local businesses

Several adults standing, sitting and talking in a conference room in Rushford, MN.

Honoring the Past, Building the Future: SMIF Celebrates 40 Years

photo of a laptop with view of Root River Current homepage

Inside Root River Current | Three Years Strong – And Counting!

Outdoor patio at Sylvan Brewing in Lanesboro, Minnesota, filled with people enjoying drinks and live music beside the brewery building, with umbrellas, flowers, and scenic bluffs in the background.

How a Small-Town Brewery Became a Regional Destination

A low, modern brick building sits on a snow-covered slope under a bright blue sky. Large dark windows face outward, reflecting the light. Bare trees line the hillside behind the building, and a tall communications tower rises above the trees. An American flag stands on a pole near the right side of the building.

Coming Together to Keep the Branding Iron Open

A slender woman in a green zip-up pullover, jeans, and teal stocking cap stands with her hands in her pockets in a snow-covered field beside a long plastic-covered high tunnel greenhouse, with rolling hills in the background on a winter day in southeastern Minnesota.

Featherstone Farm: Growing Organic Food Through Fair Labor

A classic small-town hardware store with a vintage gold-and-black sign reading “Hokah Hardware” painted across large front windows. The display window is filled with household items—glassware, pitchers, and metalware—while tables outside hold brightly colored bowls, tools, and small appliances for sale. The green storefront and wooden overhang evoke an old-fashioned Main Street charm.

Hokah Hardware Keeps Small-Town Spirit Alive

A person with short gray hair and sunglasses stands behind a blue-covered craft fair table set up outdoors on a sunny day in a wooded park. The table displays handmade fabric crafts, including colorful quilted eyeglass cases, pot holders, and bags made from patterned cotton fabric. The vendor’s sign reads “TLT Crafts.” Wooden crates are stacked to create display shelves, and one holds an orange-and-white leaf-patterned tote bag. Dappled sunlight filters through green trees in the background.

From Quilts to Tote Bags: Twyla Thorson’s 30-Year Legacy of Textile Art

Follow us

Supported by...