

Lori Hutchinson, left, volunteer coordinator, and Deb Friedrichs, director and service coordinator, are the staff at Atwater Area Help for Seniors, a nonprofit program to help keep aging residents in their own homes as long as possible.

Atwater Area Help for Seniors It’s all about neighbors helping neighbors

T

he concept of Atwater Area Help for Seniors is down to earth: neighbors helping their aging neighbors live well in the community they call home.

The nonprofit program celebrates its 30th anniversary this year of supporting older adults and keeping them at home as long as possible.

“It’s a wonderful model,” said Deb Friedrichs, director and service coordinator.

Atwater Area Help for Seniors was among Minnesota’s first block nurse programs, an initiative launched by the state in the 1980s to address the needs of a growing elderly population. There are now 32 sites across Minnesota – including Granite Falls, Grove City and Paynesville – that participate in Living at Home, a network of care built on the old-fashioned concept of neighborly connections to help people stay safe and independent as they age.

Although many older adults prefer to remain in their own home for as long as they can, practical issues such as yardwork, grocery shopping and rides to doctor appoint-

ments often become a barrier, Friedrichs said.

Even a few hours of volunteer help each week can go a long way toward keeping these individuals in the setting they know and love, she said.

“They really want to be here,” she said.

“They’ve got deep roots in the community. It’s important for them to be able to go to their own church and stay in their own neighborhood.”

Volunteers with Atwater Area Help for Seniors lend a helping hand with doing laundry and replacing light bulbs. They take people to the post office.

They pick up and deliver prescription medications.

They provide rides to church. They offer companionship with visits and coffee. When the city lost power for 48 hours after a severe storm last summer, volunteers helped go door to door to ensure their older neighbors were OK. The program’s service area includes the city of Atwater and surrounding townships with a combined population of about 2,100.

Clients must be over age 65.

Dedicated volunteers are the backbone of the service, said Lori Hutchinson, who coordinates volunteer activities.

“They all have different interests,” she said.

“Some love to drive to

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appointments.

Others like to just sit and listen.

They all give in such different ways.”

Some have been with the program for most or all of its 30-year history, first as a volunteer and then as a client – and many clients also continue to volunteer, she said.

During its early years the Living at Home program was nursing-oriented. These days the emphasis is on healthy aging and coordination of care.

One example is a Bone Builders exercise class aimed at strengthening bone mass among older adults and reducing the risk of fractures. There’s a balance class geared to reduce the risk of falls, which can be costly and devastating for older adults and may end their independence.

Living at Home hosts an annual health fair and offers classes each year to educate caregivers and help them be more effective.

From their office in the Atwater Wellness Center, Friedrichs and Hutchinson serve as a resource for families seeking information on what’s available to support aging relatives living at home. They loan out medical equipment such as canes and walkers. The office has even become an informal gathering place, fostering the social connections increasingly seen

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By Anne Polta apolta@wctrib.com ATWATER

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as an important contributor to overall health.

“We fill the gap,” Friedrichs said. “We all hope to live longer and it would be nice to live well as long as we can.”

One of her goals for the future is to address a growing need for respite care. “There are so many people that are caregivers

now,” she said.

A grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services covers about half of the program’s annual costs. Last year the program also received funding for the first time from the United Way of West Central Minnesota. But individual donations and support from the Atwater

Atwater Area Help for Seniors

area community remain an important source of funds to keep the service going.

From bake sales to an annual golf tournament, Atwater chips in, Hutchinson said. “We get a lot of support. We couldn’t do it without everybody.”

“Every small town should have a program like this,” Friedrichs said.

Established: 1988 Service area: city of Atwater and surrounding townships Mission: “The Atwater Area Help for Seniors, Living At Home Block Nurse Program, is designed to support elders, and their caregivers, so elders may stay in their own home and community for as long as safely possible.”

Address: 126 Fourth St. N., Atwater On the web: www.atwaterareahelpforseniors.com

Spotlight

D6 Saturday, April 21, 2018

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Goodwill Helping people get back to work

By Shelby Lindrud slindrud@wctrib.com

Byron Braaten holds a radish pulled from a field as part of a field day looking at the benefits of cover crops to soil health and fertility sponsored by the Land Stewardship Project.

Photo by Brian Devore

Land Stewardship Project Working for our rural landscape, fostering change led to the formation of the Land Stewardship Project in 1982. Its goal, according to its mission statement, is to “foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture and develop healthy communities.”

The Land Stewardship Project operates with offices in Montevideo, Lewiston and Minneapolis.

Montevideo was among one of the earliest locations for a Land Stewardship Project office. It may not always get recognition for it, but much of its work is actually wellknown. One example: It was an early leader in promoting local foods and entrepreneurial opportunities for those producing fresh, healthy foods for their local communities.

The Montevideo office helped launch “Pride of the Prairie,” a cooperative effort of local producers to promote their foods.

Soil health and the economic viability of mediumsized farms remain the central issues today. The local office is working with the Chippewa River Project to promote a 10 percent increase in perennial cover in the watershed as

By Tom Cherveny tcherveny@wctrib.com MONTEVIDEO

T

here are causes out there that grab lots of headlines, and involve big grant awards for shiny new equipment.

“And all of our work is not that,” said Terry Van der Pol of the Land Stewardship Project office in Montevideo.

Theirs is a patient work that requires building relationships and persistently telling others about the importance of land conservation and economic fairness.

It is worthy work, and that’s what motivates Van der Pol and colleague Robin Moore every day. “I couldn’t get out of bed if I looked around me and said, ‘This is the way it is now and the way it is always going to be,’” Van der Pol said.

“I’m like Terry,” Moore said. “I couldn’t get up if I was not trying to do something for the place I live.

I’m working for the world I want to see happen.”

It was what many saw happening to the rural landscape of Minnesota that

an opportunity to promote soil health and reduce the degradation of waterways.

The project also works one-on-one with farmers and landowners to promote sustainable and economically profitable opportunities, including livestock grazing and cover crops.

Progress can be slow, but it is happening.

They noted that a few years ago the Montevideo office hosted a field day for farmers on how to build soil health. One showed up. They tried again. Eight showed up.

Last year, 31 people participated. “Persistence,” said Van der Pol of their efforts.

Land is an asset to manage and protect, if you want to bring it down to financial terms, Van der Pol said.

But she and Moore see land as much more than an economic asset.

They view people’s relationship to the land as central to their very being. Land Stewardship Project challenges the message that farmers should remove their

WILLMAR

G

oodwill in Willmar is much more than just a thrift store.

For many people it is the secret to their employment success, and without it, they might not be where they are today.

“I would be nowhere, I would be lost,” said Heather Moos, a client of Goodwill, who has been with the program since 2014.

For 100 years, Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota has helped immigrants and refugees, those with disabilities and many others navigate the sometimes complicated and confusing world of employment.

“Those with little or no work experience.

They don’t know how to work,” said Shelly Huseby, Goodwill workforce development manager.

Goodwill and its team of career specialists assist clients with finding jobs, applying for jobs and keeping them.

“We help place them in a job with their skills,” Huseby said.

The actual Goodwill thrift store provides a training ground for those using the employment services, where they can learn and work on employment skills ranging from following a schedule and working with others to customer service and even using conversational English.

“We are teaching them job skills, building relationships,” Huseby said.

“Helping them train and

find a job they are engaged in.”

Willmar’s Goodwill program helps people from Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod and Renville counties and parts of Chippewa County. Individuals are referred to Goodwill.

In 2017, Willmar’s Goodwill, which has been in place since 1996, served 136 people. There were 38 job placements, 15 job advancements and Goodwill assisted 46 high school students to enter the job market.

“When we find people jobs, they are productive citizens,” Huseby said.

“You work your way to being independent.”

Both Moos and Denis Croom came to Goodwill after returning to Willmar and starting a new chapter of their lives.

“I am very thankful for Goodwill. I wouldn’t be where I am without Dave Kocka and the program,” Croom said.

Croom has been working with Kocka, a Goodwill transitional employment and career specialist, for nearly six years. With Kocka’s assistance, Croom now works at Roosevelt Elementary in a job she loves.

The two have weekly calls about how Croom is doing, and Kocka helps her with paperwork and working through other job issues.

“Dave is a real help to me, putting things in order,” Croom said.

For Moos, Goodwill has meant being able find a place she fits in. For the past four years, she has been working for Home Depot in Willmar.

“I love it there,”

Moos said.

Douglas Doering is Moos’ transitional employment and career specialist at Goodwill.

With his help, she has been able to hold her job and work through any issues that have arisen.

“He is helping me stay on task at work. Making sure I am doing my job the right way,” Moos said.

Also helping Moos, Croom and all of the individuals who use the services provided by Goodwill are the shoppers at the store.

“I would not be able to do this without it,” Croom said.

A portion of the revenue from store sales stay in Willmar Goodwill’s service area. About onethird of the organization’s budget comes from the store and that money allows the program to serve more people.

“The retail store is a fundraiser. That is the mission, to support our programs,” Huseby said.

The rest of the funds for Goodwill’s programing comes from state funding and grants.

