Story and photo courtesy of The Northern Star Newspaper THE TOM AND MARY ARENS FAMILY OF GRACEVILLE  was named the Big Stone County 2019 Farm Family of the Year. They will be among the Minnesota Farm Families of the Year to be recognized at FarmFest in Redwood County on August 6. The family is pictured at the Big Stone County Fair. Tom’s mother, Beverly Arens is pictured, along with the Tom and Mary, right; and their children, Michelle, who will be a junior at CGB this fall and Joe, who will be a freshman. Eighty-four families from throughout Minnesota are being honored as 2019 Farm Family of the Year by the University of Minnesota.  In Big Stone County the Tom Arens family was named the 2019 Farm Family of the Year.  Tom’s father, Tony, purchased the Arens farm, rural Graceville,  in 1962. Tony and his wife, Bev, raised nine children on the farm. They grew corn, soybeans and wheat and raised 50,000 laying hens. Tom’s parents also had 500 cow/calf pairs and raised pigs. In 2009, …

Story and photo courtesy of The Northern Star Newspaper MAIN STREET INDUSTRIES GARDEN is a new attraction on Clinton’s Main Street this year. The location was an empty lot, owned by Wally Sayles, who gave them permission for this great addition. Lisa Sayles, MSI Direct Support Professional, is pictured with some of the MSI consumers who have been involved in the project. The signage was provided by SHIP, a state program through the Minnesota Department of Health. MainStreet Industries in Clinton is a very busy place year-round. This summer they increased one project to include a vegetable garden on an empty lot on Clinton’s Main Street. In partnership with SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Partnership), which is under the Minnesota Department of Health, they were able to use SHIP’s $3,000 grant along with MSI’s funding to construct a patio in the front of their building. They also constructed – in-house, raised garden beds for their use.  Unfortunately, the MSI Greenhouse that had been constructed at the rear of their building was totally damaged from the past winter’s heavy …

an #MNbump Series – #4 Clinton Prairie This is a fourth in a series about things in the #MNbump that we are calling #MNbumpExplore. You may or may not know about these places but we encourage you to go check them out, take a selfie or group photo with them and share the photos on your page, tagging MNbump.com or #MNbump on Facebook! The Clinton Prairie is located at the intersection of County Road 6 and County Road 7 West of Clinton.  This area of land is known as virgin prairie as it has been said that the land has never been plowed, only bailed for the grass.  From our information the land was donated to the Natural Conservatory from the Connelly family quite a few years ago and was more recently transferred to the Department of Natural Resources.  The Clinton Prairie Natural and Scenic area is a beautiful grassland that has wildflowers and birds and natural habitat.   If you have information about this prairie land or know more of it’s hsitory, please feel free …

an #MNbump Series – #3 Graceville – Historic Landmark This is a Third in a series about things in the #MNbump that we are calling #MNbumpExplore. You may or may not know about these places but we encourage you to go check them out, take a selfie or group photo with them and share the photos on your page, tagging MNbump.com or #MNbump on Facebook! This monument located west of Graceville on Highway 28 is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. If you are like me you may have noticed this site, but never really paid much attention to it. We stopped at this little wayside rest and took some photos to share with you. Quite interesting to learn more about our history in this area. Check it out as you Explore the #MNbump! Also you can check out the link for the Registry in the comments on the first photo.

an #MNbump Series – #2 – Glacial Rocks in Big Stone County DID YOU KNOW? This is a Second in a series about things in the #MNbump that we are calling #MNbumpExplore. You may or may not know about these places but we encourage you to go check them out, take a selfie or group photo with them and share the photos on your page, tagging MNbump.com or #MNbump on Facebook! The Glacier Rocks between Odessa and Correll on Hwy. 7 are something we have admired for years. I remember my 6th Grade Minnesota History book that included photos of the rocks, and how excited I was to be able to say “I know where those are!” How many of you have taken the time to actually stop and check them out and see how large they are. Also remember heading home and knowing we were almost there when we passed the rocks. What are your memories of the “big rocks?” Let us know! #MNbumpExplore

The Big Stone County Cancer Support Group does it again!   For 2019, the Big Stone County group donated $14,365 to the research efforts at the NDSU Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies for Pancreatic Cancer. The picture attached shows Dr. Sanku Mallik, director of the Center for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer at North Dakota State University, accepting a generous donation to cancer research from Linda Krogsrud, treasurer of the Big Stone County Cancer Support Group at a check presentation on Friday, June 7 at NDSU. Here is the Link to the story on the INFORUM Facebook page. Dr. Yongki Choi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at NDSU had originally planned to be in Graceville on April 11th to accept the check but due to the weather, that event was postponed and members of the group traveled to NDSU.  They were able to tour the facility and present the check in person. Those with Facebook, can see more photos and more information on the Big Stone County Cancer Support Group Facebook …

Saint Mary’s Catholic Parish in Beardsley will have its’ final mass on Saturday, June 15, beginning at 5:00 pm.  This mass will conclude over 135 years of ministry and sacraments. The church building will be sold to the city of Beardsley, and will be used as a community center and city hall.  The public is invited to use the building for wedding receptions, graduation, birthday, and anniversary parties.  The kitchen will stay fully stocked with dishes, and cooking utensils.  The building will be sold as is, with all the current supplies and furnishes.  To reserve the building for an event, please contact the city council. The stain glass windows will stay in the church.  At a later date, if the church is ever torn down, the windows will be removed, sold, and the profit from the windows will be given to Saint Mary’s cemetery Perpetual Care Fund account, for the upkeep of the cemetery. The church bell will be removed and will be set in a steeple like structure in the cemetery later this summer. …