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Fall 2024 Inspire(d) Editor’s Letter

Fall 2024 cover artwork by Val Miller of Steel Cow.

Fall 2024 Inspire(d)!

Welcome to the 78th issue of Inspire(d) Magazine! We’ve been making this publication for 17 years, y’all! That’s bananas. It’s been a joy – and yes, an inspiration – to bring positive news to our region all these years.

But just like any business, it’s taken a lot of resilience to keep at it, and there have definitely been times we’ve needed a little encouragement. Thus, we’ve made an issue dedicated to encouraging you all to find hope and resilience, so you can keep working toward all you believe in. 

Our cover was created by well-known local artist Val Miller. She and her husband, Josh, moved to Val’s hometown of Waukon, Iowa, and created Steel Cow two decades ago. We have been inspired by this fellow married couple over and over again as they navigate the ups and downs of life, art, and entrepreneurship. And we have admired their resilience and willingness to keep standing back up and working toward their dreams. 

Our dreams are what gives us hope. Mental health writer Olivia Lynn Schnur asks us, “What is your reason for waking up in the morning?” as she helps us discover our “why” – what gives us hope and pushes us to be resilient.

Our daughter, Roxie, always gives us hope. We asked her to write another Future Focused essay before she heads into sixth grade this year. This one is about what inspiration means to her. It felt right to have her perspective in this fall anniversary issue especially, as this publication has been a family affair from the very beginning. 

You can see some highlights of the Inspire(d) timeline in a fun retrospective I put together – and then, if you’re willing, we’d love for you to take our survey (here’s the link!) so we can learn more about you all and what you’re looking to read in future Inspire(d)s.

We will always keep featuring community builders in the region, though, because creating a community where others feel a sense of connection and belonging is one of the most important things we can do in this life. We’ve got a great line-up this issue.

Back-to-school time makes it feel extra fitting to feature Decorah music educators and community builders Matt & Nicole Cody. They not only lead local students in musical endeavors, they have also created a space for community members to engage their musical passions through the Oneota Valley Community Orchestra. 

Dave Dudek in Chatfield, Minnesota, has been cutting hair and keeping up with community conversations for many years in his business, Dave’s Barbershop.

Paul Reardon loves how bikes bring people together. While he lives in La Crosse, Wisconsin, he’s launching a new gravel ride across the river in Hokah, Minnesota. The Old Fashioned Gravel ride is sure to be some old-fashioned fun.

We have also been inspired by Laree Schouweiler’s work that combines community and movement at Driftless Yoga Center. You can learn more about her evolving path through entrepreneurship in this issue’s Sum of Your Business.

And we cap it all off with a warm, fuzzy piece about Socktoberfest at Fox River Mills in Osage, Iowa. Writer Renee Brincks chatted with Decorah’s Erin Ryan to learn the best ways to sock-up, er…stock-up…on socks this season…and experience an out-of-the-ordinary fall outing that could just become a family favorite.

The days might be getting shorter this season, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get brighter. Here’s to finding that light, and that hope.

Thanks for reading, friends. We appreciate you.

Looking forward,

Aryn Henning Nichols

Listen to our fall Spotify playlist while you read!

In this issue, you’ll find:

Resilience: We Must Keep Standing Up. Artist Val Miller & Steel Cow • Community Builders – Matt & Nicole Cody – Dave Dudek – Paul Rearson • Paper Project: Fill-In Thank You Cards • Infographic: Resilience • Mental Health: Finding Hope When You’re Hopeless • Future Focused – On Inspiration • Sum of Your Business: Laree Schouweiler / Driftless Yoga Center • Fox River Socktoberfest • Probit: Marlene Fenstermann & More! Happy 17th Birthday, Inspire(d)! Read the whole thing online here!

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