“It impacts people right here,” Huseby said.

Goodwill has had a positive impact on hundreds of people in and around Willmar. Croom and Moos themselves are extremely grateful for the opportunities the program has given them and many others.

“They can come and get the help they need.

They do a great job here, helping people who need the help the most,” Moos said.

Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota

Established: 1919 in St. Paul; the Willmar chapter opened in 1996. Mission: To eliminate barriers to work and independence.

Vision: A world where everyone experiences the power to work.

Service area:: Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod and Renville counties and parts of Chippewa County.

LAND: Page D9

Land Stewardship Project

Established: Land Stewardship Project was founded in 1982 to promote land conservation and the sustainability of medium-sized farms. Montevideo was among the early organizational sites and its offices continue to serve western and west central Minnesota. Mission: It promotes local foods, and entrepreneurial opportunities for local producers was and remains a focus of work. The Farm Beginnings program helps young farmers find access to land and financial resources. It works to pair young farmers with experienced mentors. Learn more at landstewardshipproject.org/ Shelby Lindrud / Tribune

Shelly Huseby is the workforce development manager at Goodwill in Willmar.

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West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Southwest Initiative Foundation

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Cal Roberts, a volunteer at Renville County Back-thePack, fills a bag with food that will be given to lowincome students.

WILLMAR

Feeding Renville County school children OLIVIA

O

n a recent Tuesday, more than 20 people from the Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop School District were stuffing cloth backpacks with food.

The group was stuffing backpacks with food for the weekend while they chatted and laughed at each other’s jokes. Betsy Hennen, the leader of the pack, watched the assembly line work as each person picked up a backpack and went down a long table adding something from every box.

The Renville County Back-The-Pack Program has offered backpacks for low-income students since 2011.

The county-wide nonprofit provides two weekend meals for each eligible child in four school districts – Renville County West, BOLD, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart and Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop. A backpack goes to each child in a family.

The program was started by teachers who saw a need for providing meals to children in the area, according to its Facebook page. Retired teacher Betsy Hennen of Olivia leads the pack.

It started small with feeding kids in the BOLD Schools, Hennen said.

Supplies were stored in a closet at an Olivia church.

Back-The-Pack added RCW a year later and GFW two years after that. BLHS came on board this year.

As the program has grown, so has its need for

space. It’s grown from a church closet to a donated room in another church, and then to its own building. Olivia attorney Aaron Walton offered the building next to his law office rent-free. The program pays only utilities.

Volunteers show up each Tuesday to stuff the backpacks with food. The backpacks go into plastic bins and are delivered to schools.

It’s a different crew each week but some regulars are always ready to help, Hennen said.

The day the GFW volunteers were there, they packed each bag with a box of pancake mix, syrup, a bowl-shaped cereal box, a juice box and five granola bars.

Other volunteers were opening boxes of saltine crackers and stacking the separate sleeves of crackers into a large cardboard box. They would be ready to use another day when they fit with a weekend’s menu, Hennen said.

Volunteers that day were from Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Fairfax and the Fairfax United Methodist Church, including the Rev. Clint Evans.

Jeff Gatton, the mayor of Gibbon was there, too.

When GFW began receiving the food, the Gibbon Lions got involved in supporting the program, he said, and now he’s just having fun stuffing backpacks.

Evans said he was looking for ways to help local schools when he came to Fairfax, and someone referred him to Hennen.

The church raises money for the program and sends volunteers.

Renville County Back-The-Pack Program

Established: 2011 Mission: To fill meal gaps by providing weekend food for low-income children in four school districts For more information call 320-523-5717 or visit the group’s Facebook page. backthepackprogram@gmail.com

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Helps businesses with funding, training across the region

By Linda Vanderwerf lvanderwerf@wctrib.com

Back-The-Pack

By Linda Vanderwerf lvanderwerf@wctrib.com

Saturday, April 21, 2018 D7

R

oy and Beth Stiff could have built their business KandiComp without assistance from the Southwest Initiative Foundation, but it would have been more difficult, he said.

The computer repair and sales business began as a part-time, homebased business and grew to a full-time, homebased business. In 2012, they moved to a building at 412 Litchfield Ave. S.W. in downtown Willmar.

The business had grown so much at that point it had become a safety hazard to have it operating out of their home, Roy Stiff said.

KandiComp received a grant early on and recently a microloan to pay for a new boiler.

The Southwest Initiative Foundation is one of six regional donations founded in 1986

by The McKnight Foundation. The goal was to have the foundations help strengthen the state’s rural economy in response to the farm crisis in the 1980s.

It’s unusual for a nonprofit foundation to offer assistance to for-profit businesses, said Diana Anderson, president and CEO of the foundation.

The regional foundations received permission from the Minnesota Legislature to do the work.

In addition to business development, the foundation’s other programs support many other concerns in its 18-county service area. They include

“Pastor Clint walked in and said he heard about the program – ‘What can I do?’” Hennen said.

Groups schedule their volunteers to pack a month at a time, but that’s not always the way it works. The GFW packers were not necessarily scheduled to pack in March, but they showed up when they were called.

“If Betsy needs help, we come,” one man said.

“This is a wonderful program,” said Judy Tracy, who lives in the BLHS School District. She grew up in Fairfax, so she packs with that group.

Doug Erdahl, retired after 42 years as a GFW custodian, said the reason he got involved is simple – “for the kids.”

He added, “I’m retired, so I’ve got time; It’s fun to do this.”

The program operates on donations and grants, which come from all parts of the county. Churches, businesses and service clubs in the school districts support the program through food drives and donations. They have fundraising dinners, too.

The program is a partner with Second Harvest Heartland food bank and also purchases some food from wholesalers. Hennen also purchases food from local grocery stores.

Businesses donate food, too. The program has received beef sticks from Central Region Co-op, which has locations in several Renville County cities. Treehouse Foods of Lakeville donates granola bars.

The number of kids served varies throughout the year. In March, the group was stuffing nearly 150 backpacks each week – 40 for BOLD, 34 for RCW, 44 for GFW and 28 for BLHS. The ages of the kids receiving food vary by district, from preschool through eighth grade.

Roy Stiff, one of the founders of KandiComp, explains how the Southwest Initiative Foundation assisted with getting their business started.

early childhood education, renewable energy and retaining farmland. A recent focus is the Grow Our Own program, which seeks to help children get a good start in their lives.

In addition to financing, the KandiComp owners have taken advantage of the business management advice and continuing education classes offered by the Southwest Initiative Foundation.

“For me, the continuing education is invaluable,” Beth Stiff said. “It keeps us on track.”

Roy Stiff said SWIF provided a network of people and resources that would be hard to duplicate. The foundation’s staff members have small business experience and have becomes friends over the years.

While Stiff believes his business would have survived without those resources, “we would have been hard-pressed to discover them on our own,” he said.

“A business owner has all of the passion and tenacity and commitment to do the hard work,” Anderson said.

“With microloans, we can come along with technical assistance, Quickbooks and developing a business plan or marketing strategy.”

As entrepreneurs, the foundation’s clients are “very passionate about wanting to create something and wanting to sell something, but they’re new on business side,” Anderson said.

The foundation has a revolving loan fund designed for larger businesses, she said. Those businesses may need $150,000 to $500,000 to fill a gap left after they have obtained other

financing. “We can mitigate some of the risk for the bank,” she said.

“That’s been our bread and butter since the very beginning.”

The foundation works with immigrant entrepreneurs, too, she said.

“They have a strong drive to own their own businesses and incredible determination,” she said, “but navigating all the systems, regulations and financing in a different country and not their first language can be really challenging.”

Anderson said she thought about those entrepreneurs during a recent trip to Mexico. She thought about how difficult it would be to try to start a business there.

“It gives some perspective to how hard they work to start their businesses,” she added.

Anderson said the foundation also does more traditional work, like awarding grants in communities, with an emphasis on early childhood.

The Grow Our Own effort, which is in its early stages, is a way to look forward for the foundation’s next 30 years, Anderson said. It’s an effort to close an “opportunity gap for kids,” to make sure all children, regardless of family income, have an opportunity to thrive in their lives.

“Every single one of those children are critical to our future,” she said.

The effort extends from early childhood programs to helping students finish high school and gain access to postsecondary education. It could include apprenticeship and intern programs.

Southwest Initiative Foundation

Established: 1986 Main office: 15 Third Ave. N.W., Hutchinson Contact: (320) 587-4848, info@swifoundation. org Website: swifoundation.org/ Since its founding the foundation has: ► Awarded $44.3 million in loans to support 700 businesses, created or retained 8,590 jobs ► Awarded $30 million in grants to nonprofits, schools and communities ► Established 26 community affiliates and 101 donor advised, school and other funds ► Established 16 Early Childhood Initiative coalitions ► Received 1,730 acres of farmland through Keep It Growing program

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Spotlight

D8 Saturday, April 21, 2018

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Jen Johnson, executive director of Safe Avenues, speaks about the intersectionality of sex trafficking during a Lunch and Learn session for the Women’s Fund March 20 at the Willmar Area Community Foundation meeting.

