Pick-ups, stock-trailers and campers of seemingly every conceivable make, model and color packed the Lee-Mar Ranch grounds this weekend as more than 100 cowboys, cowgirls and their families from across Minnesota descended on the sprawling Granite Falls landmark for a weekend of rodeo.

Significant changes designed to allow hunters to harvest more Canada geese, have been established for the fall season, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Minnesota goose hunters will note some significant changes in goose hunting regulations this year. The daily bag limit has been raised to three Canada geese statewide this year; the season length has been extended throughout the state; most goose hunting zones have been eliminated and there will no longer be a special December season.

Juliet Mortenson talks like a proud grandma as she lays out photos, newspaper clippings and post cards from her favorite. She says things like, “I admire him so much. He’s quite a gentleman for being that young. And he is handsome.”

But today she’s not gushing about a grandkid—but Minnesota’s favorite son—Joe Mauer.
“I like them all,” says Juliet as she rattles off a roster of Twins players past and present. “But I admire him because of his attitude. He never gets mad or throws down his bat like some others do.” Here she pauses and asks if you saw the Angels game the other night. “Tori Hunter—he got nailed—and then got thrown out. I wasn’t too happy to see that,” says Juliet (this woman even keeps an eye on former Twins. Just like grandchildren—you can move away, but grandma always knows.) “Joe,” continues Juliet. “He doesn’t talk back.”
Such are the virtues that are considered by an older generation.

As Teagan Gustafson, Dani, and Braelee Aus galloped their way to Gillette, Wyoming for the National High School Finals Rodeo competition, their amazement to be among the best in this competitive, wild-driven sport was truly an honor but most importantly pure fun.
   

From July 18-26, the Gustafson and Aus families called Gillette their temporary home, as the girls prepared to make their national debut in the sport they have passionately participated since their early years.

High School Rodeo is back at Lee-Mar Ranch.

You couldn’t tell by just looking around Lee-Mar Ranch Monday night, but you could sense it. The oversized diesel pick-ups could have belonged to any well mounted coffee club. But sitting at picnic tables and reclaimed school chairs with barn cats lolling in the setting dusk gathered volunteers from Lee-Mar Ranch Equine Center and the local consortium of rodeo parents: Jon and Rae Ann Aus and Bruce and Karen Gustafson.

Located mid-way between Green Bay and Milwaukee, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Road America is a 640 acre, world class motor sports facility featuring a 4.048 mile road course, a one-mile supermoto/karting track, the Road America Motorcycle School and Adventure Programs for groups of all sizes.

On Saturday 144 golfers lined up between two flights to take to Granite Run Golf course for the fourth annual Friends of Cory Golf Tournament.

Fall Sports will begin on Monday, August 16th:
Grades 8-12 Volleyball will meet at 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in the YME New  Gym.
Grades 7-12 Cross Country will meet at 8:00 a.m. at YME H.S. Rm. 261 (Mr. Jan’s room.)
Grades 9-12 Girls Tennis will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the KCC Tennis Courts
Grades 7 & 8 Girls Tennis will meet at 3:00 p.m. at the KCC Tennis Courts.
Grades 9-12 Football will meet at 8:00 a.m. in the Little Theater.

The Minnesota Border to Border Triathalon, billed as North America’s premier distance-stage team triathalon, passed through Granite Falls Tuesday. The 530 mile relay-style adventure race began in Luverne and ends on Crane Lake near the Canadian border.

Bird Island 10, Granite Falls 3
Lightning, in the beginning of the seventh inning Friday night, conspired to send the Kilowatt faithful scrambling from the aluminum pews of Richter Field after having witnessed Bird Island preside over a 10-3 interment of the Kilowatt’s season. The consequent postponement of the requiem made Friday night a seven inning Irish wake to allow for Saturday’s three-inning funeral as the Kilowatts season was laid to rest.

Luverne 12, Granite Falls 2
Granite Falls VFW was simply out matched as they faced regional juggernauts Luverne and Worthington Saturday. Both games would be called on account of the 10-run rule as the feisty VFW team from Granite returned from Redwood Falls and the VFW district championship having gotten close—yet so far—to the state tournament.

Worthington 11, GF 1
Before being bounced by Luverne in their elimination game, Granite Falls faced eventual district champion Worthington, losing in the five inning, called game 11-1.

Willmar 7, Granite Falls 4
A two-run home-run in the second inning by Willmar’s Matt Seehusen paralyzed the Kilowatts en route to a 7-4 loss in the opening round of the Corn Belt South playoffs Wednesday in Willmar.

The No. 4-seeded Rails would eventually move on to lose to top-seeded Raymond on Friday, while the No. 5-seeded Kilowatts advanced to be drummed out of the double-elimination tournament by Bird Island in a game that spanned both Friday and Saturday.

Every conceivable conception of the Farmer’s Coop Elevator baseball cap sits above Scott Dubbelde’s office desk. There must be at least twenty of them painstakingly aligned in a row. Some of the hues and designs are striking.

Montevideo 10, GF 9
With a two run lead and two outs already on the score board in the final inning, Granite Falls would finally wither in the heat of Saturday afternoon at Richter field and end their season with a heart breaking 10-9 loss to Montevideo in the American Legion District 7-II baseball tournament.

Olivia 5, Granite Falls 6
Three straight wins at the VFW district playoffs in Olivia land the Granite Falls VFW team in the final four of the VFW district finals in Redwood Falls this weekend.

Granite will open the four-team double-elimination tournament against Worthington Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Granite Falls 11, Minneota 1
Granite Falls crushed their first opponent in the loser’s bracket of the American Legion District 7-II baseball tournament on Saturday at Richter Field.

Tracy 11, Granite Falls 15
It took twelve hits and 15 runs for Granite VFW to put away Tracy in their third round of play in the VFW district playoffs.

Granite Falls 15, Tyler 5
After being sent to the loser’s bracket by Olivia in their first game of the VFW district playoffs, Granite Falls VFW punished Tyler with a 15-5 thrashing that was called in the sixth inning.

Sacred Heart 3, GF 1
Eventual American Legion District 7-II champion, Sacred Heart and their hurler—Dakota Freiborg—were just a tad more than Granite Falls could handle Thursday in the opening round game of the double-elimination tournament.