Culture & Community

The Driftless Region is chock full of cold, clear streams, offering anglers ample opportunities to catch trout. (Photo courtesy of Bob White, Marine on St. Croix, MN; learn more at BobWhiteStudio.com)

You’ve Entered the Driftless Zone

Steve Harris and John Gaddo explore the Driftless Region and its geological wonders

Hidden Springs Peony Farm has more than 600 varieties of peonies, from red to yellow to coral to pink and more. Peonies originated in Asia and Eastern Europe. (Submitted photo)

Hidden Springs, Growing Beautiful Flowers and Much More

Steve Harris reports on the new owners at Hidden Springs Peony Farm in Spring Grove.

Located in a former Presbyterian church, Mainspring serves as an event space, bringing a community of people together over art. (Submitted photo)

Mainspring, Building Community Through Art

John Torgrimson visits with Melissa Wray, the director of nonprofit Mainspring.

People with special needs, state conservation officers and others, line the fishing pier at the pond in Sylvan Park in Lanesboro in June. (Photo by John Weiss)

Special Needs + Fishing = Fun

John Weiss met up with special needs people at an annual DNR fishing event in Lanesboro.

Contempo Physical Dance, directed by Marciano Silva dos Santos, performs in the barn at DreamAcres. (Photo by Jeff Brechlin)

DreamAcres, Where Performing Art Meets Agriculture

John Torgrimson visits DreamAcres near Wykoff where art meets agriculture.

Art in the Park draws thousands of visitors from around the area to Lanesboro each June to celebrate art. (Submitted photo)

Art in the Park Festival Celebrates the Arts

Lanesboro’s Art in the Park festival is an annual celebration of art.

Nancie McCormish is pictured with her horse Zekemoouse at her farm near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. (Photo submitted)

Cornucopia: The Birth of the Lanesboro Arts Gallery

Steve Harris visits with Nancie McCormish, one of the founders of Cornucopia Art Center, a forerunner to the Lanesboro Arts Gallery.

The Rutabaga Brothers, with vocalist Mariah Ciangiola (second from left), performed at a spring 2023 concert at the Sons of Norway hall in Lanesboro. (Submitted photo)

Mariah’s Magical Musical Tour

Steve Harris catches up with The Rutabaga Brothers band and their new lead singer

Walker’s route through Fillmore County took him from Pleasant Grove in Olmsted County to Jordan, Fillmore Village, Carimona, Waukokee, Big Springs, Greenfield, and Eliotta, before crossing into Iowa at Burr Oak. Waukokee was a swing station and post office south of Preston and Eliotta was located on the Minnesota – Iowa border in present-day Canton Township. (Map courtesy of Fillmore County Historical Society)

Dubuque-St. Paul Territorial Road Opened Up Area to White Settlement

The Dubuque – St. Paul trail opened up the Minnesota Territory to white settlement. John Torgrimson writes about the role the stagecoach played in that development.

Three horses running in the snow surprised me. They looked like a scene in a Chinese painting. (Photo by John Weiss)

In Search of Golden Eagles

Nature writer John Weiss travels to Houston County in search of Golden Eagles.

Jack and Nancy Bratrud at their home in Preston. They are shown with their scrapbook documenting the media attention Mrs.B’s generated, which helped put Bluff Country on the map as a tourist destination. (Photo by John Torgrimson)

It All Started with Mrs. B’s

Loni Kemp interviews the founders of Mrs. B’s in Lanesboro, which kicked off tourism development in Bluff Country.

Karla Bloem, Executive Director of the International Owl Center in Houston, Minnesota, with Uhu the Eurasian Eagle Owl. (Photo by Alan Stankevitz)

Owl Center Puts Houston on the Map

Steve Harris takes us inside the amazing International Owl Center in Houston

Opportunity

Building Community Through Storytelling