LYON COUNTY, Minn. — The Pochardt family has been selected as the Lyon County Farm Family of the Year, recognizing more than a century of farming in Lyon County. The family's farming roots date back to 1890. Over the years, the operation has included beef cattle, corn, soybeans and small grains. Dan and Kelly Pochardt took over the farm in 2016 and now operate a cow-calf and feedlot operation while raising crops and alfalfa. In addition to the farm, the Pochardts operate Red Stable Reindeer, bringing reindeer to communities, schools and businesses during the Christmas season. Dan and Kelly's four children, [...]

REDWOOD COUNTY, Minn. — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will be a featured speaker at the Minnesota Farmfest Forums on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Rollins is scheduled to address attendees at 10:10 a.m. in the Wick Buildings Farmfest Center, where she is expected to discuss challenges and opportunities facing American agriculture. Her appearance will be followed by the first congressional forum of the day for Minnesota's 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts at 10:30 a.m. A second congressional forum for the 6th, 7th and 8th Districts is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Wednesday's schedule includes a Minnesota governor's candidate forum at 10:30 a.m. [...]

REDWOOD COUNTY, Minn. — Minnesota Farmfest returns Tuesday through Thursday at the Gilfillan Estate near Redwood Falls, bringing together farmers, agribusinesses and agricultural leaders from across the region. Among the featured events are the Farmfest Forums, including the Minnesota Governor Forum on Wednesday and discussions with candidates in Minnesota's congressional races. Educational sessions will also cover farm succession planning, tight farm economics and the agricultural outlook. The three-day event will include autonomous equipment and ride-and-drive demonstrations, livestock chute demonstrations, antique tractor displays, a farm safety and wellness pavilion, and a Kids' Zone. Visitors can also attend a Minnesota Farm Bureau pancake [...]

MARSHALL, Minn. — Communities across the United States, including several in southwest Minnesota, will celebrate National Night Out on Tuesday with neighborhood gatherings designed to strengthen relationships between residents and local law enforcement, fire departments and emergency responders.  In Marshall, National Night Out will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at Independence Park. The event will feature food, ice cream, live music, a petting zoo, inflatables, games and activities for families. The Kayko Baton Twirlers will perform at 5:30 p.m., followed by a Marshall Fire Department demonstration at 6 p.m. Food will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Marshall Area MACE Crime [...]

MARSHALL, Minn. — Marshall's new Splash Aquatic Center is set to open Tuesday, Aug. 4, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. and the facility welcoming the public at approximately 12:30 p.m., weather permitting.  The facility will be open daily from noon to 7 p.m., a half-hour earlier and a half-hour later than the previous pool schedule. Existing pool passes will be accepted, and admission prices will remain unchanged for the rest of the season.  The Splash features a lap pool, diving well, waterslide, zero-depth entry pool, splash pad and leisure river, along with 57 interactive water features. City officials say the aquatic center [...]

REDWOOD COUNTY, Minn. — The Brozek family has been named the Redwood County Farm Family of the Year in recognition of more than a century of agricultural tradition and community involvement. Nick and Katherine Brozek are the fifth generation to operate the family farm, which was established in 1901 by Katherine's great-great-grandfather, Carl Zuehlsdorf. The farm transitioned through generations, with Katherine's grandfather, Otmar Pless, taking over in 1949 during the shift from horses to tractors, followed by her father, Darwin Pless, in 1976. Darwin founded Hilltop Harvest in 2000, transforming the operation from livestock production to specialty crops with a focus [...]

LINCOLN COUNTY, Minn. — The Eidem family of Shaokatan Lake Farm has been named the Lincoln County Farm Family of the Year. The family farm has been in operation since 1893. Micah and Korisa Eidem have operated the fourth-generation farm since 2004. Along with farming, Micah has worked in the precision agriculture industry, while Korisa is a first-grade elementary school teacher. The operation raises corn and soybeans and uses conservation practices, including strip tillage to promote soil health. The Eidems have also adopted precision agriculture technology such as controlled traffic, variable-rate fertilizer application and cover crops. Family members involved in the [...]

YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTY, Minn. — The Hinz Brothers family has been recognized as the Yellow Medicine County Farm Family of the Year. The fifth-generation farm, located near Wood Lake, is led by brothers Ben and Mike Hinz. The operation includes corn and soybean production, along with cattle and hogs. In addition to farming, Hinz Brothers provides trucking, custom lime application, turkey and chicken litter application, and manure spreading services. The farm is a true family operation. Mike and Allison Hinz work alongside their children, Carter, Payton, Olivia and Taylor, while Ben and Jen Hinz are joined by their children, Kailey, Kiara, [...]

SANBORN, Minn. — A 15-year-old Sanborn male suffered life-threatening injuries in a Polaris Ranger rollover Thursday evening in Cottonwood County. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the crash was reported at 7:42 p.m. on Highway 71 near 240th Street in Germantown Township. Authorities said a 2015 Polaris Ranger was traveling north in the ditch parallel to Highway 71 when the driver lost control and the vehicle rolled. The driver was taken to Windom Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The State Patrol reported he was not wearing a seat belt or helmet. Alcohol was not suspected. Assistance was provided by the Cottonwood County [...]