While their stories intersect today because of their jobs in a worldwide pandemic, there is clear distinction between the two. For him, it is governing and leading North Dakota through a big – uneasy and uncertain – moment in history. For her, it’s using this new platform (that she never asked for and certainly would give back) to create awareness and turn hearts toward inclusion.
“Social media can cause conflict and be viewed in a bad light, but this project has brought so much joy,” she says. “Some of these photos have reached their families thousands of miles away.”
“The smiles are so genuine, laid back and easy,” she says.
Since starting her Front Porch Project, Mueller estimates that she has photographed around 100 families, with more in the works.
“As people heard what we were doing, the response has just been immense,” she says. “I am still just shocked how willing and happy everyone was to participate.”
That’s because gelato is made with more milk than cream, compared to regular ice cream, and has about half the butterfat content. Gelato is also churned slower and warmer, Murphy explains, and incorporates less air, helping to keep it dense, fluid and creamy.
The daughter of dairy farmers from the Netherlands, Murphy’s heart was for dairy, but she didn’t want to be the farmer. She dreamt of a value-added agriculture enterprise.
Today’s gamechanger is quite different – the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It has spread across the globe, forcing temporary closures of school buildings and brick-and-mortar businesses. The changes have been rapid, the virus’ reach all-encompassing.
“I knew that (COVID-19) was going to move, and it was going to move pretty quickly,” Pretzer recalls thinking when the World Health Organization (WHO) shared news of the newly discovered coronavirus disease in early January. “We needed to start planning.”
For just three easy payments of $55.95, which I charged to Mom’s credit card without full disclosure, I was going to bring honor to the family. Things turned out OK for Mulan, but unfortunately, the same can’t be said for fourth-grade Cally after the Turbo Cooker purchase.
I remember making a lackluster breakfast pizza and steamed broccoli with a charred-bottom meatloaf before my mom let me retire the Turbo Cooker to the basement, where all household items went to be hoarded until the next rummage sale.
That first vine was planted in 2009 by Kevin, the chief winemaker.
“He’s a farmer at heart,” Deb says. “He liked the grapes; it was a challenge for him.”
As the number of vines grew, so did the diversity of the vineyard. Fruit trees, berry bushes and rhubarb were added, and the winemaking picked up. In 2016, the Kinzels went all in, opening Fluffy Fields Vineyard and Winery to the public, on Roughrider Electric Cooperative lines. In addition to the vineyard and on-site winery, the grounds include a tasting room and restaurant with a “lite bite” menu.
Electric cooperatives have a strong history of environmental stewardship. In fact, many electric cooperatives made commitments to the environment long before it was required by law.
Because co-ops are owned by the membership, the cooperative business model enables members to assert their voices to determine the direction of the co-op. Board directors elected by the membership also guide the cooperative to make decisions, establish policies and best practices, and carry out the vision of cooperative membership.
