I totally hated the phrase “late bloomer” when I was a kid. I had two cousins – both a little older and infinitely cooler – who said I was “just a late bloomer.” They didn’t say it with malice, but boy, did it sting.
Now, decades later, I want to tell that pre-teen: It doesn’t matter. As long as you’re working on you, you’ll get where you want to be – or where you’re supposed to be – eventually. Keep at it.
Of course, there are many things we’d tell our past selves if we could. The theme for this issue is a gentle reminder: We all bloom in our own time. All we need is just a little patience (thanks, Guns N’ Roses). I dive into this topic in my infographic, “Patience in Bloom,” which leads into our spring mental health article by Olivia Lynn Schnur. Olivia gives us tips for avoiding the comparison trap, so we can continue our paths at whatever pace necessary. Hint: We need to get clear on vision and values.
It was vision and values that led Anne Butera to art. The Viroqua-based artist taught herself how to paint with watercolors at age 34, and today she is a prolific artist, online art teacher, and the creative behind the website and blog, My Giant Strawberry. Anne’s gorgeous artwork is featured on this issue’s cover. Read her story on page 16.
Anne’s blog also inspired us to create the spring paper project: a Giant Strawberry Box! You can use it as a May Day basket, a favor box, or just because it’s cute!
We promise your name doesn’t have to be Anne, Annie, or Anni to be in Inspire(d) Magazine, but we happen to have all those names in this issue!
Annie Coleman was inspired by the summers she spent growing up at her grandparents’ Golden Horse Ranch resort north of Madison, Wisconsin. Decades later, she (along with some great help from her friends) opened Red Clover Ranch in rural Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, where folks can attend creative, enriching retreats, fun events, local dinners, and more (pg 48).
And last but most certainly not least in the “Anni list,” Anni Weilgart, former long-time Decorah resident and teacher, is featured as our Probituary (pg 66). Anni turned 100 in 2023, and as interviewer Lindy Weilgart says, “she has fewer ailments and healthier blood values than all of us.” I love the wisdom in these Q&As (see all of them here).
There’s a lot to be learned from our Driftless Community Builders as well. Ernie Johnson brings people together through vintage collectibles and cars – and with interesting conversation – at Ernie’s Garage in Whalan, Minnesota. In Decorah, Molly Holkesvik has taught, coached, and led students (and some adults) in various forms of self- and world-discovery for two decades through classes, theatre, and travel.
You don’t have to travel too far to embrace the season with our spring ideas for fun, from peony picking to maple syrup sampling (pg 44). And speaking of maple syrup, you can learn about Iowa’s longest running business in this issue’s Sum of Your Business. We feature a Q&A with Jeni (Green) Melcher, the sixth generation of Greens to tap maple trees on their farm in rural Northeast Iowa (pg 56). (Fun fact: I grew up just up the road from Greens’ Sugarbush!)
We’re lucky to have so many cool things to do here in the Driftless. As you get out there exploring, watch for the various insects and arachnids move around again. You can learn more about the latter in conservation writer Craig Thompson’s piece on spiders (pg 62). They really are amazing (but still…shudder)!
You really are amazing too, readers! Thanks for joining us for another year of positive news! You’re the best. Read the entire Spring 2024 Inspire(d) online here, or see the story list below!
As we wrap up winter, let’s embrace the new season upon us with a refreshed weekend itinerary. Join the area’s artists, farmers, and fest-goers for fun-filled events, both indoors and out. From its beautifully blooming flora to its lively city streets, the Driftless is ready for exploration! Here are eight cool activities to fling yourself into this spring.
Illustrations by Allison Thomley
1. Pick pretty flowers
Spring means flowers and the Hidden Springs Peony Farm in Spring Grove, Minnesota has flowers aplenty! Pick your own peonies for a bouquet or plan a picnic among them.
Details: Charcuterie boxes from Hunt + Gather Grazing (no outside food permitted). You may choose one non-alcoholic drink option. If you choose, you may (responsibly) bring your own alcoholic beverage of choice. Picnic blankets supplied or bring your own. Closed-toed shoes are recommended. Service animals are welcome but please leave pets at home.
