Once upon a time, there was a country called the United States of America founded upon the basic principles of freedom, liberty and prosperity. Because of these principles, granted to each of us by our creator, the founders, George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin and others, met in ...

Right now, rural America is facing a crisis of uncertainty. In Minnesota and across the country, farmers are having trouble making ends meet amid low commodity prices and increasing costs, and farm financial conditions are deteriorating. Farmer loan repayment rates continue to decline in ...

There must have been just the right number of pellets held tight enough in the yellow 20-gauge shell to connect with the late-flushing rooster in the group of more than a dozen tucked into the grass surrounded by the golden corn fields still waiting to be harvested. The bird fluttered and ...

In our family, there is a mythical character who periodically appears. The character appears when the youngsters least expect it to, and soon the room is filled with sounds of screaming laughter because of all the tickling that’s happening. The characters name is Papa Gorilla. This ...

Some years ago, I got the idea of putting together a book of my collected works. A publisher is needed to embark upon such an adventure, and in order to get a publisher you need a literary agent. After a few timid excursions on the stormy Sea of Literacy, I came into contact with Mitch, a ...

If you’re between the ages of 35 and 60, you may be feeling a financial pinch from both your growing — or grown — children and your aging parents or in-laws.1 You may also find yourself juggling your work commitments and the expectations of family members for your time and support. As a ...