Driftless Stories
Raising Awareness for SUDEP
It takes grit, focus, and true resolve to run a marathon. Hours upon hours of training, in good weather and bad. The ability to dig…
It takes grit, focus, and true resolve to run a marathon. Hours upon hours of training, in good weather and bad. The ability to dig…
You may have passed them untold times without noticing, even during the dead of winter. They speckle tombstones, spatter rocks, and encrust screen door hinges.…
Ever since Larry Reis was old enough to realize that “people had jobs,” he wanted a career connected to wildlife and nature. Raised in a…
Alison Bunge Leathers is a boomerang. No, not the Australian hunting tool that flies back to the place where it was first thrown. The word…
The stars were aligned when Jess Rediske founded Red-Roxy Quilt Co. with her mom, Roxanne Schnitzler, in 2012. From an off-the-cuff horoscope promising an upcoming…
For many years, tattooing was synonymous with masculinity. Tattoos were often associated with the military or prison, and tattoo shops were run by men. But…
“Laundromats have a bad reputation, and frankly, many deserve it,” says Laura Patten, co-owner of County Seat Laundry in Viroqua, Wisconsin. “They’re dirty, machines are…
We are all worthy. We are valuable exactly as we are in this moment. But sometimes we have trouble seeing our self-worth; trouble believing in…
When words fail, what can take their place? For the Postville Community School District, the answer is therapy dogs. Mental health concerns, such as anxiety…
Vonnie Linnevold was interviewed by her daughter, Becky Shaw My mother, Vonnie Linnevold, is a thoughtful and generous 98-year-old with an amazing memory. She was…
Lovers of La Rana Bistro can breathe easy: the legacy of local food at this gem of a restaurant in Decorah, Iowa, will continue for…
Karla Bloem fosters a close-knit community (or should we say parliament?) of owls at the International Owl Center in Houston, Minnesota. And though this small…
Caitlyn Konze had a vision for a new kind of space in the downtown business-scape of La Crosse, Wisconsin. A one-of-a-kind, welcoming place for people…
The Cresco Theatre and Opera House is so much more than a hometown theater. The historic community landmark has been an anchor for entertainment and…
Julia Borgen of Lanesboro, Minnesota, loves community. It’s not a word she uses often or talks about very much. She won’t tell you that you…
Life has a way of surprising us. Chance meetings turn into lifelong friendships. Magazine articles prompt spontaneous trips. Hobbies become unexpected careers. That’s what happened…
From her big smile and zealous laugh, to her colorful outfits and statement glasses, anyone who comes across Rev. Laura Gentry can feel her warm…
In 1984, as parachute pants landed in clothing outlets and floppy discs took the then nascent computer world by storm, the late, great Harvard biologist…
Ordinary life may not feel inspiring all the time. In fact, many people think inspiration needs to jolt us out of nowhere, like a strike…
There are certain things that are identified as true Decorah landmarks: Dunning’s Spring, Vesterheim, Luther College, Seed Savers Exchange… and Mabe’s Pizza, of course! (Ok,…
Wonder is often seen as the stuff of childhood. But setting a goal to live life with intentional wonder can be magic – for kids…
It’s late July in the Driftless Region. The air feels thick, the sun feels hot. Temps are holding steady with no reprieve. Just when you’re…
Margaret Grund was interviewed by her granddaughter, Hannah, and daughter, Amy Margaret Grund (Kopel) is a woman who has worn many hats throughout her life:…
A Taste of Ukraine in Northeast Iowa Lesya Ryzhenkova is Ukrainian. But, that is not all she is. She is a daughter, a sister, a mother,…
It was mid-2015, and the contentious race for President of the United States had stirred up the emotions (and proverbial pens) of people of all…
Six miles outside the town of Lanesboro, nestled snugly into the beautiful woods and river valleys of Southeast Minnesota, you find a unique community at…
The prairies of the Midwestern United States have long occupied the imaginations of artists, writers, and lovers. For Elkader-area painter and photographer Jillian Webb Herrmann,…
Decorah’s Charlie Langton will tell you he’s not really a photographer. But we here in Decorah know the truth. He’s a photographer in the greatest…