Erica Dischino / Tribune

An attendee holds an infographic explaining the power and control dynamics of sex trafficking during a Lunch and Learn session March 20 for the Women’s Fund of the Willmar Area Community Foundation.

Shelby Lindrud / Tribune

Sara Maher, executive director of the RC Hospital Foundation, has seen her work grow as the hospital campus in Olivia continues to expand and offer new services and programs.

RC Hospital Foundation Reach grows as hospital community does

OLIVIA

W

hen Sara Maher first started at RC Hospital and Clinics in 2001, she worked only part-time and worked one day a week on RC Hospital Foundation business.

Today, she is the full-time executive director of the foundation, which raises money for a wide variety of programs and puts on events throughout the year.

“We have expanded a ton.

It is just amazing how much its grown,” Maher said.

The RC Hospital Foundation was established in 1996 and its first mission was to raise money for a telehealth program at the county-owned hospital.

The foundation expanded through the years to include raising funds for the RenCare program, which provides emergency funds for people facing unexpected medical costs and scholarships for students interested in a medical career. Then in

2013, the county started to plan and then build its new medical campus on the east side of Olivia.

“We gave a significant amount of money, nearly three-quarters of a million, for the new building,” Maher said.

The foundation also ran the capital campaign during the construction, and the $1.5 million raised made it possible to have a magnetic resonance imaging system installed at the hospital and covered the planting of the Sweet Garden as part of the hospital’s landscaping.

“We are utilizing the donations to the best of the donors’ intent,” Maher said.

From the time the doors swung open at the new hospital, the foundation has grown along with it, adding more events, starting new partnerships and raising more money for the hospital and its community. Last year the foundation donated $250,000 toward the da Vinci X robotic surgery system and since August

the hospital has completed 70 surgeries with it.

There was also a $31,000 donation to purchase software used to detect breast cancer earlier.

“The interest is keeping our medical campus thriving,” Maher said.

One of the best-known fundraisers of the foundation is the annual Thompson Memorial Golf Classic each June. The money raised goes toward the foundation’s scholarship program. In 2018 the foundation will financially assist 11 students, as well as provide them with interning and volunteer opportunities at the hospital.

“Our students are very important to us,” Maher said.

Other events and programs the foundation runs include the Healthy Giving Circle, which last year raised $1,555 for the foundation and other charitable organizations; the Women’s Health Expo; and the holiday-themed Deck the Halls event.

“We are having more educational talks too,”

RC Hospital Foundation

Established: 1996. Vision for sustaining healthy communities: To have a broad nucleus of financial support for achieving and enhancing optimum health care services for the citizens of Renville County. Mission: To support RC Hospital and Clinics and other local service providers in delivering accessible and quality health care for all county residents.

Maher said.

This year also marks the start of another partnership. The RC Hospital Foundation is joining forces in 2018 with the American Cancer Society to hold the annual Relay for Life. This year half of the proceeds will be going to directly help cancer survivors in Renville County.

“This is a whole new model,” Maher said. “We need to take care of our own people.”

The remaining funds will go toward cancer research and the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge.

Maher’s position became full-time in November, and she uses her time to continue growing the reach of RC Hospital and Clinics.

“I’ve been able to reach out to the community and show them what the medical campus has to offer,” Maher said.

Maher believes the foundation has been able to succeed and grow the way it has for two major reasons.

First, it has a stateof-the-art facility where both providers and patients want to come.

“We are so fortunate to have a facility of this caliber in Renville County,” Maher said.

But probably the most important reason for the foundation’s success is the people who donate to it.

“They want to give back to where they were born,” Maher said. “It is Renville County nice.”

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year of that first stage.

During the first year in 2016, the Women’s Fund raised more than $70,000 with its Caring for Women Circle Campaign. The next year another $79,000 was raised.

“We greatly exceeded our campaign goals,” said Kris Tone, steering committee member.

With that money the group funded “Safe Dates,” a healthy relationship curriculum for 2,000 school children and staff; trained local hotel workers in what to be aware of when it comes to human trafficking; and donated much needed supplies to victims of human trafficking, along with funding direct victim assistance.

The fund began valuable partnerships with Safe Avenues and Lutheran Social Service. The Women’s Fund raises the money while the service organizations put that money to work.

“We get to stand on the sidelines and be their biggest cheerleaders,” Carlson said.

In 2017 the Women’s Fund made a twoyear, $48,000-per-year promise to help fund the Kandiyohi County Human Trafficking Task Force Coordinator position with Safe Avenues.

The coordinator, Stephanie Felt, has been developing a response protocol for other agencies and organizations to use when helping victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation within Kandiyohi County.

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Avenues and (Lutheran Social Service). This is truly a partnership with them,” Carlson said.

The endowment from the Community Foundation that helped establish the Women’s Fund pays for the organization’s operating expenses, so all of the money raised during the yearly fundraising goes toward its mission.

“One hundred percent of the gifts are doing work in Kandiyohi County,” Carlson said.

Every year during the fundraising campaign, approximately 40 campaign volunteers each speak to eight to 10 contacts, asking for donations.

“They are amazing volunteers,” Carlson said.

Since the fund started focusing on homelessness and human trafficking, the community response has been more than the group expected. On average there are nearly 500 individual donations made to the Women’s Fund annually.

“The community has been very generous,” Schmidt said.

The Women’s Fund has been doing its work for 10 years now. When it started, no one could foresee the impacts, it would have, both big and small, especially on such a difficult and complex issue as human trafficking. It is seen as a leader in the state, with other charity organizations seeking advice locally on how to tackle and respond to such needs.

“We didn’t anticipate the force they would become in the community,” Carlson said of the Women’s Fund decade of community service. “This is the best of philanthropy.”

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Nonprofits

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Saturday, April 21, 2018 D9

Blue Star Mothers

LAND From Page D6

Honoring those who serve, supporting families

By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com WILLMAR

A

fter reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in a meeting room at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Willmar, members of the Blue Star Mothers give updates on where their military child is at the moment.

One woman’s son is currently in Iraq, and another’s son recently returned from a deployment.

Another shares news that her son recently got married. Another tells of a new grandchild.

The women then discuss upcoming volunteer events and fundraisers that will support active or retired military service members and their families, like sending supplies to facilities for homeless veterans and paying for summer camp for local military kids.

And — of course — they pack the boxes.

Like they do at every meeting on the third Thursday of the month, members of this Blue Star Mothers chapter fill boxes full of treats and toiletries that are sent to deployed service men and women who have a Minnesota connection.

Those receiving these care packages can be from anywhere as long as there is a Minnesota family member or friend who provides contact information for a deployed service member.

The group pays a flat mailing rate of about $17

for every care box so they are determined to pack them as full as they can with donated items — gum, granola bars, fruit snacks, beef jerky, instant oatmeal, powdered drink mixes, disposable razors, sunscreen, Chapstick, nasal spray, deodorant, foot powder, batteries, puzzle books, DVD movies and copies of the West Central Tribune.

There’s also a letter that says the boxes are being sent by mothers in Minnesota to let these men and women know they are being remembered and their service to the country is valued.

“Every month that they’re deployed, they get a box,” said Brenda Marcus of Prinsburg, president of Blue Star Mothers Minnesota Chapter 1.

Because of the mailing lag time, a service member deployed for six months will usually get five boxes.

If they’re deployed for a year, each person will get 10 to 11 boxes, Marcus said.

Back in 2006-07, the chapter sent about 70 boxes each month to service members.

Five years ago it was about 20 boxes a month.

At their meeting in March, the women packed just four boxes.

Although deployments have slowed down, there are obviously more than four service men and women with Minnesota connections serving abroad.

Part of the problem is some service members and families are “cautious” about providing

information and some people thought the Blue Star Mothers had disbanded, said Marcus, who is a veteran and has a son in the military.

It’s true that more than half of the Minnesota Blue Star Mothers chapters have folded or merged, but the one based in Willmar is strong and active.

Started in March 2003 — when “Operation Iraqi Freedom” was launched — this is the oldest Blue Star Mothers chapter in Minnesota.

They are celebrating their 15th anniversary this year.

They would like to have more members — only mothers or female legal guardians can be voting members — but dads, spouses and loved ones of active or retired service members can be associate members.

They would also like to have contact information for more service members. If that happens, they will need more donations from the community to fill the boxes.

While the group’s activities are focused on supporting active or retired military service members and their families, the women are also there for each other.

“These women are my support system,” said Tracy Clark of New London, whose son Ryane was killed in 2010 while deployed to Afghanistan.

Clark packed care boxes alongside the other women and shared information about events she and her husband, Rick, are

Carolyn Lange / Tribune

Members of the Blue Star Mothers pack boxes in Willmar that are sent to deployed service men and women with a Minnesota connection. The Blue Star Mothers meets every month in Willmar to coordinate volunteer events, pack boxes and provide support to each other. coordinating in their son’s honor, including a scholarship fundraiser and a walk this summer to support Gold Star families.

After she expressed anxiety about an upcoming speaking engagement at a military support event, the women showered Clark with words of encouragement.

