May 4

Country Courier
S e r v i n g To d d C o u n t y , M N
VOLUME 22; NUMBER 2 - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2012 CIRCULATION 10,000 - FREE

Magical light creates a colorful late autumn show at Lake Carlos

The 13th annual Minnesota Beef Expo was held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Thursday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. The Minnesota Beef Expo is a annual roundup for cattle producers and junior cattle enthusiasts from throughout the Midwest, gathering to celebrate and promote the beef industry. The event provides a unique opportunity for cattle producers and beef-specific agribusinesses to take part in the largest beef industry event in Minnesota. Exhibitors and attendees from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska attended the four-day Expo. Events included a cattle sale, Supreme Row competition, Trade Show, seminars and junior events such as showmanship, judging contest, knowledge bowl and an Extreme Make-over fitting contest. The culmination of the Expo was a junior show with 750 head of cattle competing for over $10,000 in prize money. Premiering this year was White Satin On Ice, an elite genetics sale, held at the CHS Miracle of Birth Center on Friday evening, October 20. A standing room only crowd had the opportunity to bid on 37 lots of embryos and flushes from top genetics The Minnesota Beef Expo Sale was held Saturday, Oct. 21. Sale day events included a show, sale and Supreme Row selection with a sit-down dinner served to over 900 people at by the Minnesota State Cattlemen. Supreme Row Champions took home $6,750 in prize money thanks to the following sponsors: Minnesota Farm Guide, AgriMedia Livestock Group, Land OLakes Purina Feed, Rabo AgriFinance and Optimizer Calf Gel. Buyers and bidders from across the country and British Columbia took part in the event with record high sales Supreme Female was the Champion Angus Heifer consigned by JT Weber Family Show Cattle of Lake Benton, Minn and purchased by Brady Gramm of Hancock, Minn. The Reserve Supreme Female was consigned by Braun Show Cattle, Northwood, IA and purchased by Eugene Schermerhorn of New York Mills, Minn. Concluding the Minnesota Beef Expo Continued on page 11 was the junior show on Sunday, Oct. 21, with 750 head of cattle exhibited. Supreme

The Minnesota Beef Expo enjoys a record breaking year!

Schumachers pond sparkles in a drab late November landscape. By Sue Farmer A landscape of tan, brown and gray greets me as I stroll along the Prairie Restoration Trail on the northeast edge of Lake Carlos State Park near Alexandria. The subdued late November colors dominate the prairie, but in the distance the dullness is offset by the dazzling other worldly blue of Schumachers Slough. The large wetland pond with a skim coating of clear ice is the perfect mirror for a satin-like blue sky. A clear blue sky in Minnesotas cloudiest month is a rarity and this golden, sunny day with the thermometer tickling the underbelly of the 60s is perfect for exploring nearby Lake Carlos State Park. This 1,230 acre park is located in a hilly, wooded area 10 miles north of Alexandria. At its heart is Lake Carlos, a deep, clean lake that is the result of glacial activity as is the parks rolling hills terrain. The park has saved a few miles of shoreline from development, offering a great lake experience to everyone. There is a nice swimming beach and a drive in boat access. The lake is considered a hot spot for walleye, northern pike, bass and crappie. The park has 14 miles of hiking trails that drift through a variety of habitats from woodland to aquatic to prairie. After a short jog along a wooded trail, I cross Highway 62 and head into the eastern side of the park, traveling through prairie and wetland, past spent grasses and wildflowers, enjoying the sunshine and the blue-on-blue demeanor of Schumachers Slough. When I look back to the west, an amazing transformation takes place, the listless prairie plants take on new life as their luminescent seed heads refract the sunlight, creating a lighted stage of gold, silver, sapphire and amber. The trail heads into the woods, which are silent save for a few peeps from over wintering black-capped chickadees. I miss the songbirds of spring and summer, but the faithful chickadee is there with its tweets and deedees, a remarkable little bird that somehow finds a way to survive the winter. White-breasted nuthatches are out and about as well as are a few woodpeckers and one ornery hawk that cries loudly and takes off as I near its perch. Even though a bright sun is shining on this bountifully warm November afternoon, it is dark in the woods as the low angle light is blocked by the trees. One of the reasons this area was selected to become a state park in the 1930s was to save its magnificent old growth maple and basswood trees. The trees on this side of the park are mainly second growth, but there are a few massive oldies in the forest mix. The Prairie Restoration Trail joins the Wetland Overlook Trail where a viewing platform has been erected to give hikers stunning views of Schumachers Slough. In spring, summer and fall the pond is utilized by geese, loons, grebes, herons and ducks and sometimes swans and egrets. Beaver make their home on the southern end of the pond. The trail loops around to the east, Continued on page 11

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Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! Aaron, Peggy, Stacey, Tarissa, Rin The Blade Publishing staff.

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