Feature Stories from the Star Eagle pages.
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By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
Dan Lewer and Chris Olson have not simply “taken over” the meat processing business located on South Ash Avenue in New Richland. They are in the process of transforming it.
Oh, it’s true that the business looks much the same, at least for now. It still offers the same long-standing services and products, and even has many of the same employees. Customers need have no concern their needs and interests are being met. But at the same time, bigger things are going on behind the scenes.
“We both have children who are devoted to agriculture,” observes Olson who, with Lewer, has been an owner and operator of Neighbor’s Meats since May 2021. “For the sake of our community and for the next generation, we want to be part of building a farm-to-table system that is sustainable for everybody.”
Both Olson and Lewer have close ties to the meat processing business: Lewer’s grandfather and uncle, Gerald and Keith Hullopeter, were owners of the business on South Ash Avenue in New Richland from the 1970s to the 1990s, and Olson’s grandparents worked for them.
Two generations later, the two families remain connected, with Olson and Lewer having been close friends and associates for more than 16 years, including most recently working together at the Hope Elevator. Both also continue to operate their respective family farms, one facet of which is raising beef cattle.
Both had long been aware that the current system of food distribution in the U.S. has too many “middle men.” Farmers would market their cattle to large processing plants, which, because they were buying in volume, paid a relatively low price for the animals. Farmers then paid to ship their cattle to the plants, where the large companies reportedly made significant profit for each pound returned to stores and distribution centers.
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GRAND OPENING — On Saturday, June 19 Make it Happen Nutrition at 140 Broadway Ave. N., New Richland, held an open house for its Grand Opening. Above, the owner, Stephanie Garcia, helps blend a protein shake. Summer hours for the new wellness shop will be 6:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
By MELANIE PILTINGSRUD
Staff Writer
The grand opening of Make it Happen Nutrition took place on Saturday, June 19 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The new beverage shop, located at 140 Broadway Ave. N., New Richland, specializes in nutritious teas, energy drinks, and shakes to boost energy and metabolism, and provide a nutritious source of protein. Stephanie Garcia, owner, said the place got pretty busy during the grand opening.
“About seven years ago, I tried Herbalife,” says Garcia, who has been living in New Richland for the past six years. “I worked at a health club for a little while then.”
It was because of her experience with the global franchise Herbalife Nutrition that Garcia started dreaming of owning her own health club. At the nutrition club in Waseca, Garcia noticed a lot of people from New Richland stopping in, which is why she thought it would be “awesome” to have a nutrition club available in New Richland.
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Beloved kindergarten teacher retires
MANY WONDERFUL BEGINNINGS — Retiring kindergarten teacher Becky Jensen has brought about many wonderful new beginnings for NRHEG's students. Here she is pictured on a trip to Pumpkinland in 2008 with the members of this year's graduating class. (Submitted photo)
By JORDAN HOREJSI
Panther Press
Becky Jensen, a kindergarten teacher at NRHEG for 32 years, has officially announced her retirement as of June 7, 2021. Jensen has taught for a total of 34 years and she expressed, “I’ve had a fantastic career!”
As a child, Jensen grew up with seven sisters and one brother, and she said, “I watched my mom deal with nine kids, milk cows and do chores before going to teach, coming home and having a home cooked meal for us every night.” She went on to say, “It was unbelievable.”
According to Jensen, her mom was not only one of the reasons she wanted to become a teacher, but also the person who inspired her most. “My mom was a teacher in a country school when I was little…” Jensen explains. “I remember watching her correct papers at night and listening to what she did all day. I loved it!
“The hardest part about teaching is balancing a person’s philosophy on what’s best for children and how they learn with what the district, state and/or federal government says is best,” Jensen continued. “Sometimes the mandates coming down from legislatures are not realistic or do not take into consideration that these are 5- and 6-year-olds who still need time to grow, develop and play.” With the pandemic, teachers have had to adapt and alter their plans numerous times to teach students the required information while still allowing them to have fun and relax.
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By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
A Moment in Time will be spent together during Farm and City Day’s weekend to honor Rodney Hatle.
The Star Eagle writer, contributor, and for a brief time, editor, Rodney Hatle passed away last year. Rodney was a seasoned journalist, teacher, sports enthusiast and friend to anyone he met. His collections of history, including pictures, binders, and much more will be on display and available gratis, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 10, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 11 at the New Richland Historical Society building located on Main Street. Food and beverages will not be allowed inside during the event in order to prevent possible spills or perspiration on any delicate papers or other items.
Carolyn Hatle, Rod’s wife, who first knew Rodney by his three letter nickname, had the idea to give away some of her husband’s works and collection when the Steele County VFW told her they were going to fly a flag over the Steele County Courthouse to honor Rodney.
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SHE’LL BE MISSED — After 36 years in teaching, 23 at NRHEG, Mrs. Ramaker will be retiring this June. (Panther Press photo)
By A.C. Cords
Panther Press
Sharon Ramaker, the junior high math teacher at NRHEG, is retiring.
Ramaker has been a staple of many students’ childhoods, and not just the students at NRHEG. She has spent an overall of 36 years teaching, 23 of them at NRHEG.
Skunk problems, tractor tipping, and marker throwing are just some of the unique lesson formats that make Ramaker an unforgettable teacher. Accidentally eating a fly works too.
Ramaker says she always wanted to be a teacher. Why teach, though?
“I just love showing kids things,” she said. “I mean from the get-go that’s what I wanted.”
Ramaker, who is originally from Ellendale, attended Mankato State and graduated in only three, rather than the typical four, years. Her teaching license attained, she took a job at Wykoff, where she was hired not only to teach second grade, but also to coach varsity volleyball, basketball, and softball. “I graduated college on Friday and began coaching volleyball on Monday,” Ramaker recalls. Such a busy schedule!
Speaking of “busy,” she met her husband-to-be while coaching. When she let Donnie into the “open gym” hours one Saturday afternoon, he mistook her for a student. The two married in 1989. Ramaker taught at Wykoff for five years before deciding to move closer to home, so her children—eventually including sons Greg and Geoff and daughter Gretchen—could be closer to their grandparents.