The support the women give each other and to the service members and their

families is constant and appreciated.

A recent letter the group received expressed a service member’s thankfulness for the care packages.

“I can’t say how he ended the letter because it makes me cry everytime,” Marcus said. “It was more or less, have fun with your family, be safe and we’re watching over you.”

Blue Star Mothers Chapter 1

Established: The Blue Star Mothers Chapter 1, based in Willmar, was started in 2003. The group is composed of females who have family serving — or have served — in the military.

Mission: “We support each other and our children while promoting patriotism. Our organization focuses on our mission every single day and will never, ever, forsake our troops, our veterans or the families of our Fallen Heroes.” Meetings: 5-7 p.m. every third Thursday, 825th Army Reserve Center, 614 Highway 71 Service Road, Willmar; PO Box 206, Pennock, MN 56279

emotions and values and treat farming as strictly a business, they explained.

Land matters to all people, including the communities who have had seen their historic connection to the land broken. Land Stewardship Project is currently working with some of the state’s indigenous communities and people of color to help restore connections to the land, according to Van der Pol and Moore.

Land Stewardship Project continues to work with young people who want to farm. Its Farm Beginnings program, led

by Amy Bacigalupo, helps young farmers find land and financial resources to pursue their dreams.

Land Stewardship Project is also turning its focus to working with the growing number of people who own farmland, but do not farm it. Van der Pol and Moore are helping them see the importance of developing rental agreements and relationships that foster good stewardship.

They are paying special attention and working to empower women who own land but may not farm it.

Women don’t always feel welcome in the whole agricultural infrastructure, Van der Pol said.

Much has been achieved since the Land Stewardship Project was launched nearly four decades ago, but much remains to be done.

They noted that soil health, concern about water quality, and a desire for a fair playing field that allows medium-sized farms to thrive are very much on the public agenda today.

“I do see movement,” Van der Pol said.

“Not enough. Not as much as I’d like to see,” she added.

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Benson

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Benson Public Schools • All four year old preschool classes are free • On site three and four year old child care • Annual graduation rate is between 96-100% • Dedicated and caring staff • 18 college courses at BHS • 78 elective courses in grades 9-12 • Students may choose from over 20 Extra Curricular Activites • Students may choose from more than 15 Co-Curricular Activities

MONDAYS 36 holes with cart $35 THURSDAYS 18 holes with cart $35 FRIDAY & SUNDAY Twilight Rates After 3PM Golf and Cart $35 Offering long distance memberships at a discounted rate!

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We provide strength-based, trauma-informed services and therapeutic equine programming in a safe and supportive environment that empowers girls to experience success and write a new story for themselves!

Now hiring! Contact Sherry Jones for employment opportunities! sherry@heartlandgirlsranch.org 185 Hwy 9 NE Benson, MN 56215 • 320.843.4815

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Spotlight

D10 Saturday, April 21, 2018

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

FINE ARTS • SHOPPING • DINING • RECREATION • BIKE & WALKING TRAILS • STATE PARK • LAKES • RIVER & MORE

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May 18

GRAPE STOMP Sept 8th, 12-6

6th Annual Mayors' Bike Ride

June-Aug.

Little Crow Ski Team - Ski Show- Friday nights (some exceptions)

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Thursdays from 6:30-8:30pm May-September Events held in Pavilion if raining.

June 9

Wine, Food & Free Entertainment!

Crow River Fishing Tournament

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June 10

Smokin' for The Link- Rib Fest

June 15-16

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CAR WASH

Studio Hop

July 16-22

A & W Hours: 10am-9pm 354-AW02 (2902)

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Aug. 8-11

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McKale’s Catering does not provide or serve liquor.

Lisa & Phil Quam, Owners

www.mckalescatering.com

E

Saturday, April 21, 2018 West Central Tribune

on

NONPROFITS Margherita Larmon, Foster Grandparent volunteer, helps second-grade student Maryam Abdullahi to read in her class April 6 at Roosevelt Elementary. The students drew from sticks with their names on it to find out who could read with “Grandma Margherita” that day.

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Margherita Larmon, known as “Grandma Margherita” to students at Roosevelt Elementary School, wears a “My grandkids hold the key to my heart” sweater while volunteering at the school April 6.

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Lutheran Social Service Filling in the gaps, lending an extra hand

By Linda Vanderwerf lvanderwerf@wctrib.com

W

WILLMAR

hether it’s a second-grade girl working to improve her reading skills or a little boy who didn’t get his art project finished, Grandma Margherita is there to help.

While Margherita Larmon isn’t a biological grandmother to the hundreds of children she’s met in recent years, they see her as every bit their grandma.

Larmon, 84, has been a foster grandparent at Roosevelt Elementary School in Willmar for six years.

The program is offered by

“They don’t have anyone reading to them at home, so I read along.”

She enjoys watching them improve, she added.

“I don’t think any“We don’t do things that other people are thing really takes the of that attention,” doing. We do things that our communities place Burton said.

Lutheran Social Serneed; if you went to other offices, you vice has strong youth would see different services.” services programs in the Willmar area, said Cher– Cherrish Holland, rish Holland, who leads the regional office in Lutheran Social Services, Willmar office Willmar. It also serves at-risk youth, people self as “just an extra hand” hugs, she said. with disabilities, veter“I really do look forward helping out in classrooms. ans and seniors.

Heidi Burton, Roos- to it,” Larmon said of visThe Willmar office evelt’s Child Guide, dis- iting the school three days employs about 30 people, puted that. “She’s more a week. and Lutheran Social Ser“Some of the students vice employs 2,300 people than an extra hand,” she said. “She’s another pos- don’t read well,” she said. statewide, she said. It serves the Willmar-based office of Lutheran Social Service in Minnesota.

Larmon referred to her-

itive person in our world.”

When they walk down the hall together, Larmon gets all kinds of

Margherita Larmon, a foster grandparent volunteer, spends time in Karen Douglass’ second-grade classroom at Roosevelt Elementary School in Willmar. The students drew from sticks with their names on it to find out who could read with “Grandma Margherita” that day.

Erica Dischino / Tribune

every county and more than 300 communities.

“We don’t do things that other people are doing,” Holland said. “We do things that our communities need; if you went to other offices, you would see different services.”

Lutheran Social Service has a kitchen at its offices on Highway 12 East to teach

homeless or at-risk young people independent living skills such as cooking, managing money and looking for jobs or apartments.

It is a partner with Safe Avenues and other organizations to offer services to young people who have been sexually exploited.

LUTHERAN: Page E3

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota Established: The organization traces its roots to 1865 when the Rev. Eric Norelius took in four orphaned Swedish children, founding the Vasa Children’s Home. Mission: LSS provides services for youth, seniors, veterans and disabled.

Open to all, not limited to Lutherans.

Location: Appletree Square, 1601 E. Highway 12 #6, Willmar (320) 235-5411

Spotlight

E2 Saturday, April 21, 2018

Tribune file photo

The Growmobile, an innovative program by the United Way of West Central Minnesota, brings learning and activities to preschool children in neighborhoods and day care centers across the area.

United Way Mobilizing the caring power of communities

By Anne Polta apolta@wctrib.com WILLMAR

T

he United Way of West Central Minnesota might be best known for its annual fundraising campaign but James Miller, executive director, wants people to know the organization is about so much more.

Year round, and often behind the scenes, the United Way can be found fostering collaboration, creating partnerships and working to leverage regional resources for addressing some of society’s deepest issues: poverty, education, employment and more.

“Mobilizing the caring power of our communities – that’s who we are,” Miller said. “The collaborations are really where we see the work happen.

It’s creating that culture of ‘we’re all in this together.’ It’s about lifting people up.”

These days, the United Way’s reach is regional.

What started as a small local nonprofit became first a countywide organization and then, in 2009, the United Way of West Central Minnesota.

This year the United Way is distributing $800,000plus from its annual campaign to support the services and programs of 37 area nonprofits.

The organization concentrates its biggest bang for the buck in three priority areas: education, health and basic needs.

Efforts can be small in scale. For example, after 10 inches of rain swamped basements in southwest Willmar in August 2016, the United Way helped with flood cleanup and damage mitigation in 73 homes, Miller said.

But the United Way also tackles large issues, forging partnerships to seek solutions that most organizations don’t have the money or resources to

address on their own.

The goal is to look at the long term, Miller said. “We really want to strengthen our communities. We do that by supporting and funding the organizations on the ground doing the work. When you can get more people at the table, you get more ideas.”

The United Way’s signature program, and perhaps one of the most successful, is the Growmobile, a mobile project that brings early childhood learning into the community to help prepare the youngest children for kindergarten.

Local data indicated that many youngsters were entering kindergarten without the skills they needed to succeed. Once behind, they often stayed behind through high school, putting them at risk of failing to graduate.

The brightly colored Growmobile travels to neighborhoods and child care centers, bringing hands-on lessons that engage children not only in learning but also in the social and emotional skills they need to succeed in the classroom.

It helps level the playing field for children who don’t have access to preschool education, Miller said. “We really want it to be on an equitable level.