Peonies aren’t the only plants on the farm, you can also make your own succulent planters, an activity that’s available year-round. hiddenspringspeonyfarm.com
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Illustrations by Allison Thomley
2. Sample maple syrup
Spring also means that maple syrup season is upon us. Head to B&E’s Trees, a farm in Cashton, Wisconsin where Embark Maple Syrup is made. An extra cool way to experience the farm is via the Ramp Romp, a biking adventure through the property. You’ll get to forage, eat, and even camp, if you’d like. bandestrees.com | embarkmaple.com/farm-events
Green’s Sugar Bush in Castalia, Iowa, is also in the business of maple syrup. Every spring they host a pancake breakfast where you can sample the delicious syrup they’ve been perfecting since 1851. Check Greens’ Sugar Bush Facebook for dates and details, and read more about the Greens’ long history of syrup-making in this issue’s Sum of Your Business interview.
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Illustrations by Allison Thomley
3. Explore a state park
For example, Wyalusing State Park near Bagley, Wisconsin, is a great spot to get out into the fresh spring air. One of Wisconsin’s oldest and most well-loved state parks, you’ll find no shortage of fun, including two mountain bike trails, a six-mile canoe trail through the Mississippi River backwaters, a fishing pier, and 14 miles of hiking trails featuring caves, waterfalls, and amazing bluff views.
Come back in late spring or early summer for an astronomy program at the Huser Astronomy Center, which features several high-powered telescopes in an ideal location for observing the night sky. Check your state’s DNR website for listings of State Parks near you (IA, MN, WI).
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Illustrations by Allison Thomley
4. Shop the farmers markets
Even before the snow melts, you can get your farmers market fix at the Justin Trails Makers Market in Sparta, Wisconsin. This indoor market takes place on Saturdays through March. Sample homemade goods, buy cool decor, and even enjoy breakfast on site at The Lodge. justintrails.com
And in communities across the Driftless, early May marks the month when you can grab your reusable bags and make your way to your local farmers market, where you’ll find an abundance of agricultural goodies grown and produced by your neighbors and friends. Check with your local chamber for farmers market dates and details.
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Illustrations by Allison Thomley
5. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Put on your green attire and head to Waukon, Iowa, for one of the liveliest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the Driftless. Go for the parade (generally held at 1 pm on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick’s Day, which is March 17), and then stick around for the live music and dinner specials at local hangouts. allamakeecounty.com
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Illustrations by Allison Thomley
6. Listen to local artists
Experience the eclectic sounds of the area by checking out Midwest Music Fest in Winona, Minnesota, held annually in May. Artists like Charlie Parr and The People Brothers Band play different locations around town for two whole days, giving attendees the opportunity to hop around and find their favorite vibes and venues. midwestmusicfest.org
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Illustrations by Allison Thomley
7. Stroll through the Shrine
There’s no better time than spring to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse. Nestled in the bluffs, the beautifully landscaped grounds are a great place for a stroll. Admire the flowers, sculptures, and buildings that adorn this world-renowned location. guadalupeshrine.org
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8. Get festive with Syttende Mai
Illustrations by Allison Thomley
The Driftless has a rich Norwegian heritage that’s celebrated each spring in the form of Syttende Mai. This festival takes place on or around May 17th in honor of the day Norway ratified its constitution in 1814.
If you’re interested in some delicious Norwegian foods, crafts, and a hunt for trolls, head to Westby, Wisconsin to immerse yourself in the culture. syttendemaiwestby.com
Or join the proud folks of Spring Grove, Minnesota for similar festivities, including a 5K adorably dubbed “Running with my Gnomies.” sgsyttendemai.com
In Decorah, Iowa, the Vesterheim Norwegian-American museum celebrates the holiday with free admission on the celebration day, a Children’s Parade throughout Vesterheim Heritage Park, a performance by Decorah’s Nordic Dancers, hands-on crafts, and more. vesterheim.org/events/category/annual-event/list/
Sara Walters
Writer Sara is a mom and writer living in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She has been an Inspire(d) contributor since 2018.
Allison Thomley
Illustrator Allison Thomley is a junior at Luther College studying Visual Communications and Art. Originally from Madison, WI, she loves listening to music and playing Mario Kart in her free time.
Annie Coleman never forgot the summers she spent growing up at her grandparents’ Golden Horse Ranch resort in Westfield, Wisconsin.
Annie at Golden Horse Ranch. Throwback photos courtesy Red Clover Ranch.
