Driftless Stories

Spring Grove has a vibrancy that’s easy to see but kind of hard to explain. With a population of about 1,200, the Southeast Minnesota town…

Fungi are among the most widely distributed organisms on earth. Despite their importance to people and the environment, they are also among the least understood.…

Confidence comes from tackling new challenges. Decorah artist Hannah Tulgren has found this to be true, even if moving in new directions sometimes sparks moments…

Spring 2025 Inspire(d) Tulips continue to grow, even after they’re cut. Did you know that?!  I love this about tulips. I love that something that’s…

When we switched printers in 2023, we decided to start featuring local photographers’ work in the Center Spread spot in each Inspire(d) Magazine. We wanted…

“It just felt right.” For Naomi Simon, Decorah’s hometown women’s wrestling hero, the decision to dedicate herself to wrestling was a simple one. “Wrestling fits…

In 1940, as Walt Disney’s Pinocchio wobbled across the big screen, a lesser-known creative genius gave rise to another cinematic icon. Woody Woodpecker, an irascible…

“My beautiful daughter’s life ended on a cold kitchen floor of a dumpy studio apartment near La Crosse while I slept in my bed in…

In Laura Demuth’s cozy home, once a one-room schoolhouse, drapes woven in red, blue and tan cover closets and shelves; on walls, floors, chairs, and…

Winter 2024-25 Inspire(d) We’re all in this together.  And despite all our differences – or perhaps in celebration of them – I’d like to remind…

Each October, as daytime temperatures dip and leaves slowly shift toward red and gold, Erin Ryan packs up the car for a day trip. But…

Paula the Cow thinks it’s high time the Hollywood sign moooooves on over. The 25-foot-tall cow mural exudes charm and more than a dash of…