It is about getting all kids ready to learn.”

Testing has shown a significant increase in learning readiness since the Growmobile was introduced.

The importance of preschool preparation has been borne out by a push within the Minnesota governor’s office to fund all-day preschools, Miller said. “We’d like to think we were ahead of the curve on that.”

One of the newest efforts the United Way has become involved in is Grow Our Own, a multi-agency initiative to overcome childhood poverty and narrow the widening economic disparities among children in southwestern Minneso-

ta.

United Way’s support of organizations such as the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, Meals on Wheels, Safe Avenues and Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center helps further local programs that reduce hunger, provide shelter from domestic violence and promote outdoor activity.

In addition to financial support, the United Way provides technical assistance in strategic planning, financial planning and other key areas to help strengthen the region’s nonprofits.

An annual volunteerism day gives the public a chance to get involved and discover the rewards of volunteering for organizations that make a local difference.

“It’s all these little pieces coming together. That’s the exciting part of what we do,” Miller said.

With so many nonprofits competing for money and volunteers, it has become increasingly important for organizations like the United Way to be collaborative, he said.

The need to reach out is also more important than ever, he said. “We’re starting to get a little more proactive in how we do that. We can’t sit and wait for the problems to come to us. We have to go out and find them.”

Because societal issues are continually shifting, Miller and the United Way board are eyeing a new community assessment to identify gaps and emerging needs.

It’s an opportunity for the United Way to develop new solutions and innovations, he said. “As long as we have those gaps in our community, there’s always going to be a need for an organization to step up to the plate. I truly believe that we live in a great community that understands and knows the impact we can have.”

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

A Great Place to…

LIVE Affordable housing is an important part of the quality of life and construction of Willmar’s newest housing complex 15th Street Flats will begin in 2018!

Creating 47 units of workforce housing for families with children, including the following amenities: community room, patio, outdoor play equipment, exercise room and common laundry on each level.

Another great addition to the Willmar community.

WORK

Businesses in Willmar continue to grow, the West Central Steel Inc. Parts Production Facility is one of the most recent examples. The facility is the size of 1 ½ football fields and is 38 feet tall! Housing precision equipment from around the world and providing more job opportunities!

PLAY

United Way of West Central Minnesota

Established: 1955 Service area: Kandiyohi County; 15 cities in Chippewa, Meeker, Renville and Swift counties Mission: “United Way of West Central Minnesota works to improve people’s lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities to create lasting change. We envision communities where; everyone has equitable access to the basic necessities of life, where people are inspired to act, and where organizations have the resources to effectively support the people who need it the most.” Address: 311 Fourth St. S.W., Willmar. On the web: liveunitedwcm.org

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A day at the park takes on new meaning with the Rice Park renovation. The shelter opens up into a plaza, and then into the 3,000-square-foot splash pad, with 21 total water features, for plenty of wet, family fun! It will be a showcase park in the middle of Willmar! Adding to the amenities Willmar has to offer families when deciding on which city to call home.

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Nonprofits

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Saturday, April 21, 2018 E3

LUTHERAN From Page E1

Carolyn Lange / Tribune

Volunteers dish up plates of lasagna, beans and bread at a Tuesday’s Table at Faith Lutheran Church in Spicer. A different church hosts the free community meals each Tuesday.

Tuesday’s Table Neighbors sharing food and fellowship every month they hear someone say it was the “best meal” they’ve ever had.

Depending on the size of the crowd, occasionally there are leftovers and sometimes there’s nothing left and the volunteers “end up going to the Legion” to eat, Davenport said.

So far there’s no sign of Tuesday’s Table ending, said Cheryl Johnson, a regular volunteer.

“We’ll keep going as long as the cooks are willing and the participants are willing,” she said.

an Social Service Board of Directors. She first became involved through her congregation, Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar. Shirley Carter of the Rice Health Foundation of Willmar is also a member of the state board, which has 24 members.

One of her goals is to increase public awareness of the services offered in the Willmar area, Carruthers said, and to make sure people know they don’t have to be Lutheran to be served.

The organization has built an impressive organization in rural parts of the state, she said – about 60 percent of Lutheran Social Service activity is outside the metropolitan area.

“I think both Shirley and I have been pleased with learning of their innovation and efforts to meet the needs of people,” Carruthers said.

She’s seen how Lutheran Social Service partners with counties and other agencies to provide services in communities.

“I have enjoyed getting to know some of the staff members,” she said. “One unique thing, if they learn of a need in the community, they will put their heads together and try to figure out a creative way of creating new opportunity for folks.”

The Link/Tuesday’s Table

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Established: 2010. What: Based in New London, The Link is a faith-based group that helps low-income individuals connect with available resources and provides a variety of fill-the-gap services such as a food pantry, community closet, school backpack weekend food program, free household items and Tuesday’s Table. Where: Free meals are served at 6 p.m. each Tuesday on a rotating basis at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in rural Spicer (first Tuesday), Evangelical Covenant Church in New London (second Tuesday), Faith Lutheran Church in Spicer (third Tuesday), Peace Lutheran Church in New London (fourth Tuesday) and the fifth Tuesday is shared by several local groups including the New London and Spicer Lions groups, Living Word Lutheran Church, Open Door Christian Church and O’Neil’s restaurant.

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along,” Davenport said.

When Tuesday’s Table started, organizers expected it would have a life of two or three years.

“We never imagined it would grow like this.

Obviously we’re meeting a need,” said Louise Stenberg, who was one of the original organizers and was busy dishing up food at a recent Tuesday’s Table meal.

“They must think the cooks aren’t doing that badly,” joked Stenberg.

“We’ve never served anything they don’t like.”

Davenport said nearly

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A

t 2 p.m. Tuesday, Harley Davenport and Carter Stenberg begin assembling their tried-and-true lasagna recipe in the kitchen at Faith Lutheran Church in Spicer.

The pans are in the oven by 4 p.m. and by 6 p.m. plates of the bubbly, cheesy, tomatoey lasagna are dished up with a side of green beans and French bread, and served to more than 100 people who showed up for a free “Tuesday’s Table” meal.

It’s a routine the two men have been doing for eight years – ever since the Tuesday’s Table program was launched by the faithbased nonprofit organization, The Link, which provides a variety of fill-thegap services in northern Kandiyohi County.

Since the first meal was served in 2010, more than 50,000 people have shared food and fellowship in area churches as they take turns making and hosting the community meals each week, all year-round.

“Tuesday’s Table has definitely met the goal of building community and providing an opportunity for neighbors to serve their neighbors,” said Rhonda Otteson, executive director of The Link.

Some families come as a way to “stretch their budget” or to “have a night off from making dinner,” Otteson said.

Some regulars, including senior citizens or residents from area group homes, come to socialize and to “feel part of the community,” she said.

“It’s a social thing. The food is good and you get to visit with a variety of local people,” said Sharon Fostervold, who was shar-

ing a table with a group of friends. “Class doesn’t make any difference. You can be poor or rich and still come,” she said.

Davenport said there was a misconception early on that Tuesday’s Table was a free meal for people who need it financially.

“The need may not be food. It may be social,” he said. “It’s for everybody, if you drive a Cadillac or walk to work.”

The meals typically draw between 100 to 200 people every week, even in snowy weather.

Because the meals have become so popular, the host churches rarely cancel them because of inclement weather, Davenport said.

The weekly meals are provided thanks to donations from individuals, the hosting churches and local businesses, including Jennie-O Turkey Store in Willmar which provides hundreds of pounds of meat each year to the program.

Volunteers are the glue that holds it all together.

Davenport said it takes about 30 volunteers each week to put on the meals at the churches, doing tasks like shopping for ingredients, setting tables with real plates and glasses, making the food, serving it and cleaning up.

“Without volunteers we couldn’t do it,” Stenberg said.

Volunteers range in age from 8 years old to 95, Davenport said. “They’re the worker bees.”

Based on the laughter, smiles and willingness to jump in to do whatever job needs to be done in the kitchen or fellowship hall where the meals are served, the volunteers thoroughly enjoy what they’re doing.

“It’s a good group to work together. We all get

001714685r1

By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com SPICER

The financial counseling service offers budget and debt counseling and works with people trying to improve their credit scores or struggling with credit card debt. The program also does financial education in the community.

A more recent focus has been working with people on student loan repayment. “Minnesota ranks fifth in the amount of student loan debt,” Holland said.

In services for people with disabilities, the Host Home effort is a newer program. It seeks families willing to host a person with disabilities in a home situation.

Lutheran Social Service also works with therapeutic foster care families, and more are always needed.

Services for seniors include senior dining sites and the Senior Companion program to provide some assistance to low-income seniors.

“There would definitely be a void in the community” if Lutheran Social Service was not in the area, Holland said.

“We’re definitely the only provider of financial counseling in the community.”

Andrea Carruthers of Willmar is vice chairwoman of the state Luther-

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Spotlight

E4 Saturday, April 21, 2018

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Area hosts a diverse, rich arts community

By Tom Cherveny tcherveny@wctrib.com

T

Submitted photo

The Milan Village Arts School shows its Scandinavian heritage. Originally a school house built in 1915, it was moved to Milan and remodeled as a place for artists to hold classes.

