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State Representative Paul Anderson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4317
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GUEST COLUMN
Local summer events are a hit
By Rep. Paul Anderson
This time of year sees many celebrations as our local towns, churches, and civic organizations roll up their sleeves and host events that draw folks from near and far. It’s a lot of work for those who volunteer their time to make these events a success.
We had grandkids visiting last weekend as we took in a fire department fund-raiser in Forada and Lowry Days. The firemen working over the hot grill at Forada dished up some mighty good pork chops as hundreds of folks enjoyed their meal inside the clean and modern fire hall. Our 3-year-old grandson is fascinated by any kind of “wheels,” so he was especially thrilled to look at and touch a real fire truck, as they sat spotless and shiny outside the fire hall.
The next day at Lowry, I was impressed by the young folks who were putting on many of the programs for kids. (Bear in mind, from my vantage point, anyone under the age of 40 is young.) Again, the firefighters were on hand letting kids try their hand at holding a real fire hose spraying water into a large tank. They also manned a “smoke house” where kids and their parents could learn how to escape from a fire in their home.
The youngsters also got to try their hand at a pedal tractor pull. All those who got on the various-colored tractors received a can of pop, and there were trophies for the top finishers in each age category. Spectators cheered each contestant as they tried to move that sled one more inch. Several of the younger ones, those under four years old, were a bit shy and needed a bit of coaxing from mom or dad before they dared to walk out and take their place on the tractor. Even heard talk about a “state tournament” somewhere for the top finishers.
This is a beautiful time of year in Minnesota. We have missed out on the huge rainstorms that have ravaged both the northern and southern parts of our state. The damage in the Duluth area is hard to comprehend as all of that rain in a short time coming down those steep hills surrounding Lake Superior contains an immense amount of destructive power. Cities and towns up there will need help in rebuilding roads and other infrastructure, while individual residents also get back to their homes and survey the damage.
Received a fact sheet on organic dairy farming from the University of Minnesota recently. According to their data, the number of farms producing organic milk has grown by 42 percent in the past eight years. There are now over 150 organic dairy farms in Minnesota, ranking us ninth in production in the United States. An organization called the Organic Trade Association says that organic food sales comprise 4 percent of the total food market in this country. The dairy portion of that total is one of the fastest growing segments of the entire organic food industry. At times this year, organic milk has been in short supply, caused in part by increasing consumer demand along with lower organic dairy cow production.
Have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July holiday. Enjoy the weather and our great outdoors!
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