Benton Ag Plus - October 20, 2018

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2018PAGE | Page1B 1B

BENTON AG Serving rural Benton County, Morrison, Mille Lacs & Kanabec Counties.

Sauk Rapids Herald

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2018

Cattle buying station at Long Prairie Packing opened Oct. 4

Grapes to goblet

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH HOAG

PHOTO BY MARK KLAPHAKE

Dar Giess, of Pierz, leaves with his check after bringing in two beef cows to Long Prairie Packing Oct. 3 in Long Prairie. Giess was a part of a trial run of the new cattle buying station before it opened Oct. 4.

Unload times should significantly improve BY MARK KLAPHAKE | STAFF WRITER

LONG PRAIRIE—The wait is over. The long anticipated new cattle buying station at Long Prairie Packing and American Foods Group opened Oct. 4 in Long Prairie. Two drive-through lanes for quicker and easier unloading are the highlight for the many farmers who bring their cattle to LPP. “We think the improved unloading design and increased stafng will virtually eliminate wait times,” said Dan Rentschler, vice president of cattle procurement for American Foods Group. “We’re really focusing on improved customer service with drastic improvements in wait time.”

Northern Hollow Winery awarded governor’s cup BY ELIZABETH HOAG STAFF WRITER

FOLEY — Bushels of green and red grapes dangle from vines at Northern Hollow Winery in Pine City. Jim and Deanna Truehart, of Foley, have owned and operated the winery since 2014. At their 120-acre business they pick, process and age their wine while hosting events for the public to attend. Northern Hollow Winery was awarded with the Minnesota Governor’s Cup for the second year in a row at the 2018 International Cold Climate

“It feels good to have the recognition,” Jim said. “Each year can vary. Next year, our yield might not turn out as well as years past.” Deanna agreed. “It all depends on our yield,” she said. “There are so many variables, but it’s gratifying when we have a successful year.” Northern Hollow Winery dates back 15 years to when Jim rst tried his hand at winemaking with a small kit. “I made a raspberry wine and it sucked,” said Jim, a former truck driver. “Driving on the road, I had a lot of time to think, and I wasn’t content with the fact my wine didn’t turn out.”

Knowing truck driving was not the life he wanted, Jim began researching, burying his nose in books and reading online articles to master the art of wine making “There is a lot of chemistry in making wine,” Jim said. A year later, Deanna bough Jim his rst basket press. “When we rst started making wine there were a handfu of wineries in the state,” Deanna said. “We had wine tastings in our backyard and offered wine at my mother’s open house every fall.” By 2009, the Trueharts were

Trueharts page 2B

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Long Prairie page 3B

Jim and Deanna Truehart hold Wine Conference in August. bottles of wine from Northern The business’s white wine, La Hollow Winery Oct. 15 in Duelm Crescent (2017) brought the The couple opened their business in 2015. accolade.

ROD FLUEGGE “the boss” Farm Material Handling Specialist 2040 Mahogany St., Mora, MN WWW.FLUEGGESAG.COM 320-679-2981