Milan Village Arts School Folk art revival on the prairie starts here

Knife making is among the folk arts taught at the school by instructors Jon Roisen and Gene Tokheim.

Submitted photo

Instructor Marilyn Hanson helps students create jewelry as they develop their skills in silversmithing.

Submitted photo

Instructor Ry Thornock offers a class in the Scandinavian art of Kolrosing, which is a decorative art in which pigments are backfilled into incisions carved in wood.

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Established: The Milan Village Arts School was founded 30 years ago during the farm crisis to help rural artists in the region earn income by teaching classes. Mission: The mission of the Milan Village Arts School is to engage people in the practice of traditional, contemporary and folk arts, fostering prosperity, community and culture in our region. There is a revival in interest in the folk arts, with many baby boomers looking to acquire the skills that previous generations had passed on to their children. The Milan Village Arts School serves as the intermediary in bridging the gap when this chain of passing on folk arts was broken.

Submitted photo

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Milan Village Arts School

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ing many women taking classes in what were once considered male-dominated arts, such as knife making or wood carving.

Half of the students in what were once traditional men’s classes are now women, he said.

Porep said the school keeps its costs low, and tuition for classes is typically one-half or less that charged by other folk art schools in the country.

Donations and membership fees, grants, and revenues from classes make possible the $30,000 needed for annual operating expenses.

There’s probably no overstating the school’s value to Milan or the area.

Along with hundreds of visitors from outside the area, Porep said the school has been featured in a wide variety of publications, from the Star Tribune newspaper to Midwest Living magazine. Pioneer Public Television is now in the midst of a two-year endeavor to document the transfer of Scandinavian and indigenous arts to the next generation and the role this school plays.

A volunteer board of directors helps guide the school, and the talk among them today is no different than 30 years ago. They’d like to see the school continue to grow and offer opportunities for artists, Porep said.

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here others saw endless fields of corn and soybeans, a few took notice of what was hidden amidst them.

Small towns and farmsteads where rural artists toiled in quiet obscurity.

When the farm crisis of the 1980s disrupted life for many in this rural landscape, those who knew of these artists in western Minnesota encouraged them to teach their skills.

“They were looking for ways to create income for artists,’’ said Ron Porep, director of the Milan Village Arts School.

And that’s how, in the midst of the farm crisis, the Milan Village Arts School was born. At age 30, it’s the state’s longest-lived folk arts school – and still going strong. It hosts 60 classes or more a year, each attracting anywhere from a half-dozen to 15 students.

It hosts an annual spoon gathering celebration at the end of May that attracts hundreds of visitors and participants to the tiny Chippewa County community of Milan.

They come from around the country and from a few foreign countries as well. Again in the fall, during the annual Upper Minnesota River Valley Arts Crawl or Meander, as many as 1,500 to 2,000 visitors will visit.

In the last few years, the school has branched out to offer classes in the Twin

framing, flat plane carving and knife making. These classes attract students from throughout Minnesota and, in some cases, neighboring states.

Many of these folk arts were developed from the practical skills the pioneer settlers of the area around Milan brought with them from Scandinavia, Porep said. Over time they developed their utilitarian skills into arts, and passed them to the next generation, he explained.

That chain has been broken, but many of today’s baby boomers are now interested in learning the skills and arts of their parents and grandparents, Porep said. Those age 50 and over make up a large portion of the students enrolled in classes, he said.

At the same time, the school is seeing an increased interest by persons in their 20s, 30s and 40s, he said, as younger people are beginning to appreciate the folk arts.

He believes the therapeutic benefit of focusing the mind on handwork draws many, young and old. “You’re not thinking about social media or your computer or your job or all the things you have to deal with. It’s just your time. It’s a very therapeutic thing to be involved in,” he said.

The school is also see-

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Cities as well.

Many of its instructors – including some once considered to be hidden amongst the rural landscape, such as rosemaler Karen Jenson and potter Gene Tokheim – are now known internationally.

All of this, thanks to a $50 investment. That was the price paid for the 1915-built, rural schoolhouse that is home to the Milan Village Arts School.

The schoolhouse was purchased in 1988 and moved into Milan to provide the area’s rural artists with a place to teach their skills.

The schoolhouse has since been upgraded in design to reflect the Hustvedt Norwegian folk art tradition. In recent years, a basement with 10-foot ceilings has been built. It will include living space for visiting artists.

The Milan Village Arts School also offers classes in the Milan Community Center, which was the former Milan school. Fullsized classrooms are set aside. One holds looms for fiber arts classes. Another holds individual stations for silversmithing. A third holds equipment and supplies for framing. And, the school’s commercial kitchen area is host to food and cooking classes.

Scandinavian folk arts are at the core of the school’s mission, Porep said. It regularly offers classes in acantha carving, Norwegian skinnfellers and rosemaling, all of which are Norwegian arts. It also regularly offers classes in silversmithing, fiber arts,

R001698771

By Tom Cherveny tcherveny@wctrib.com MILAN

artists in the region work together to promote the arts economy. The Willhe rich, prairie soils mar Area Arts Council was of southwestern organized with the goal Minnesota support of promoting and helpa surprisingly diverse and ing area artists practice rich arts community, with their creative endeavors. more than 3,200 people It hosts an annual Stuengaged full time and part dio Hop, an arts crawl to showcase the talent. time in creative careers Artists in the Upper in the 18-county region, Minnesota River Valaccording to a recent study ley launched the annual

by Creative Minnesota.

Meander Arts Crawl over The arts are embraced 14 years ago to promote and celebrated throughout their works as well. The the west central area, our event draws visitors from corner of this immense around the state as well region. Lively community neighboring states. theater groups, including And area communities, The Barn Theatre in Will- New London in particular, mar and The Little The- are fast building reputaatre in New London, draw tions as supportive enviaudiences from through- ronments for artists. out the region.

On these pages we offer Taking their cue from a look at just a few examthe farm cooperatives for ples of the region’s strong which the area is known, arts community.

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Saturday, April 21, 2018 E5

Montevideo Arts Project

Established: The Montevideo Arts Project was launched just over three years ago with the mission of commissioning public arts projects in the community.

The Montevideo Arts Project has commissioned three projects, one in each of its first three years.

Submitted photo

“Rustician” by Karl Unnasch is a stained-glass montage created on a 1920s-era McCormick Deering tractor.

Montevideo Arts Project Have stage, will add art in Montevideo

A

MONTEVIDEO

li Selim realized he had found the perfect stage for the story he wanted to tell when he chose the Montevideo area to film his much-celebrated movie, “Sweet Land.”

Selim isn’t the only one to recognize a good stage when he sees it.

Thanks to the efforts of the Montevideo Arts Project, this community where open prairie and the wooded valleys of the Minnesota and Chippewa Rivers converge has become an outdoor stage for public art works.

In each of the past three years, a new art work has been commissioned and

placed on permanent display thanks to the efforts of this volunteer organization and its partnership with the city of Montevideo.

“It increases the community’s assets. It adds to the whole, overall feel of Montevideo,” said Kristi Fernholz of the public art works. She assists the Montevideo Arts Project and the city in her professional role with the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission and her own personal experience as an accomplished visual artist.

Some of the project’s core volunteers, including Mayor Debra Lee Fader, Tesa Siverhus Maus, Donna Krueger, Angel Rae Molden and City Manager Steve Jones, joined Fern-

holz to speak to the organization’s history and its aspirations.

Their mission is straightforward: to commission and place works of art in public places throughout Montevideo.

Their most recent accomplishment is “Rustician,” an artwork on display at the southern entry to the community’s downtown. Karl Unnasch of Chatfield transformed a 1920s-era McCormick Deering tractor into a visual story of the community’s heritage. Lighted, stained-glass panels hold symbols representing the natural beauty of the landscape and of the human endeavors accomplished on it, from the dugout canoe carved by the area’s first inhabitants

to the fruits of modern agriculture.

One year previous, townsfolk gathered to celebrate the work of Lili Payne of Morris and her Painted Rail Car Project. Montevideo was once a hub on the Milwaukee Road Railroad. She celebrates the town’s iron horse-era origins and agricultural heritage in a mural on a rail car located on the former rail line and Milwaukee Road Heritage Center.

To start all of this off three years ago, artist Shawn McCann of Crystal created a mural scene from Uruguay on Artigas Plaza in the town’s downtown. It commemorates the community’s centurylong relationship with the South American country’s

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capital city.

Fernholz originally promoted the idea of creating more pubic art in the upper Minnesota River Valley. A group in Montevideo took her up on it, and started to meet in 2014 with the idea of making it happen in their community. From the start, they set realistic goals, said Jones, adding that they have stuck with them.

Each year, the Montevideo Arts Project members fundraise and seek grants to commission a work in the range of $20,000 to $30,000. They gather informally to pick a theme for each year’s work, and then seek proposals from artists.

