Three Hills-Beaver Creek High School FFA students were finalists in supervised agricultural experiences (SAE) at the state convention in St. Paul last week.
Carter Hartz, Cooper Gehrke and Samantha Moser were finalists in the fiber and/or oil production, environmental science and natural resources management, and agricultural communications, respectively.
“These finalists have earned proficiency awards in areas that relate to agriculture and developed skills they can apply to their future careers,” said Lavyne Rada, Minnesota FFA program manager.
“SAEs are part of the agricultural education programs and help them apply academic and career skills within areas of agriculture, food and natural resources pathways.”
An SAE can involve entrepreneurship, placement or internships in a business, research, exploration, service learning or school-based enterprises. In Minnesota there are 47 areas for which awards can be given, including both placement and entrepreneurship projects.
At the April 24-26 convention, 121 FFA’ers were recognized as SAE finalists.
 
State degree earners
Five H-BC FFA’ers received state degrees at the convention.
Danette Leenderts, Samantha Moser, Andrew Harris, Donavon Leenderts and Carter Hartz earned the organization’s top award that recognized the students’ exceptional amount of time invested into the SAE and local chapter.
 
Judging team results
H-BC qualified seven teams to compete at the state competition.
The teams and individual results are as follows:
•General livestock: 26th (silver) out of 65 teams. Samantha Moser was the team’s top individual, earning gold for placing 36th out of 229 FFA’ers. Lanae Elbers also earned a gold rating (76th place). Cody Moser was 125th (silver) and Sean Elbers was 174th (silver).
•Poultry evaluation: team finished 30th (silver) out of 45 teams. Individually, Olivia Bork placed 76th (silver), Kenadie Fick 77th (silver), Sylvia Fick (bronze) 137th and Layla Deelstra 155th out of 160 FFA’ers.
•Soils evaluation: H-BC finished 20th (silver) out of 43 teams. Andrew Harris placed 24th (gold) out of 150 participants, Max Scholten 70th (silver), Donavon Leenderts 92nd (silver) and Troy Durst 95th (silver).
•Best-informed greenhand competition: H-BC Team 1 placed 36th (silver), and Team 2 placed  53rd (bronze) out of 81 teams. Individually out of 206 participants, John Tiesler placed 91st (gold), Gus Jacobson 106th (gold), Gracie Fagerness 115th (silver), Michael Martinyuk 124th (silver), Emma Deelstra 159th (silver), Amber Wiersema 172nd (silver) and Bailey Spykerboer 190th (silver).
Tyrae Goodface was selected for the FFA band, playing tenor saxophone.

A "Walk, Run & Roll" virtual biking event will be May 15-21 on the Luverne Loop and Ashby Trail.
Participants are encouraged to hit the trails and take a photo at one or more of five designated photo opportunities along the trail and share it on Instagram using #LovetheLifeMN.
The five photo boards are located at various locations throughout the trail system, and part of the challenge is to find them.
Luverne Economic Development Authority director Holly Sammons updated the board on the event Monday.
“It’s just a fun event and a good way to promote that this will be the last phase of the trail that will be constructed this summer,” Sammons said.
“It’s the last summer that we have an incomplete trail system, so we’re starting some marketing and brochures and working with the Chamber on a lot of partnerships with trail magazines.”
Luverne Chamber Director Jane Lanphere sent a reminder email Monday afternoon.
“Spring is here, and it’s time to get out and enjoy our great trail system,” she said.
The remaining unfinished portions of the Loop are south of the Warren Baker RIM property and the north portion around the hospital.
Construction will start this summer and wrap up this fall.
Twenty adults and 20 youth will be selected randomly from Instagram posts to receive a Luverne Loop T-shirt.
The event is sponsored by the Chamber, Convention and Visitors Bureau and LEDA.

As the Veterans Home in Luverne celebrates the annual Minnesota Veterans Homes Week May 8 through 14, our staff acknowledges the benefits of a caring, generous community.
We’re so grateful to neighbors and veteran champions for their partnership, especially during the pandemic.
We looked for new ways to enhance the experiences of our veterans and their families, and community contributions of all kinds have made a tremendous difference.
Over the past year, the Luverne Veterans Home received generous support from the local area – from  individuals as well as veteran service organizations – that focused primarily on:
•the campus memorial stone paver project.
•funding of cable/satellite TV systems so that these services could be provided as a complimentary service to residents.
•general recreation activities, including entertainment options during social hours and bingo games.
These ongoing efforts helped dedicated employees deliver exceptional care and a heightened quality of life to residents and their loved ones.
Working at the Veterans Home is truly an honor, and our staff takes such pride in their work as they serve those who have served and sacrificed.
The annual Veterans Home Week celebration is an opportunity to recognize them for the joy they bring and the sense of extended family they create for our veterans.
Both residents and staff appreciate the community’s support.
Community members interested in supporting the Luverne Veterans Home may contact public affairs leader Duane Mabon at duane.mabon@state.mn.us.
Online donations are gratefully accepted at MinnesotaVeteran.org/Donate.