Situated about 60 miles north of Madison, the ranch hosted guests for a full week. Days were filled with horseback riding, archery, and boat races, with evenings saved for square dancing and campfire songs. “It was a very community- and family-oriented experience. There were fourth and fifth generation families that had been coming since the late 1940s and early 50s,” says Annie, who currently splits her time between Chicago and the Driftless. “It was a really special place.”
The closure of Golden Horse Ranch in the 90s was heartbreaking for the guests, Annie, and her family. “I always had in the back of my mind that it was something I wanted to recreate. At first, I wanted to rebuild the exact same place. But, as time goes on and you live your life, you become more developed as an adult and human… the idea shifted and changed.”
The Golden Horse Ranch, based in Westfield, WI, was Annie’s grandparents’ resort, where she spent her summers as a kid.
It closed in the 90s, but was the inspiration for Annie’s retreat center in Soldiers Grove, WI: Red Clover Ranch. / Photos courtesy Red Clover Ranch
The first step in turning her dream into a reality was finding the perfect location. After years of searching Annie finally found it: 79 acres of land near Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin.
“I was living in New York City and I drove up to upstate New York. I thought, ‘If this was just in the Midwest this would be a dream!’ When I moved back to Chicago, I started searching – I would look in Michigan and Indiana. But I wasn’t looking in Wisconsin because I thought I knew Wisconsin,” Annie says. “I remembered my grandmother saying that the artists lived over in the west part of the state. So, I went over to visit western Wisconsin which, of course, is a part of the Driftless area. I immediately fell in love!”
Annie purchased the property in 2009, but it would be years before Red Clover Ranch would open for guests as a retreat center and event space. They officially started construction in 2020 and hosted their first season in 2023.
“It still took me quite a while to figure out what it was exactly I wanted to do, position myself to be able to do it, and finally, to face the fear of taking on the task,” Annie says. “I always felt compelled to create some sort of retreat center – sharing our space with other people and showing them how beautiful it is to be close to nature. That was one of the experiences that my family’s ranch provided. It’s really powerful.”
Inspiration for the name was rooted in Annie’s memories of the Golden Horse Ranch, where her grandparents, who were both blind, bonded over their creative out-of-the box thinking and the joyful freedom of horseback-riding. The beloved horses at the ranch grazed in red clover pastures and her grandparents’ initials are both RC: Robert and Ruth Coleman.
“It was a seed that was planted so long ago. When the ranch closed, I took a bunch of pictures of the red clover as a reminder,” Annie says. “I also discovered red clover is such a wonderful medicinal herb. Now that the name has been out there, people are like, ‘do you know red clover is really good for hormones? Red clover is really good for this! Red clover is really good for that!’”
Left: Dani Lind was the owner of Rooted Spoon Culinary/Kitchen Table, a farm-to-table catering business and bar, restaurant, and event space in Viroqua, WI. She lives on an organic pastured beef farm and has extensive gardening, foraging, and food preservation experience. Dani crafts meals from healthy, nourishing whole foods so guests will leave Red Clover feeling better than when they arrived. Right: In 2009, Annie Coleman bought the 79-acre Soldiers Grove, WI, property that has now become home to Red Clover Ranch, a retreat center and event space in the heart of the Driftless. Annie is the founder of LivingRoom Realty, a boutique real estate brokerage in Chicago. She is also a musician and a ceramic artist. For the past 16 years, she’s headed a 7-piece honky tonk ensemble, the Golden Horse Ranch Band. Photo by Jim Klousia
Building Red Clover Ranch
Of course, building this creative space in the Driftless would take more than just a little bit of magic. Annie laughs as she reflects on the sheer number of obstacles she encountered along the way.
“I think a lot of people have dreams of doing something like this. And any dream that you have is challenging – especially when you’re creating something new,” Annie says. “Financing was challenging. Construction was challenging. Making all the decisions was challenging. Keeping my enthusiasm up and figuring out how to make it all happen while also working a full-time job was challenging. But, you know, things that are worth doing are really challenging!”
The screened-in porch has a summer kitchen and lounge area – the perfect place to sip a coffee or watch a sunset./ Photo courtesy Red Clover Ranch
Her goal was to create a place that honors and protects the land, fostering a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. During construction, they had to clear some planted pine trees. A neighbor milled the trees so Red Clover could repurpose them for siding on cabins and the bathhouse that were built in that same area. And the old barn on the property was lovingly restored to become a spacious yet intimate event space for up to 75 guests, with a full-commercial kitchen, a brick oven, a bar, a screened-in porch, and two spaces for gathering.