The community’s heritage has been predominant in the themes of the

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ART PROJECT: Page E7

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t’s a long way from Bird Island to Nashville, Tenn., or Hollywood, Calif., or any other famous place where creative people go to get discovered, only to come home disappointed.

So why not stay home, where your talents are not only appreciated but also encouraged?

Day by day, Olga Nichols is welcoming people who are discovering that Bird Island is indeed the place.

Nichols is the director of the Bird Island Cultural Centre. Since its opening just over one year ago, the Bird Island Cultural Centre has been hosting poetry slams, readings by local authors, exhibits by area artists and jam sessions by local musicians.

But it is not just for those who happen to have a creative bent of some sort. “The mission of the center is to provide these social opportunities for people to interact,” said Mark Glesener, who along with his wife, Rosemary, helped make this possible.

The doors are open every day for those who like to gather to play cards, take someone on in a game of chess or dominoes, or

business and, in a roundMinnesota.

Although she returned for about way because of it, said a time to Uganda, Nichols goodbye to the metropolitan has otherwise made Minne- area by purchasing a home sota her home. She operated a property management BIRD ISLAND: Page E7

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just join for conversation.

There are weekly “family jams” for exercise. Yoga.

Movie nights.

“We’re striving for this to be place where the community comes and gathers,” Nichols said.

She covered more ground than anyone else to discover Bird Island.

She grew up in Kampala, Uganda, where her parents operated the first Toyota dealership in East Africa and her late father served for a time as mayor.

Her parents sent her to England to study in high school. A family friend there steered her to Hamline University in St. Paul.

She studied at Hamline and completed her degree in studio art and architecture at the University of

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By Tom Cherveny tcherveny@wctrib.com

works to date, but this may change. Future projects might be more edgy, perhaps even whimsical, said the volunteers. This coming year, the group is looking at adding new life to the stairs descending the river bluff into the downtown.

Right now, Montevideo Arts Project is on track to do a new project each year, but the members feel no obligation to maintain that pace. Jones said the group could very well decide at some point to put money aside for a year or two in hopes of doing a much larger project at some time.

The key, Jones said, is to just keeping working on things. “We don’t take

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E6 Saturday, April 21, 2018

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

Minnesota Farm Bureau Connecting consumers to the farmers that produce their food

I

By Carolyn Lange clange@wctrib.com

t surprises Marytina Lawrence how many Minnesotans say they Submitted photo don’t know anything The Minnesota Farmers Union hosts youth camps each summer at Sibley State Park about agriculture and – near New London to teach responsibility, leadership and cooperation. when asked – say they don’t really care about agriculture or farming.

“There is a serious disconnect between the consumer and the farmer,” she said.

Considering that most people eat food that’s produced by farmers, Lawheld at crop and livestock helped shape rural com- rence thinks it’s a good

By Carolyn Lange munities in the past – like idea that consumers have clange@wctrib.com farms.

Schmidt said he was a the rural electrical initia- accurate information NEW LONDON shy camper when he first tive from the previous cen- about how that food is attended camp in seventh tury – and how to be lead- produced and why agriince 1943, hundreds grade, but he kept coming ers in cooperative business culture matters. of boys and girls That’s why the Minback as a camper through models – like broadband have gone to Farmhigh school and returned internet cooperatives – nesota Farm Bureau has ers Union summer camps as a counselor when he that could help rural com- recruited 75 active farmwhere they swim, have ers from across the state munities in the future. was in college. campfires, play outside The examples are deliv- who volunteer through the “It made a huge differand learn how to be leaders ence in my life,” Schmidt ered through skits and “Speak for Yourself” proin a cooperative environactivities that help the gram to speak about how said. ment that not only helps He now works full-time kids learn while having they care for their animals them have fun at camp but and the environment, visfor Farmers Union and fun, Schmidt said. can also equip them with Darrin Williamson, a iting schools, businesses oversees the youth camps. skills for the future.

Despite being sponsored ninth-grader at Atwa- and large and small comThis is the 75th year by Farmers Union, which ter-Cosmos-Grove City munity groups.

“They literally just go the farm advocacy orga- advocates for strong agri- High School, has been and talk about what they nization has hosted youth cultural communities going to the Farmers Union do on their farm. It’s all leadership camps. through education, coop- camps for seven years. individual stories,” said “It’s been going on for eration and legislation, Williamson, who lives a long time,” said Glen the summer camps are not on an active farm near Lawrence, state coordinaSchmidt, education direc- focused on teaching kids Spicer, said he loves tor for “Speak For Yourself.” “You could watch all tor at the Farmers Union how to farm.

Farmers Union camp and 75 presentations and all 75 state office. “We have a Farmers are brought in intends to keep going for would be different.” deep and rich history of as special speakers and as long as he can.

It’s those stories about youth camps in Minneso- local farm-raised food is “There’s a lot of stuff daily life on the farm that ta.” featured for the meals, but I like about it,” said Wil- make agriculture real to There are two loca- the focus is youth leader- liamson, 14. “It’s different people who have no contions for the camps: Sib- ship steeped in the orga- every year.” nection to farms and how ley State Park near New nization’s rural-centered The leadership skills the food they eat is grown, London and the Farmers cooperative model.

Williamson learned at the she said.

Union Lake Sarah CampAbout one-third of the Farmers Union camp gave Loren Molenaar, a crop ground near Erskine in campers come from the him the push he needed to and hog farmer from Raynorthwestern Minnesota. metro area, Schmidt said. serve as a camp counselor mond, has been involved The camps includes Another third live in rural at 4-H camp, he said. with the “Speak for Yourweek-long sessions for communities and about Providing opportunities self” program for five years. kids ranging in age from 8 one-third live on active for youth to “come out of “As each generation gets to 18, with different time- farms. their shells” and practice further removed from the frames for different age Bringing kids togeth- being leaders with their farm it’s very important to groups. er from different back- peers will help shape them have open dialogues with Day camps are also held grounds is part of the to be adult leaders who are farmers and consumers throughout the summer at magic of the camps, “more engaged” in their about where food comes communities, Schmidt from and how it’s raised,” locations throughout the Schmidt said.

The other component is said, whether those com- Molenaar said. “And it’s state, with some held at parks and some – which teaching kids how mem- munities are in the city or important that we’re the ones telling the story.” are the most popular – ber-led cooperatives have on the farm.

Classrooms in rural and

Farmers Union

Youth camps shape new leaders

S

metro schools that include students who have never stepped foot on a farm are popular venues for the program.

Since the “Speak for Yourself” program started six years ago, farmers have made more than 676 presentations to more than 21,000 people.

“It’s one of the most effective communication efforts I’ve been a part of,” said Lawrence, coordinator for the program who also provides “boots on the ground” training for the volunteer farmers.

Farmers – who know how to farm but are typically not professional speakers – undergo training on “hot topic” food safety consumer education issues, like genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and use of antibiotics and hormones, Lawrence said.

The issue of GMOs is the most frequent question Molenaar gets from audiences.

“We feel the science has backed it and it’s very safe to use,” he said. “I wouldn’t use something or produce something for someone that I didn’t think was safe.”

The farmers also get help putting together a PowerPoint presentation and are given tips on how to “connect with consumers,” Lawrence said.

The events are

“extremely successful” in helping bridge the gap between consumers and agriculture by providing opportunities for people to “relate to a farmer on a personal” basis, she said.

“They’re putting a face with who it is that’s raising their food,” said Molenaar. “It’s more the personal touch.”

Having farmers talk about farming – including being “transparent” about how crops and animals are raised – is needed to counter “misinformation” about agriculture that Lawrence said is presented by some groups through social media.

“If we aren’t willing to talk to people about what we’re doing, others will, and it won’t be accurate,” she said.

Based on post-presentation surveys of the audience, she said 83 percent have a favorable impression of the talks and that 40 percent have a different impression about farming than before the presentation, she said.

The farmers volunteer their time with the program, which is supported through partnerships with the Farm Bureau Federation and a number of farm commodity groups and ag financial organizations.

Funding from these partners is used to train the speakers and schedule their speaking engagements.

Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation

Mission: The Farm Bureau is an agriculture advocacy organization that promotes the “beliefs and policies” of its members. It is made up of farmers and others interested in agriculture and interested in the future of farmers, their families and the food they grow and raise in Minnesota.

There are currently 78 county Farm Bureaus and nearly 30,000 member families.

Farmers Union

Established: Created in 1902 and active in 26 states, the Farmers Union promotes the economic and social well-being and quality of life of family farmers, ranchers, fishermen and consumers and their communities through education, cooperation and legislation. Mission: To advocate for sustainable production of food, fiber, feed and fuel. Vision: To “continue to be the respected, influential and independent national voice and coalition leader that bridges family producers and consumers on behalf of a vibrant and growing grassroots membership.”

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Submitted photo

Loren Molenaar, a crop and hog farmer from Raymond, has been involved with the Farm Bureau’s “Speak for Yourself” program for five years.

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Saturday, April 21, 2018 E7

Hawk Creek Animal Shelter Striving to provide a better life for pets, people Anne Polta / Tribune

Bobbie Bauman, operations director of the Hawk Creek Animal Shelter, plays with Clifford, a diabetic cat waiting at the shelter for adoption.