What comes to mind when you think of the word fun? Tropical beaches, hiking trails, or days full of adventure? Or maybe, gardening or long…
During a typical workday, artist Sarah Hedlund might be sketching pink and orange dolphins surrounded by hearts and stars. Or a disco-dancing, white suit-wearing dinosaur.…
Sometimes words get thrown around so often in the mental health and wellness space that they start to lose their meaning. We’ve heard (many times)…
Marilyn was interviewed by her granddaughter: Alison Leathers My Grandma Marilyn is a strong person of faith and has lived a life in service to…
There’s not much of a sibling rivalry for sisters Azia Thelemann and Dani Peterslie, owners of Drift Mercantile in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Okay, there was…
Shiny new bike day is a happy day. But sometimes the joy is found in the journey. Restoring a bike – shining up something old…
Community builders use many tools. Creative ideas. Cheery optimism. Contagious enthusiasm. Norb Kelly of Lanesboro, Minnesota, uses tools that are more traditional, though: A saw,…
Westby, Wisconsin is a small town big on Norwegian culture and heritage. Syttende Mai is celebrated every May, the annual Snowflake Ski Jumping Tournament attracts…
At a time when buying novels might involve tapping a screen, physical bookstores feel especially delightful. Wander into a shop. Explore shelves packed with new…
Decorah’s Jane Kemp smiles easily and often. Yet beneath that kind smile and unassuming demeanor lies a fierce advocate for community causes, and a strong…
Helping Services was founded in 1973 by a group of Luther College students and faculty. It originally began as a drop-in center for youth called…
Hazel was interviewed by her daughter: Connie Sabbann Hazel Grotegut (born Hazel Telford) has lived in Decorah all of her 90 years with the exception…
The largest of five owl species that breed in the Driftless Area, Great Horned Owls are also the most common. Found from Alaska to Argentina,…
Mouth-watering food. Stunning nature photography. Beautifully crafted pottery. Music that made other people happy. Passionate dedication to students as a college administrator. Joy Tlou’s many…
Today, we celebrate 15 years of positive news! Woot! At year 10, we compiled a list of 10 things we had found to be true…
Alfred was interviewed by his daughter, Heidi & two granddaughters, Kate & Andie Alfred Ludeking was born in 1933 and raised in Waukon, Iowa. He…
It’s easy to call yourself a lifelong learner when you work in education. That’s where Joy Miller started her career, before joining a farm family…
They may be nature’s finest creation. Conspicuous, abundant, profoundly productive, leaves make life possible. A few cells thick, the typical leaf houses complex biological machinery…
Stop to chat for even a moment with Liang Chee Wee – Northeast Iowa Community College immediate past president – and you’re sure to walk…
Nancy Sojka loves to go fast. Those who’ve seen her zip by on Decorah’s Trout Run Trail in her red, white, and blue bicycling jersey…
The GrandPad tablet delivers telehealth for homebound, and creates an innovative spark for rural entrepreneurs. By Maggie Sonnek When Scott Lien and his family traded…
Phyllis Green, interviewed by daughter Pat Beck Originally published in the Fall 2016 Inspire(d) Magazine, Phyllis passed away July 28, 2020. Our condolences to Phyllis’…
Whew, these are some crazy times we’re living through with this COVID-19 pandemic. When we told Roxie there was no school for four weeks, she…
Inspire(d)’s Benji Nichols participates in 2019-20 Leadership Iowa Class. It’s not very often that we get to do interviews with each other, so I (Aryn)…
Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) near Decorah, IA will once again host an incredible lineup of mid-western musicians for an on-the-farm benefit concert, Saturday, August 3, 2019.…
Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) near Decorah, IA will once again host an incredible lineup of mid-western musicians for an on-the-farm benefit concert, Saturday, August 3,…
Lots of fun things to look forward to in the Summer 2018 Inspire(d): 4-H • Dunning’s Spring bridge / Stonemason Ted Wilson • Viroqua’s Growing…
