Saturday, June 3, 2023 | Country Acres South • Page 1 PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #278 Madelia, MN 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave Sauk Centre MN 56378
SOUTH S OUTH Saturday, June 3, 2023
Volume 2, Edition 1
FFocusing Fo oc cu ussiing n on Today’s Rural Environment PHOTOS BY AMY KYLLO
Riley Ward feeds a bottle calf May 22 on her family’s farm near St. Charles. Feeding bottle calves is Ward’s favorite task on the farm.
Ward looks to win Princess Kay of the Milky Way
BY AMY KYLLO | STAFF WRITER
ST. CHARLES – Winona County can grab some,” she Dairy Princess Riley Ward loves choc- said. olate milk so much that a couple track Ward loves running in the teammates brought it as a gift to her fields connecting with nature, graduation party. The gift was apsomething she sees as typreciated, but the chocolate ing back to the farm. milk aficionado already As an athlete, had some at her party. nutrition is key for Ward. “Every single track She spends time doing repractice we end up search to help determine talking about chocolate her nutrient needs. We all have milk,” Ward said. “It’s “(Some) runners tend something amazing for your (body) to have eating disorders especially post workas well as body dysmorto learn from outs. It gives you so phia so it’s very importone another, many benefits.” ant to me to maintain a Now, Ward will healthy diet, especially It’s just about have new opportuniwhen I’m active,” Ward ties to share her love of said. finding those dairy products as she Ward also volunteers commonalities at her was named a finalist for school with their the 70th Princess Kay of that bridge us Peer Helper Program. the Milky Way. Peer helpers are specially all together. Ward is the daughtrained to work with stuter of Randy and Mindents who need a listen- Riley Ward nie Ward. She lives and ing ear but who might not works on her family’s feel comfortable speaking custom calf and heifer and with a school counselor. dairy steer-raising facility Ward sees mental health as where they work with 200 animportant in rural communities imals. and beyond. The dairy princess and athlete acts “It’s very important, especially for as a “big sister” to a couple of her track farmers, because I’ve seen a lot of peoteammates, giving them rides and mak- ple just pushing themselves way too ing sure they are eating properly. hard,” Ward said. “Overall, it’s a big “If they run out of chocolate milk, issue amongst all people. It’s just imthey have me stop at Kwik Trip so they portant to regulate yourself and know
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Watch for the next edition of Country Acres on June 17, 2023
Randy (from left), Riley and Minnie Ward smile together May 22 on their farm near St. Charles. The Wards operate a 200-head calf and heifer and dairy steer raising facility.
how and when to stop and where your breaking point is.” Ward sees a connection between good nutrition, including dairy, and mental health. “No matter what you put in your body, it’s important that you maintain however much you’re supposed to receive,” Ward said. Ward was at her elementary school auditorium supporting friends who were part of “Shrek the Musical” when she found out she was a finalist for Princess
Kay. She watched the video announcement on Facebook during intermission. Adding to the moment was the fact that her name was called last out of the 10 finalists. Though the announcement order was random, the nerves were not. “I just started crying,” Ward said. “I couldn’t scream. I was in the middle of a theater and most people don’t know what’s going on. So, I just burst into tears.”
Ward page 2
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Playing artist Amy Kyllo’s column
11 Finding the dairy next thing Pine Island
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Capturing colors and memories on canvas Pine Island
14 On the trail again Byron