Vol.8 Red Cow Gazette, Amboy, Minnesota 56010 Spring 2014 No. 1Funding and Content for the Amboy Red Cow Gazette is Provided by the Amboy Area Community Club.

The Amboy Fire Department received a wonderful gift from Lynn Olson, who was selected as the winner in Blue Earth County for America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the

Monsanto Fund. This was a program that covered 39 states including Minnesota, and the prize being a $2500.00 donation to a local nonprofit of the winners choice.

Amboy Fire Department receives generous gift

Amboy Fire Department accepts $2500 check from Lynn Olson.

The purpose of Grow communities is to recognize and celebrate the important contributions farmers make to rural America, and to help them grow their communities by supporting local organizations that are important to them. This year 1,289 counties, and over 82,000 farmers participated and there was a winner from each county. Our local fire departments in our small rural communities can be the greatest asset we have. Unlike larger towns, ours are made up of volunteers. People willing to go the extra mile for us when we get hurt, in an accident or something catches on fire. They can also be our friends, and our family. The glue that keeps our community strong. When asked why he chose

Amboy Fire department, Lynn reflected; when my son James returned home from Iraq, the Amboy fire department was the first to greet them at the edge of town, and proceeded to escort them home. The fire department has been there for us more then once, and it’s our way of saying Thank you. Each community has fantastic men and women that volunteer to be local fire and rescue people. These folks are in critical need, in all communities, but especially in Amboy. If you feel the need to give back to, and be a vital part of the community, Please volunteer for service to the Amboy Fire Department. Please take the time to say Thank You to our fine fire department members, and let them know if you want to be a

part of the department.

Chief – Brad Sternberg1st Assistant Chief – Brandon Karau2nd Assistant Chief – Sean BonnevilleTruck Captain – Rick ReinkeSecretary – Jessie LloydTreasurer – Lucas Bunde

Firefighters:Joe Barnard, Heath Buckholtz, Michelle Doyen, Ted Kleindl, Shannon Lachmiller, Kevin Larson, Dan Lemmon, Manual Sanders, Brad Schock, Jon Stevens, Amanda Uhrich, Your name here.

Winner, winner, chicken NOT dinner! These beautiful birds are not just for eggs or meat, they are colorful, productive Show Stoppers. Successfully showing at State Fairs, and poultry shows over the years has given Mark Peterson the education needed to be a supreme breeder, poultry Judge, and educator on the subject around the world. Though his dad, Vern

feat as he was competing in a field of seven to eight thousand birds! What makes a chicken a show bird, and not just a chicken dinner? Well, breeding is a large part of it. As with any livestock, certain breeds are known for specific traits. Some birds are layers, some are bred for your dinner, and some are just better show birds known as Fancy breeds. Out of the

Spring Chicken Steals The Show hundreds of breeds of chickens, Mark breeds and rears Light Brahmas and Black Cochins Bantams, both of the feather footed variety. In the pure bred category, both sexes of bird are shown. These birds are slower maturing breeds, and great care is taken to groom and prep them for the show ring. What makes a supreme bird? Confirmation is key. Each breed has its confirmation type, and requirements to make the cut. Tail angle, breast development, weight and feather quality are all important qualities. For breeders of these birds, attention to detail is necessary, such as eye color, feather color and even where the feathers are, or, are not on the feet. The red “comb” on their head is also important judging criteria. As Mark recently discovered, Judging at the 100th Anniversary of the Bermuda Poultry club in Bermuda (Somers Isles), the color of the bird is the most critical part of the bird for the UK breeders.

Education on the breeding and showing of these birds is part of Mark’s schedule. Getting the young 4-H’ers involved with the raising and showing of birds is the icing on the cake for Mark. To see the young showers grow and even win, makes it all worth while. Mark puts on seminars though the 4-H club in Waseca, teaching the young showers general care of the birds. How to prep their fancy birds for the spotlight, and proper handling so they shine for the Judge. When Mark judges the fairs, it is not just about the bird, but involving the kids in Q & A also adds to the education for them. If you would like to know more about chickens of any breed. How to raise or get your young showers involved, or just want to meet Mark and his Buff’s and Banties, please email us at amboy’s bull sheet@gmail.com or contact Amboy Area Community Club for more information.