We here at Inspire(d) often talk about changing the world…or, more accurately, changing the community. But what about simply brightening someone’s day? That, honestly, changes…
Inspire(d) was thrilled to have a chance to ask Eric Litwin, original author of Pete The Cat, The Nuts, and Groovy Joe, a few groovy…
Dawes will be performing at the Cavalier Theatre in La Crosse, WI on Tuesday, October 17, 2017. Catch a ticket here if it isn’t already…
Here’s what’s happening in the Summer 2017 Inspire(d): Summer Fun List! Local Food Directory • CSA: Hooray! • Crystal Creek Magic • Sum of Your Biz: Impact…
By Sara Friedl-Putnam Illustrations by Aryn Henning Nichols Originally published in the summer 2017 Inspire(d) RAGBRAI is known for its seven fun-filled days, with upwards…
Even though Decorah native Anna Bolz lives in New York City, a metropolis brimming with 8.5 million people, her heart is deeply rooted in…
Female Mountain Bikers Rule! By Aryn Henning Nichols Looking down at your mud-covered mountain bike tires, you wipe the sweat from your face, take a drink,…
Seed Starting: Get your plants growing like a pro By Kristine Jepsen • Photos courtesy River Root Farm It begins mid-winter, when the seed catalogs start…
Here at Inspire(d) we are big fans of print media (right?)! When we heard about 12 year old St. Ben’s student Jenna Hartz publishing her…
Sum of Your Business: Sno Pac Foods / Pete Gengler, President Interview and introduction by Benji Nichols • Originally published in the Summer 2016 Inspire(d)…
Ernest “Pokey Pete” Peterson was born in the spring of 1925 in Cedar Falls, IA. He grew up on a farm just outside of Osage where…
Earlier this year, Decorah resident Bob Bishop got the idea to put together a Decorah themed bicycling jersey. They are out now and available in…
Inspired Magazine Summer 2016! Welcome to the 2016 ‘Summer’ issue of Inspire(d) Magazine! As always, the summer issue of Inspire(d) has a fun local food theme. This…
Fulfilling a Vision: Winneshiek County Conservation Announces New Bike Trail and Park Initiative Imagine a trail that will connect the Trout Run Trail to the…
(Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong, book cover design by Deb Paulson) “I had no idea what I was getting myself into by committing to this…
By Benji Nichols • Originally published in the Summer 2014 Inspired There are a ton of great spots to check out in the Driftless Region…
By Aryn Henning Nichols In my adult life I’ve often found myself grateful to my crafty mother for teaching me her crafty ways. While my…
Sum of Your Business: “Happy” Joe Whitty Intro and interview by Benji Nichols • Originally published in the Spring 2016 Inspire(d) Foreword: While this story…
Three Decorah residents have recently been serving on a week long Medical Mission trip in El Salvador. Dr. Pete Blodgett of West Side Dental in…
Easy Maple Granola Recipe & images by Benji Nichols, Inspire(d) Media 2016 There are few things that smell more heavenly than granola baking in your…
Five Science-y Reasons to stop giving winter the side-eye. Love and hate ride such a thin line, right? Let’s embrace it and try to love…
Purl Up and Get Cozy with local knitting expert Bev Bakkum Story & photos by Kristine Jepsen • Originally published in the Winter 2011-12 Inspire(d) “SOS!…
“Electricity is really just organized lightning…” -George Carlin Story and photos by Benji Nichols, except as noted Imagine pulling out onto the street as your…
By Aryn Henning Nichols • Photo by Joyce Meyer Photography Originally published in the Fall 2012 Inspire(d) It’s a familiar fall scene: you hear the…
It’s that time of year – and as much as the merits and drawbacks of Daylight Savings Time have been discussed, it’s still here. Which means…
By Benji Nichols • Photos courtesy Carl HomstadOriginally published in the October/November 2009 Inspire(d) Many people in the upper Midwest can recognize the unique wood…
Driftless Art Tours and Festivals are coming up! By Sara Friedl-Putnam • Originally published in the Fall 2013 issue of Inspire(d) Ahh…fall! For some it means once…
By Aryn Henning Nichols • Originally published in the Spring 2011 Inspire(d) All Photos Courtesy of the Jensen Family Families are bound together – whether…
Originally published in the November 2007 issue of Inspire(d), we offer our condolences to the family and friends of Grace Torresdal. She passed away May 6,…
