Brownsdale Study Club

The Brownsdale Study Club met on Sept. 21, 2016, at the home of  Leone Peterson.

The meeting was opened by Fern as the collect was read together. Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. Treasurer’s report was giver. Roll call was answered by naming a favorite paperback novel. Ten members were present.

Old business was a motion made by Rena to present a $25 gift certificate to Eileen O’Connor for printing our new yearly calendars. Ida seconded the motion. It was approved. For new business, Fern presented different locations for our Fall Outing. After discussion, the club approved a tour of the Spam Museum on Oct. 12 followed by lunch at Barley’s and then a drive to Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch. Then, the ladies sang “Happy Birthday” to LaVonne and Ida. The meeting was adjourned, serving in October will be Sarah and Leone.

LaVonne Skov gave two outside readings. The first was “Of Fish and Farmers.”

The passion that brought this project to life can be traced back to 1956, when Roger Muggli was young and helped his dad irrigate their alfalfa fields with water. As they opened head gates to flood their fields, the fish  would sweep in with the water. It bothered Roger. He tried to save some of the fish but they struggled and then just died. However, over the years, Roger had not forgotten the fish. He knew that the fish population was dwindling.

So, when he became the third generations of his farm family, he took the reins as Yellowstone Irrigation District Manager. He wanted to save the fish so he called a meeting with 11 agencies and groups to help fix the problem of fish entrainment in the canal. Within 6 months, the groups had pledged over $700,000 to the project. By 1997, they had tipped the flow of the water with little vortices by making a louvre system to steer the fish away from the canal intake.

A 580-foot upstream bypass to restore fish movement to the upper Tongue River was finished in 2010. It provided fish safe passage both upstream and down around the 125 year old, 12-mile dam north of Miles City, Montana. As the workers watched the large Northern Pike and Sauger swim freely by they knew they were successful in their project.

LaVonne’s second reading was about “Oregon’s Wine and Cheese.” As owners of Woodridge Creek Winery, outside Grant’s Pass, Oregon, they found out that pairing wine and cheese made a winning combination. They not only tasted good together but would also draw customers. But, selling wine was hard to do so they sought to stand out from basic crowds by listing more tasty choices to share with their customers. They honed new wine-making skills and built small local markets.

They also became state-certified as a commercial dairy plant. They sell milk, various cheeses and even goat cheese. Tasting plates and sampling platters with wine are popular. Their vineyard grew to 52 acres of wine grapes and with great effort, they became a true farm-to-table experience for their visitors.

Rena’s Main Topic was “Pepin, Wisconsin.” It is a storybook village, settled in 1846 by the Pepin brothers, French trappers on the Mississippi River. Lake Pepin is three miles wide and 23 miles long. Pepin was known as a steamboat boomtown. Today, the area is great for sailing, fishing, skiing, boating, and camping. The beloved children’s author Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in 1867 and lived in a log cabin north of Pepin with her parents and sisters; Mary, Carrie, and Grace. Laura wrote the “Little House” books.

Now, on the second weekend in September each year, Pepin celebrates Laura Ingalls Wilder Days honoring her in a Historical Museum there. This September, Rena and her family celebrated “Wilder Days and Grandparents’ Day” while camping near Lake Pepin. They enjoyed all the contests and activities, especially the historic costumes and outfits, overalls, long dresses, bonnets, and boots.

The town is also known as an Art and Design Center with special events, art galleries and antique shops. It is a unique place with beautiful fall colors and natural wonders where the eagles soar along the river and over Lake Pepin.

Duplicate Bridge

Tuesday, Sept. 27, six tables played at the Mower County Senior Center. First place, Barb Engebretson and Orrin Roisen; second place, Ray and Gail Schmidt; third place, Barb Rofsush and Lorraine Quinnleven; fourth place, Larry Crowe and Jim Fisher; fifth place, Joyce Crowe and Millie Siever; sixth place, Lorraine Lippert and Russ Valle.

Wednesday, Sept. 28, four tables played. First place, Vandy Newman and Ron Peters; second place, Dave Ring and Orrin Roisen; third place, Joyce Crowe and Millie Siever; fourth place, Loren Cleland and Bud Higgins.

Players were from Austin, Albert Lea, Adams and Rose Creek. All bridge players are encouraged to join us at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and noon on Wednesdays.