Peterson was not fond of the fowl, and preferred to raise and show Belgians, the family still participated in the poultry pageants. Following in his brother Larry’s footsteps, Mark Peterson began showing chickens at the young age of twelve, and with great success, won the top award of Supreme Championship at the Combined National Show in Columbus, OH, 1973. This was quite a

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Mark Peterson with Alina Corgard holding her winning bird

Mark Peterson with his hens

In the fall of 1898 the Dethloff family purchased Oak Ridge Farm, which is now an 8th generation Minnesota Century Farm. Great-great-great grandpa Christian, great-great grandparents Fred & Kate, and their children - Great grandpa Joseph Christian & his (adopted) sister Julia, moved to the Shelby Township farm from Ransom, Illinois in 1899. They were all members of the German Evangelical Methodist Church in Amboy (which sat just east of the big brick school). The Dethloff family has a long tradition of loving animals of all kinds, both furry and feathered. Oak Ridge Farm has always been a place where animals and birds of all kinds are welcomed and cared for. Along with cows and horses in the early years, and pigs later on, Great grandpa Joe raised champion show chickens, specializing in Silver Wyandottes. The chicks were hatched from Oak Ridge Farm eggs and grew up to be quite the little travelers. They were exhibited as far away as Madison Square Garden in New York City. The chickens were sent there in special boxes, and always returned home with ribbons and trophies. Along with the State Fair, Minnesota hosted some of the premiere poultry exhibitions in the Midwest, and Joe’s Oak Ridge Silvers won many silver cups. Growing up with four generations on the farm, it is easy to see why my dad, Dick has always loved animals of all kinds. His Mother, (known as Grandma Hazel to all the following generations) would lovingly welcome and take care of whatever animals he brought home: an owl, mud

COW TALES “Stories of the Past for the Generations of the Future”

hens, pheasants, pigeons, and even a “house fox” named Pickles. When I was very little, I helped Great grandma Nellie gather eggs in the chicken house. I loved the chickens and would chase the hens all over the yard until I caught one to hug and lug around. Great grandma always reminded me not to chase the roosters because they would end up chasing me.

My favorite time of year was spring, because we would have baby chicks to cuddle. My cousin Becky got chicks for Easter that were bright yellow and pink and I loved them so much. I begged and begged for colored chicks, but I was told that I couldn’t have them because they would grow up to be roosters….and chase me around…. Easter always reminds me of Great grandma Nellie because her birthday was in April, and she loved the season too. Becky and I always had a special day with her right before Easter, for an Easter egg coloring party. She had many egg traditions and rules that we still uphold today. 1. Pick clean eggs and don’t rub or scrub them! [of course not!] 2. Always boil eggs in an enameled pot. [We still use her blue and white pot!] 3. Use old cups with cracks and/or missing handles. [Still use them too!] 4. Use plenty of vinegar in the dye [of course!] 5. This is our tradition today – We exclaim loudly how happy Great grandma would be that they finally made a red dye that is pretty, and a yellow one that is bright, and that she would love all the pretty shades of blue, purple, and pink! After the eggs were dyed Great grandma would shoo us upstairs while she filled our Easter baskets with eggs, candy - always the dark chocolate covered marshmallow nests with little candy bunnies or chicks in the middle, [that she bought at Peter’s Grocery where she went to do her “trading”, now Eagle Nutrition], pretty little pastel chenille chicks [purchased at Dick’s Country Fair, now the Villager], and brightly colored

plastic eggs filled with coins or other Easter treats and trinkets. She hid the baskets and watched, with a big smile on her face, while Becky and I searched all over the house until we found them. Upstairs where we lived, our kitchen was always full of wonderfully creative goodies that Mom made for every holiday. My very favorites were the panoramic sugar Easter eggs with scenes of bunnies, chicks, ducks, and swans inside, and beautiful frosting flowers on top. To look inside a panoramic egg and imagine a little Easter world in there, is still fascinating to me. While the ladies of the house were busy making magic in the kitchen, at the loom in the basement, at the sewing machine, quilting, crocheting, or embroidering, Dad was outside tending to the farm and animals that he loved, both wild and domestic. There were assorted dogs over the years. As a toddler, I remember Sandy, a golden Cocker Spaniel, and Great grandma Nellie’s Cappie…who ate bologna. When I was very little, Dad brought home Thunder, Stormy, and Tammy and began raising purebred Black Labs. One of the litters included 3 golden puppies. While I was growing up, there were sometimes puppies, just the right age to play with, at my birthday parties. One day when I was quite young, Mom and Dad surprised me with a cardboard box that was making little cheeping noises. When I looked inside, I fell in love with the little turquoise parakeet I named Cheeper. We were best friends and spent many days singing and dancing together to my favorite records. Just before Easter, in 1965, there was a huge flood in Mankato and no one could get into