Some days (days like today, when you get 10 inches of snow in the middle of an early spring), it’s hard to feel upbeat about…
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Aase Haugen Home, or Aase Haugen Senior Services as it is now known. What was created out…
One of the things on my “30 Before 30” list was to perfect the chocolate chip cookie. I was a bit naïve when I wrote…
Peanut Butter Puddles …because it is definitely baking season again! Here’s an old cookie recipe for Peanut Butter Puddles that a friend of Benji’s came…
I know this is in no way “authentic” tikka masala. I use cream cheese in place of heavy cream, for one. Um…pretty sure they don’t…
The “Science, You’re Super!” segment is a regular feature in Inspire(d) Magazine… we bring you this seasonally appropriate feature on Garlic! By Aryn Henning Nichols…
Part four in our series “Making a Scene”, features Steve Harm and The Warehouse in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Here at Inspire(d), we do all we can…
The following is part III in a series entitled “Making A Scene” from the Fall 2014 issue of Inspire(d) Magazine. Part I – featuring Tanya…
‘Fresher is Much Finer’ Story and infographic by Aryn Henning Nichols Making sure it’s fresh is not just a fish thing any more. Actually, it…
Paper Stars Template
A Paper Project by Inspire(d) Media/Aryn Henning Nichols These paper chicks are a fun spring project for the young and young-at-heart! Supplies: Construction paper or…
By Aryn Henning Nichols Decorah artist John Kjome is a patient man, that’s for sure. He thinks, plans, and meticulously strategizes his next move –…
By Sam Wiles When people commonly think “Iowa,” they think corn, farms and uninterrupted flat land. Maybe even the well-known statewide road ride, Ragbrai. But…
By Aryn Henning Nichols Halfway across the world, in a land full of colors, ancient traditions, and life oh-so-different from the Midwest – America, for…
(What’s got 8 wheels, 25 strings, 5 heads and is 140 years old? Well, The Alaska String Band of course…) By Benji Nichols When faced…
By Becky Idstrom Pam Kester’s art studio is full of material ripe for creating. In just 10 short minutes she has already listed at least…
Strap on your quads; We’re goin’ derby By Aryn Henning Nichols . Photo by Studio J Photography By day she’s the housewife. The attorney. The writer,…
By Mary Marx Steve Vanden Brink Staring out my window at leaves falling from a crab apple tree, Steve Vanden Brink replays a scene in…
By Benji Nichols | Image above courtesy Randy Leffingwell, LA Times There are few inventions in history that have literally changed the landscape like the modern…
By Lauren Kraus | Photo by Explore MN Tourism Cruising along, breeze on face, sun on skin under a canopy of large trees next to…
Story and Photos by Kelly Larsen The disdain I once held for gardening still remains distinct in my memory. As a little kid, I dreaded…
By Aryn Henning Nichols Growing up a member of the Clean Plate Club, “There are starving children in Africa,” seemed merely a parental guilt tactic…
By Lauren Kraus Printed in the October/November 2008 edition of Inspire(d) This is the fourth in a series of articles that serves as a tribute…
By Lauren Kraus Printed in the September 2008 edition of Inspire(d) This is the third in a series of articles that serves as a tribute…
By Lauren Kraus Printed in the June 2008 edition of Inspire(d) This is the second in a series of articles that serves as a tribute…
Sculpture artist Kelly Ludeking loves metal. Pretty much all kinds of it. And while he originally started with bronze and aluminum, it was an iron pour that really pulled him in. For Kelly, pouring iron is about community. It’s about learning and teaching, and it was this aspect that really sealed his path and passion.
The late sunsets, colorful flowers, and green leaves are intoxicating – you just can’t help but feel happy in the presence of summer! For me, this constant beckoning to be outside means tromping around in the woods and exploring area trails. I am excited to keep surveying the region’s greatness and continue the trail series featured in Inspire(d) last spring, summer, and fall.
By Lauren KrausPrinted in the May 2008 edition of Inspire(d) Spring is here and you should be too! The squeals of kids playing ice hockey…