As a kid, I often pondered who and what I might grow up to be — an artist, musician, athlete, teacher. (Don’t we all dream of being teachers?)
Why didn’t I just enjoy being a kid? I had a great childhood. Yet I distinctly recall a preoccupation about what comes next.
I still do. Maybe we all do.
It’s a universal curse that hinders life enjoyment. Or perhaps it’s a survival mechanism — like squirrels spending their sunny days gathering nuts for future cold days.
In high school I planned for college. In college I planned a career, and so on.
It’s not that we don’t enjoy these life phases, because I did. Maybe too much, which might be why I was chronically sleep deprived … with homework, part-time jobs and a (demanding) social schedule.
I told myself that once I get my degree, life will level off and I’ll catch up on sleep.
But there was an internship to complete, a wedding to plan, a job offer back home, a move to pack for, a house to buy, a mortgage to pay, a baby on the way ...
I told myself that when the kids were out of diapers and in school, when I caught up with debt, when I mastered newspaper deadlines … life would level off.
But the kids were in soccer, Little League, Taekwondo and piano lessons … and later in marching band, football, track and field, tennis, and so on.
At one point, between shuttling kids and covering work assignments, I remember thinking back to the diaper days when at least we could be home.
Yet, I wouldn’t have gone back. This was my life. At that stage, my life was on the bleachers with the other parents who also ate supper on the run and left a dirty kitchen behind at home.
I enjoyed all life stages, which means, of course, that I’ve been blessed. And I’m grateful.
Last weekend my youngest graduated from college. It happened on a Friday night after a busy workday, ahead of a busy weekend.
I watched him cross the stage in his cap and gown and tried not to be distracted by food plans for his party and the Saturday plans to work at the family farm.
It was a lovely weekend, but I resisted the “after we get through this, life will level off,” feeling.
Life really doesn’t level off. In fact, I have no idea what a “leveled life” even looks like.
I used to think it happened in retirement, but some retired people are busier than ever.
… and some lose their spouses before they can enjoy retirement together.
It’s true that the older we are, the faster time flies. But thankfully, the older we get, the wiser we are.
And we realize that the best stage of life is the one we’re in right now.

Frakes: 'Our lives are filled with uncertainty...'
To the Editor:
Our lives are filled with a lot of uncertainty, but the one thing we can be 100 percent certain about is how women become pregnant.
If a woman did not want to have children and raise a family, it is very simple to do. If a woman should become pregnant, she would know that she used extremely poor judgment in controlling her body at the beginning of the problem.
How then would the woman know that she wasn’t using extremely poor judgment in controlling her body to end the problem?
Bill Frakes,
Luverne
 

Question: I recently heard something about the new phone number “988” for people dealing with a mental health crisis. With all these three digit numbers, 911, 411, 511, can you talk about that?
Answer: 988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. While some areas may be currently able to connect to the Lifeline by dialing 988, this dialing code will be available to everyone across the United States starting on July 16, 2022.
When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.
The current Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, even after 988 is launched nationally.
The Lifeline’s network of over 180 crisis centers has been in operation since 2005, and has been proven to be effective. It’s the counselors at these local crisis centers who answer the contacts the Lifeline receives every day. Numerous studies have shown that callers feel less suicidal, less depressed, less overwhelmed and more hopeful after speaking with a Lifeline counselor.
If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at Statue 169.791 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848.  (Or reach him at, Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us)
  

A record-smashing 131 people attended Ag Trivia Night Thursday night, May 5, at Take 16, where Rock County Farm Bureau and Rock Nobles Cattlemen’s Association hosted the event and helped with triva questions. Rock County Farm Bureau President Peter Bakken said he was impressed and pleased by the showing of such a diverse crowd of professionals, families, farm­ers and others. “Kudos to the library and staff Take 16,” he said. “This was just good community cohesive fun.”