Downtown…not even the Easter Bunny! On Easter Morning I found a little tin egg in my basket. Inside was a delightful note from the Bunny, saying that we would go pick out a parakeet as soon as the flood was over. I could hardly wait for my visit to Farmer’s Seed and Nursery (on Front St. in downtown Mankato) when little Perky came home with us. Though all of the years that Oak Ridge Farm has been home to the Dethloff family and descendants, it has been like a wildlife refuge for all the animals that choose to make it their home. Dad and Karl plant extra corn every year to leave in the field for the dozens of deer and other Oak Ridge wildlife that inhabit our woods. There are double glass doors in the bed room/s i t t i ng room which look out onto the lilac bushes where birds, bunnies, squirrels, chipmunks and deer come to eat treats and play each day. [It’s better than TV!] Mom and Dad feed birds of all kinds throughout the year, including serving gallons of grape jelly to the orioles each summer. Birds have always been a favorite on the farm, and our kids inherited that love with parakeets and a lovebird while they were growing up. They also had bunnies: Algernon (a mini Dutch) and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard (a mini Rex), both of whom arrived at Easter time, to love and cuddle.

When our kids were little, our family gave Dad and Mom a pair of peacocks for Christmas. Frankincense & Gold (Frankie & Goldie) raised Myrrh (Murry), and other assorted babies over the years. Along with being the “watch birds” on the farm by squawking loudly at everyone who drove in the yard, they also gave our kids a little income from their discarded feathers which were picked up and sold at Dad’s antique shows. The peacocks were very personable, and were “guests” at every holiday meal, looking in the windows and watching every move. Now, after 115 years of family on the farm, Karl and I, our kids and grand kids love spending time there. Some of

the family is sure that the spirits of our ancestors are still present in the house, for they have heard footsteps and odd noises that don’t belong to the wild life who also inhabit the farm. We celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, wienie roasts, birthdays, and lots special occasions at Oak Ridge Farm….and we all love it there!

Oak Ridge Farm and its Fuzzy and Feathered Friendsby Kelly Dethloff Reuter

Page 2 • Spring 2014 • Red Cow Gazette

Birthday Party Puppies (circa 1960) - Front Row L-R - Terri Urban Maine, Jim Grannis, Kelly Dethloff Reuter, Steve Urban Back Row L-R Randy Urban, Laurie Grannis Lewis, Joyce Aderman Cook

Joe & Nellie Dethloff - Wedding Day - October 19, 1904

Hazel Dethloff with Prickles the fox

Amboys Bull Sheet The Red Cow Gazette is published four times per year, and it covers Amboy, and the surrounding area. As news travels quickly these days, and we like to keep our community up to date, the Bull Sheet has been considered as a monthly publication. This paper would act as a supplement to the Red Cow Gazette, and keep the latest information at hand. The community has many events that take place without much notification or promotion. This publication would be full of fun material for all to read as well as the latest happenings, dates to consider and community functions. If you would like to see the Bull Sheet take to press, wemust have public support in the form of content, as well as financial support. Sponsorships, donations, and advertising space will be accepted.

Send comments, pledges or suggestions to: amboysbullsheet@gmail.com

Flea Market, Garage Sale, and Fun In the Park all on one day!

Memberships Needed!!!

MarkyourCalendars!!Fun begins at 11 am and willrun though6pmonSaturdayMay10th. Bring your pickers spirit and enjoy the day. Our opening day for the Fun in the Park will be held in conjunction with our traditional Garage Sale days. To add to the fun, we are expanding the garage sale days to include some flea market action. This will be followed by Scavengers Day, May 12, the day before City wide Clean up on May 13th.

