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Corn harvest memories

I recently took an exciting ride in a spendy vehicle, the kind that comes with a price tag well into the six figures. A Bently? A Rolls? A Dragon spaceship? Nope. It was my neighbor’s combine. Modern combines are a marvel of high technology. Their cabs feature multiple touch screens, automated steering systems, and doodads that monitor grain yields and moisture. I wouldn’t be surprised if it could also whip up a cappuccino. The cabs are heated and air conditioned, with a comfy seat that cushions the operator like a baby in a cradle. It has all the comforts of home except for ...

With 3 new veterans homes in one year, MN stepping up to support veterans

As a 24-year veteran of the Minnesota National Guard, I know that when you raise your hand to serve, you’re not just sacrificing your time. You’re sacrificing your health, safety, personal freedoms, and time with family in service to your country. Minnesota is home to more than 285,000 veterans who have put their lives on the line to defend their state and country. I can’t think of a more noble cause. Now, with over half of Minnesota’s veterans over the age of 65, it’s time for us to serve them. When veterans serving our nation finally take their uniform off and return ...

Supporting our first responders

Last montgh, Hurricanes Milton and Helene devastated parts of the southern United States. As families evacuated and started to rebuild, firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel were a constant presence including the Minnesota National Guard who went down to help. This is what our first responders do everyday across our country and throughout our state: whether responding to wildfires, floods, tornados, shootings, or gas leaks, our first responders put their lives on the line to keep us safe. Tragically in Minnesota this year we have lost a number of officers and ...

Looking back at the harvest

It’s time for the annual Krzmarzick Farms Post Harvest Update. A lot of readers look forward to that. Well, that’s not true. But here it is anyway. These are thoughts that have been sloshing around in my head. Sometimes those spill out on the keyboard. It’s kind of unsightly. I try to clean it up before Pam sees it. Anyway, 2024, what can we say about you? A year to remember. Like how you remember banging your head on a pipe. We had a winter that wasn’t a winter. Then there was record rain from April to July. Then came the warmest, driest fall ever. “Is it dry? No, ...

It’s open enrollment season — here’s what to know

As sure as colorful leaves and football games, open enrollment season happens each fall. Don’t miss this chance to ensure you have health insurance coverage for 2025. Open enrollment on the federal Marketplace at healthcare.gov runs Nov. 1 through Dec. 15 for first-of-the-year coverage. Jan. 15 is the final date to make changes or to set up coverage that begins Feb. 1. Employers have their own open enrollment season for signing up for health insurance at work, but commonly this happens in the fall as well. Health insurance is an investment, just like a retirement plan. It ...

Shorts and sweatshirt weather: a comfortable time of year

I have seasons of the year when it comes to clothes, seasons that coincide with weather trends. I have sweater season in the winter, shorts and short sleeved shirts in the summer. In between I have shorts and sweatshirt weather. It’s perfect for the in between times of the spring and fall. The spring season is usually fairly short. It takes a long time to warm up. By the time it does, it’s almost summer-like. In the fall shorts and sweatshirts stretch out for a longer amount of time, usually at least a month. This year it continued for almost six weeks. We had a beautiful ...