Their cabins and bunkhouse provide lodging for up to 19 guests. The Japanese- and Scandinavian-inspired shared bathhouse features an outdoor shower and sauna, as well as a screened-in porch with a summer kitchen and lounge area – the perfect place to sip a coffee or watch a sunset.
“The Driftless Region is endlessly unique, making our valley and ridge tops one-of-a-kind. We created our buildings to be in harmony with the land, with a balanced mix of rustic and modern amenities,” Annie says. Red Clover Ranch runs operations on 97 percent electric, using very little gas, with the hope to move away from dependence on fossil fuels and convert to solar-powered energy in the future.
Chef Dani Lind creates dishes almost too beautiful to eat. / Photos courtesy Red Clover Ranch
The Ranch Experience
Folks can come to Red Clover Ranch for a variety of holistic health, creative, and nature based Driftless experiences, like yoga retreats, biking, business, art, or writing workshops, and more. They also offer collaborative dinners with guest chefs, dance parties with live bands, company offsite events, and a few weddings, too!
In addition to all of this, people can simply come for the “Weekend at the Ranch” cabin package, inspired by Annie’s grandparents’ week-long stay at Golden Horse Ranch. The Red Clover Ranch team provides meals and some onsite activities, a list of fun things to do in the area, or guests can simply spend their day hanging on the screened-in porch, playing games, taking naps, picnicking in the high pasture, sitting in the sauna, making a campfire, or hiking on trails.
One of the main goals of any Red Clover Ranch events is to highlight the many talented farmers, makers, and artists in the area.
Chef Dani Lind at work, making amazing local spreads./ Photo by Meagan Shuptar
The kitchen and food program at The Ranch is run by local chef Dani Lind of Rooted Spoon Kitchen and Table. Dani is an expert in local and seasonal farm-to-table cuisine – committed to sourcing at least 75 percent of her ingredients from nearby farmers and producers.
“Dani has formed really great relationships with these farmers. It is incredible to have this connection and network, because it is so inspiring for guests when we can say, ‘almost everything on this table is local!’” Annie says. They also strive to use Wisconsin-made beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. “The fact that we have access to that level of expertise and industry in this area – it blows peoples’ minds!”
“And Dani’s food is just so memorable,” Annie continues. “She is such a treasure to the Driftless Region and to Red Clover Ranch.”
The old barn on the property was restored to become an event space for up to 75 guests. / Photo by Marta Sasinowska
First Year Reflections and Faith in the Future
After a year of welcoming guests to Red Clover Ranch to form unique and lasting relationships with not only one another, but also with the environment around them, Annie expresses gratitude for all the help she got along the way. And she realizes sometimes you just have to jump in and have faith.
Red Clover Ranch offers a variety of fun and creative retreats. / Photo by Meagan Shuptar
“Faith in yourself. Faith in your belief system. Faith in making it all happen and getting to the end. It truly takes an act of faith to believe in your idea and build on it… You really have to stoke that faith – it is powerful,” says Annie. “You don’t know if anyone is going to believe in it or show up and then you have all these wonderful people not only show up, but also bring their talents, their kindness, and their support. I would not have gotten this done alone. I really would have run out of steam if I didn’t have all of these amazing friends from Wisconsin and Chicago pushing me forward – they knew how exhausted I was. I have a really deep sense of gratitude for them.”
As they move into their second season, Annie reflects on one of her favorite experiences of their first year – a memorable night featuring one of her favorite bands: “There was this moment as the music started fading out, you could hear the frogs, an owl hooted, and we started hearing the nature surrounding us. I get shivers just thinking about it again,” Annie says. “Community, creativity, and nature. I think those three things together create a certain kind of magic.”
Lynsey D. Moritz
Lynsey D. Moritz is a Decorah, Iowa native who has planted roots in rural Southwest Wisconsin. She is a graphic designer, freelance writer, and budding herbalist. Lynsey enjoys learning traditional skills, adventuring with her husband, and being a part of this inspiring Driftless community! lindenfern.com – Instagram: @LindenFern
Check out upcoming retreats and learn more about Red Clover Ranch at redcloverranch.com