By Anne Polta apolta@wctrib.com WILLMAR

F

or staff and volunteers at the Hawk Creek Animal Shelter, there can never be too many successful pet adoption stories.

“What we love is seeing the pictures after they go home. Everybody’s happy,” said Bobbie Bauman, director of operations.

But the Humane Society’s work doesn’t stop with happy endings. The nonprofit organization, which serves Kandiyohi and Meeker counties, also plays an important role in public education and support for maintaining the human-animal bond.

Increasing the Humane Society’s visibility and establishing it as a local resource for the pet-loving public was part of the vision when a new permanent shelter opened in 2009 on the west side of Willmar. A decade later, that vision is well-established.

More than a thousand homeless animals come through the doors of the shelter each year. Most end up in new homes. The staff has grown from two full-time and four parttime workers to six full-

time and four part-time staff. There’s a robust volunteer program.

Most of all, the community has learned to view the shelter as a place for help and information. “We get calls from all over,” Bauman said.

One day it might be someone wanting to spread the word about a missing dog or cat. The next day it could be an adopter struggling with the high-energy puppy they recently brought home from the shelter. Or it might be someone concerned that a neighbor’s pet is being neglected.

It’s a win when a solution can be found that keeps animals out of the shelter, Bauman said.

“We’re always trying to figure out another way to help them.”

Because the cost of animal care can be a problem, especially for pet owners who are low-income or on a fixed income, the shelter has developed programs to make basic services more accessible and affordable.

Mobile pet vaccination clinics are held two to three times a year in Kandiyohi and Meeker counties to help ensure animals receive distemper and rabies shots.

Every couple of months the shelter hosts a visit from MN Snap, a state-

wide mobile program that provides low-cost spay and neuter surgery for pets whose owners are income-eligible.

The shelter also operates an animal food shelf for people who might be temporarily unable to afford pet food.

Low-cost microchipping and collar tags are available at the shelter as well to help increase the chances of being reunited if a pet goes missing.

Support like this can be essential in avoiding shelter placement and preserving the human-animal bond that has been found to be beneficial to so many.

Staff and volunteers make regular visits to local nursing homes and schools, bringing dogs and cats for people to interact with. Bauman often sees people’s eyes light up at the furry touch of a pet.

Animal companionship brings joys like nothing else, Bauman said. “It helps you forget some of your life struggles. It calms you down.”

Caring for an animal can encourage empathy

and nurturing, she said.

A pet also can be a source of unconditional love and acceptance. “They’re just happy to see you,” Bauman said.

A future goal for the Humane Society is to increase its outreach efforts. There’s a need for more mobile spay and neuter outreach, Bauman said. She also would like more opportunities for the organization to be involved with local schools and increase its visibility with local groups and service clubs.

“I’m always amazed at the number of new people walking in the door.

We’ve grown. We’re wellknown,” she said. “But there’s always somebody that says ‘I didn’t know about you.’ It’s word of mouth.”

Hawk Creek Animal Shelter is the region’s only full-time shelter with a staff and programs, Bauman noted. “If we weren’t here, oh my goodness. I don’t know what would happen. There are so many groups struggling to have what we have. We are so fortunate.”

Humane Society of Kandiyohi and Meeker Counties

Established: early 1970s. Mission: “The Humane Society of Kandiyohi and Meeker Counties believes there is a unique and reciprocal bond between humans and animals ... we provide a safe and sheltering haven for lost and abandoned animals pending placement in a suitable permanent home.

We also promote responsible care and training for household pets through education and public awareness.” Address: 250 28th St. S.W., Willmar; thehskmc.com

ART PROJECT From Page E5

big leaps but we keep taking little steps, and we don’t fall back either,’’ he said.

People in town seem to appreciate the works, based on the comments the volunteers hear and the support they receive.

And, you don’t have to live in Montevideo to

appreciate these works.

It’s not uncommon for visitors to come knocking on the doors of the Chamber of Commerce to ask where they can find the artworks, Molden said.

“It makes us more of a destination,’’ Mayor Fader said.

Erica Dischino / Tribune

Artist Olga Nichols laughs with a student while teaching an art class March 26 at the Bird Island Cultural Centre.

BIRD ISLAND From Page E5

in Buffalo Lake. “Not far from here,’’ she said the real estate agent in the Twin Cities told her.

It’s the perfect environment for her true passion – creating visual art. After hearing about the Bird Island Cultural Centre from more than a few friends, she drove over with a portfolio of her works and made her case to be the artist-in-residence.

The Cultural Centre is located in the former Dirks-Blem Funeral Home.

Gordy Blem donated the property to the nonprofit organization. He knew the Gleseners operated a popular bread and breakfast known as Gramma’s House right next door, and that one would complement the other.

A couple of years ago, Mark and Rosemary Glesener sold their facility.

With the sale, Mark Glesener said they were ready to take on the new challenge of the Cultural Centre with the help of other community volunteers.

They’ve raised over $10,000 in donations from the community to support the effort, and they are seeking grants and other funding sources. The Gleseners are contributing funds from the sale of their business as well.

Nichols said people are discovering all the center can offer. In turn, she and others are discovering just how much talent there is in the community and Renville County.

That talent is only sure to grow.

“People are surprised to walk into an old funeral home and it’s alive,” Nichols said. “So much life going on.”

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397

per mo/ 39 months

Stock # NT13929 MSRP: $49,005 Selling Price: $44,900 Lease Cash: $7,000* Residual $24,502 OCA. 10,000 Miles per year. $999 plus tax, license and 1st payment due at lease signing.

2018 Jeep Compass Latitude 4x4 $

MSRP: $46,225 Selling Price: $43,330 Lease Cash: $6750* Residual $24,499 OCA. 10,000 Miles per year. $999 plus tax, license and 1st payment due at lease signing.

Stock # NT13920

2018 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk 4x4

271

269

$

per mo/ 39 months

per mo/ 39 months

Stock # NT13780 Stock # NT13921 MSRP: $29,525 Selling Price: $28,127 Lease Cash: $3,750* Residual $16,534 OCA. 10,000 Miles per year. $999 plus tax, license and 1st payment due at lease signing.

MSRP: $29,880 Selling Price: $28,500 Lease Cash: $5,000* Residual $14,950 OCA. 10,000 Miles per year. $999 plus tax, license and 1st payment due at lease signing.

*includes $500 returning or competitive lease required

OLIVIA

CHRYSLER CENTER

1407 WEST LINCOLN AVE. OLIVIA, MN 56227

SALES HOURS: MON.- WED. 9 AM– 6 PM THURS. 9 AM – 8 PM FRI. 9 AM– 6 PM • SAT. 9 AM – 4 PM SERVICE HOURS: MON.- FRI. 8 AM– 5 PM SAT. 8 AM – 1 PM

www.oliviachryslercenter.com

Jim Toye General Manager

Kevin Reineke Product Specialist

Dustin Kimball Product Specialist

Breckette Rogers Product Specialist

Tim Bailey Business Manager

100 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE. CONTACT US TODAY!

320.523.2170 or 800.839.5337

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Spotlight

E8 Saturday, April 21, 2018

PRIZES

FREE DELIVERY

FREE DELIVERY

R E M O T S U C N O I T A I C E R P AP DAYS

West Central Tribune | Willmar, Minn.

PRIZES

PRIZES FREE DELIVERY

PRIZES FREE DELIVERY

AND WIN! FREE DELIVERY ONLY

SPIN THE WHEEL

April 21st - April 30th

5 cu. ft.

Chest Freezer

NOW $199.99

18 cu. ft.

Refrigerator

with purchase of $399

499.99

$

All Weber Grills ON SALE

Stainless 4-Piece Kitchen Package

Black Stainless 4-Piece Kitchen Package

All Big Green Eggs ON SALE

ONLY

3,199.99

$

ONLY

3,199.99

$

Plush Queen Mattress Set

TWIN Mattress Sets Starting At

199

All Ashley Furniture

30-50% OFF!

$

$

499

ENJOY FREE COOKIES, COFFEE, & POPCORN WHILE YOU SHOP! 12

MONTH 0% FINANCING*

HOURS

Willmar, MN 320-214-9784

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Voted #1 for Best Appliance Store and Repair and #1 Electronics Store!

Thank you for your support.

We truly need and appreciate your business! Not just because we’re local, because we’re better! *OAC. See Store for Details

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Monday–Friday ..... 8aM-6pM Thursday ............... 8aM-8pM saTurday ............... 9aM-5pM sunday ....hoMe wiTh FaMily

Owners Rick and Kelley Dahle

We know the true value of homes in your neighborhood.

We’re not just a Real Estate Agency.

We’re also your

Neighbousrto!day!

Call

SA10901

Jasmine Vikse REALTOR® 320.894.3862

Jane Vikse

Broker/Owner 320.979.0632

145 Lake Ave. N, Spicer • 320.796.1000 | 1425 1st Street S, Willmar • 320.262.5474

JaLanny Rupp Broker/Agent 320.894.4512