Dispatch report
April 29
•Complainant on 60th Avenue, Jasper, reported someone with a spotlight in area.
•Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported a transient.
•Complainant dropped meds for disposal.
•Complainant at Veterans Park reported loud kids.
•Complainant on N. McKenzie Street reported she let someone borrow her vehicle but now they aren’t returning it.
May 1
•Complainant on N. Estey Street reported a tire in front lawn.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported damage to vehicle in parking lot.
•Complainant on 71st Street, Luverne, reported unable to contact subject.
May 2
•Complainant on N. Jackson Street reported marital property dispute.
•Complainant on 101st Street, Luverne, reported theft at location.
•Complainant on 131st Street and 150th Avenue, Luverne, reported people shooting at a “road closed” sign.
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street reported threat/disorderly person.
May 3
•Complainant eastbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 12, Luverne, reported a possible intoxicated driver reported at location.
•Complainant on Highway 55, Hastings, reported subject with Rock County warrant.
•Probation requested investigation of possible drunk driver.
•Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 22, Magnolia, reported a vehicle all over the road.
•Complainant reported possible scam activity.
•Complainant on S. Donaldson Street reported theft of medication.
May 4
•Complainant in Sioux Falls reported she found her stolen car.
•Complainant southbound on Highway 23, mile marker 14, Jasper, reported vehicle swerving in lane.
•Complainant on 121st Street and Highway 23, Beaver Creek, reported vehicle unable to maintain speed and swerving.
•Complainant requested records on subject.
•Complainant requested to speak with probation.
•Complainant on County Road 4 and 81st Street, Beaver Creek, reported suspicious activity.
•Complainant on County Road 4 and 170th Avenue, Luverne, reported a vehicle along roadside is out of gas.
•Complainant on E. Warren Street reported a civil issue.
May 5
•Pipestone County requested watch for vehicle.
•Complainant on N. Kniss Avenue reported a transient at location.
•Complainant on Interstate 90, mile marker 10, Luverne, reported a transient at location.
•Complainant on E. Benson Road, Sioux Falls, found stolen motor vehicle.
•Complainant on 20th Avenue, Hills, reported suspicious activity at location.
•Complainant on S. Cedar Street reported theft from location.
•Complainant at Ellsworth park reported a disorderly.
•Complainant on W. 1st Street, Hills, reported identity theft/fraud.
May 6
•Property damage was reported at location on E. Lincoln Street.
In addition, officers responded to 4 motor vehicle accidents, 2 deer accidents, 1 escort, 9 ambulance runs, 17 paper services, 4 animal complaints, 3 fingerprint requests, 28 burn permits, 1 background check, 1 vehicle impound, 1 driver’s license check, 1 gas drive-off, 6 drug court tests, 6 purchase and carry permits, 2 stalled vehicles, 25 traffic stops, 8 abandoned 911 calls, 3 tests, 1 welfare check and 1 follow-up.

Seniors at Luverne High School gave back to the community Friday during their annual Senior Service Day.
While they picked up trash and cleaned up landscaped areas, they didn’t forget that a classmate is missing the final days of high school.
As a gesture of support, seniors gave a portrait of the LHS Class of 2022 to Wendy and Tony Gacke, whose daughter Daniella committed suicide when she was entering eighth grade in 2017.
“This class experienced a big loss, but more importantly the Gackes experienced an incredible loss,” said High School Principal Ryan Johnson, who organized the photo gift.
“While our seniors are going through their final years of high school with prom, baccalaureate, academic awards, hanging out with classmates, open houses and graduation, the Gackes are experiencing the loss of not going through that. While we cannot fix that, we can try and remember them in small ways.”
Senior Service Day replaces the traditional Senior Skip Day, where students purposely skip classes on a Friday.
The morning culminates with a picnic lunch at the city park, and students are excused from school for the afternoon.
This year 25 of the seniors traveled to the Gackes’ acreage south of Luverne where they cleaned a remembrance garden made in 2017 as a “Rock It with Dani” life celebration.
Back then, many of the now senior students painted rocks with messages of life, hope and kindness, while sharing stories about Dani.
The Gackes’ focus was to prevent at least one family from going through the loss of a child through suicide, while providing support for the young teenagers.
At the senior lunch, Wendy Gacke said many of those rocks painted five years ago are still visible in the garden.
Each year since Dani’s death, the Gackes have openly welcomed students back to their acreage, and another visit is set for June 4, Dani’s birthday. She would have turned 18.
Wendy lamented that as Dani’s classmates prepare to leave home for college and careers, the annual gatherings may be coming to an end.
“It may be one last time we can gather together,” she said.
Friday’s Senior Service Day was a chance for the Class of 2022 to include the Gacke family whose daughter would have graduated high school later this month.
“While we cannot fix that, we can try and remember them in some special ways — to be a source of encouragement and know that this class and community support them, care for them, and empathize with the feelings they have, and hope to help in some way along their journey of healing,” Johnson said.