If you would like to hold a garage sale and be included as a listing on the map, or, vend in the flea market area please contact Sweet Cicely. Flea market vending will include 12x12 space, indoor or outdoor for a small fee. The Junction will host both vending spaces. Fun in the Park is a space for arts & crafts, food, farmers market, and music. Amboy Maine Street businesses will be open as well, so please come and enjoy the day!!

Amboy Area Community Club is again accepting annual memberships. We need YOU! Please consider being a part of our community by supporting our membership roster. AACC is a group of community members from around the area, both rural and city members. You do not have to live in Amboy to join in the group. The AACC is committed to promoting Amboy and the surrounding area including the Blue Earth river trails, Dodd Ford Bridge, and promotion of tourism in the area utilizing the Daniel Boone Trail (hwy169). Some membership dues go to maintain

historical sites such as the Dodd Ford Bridge, Ridge school, and the recent addition of the Depot as well as support events in the area, such as the Amboy Arts N More. We welcome new members, as well as returning members. Monthly meetings are open to all, held on the second Monday of the month. Dues are $10 for individuals, $15 for family, $40 for businesses (included listing on the website). Contact Les Curry, Sweet Cicely, or if you know another member, and let them know you want to be included in the group. Donations are always welcome!!!

Red Cow Gazette • Spring 2014 • Page 3

Monarchs have been in the news lately due to the concern over their severe population decline. Once a common butterfly in Minnesota, people have noted the rarity of monarchs

in recent summers. No longer are monarchs frequenting their yards, fields, roadsides, and parklands in any numbers. Only the occasional butterfly appears to spark a child’s interest in nature. That

is bad for the butterflies because interest encourages learning, learning leads to knowledge, and knowledge encourages caring and conservation. As Aldo Leopold, long time professor of Wildlife at the University of Wisconsin, photo from MNDNR website Madison wrote, “We grieve only for what we know”. Here is some information and links to more details about butterflies in general and monarchs, in particular. Credit for much of this information goes to the US Forest Service and the MN DNR. Additional information can be found at the following links:

Let’s Have More Minnesota Monarchs http://www.fs.fed.us/global/wings/butterflies/welcome.htmhttp://www.dnr.state.mn.us/insects/monarchbutterfly.htmlht tps : / /webapps8.dnr.s ta te .mn.us/volunteer_index Monarchs: Special butterflies with specific habitat needs. The problems for monarchs begin with their unique life history and habitat needs, especially their need for milkweed plants to complete their life cycle. The adults forage on the nectar of a variety of wild flowering plants, but their caterpillar larvae feed only on milkweeds. Monarchs develop first as an egg, continue to grow as a caterpillar, and finally emerge as a butterfly. Growing from an egg to a butterfly takes about one month. In the spring, Minnesota monarchs that have wintered in Mexico, fly north

laying eggs on milkweed plants there or in southern states. Then the adult dies. One month later, the young butterflies head to Minnesota. Think of it… multiple generations to complete one annual migration. It is like humans someday taking 2-3 generations to travel to far away space and return to Earth. The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is among the most recognized, studied, and loved of all of North America’s insects. Children study monarchs in school. Researchers and citizen scientists track their migration and breeding. Conservationists and government agencies are concerned about threats to breeding, migration, and wintering habitats.

By Steve Kittelson

Monarch Butterflies ....continued in Summer 2014 issue of the Red Cow Gazette

April 18 10:00 - 11:00am36th Annual Easter Egg EventHistoric Ridge SchoolEgg Hunt, Bunny Petting, Crafts, Treats & Goodies, Prizes & Surprises!

April 20 9:00amEaster Breakfast Amboy United Methodist ChurchCelebrate the Joy of Easter. Services at 10:15am

May 9 evening67th Mother-Daughter BanquetAmboy United Methodist ChurchTickets available prior to banquetCheck for posters around Amboy for more info

May 10 11:00am - 6:00pmFun in the ParkAnnual Garage SaleFlea Market(see article above)

Community Calendar

May 12Scavengers Day(see article above)

May 13Citywide Clean Up Day(see article above)

May 17 3:00pmShelby’s Dance Studio RecitalAmboy Middle School