Year: 2025

Inside Root River Current | Expanded Publishing and Social Media Support

Root River Current is growing its production team, one member at a time…

Young children lean on a table with crafts made from egg cartons and pipe cleaners.

Youth of All Ages Engage in Creative Summer Arts Programs

Summer arts programs for area youth teach collaboration, creativity and community involvement; our photos and video montage capture their enthusiasm!

Farm to Fork: Hyper-Local Dining at the Free Range Exchange

Greg Lovell checks in on the new Free Range Exchange, a trailblazing kitchen in Houston County, serving up a menu of seasonal, local ingredients.

The garden in full bloom, ready for pollinators. (Photo by Loni Kemp)

Essay | Less-Work Gardening

Loni Kemp shares her tips and tricks to growing, maintaining, and, most importantly, enjoying your garden.

four youth musicians standing with instruments in outdoor setting

Classical Music Echoes Through the Valley

The Stringwood Chamber Music Festival returns to the Root River Valley for its 25th year of concerts and education; John Gaddo takes a closer look.

An old women with gray hair is shown on a large jumbotron screen waving at the crowd.

Grand Meadow Maintains its Place in History

David Phillips tells the nearly forgotten story of the 1930s-era Grand Meadow girls’ basketball team that still holds the state record for straight wins.

Poetry | Missing Those Who Left Us

Two new essay-style poems from local Minnesota author, Ken McCullough.

A group of people gather on a large, elevated, circle structure covered by a roof. Signs with writing and images are positioned around the entrance stairway to the gazebo.

Citizen Working Group Releases Nitrate Report

John Torgrimson covers the release of 2025 recommendations by a regional work group to address nitrate issues in Southeast Minnesota.

A Warming Climate is Changing Growing Conditions

With average temperatures rising, planting zones are slowly working their way northward through the Upper Midwest; Olivia Cohen reports from the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk.