Visit Bluff Country

A guide to Historic Bluff Country

Visit Bluff Country

Green Mountain Grill winner claims prize

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Photo by Jason Sethre
Wendy Pfremmer, of Preston, Minn., stood by her brand new ($900) Green Mountain Grill Ledge Prime she won in a recent contest.

On September 30, 2022, Visit Bluff Country Magazine conducted the fifth Best of the Best prize giveaway drawing of the tourism season, which was a brand new Green Mountain Grill. As the magazine celebrates 37 years as the premier tourism publication of Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless Area), they have conducted prize giveaways each month from April through October. Prizes have included kayaks, a Grizzly cooler, and a Green Mountain Grill.

Jackie Steberg, of Zumbrota, Minn., won a brand new Grizzly Cooler 40 from the August 31, 2022 drawing.

Alyssa Ritter, of Decorah, Iowa, won a brand new kayak from the July 31, 2022 drawing.

Jami Schwickerath, of Lime Springs, Iowa, won a brand new kayak from the June 30, 2022 drawing.

Audrey Staggemeyer, of Caledonia, Minn., won a brand new kayak from the May 31, 2022 drawing.

Thanks to all of the participants of this annual contest.  The results of the Best of the Best Contest will be published in the 2023-2024 Visit Bluff Country Magazine, which will debut in April of 2023.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine publishes 50,000 copies that are delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

For information on upcoming town festival and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining and shopping, check out the magazine in print or online at www.visitbluffcountry.com.

Over the summer months, Visit Bluff Country Magazine gave away over $3,500 in gift cards and prizes with four different contests to help promote tourism Bluff Country.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine Golf Tour Guide offered an opportunity for participants to win $25 gift cards a contest on the Visit Bluff Country Facebook Page.

Golf Tour Guide gift card winners:

  • Michael Clobes of Lewiston, MN… Chosen Valley Golf Course
  • Randy Swestka of Cresco, IA… Old Barn Resort & Rivers Bend Golf Course
  • Heather Marg of Houston, MN… Preston Golf Course
  • Amber Uhlenhake of Stewartville, MN… Harmony Golf Course

The Brewery, Distillery & Winery Contest was featured on the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Facebook page.  This contest included a weekly $25 gift card giveaway for 13 consecutive weeks.

Brewery, Distillery & Winery gift card winners:

  • Ashley Ann Bucheit of Decorah, IA… RockFilter Distillery
  • David Hackman of Onalaska, WI… Trout City Brewing
  • Allison Holen of Ostego, MN… Sylvan Brewing
  • Cathy Severson of Grand Meadow, MN… Sugar Creek Vineyard & Meadery
  • Sandra Leonard of Lake City, MN… Reads Landing Brewing Co.
  • Erin Swenson of St. Charles, MN… Karst Brewery
  • Morgan Henry of Owatonna, MN… Four Daughters Winery & Vineyard
  • Amy Trygstad Flickinger of Kasson, MN… Harmony Spirits
  • Annette Evenson of Harmony, MN… Eagles Landing Winery
  • Andy Wojciechowski of Winona, MN… Empty Nest Winery
  • Tara Wieczorek of Winona, MN… Winneshiek Wildberry Winery
  • Ashley Hansen of Plainview, MN… Hoppy Girl Brewing
  • Annette Mueller of Rochester, MN… Frisky Fox Vineyard

Visit Bluff Country Magazine also gave away $100 in gift cards every week for 10 weeks with the Choose Your Adventure Contest, for a total of $1,000 in gift cards given away as prizes.

Choose Your Adventure gift card winners:

  • Jenny St. Mary of Spring Grove, MN… $100 at Rushford/Peterson businesses
  • Diane Marzolf of Preston, MN… $100 at Prairie du Chien/Marquette/McGregor businesses
  • Renee Majerus of St. Charles, MN… $100 at Preston businesses
  • Marie Christopherson in Spring Valley, MN… $100 at Harmony businesses
  • Janice M. Murphy of Austin, MN… $100 at Spring Valley businesses
  • Anastasia Rocksvold of Decorah, IA… $100 at Chatfield businesses
  • Dale Baker of Rochester, MN… $100 at Caledonia businesses
  • Rhonda Fitzgerald of Amery, WI… $100 at Lanesboro businesses
  • Shianne Bellinger of Denver, IA… $100 at Decorah businesses
  • Jen Oberle of Byron, MN… $100 at Waukon businesses

The team at Visit Bluff Country Magazine has plans for even more prize giveaways in 2023.

Grizzly Cooler 40 winner claims prize

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Jackie Steberg, of Zumbrota, Minn., held her brand new Grizzly Cooler 40 she won in a recent contest.

On August 31, 2022, Visit Bluff Country Magazine conducted the fourth Best of the Best prize giveaway drawing of the summer, which was another brand new Grizzly Cooler 40. As the magazine celebrates 37 years as the premier tourism publication of Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless Area), they have conducted prize giveaways each month from April through October. Prizes include kayaks, a Grizzly cooler, and a Green Mountain Grill.

Alyssa Ritter, of Decorah, Iowa, won a brand new kayak from the July 31, 2022 drawing.

Jami Schwickerath, of Lime Springs, Iowa, won a brand new kayak from the June 30, 2022 drawing.

Audrey Staggemeyer, of Caledonia, Minn., won a brand new kayak from the May 31, 2022 drawing.

Thanks to all of the participants of this annual contest.  The results of the Best of the Best Contest will be published in the 2023-2024 Visit Bluff Country Magazine, which will debut in April of 2023.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine publishes 50,000 copies that are delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

For information on upcoming town festival and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining and shopping, check out the magazine in print or online at www.visitbluffcountry.com.

Over the summer months, Visit Bluff Country Magazine gave away over $3,500 in gift cards and prizes with four different contests to help promote tourism Bluff Country.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine Golf Tour Guide offered an opportunity for participants to win $25 gift cards a contest on the Visit Bluff Country Facebook Page.

The Brewery, Distillery & Winery Contest was featured on the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Facebook page.  This contest included a weekly $25 gift card giveaway for 13 consecutive weeks.

Visit Bluff Country Magazine also gave away $100 in gift cards every week for 10 weeks with the Choose Your Adventure Contest, for a total of $1,000 in gift cards given away as prizes.

Photo by Jason Sethre

Third kayak winner of the summer

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Photo by Jason Sethre

Alyssa Ritter, of Decorah, Iowa, stood next to her brand new kayak she won in a recent contest.

On July 31, 2022, Visit Bluff Country Magazine conducted the second Best of the Best prize giveaway drawing of the summer, which was another brand new kayak. As the magazine celebrates 37 years as the premier tourism publication of Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless Area), they will be conducting prize giveaways each month from April through October. Prizes include kayaks, a Grizzly cooler, and a Green Mountain Grill.

Jami Schwickerath, of Lime Springs, Iowa, won a brand new kayak from the June 30, 2022 drawing.

Audrey Staggemeyer, of Caledonia, Minn., won a brand new kayak from the May 31, 2022 drawing.

The next drawing for a brand new Grizzly 40 Cooler will be August 31, 2022. Please to go www.visitbluffcountry.com/thebest to enter this drawing.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine publishes 50,000 copies that are delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.  This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

For information on upcoming town festival and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining and shopping, check out the magazine in print or online at www.visitbluffcountry.com.

Over the summer months, Visit Bluff Country Magazine will giveaway over $3,300 in gift cards and prizes with four different contests to help promote tourism in Bluff Country.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine Golf Tour has been in full swing, and $25 gift cards have been given away with a contest on the Visit Bluff Country Facebook Page.

The Brewery, Distillery & Winery Contest runs on the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Facebook page.  This contest includes a weekly $25 gift card giveaway for 13 consecutive weeks.

Visit Bluff Country Magazine will also giveaway $100 in gift cards with the Choose Your Adventure Contest, accessible at www.visitbluffcountry.com/adventure.

Enjoy the last days of summer

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By Charlene Corson Selbee

Good clean fun at Ag Days. Photo by Stacey Rath

There are still plenty of events to attend before the kids head back to school. The week of August 15, Fillmore and Houston County are home to Ag Days, Houston County Fair, and Fillmore County Relay for Life.

Head to Caledonia August 16–21 for the Houston County Fair. Explore the 4-H exhibits, sample the wide range of fair food, and don’t miss the Super Farmer Ag Olympics. After a four-year hiatus, the rodeo is back and bigger than ever. Nine events, tie-down roping, over 40 calf roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, and bull riding will have rodeo fans yelling and clapping for their favorite contestant.

TJ’s Liquor sponsors a cocktail contest during Spring Valley’s Ag Days, August 17-21. The theme is vodka, with 4-5 judges available to judge the drinks on creativity, taste, and presentation. For kids 15 and under, S&S Bait Shop sponsors a kids’ fishing tournament with prizes awarded in all three age categories. You do not want to miss other activities: the junior class foam party, kickball for kids, mullet competition, and a 1K for the little ones. There will also be a production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Switch pace and rally for cancer at the Fillmore County Relay for Life, August 19. Spend the evening with friends and family in Fountain, the Sinkhole Capital of the United States, raising awareness and funds for cancer research.

Upcoming Bluff

Country events

•Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest in Cresco, August 26-28.

•Hesper-Mabel Steam Engine Days, Mabel, September 8-11

•Taste of the Trail, Lanesboro, Peterson, Whalan, September 10

•Applefest, La Crescent, September 15-18

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine is delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

For information on upcoming town festival and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining, and shopping, check out the magazine in print or online at www.visitbluffcountry.com.

First kayak winner of the summer 2022

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visit_bluff_country_1st_kayak_winner_2022
Photo by Jason Sethre

Audrey Staggemeyer, of Caledonia, Minn., stood next to her brand new kayak she won in a recent contest.

On May 31, 2022, Visit Bluff Country Magazine conducted the first prize giveaway drawing of the summer, which was a brand new kayak. As the magazine celebrates 37 years as the premier tourism publication of Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless Area), they will be conducting prize giveaways each month from May through September. Prizes include kayaks, a Grizzly cooler, and a Green Mountain Grill.

The next drawing for a brand new kayak will be June 30, 2022. Please go to www.visitbluffcountry.com/thebest to enter this drawing.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine is delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This magazine has a mission of promoting tourism in the Historic Bluff Country (Driftless) region.

For information on upcoming town festival and events in Historic Bluff Country, vacation ideas for lodging, recreation, dining and shopping, check out the magazine in print or online at www.visitbluffcountry.com.

Over the summer months, Visit Bluff Country Magazine will giveaway over $4,000 in gift cards and prizes with four different contests.

The Visit Bluff Country Magazine_Golf Tour kicks off this next week, and $25 gift cards will be given away with a content on the Visit Bluff Country Facebook Page.

The Brewery, Distillery & Winery Contest runs on the Visit Bluff Country Magazine Facebook page.  This contest will include a weekly $25 gift card giveaway for 13 consecutive weeks.

Visit Bluff Country Magazine will also giveaway $100 in gift cards with the Choose Your Adventure Contest, accessible at www.visitbluffcountry.com/adventure

It’s all about rhubarb

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By Charlene Corson Selbee

If you are looking for rhubarb to buy for cooking, baking, freezing, canning, or rhubarb to buy for planting, the Rhubarb Festival in Lanesboro, Minn., is the place to be on June 4.

Lanesboro, the Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota, hosts the annual Rhubarb Festival the first Saturday in June every year, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in picturesque Sylvan Park. The first festival was held in 2004 in conjunction with the town’s farmers market.

Dig into a fresh homemade rhubarb pie from the Lanesboro Rhubarb Festival.
Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee

The day starts off with the Lanesboro Farmers Market at 9 a.m. Arrive early to get the best selection of fresh rhubarb and rhubarb baked goods such as pies, cakes, cobblers, bars, chutney, and jams. In addition, there will be other fresh local produce, canned goods, baked items, honey, and maple syrup to buy.

Bring your lawn chair and enjoy a day of music in the park featuring country music artists Larry and Robert, Cindy Seabright and Friends, and Janine Sherry’s Classic Country.

Craft vendors will be on hand selling all things rhubarb. There will also be a rhubarb fashion show, goat chill out, and puppet show.

Join in on the rhubarb games – rhubarb toss similar to a bean bag toss, egg-and-rhubarb contest, minute-to-win-it rhubarb-chopstick contest, largest leaf and heaviest stalk contest.

Upcoming events in Visit Bluff Country!

•June 11 – Shooting Star Trail Bike Ride, LeRoy, Minn.

•June 11 – Lake Louise State Park Open House, LeRoy, Minn.