To the Editor,

When I first meet people and they ask me where I’m from, I say a small town in Minnesota.

Some people leave it at that, but for those who want to know more, I tell them. “Yes, Frazee. It’s spelled F-R-A-Z-E-E. What are we known for? Well, it’s funny you ask—we’re known for the world’s largest turkey. No, not a real turkey, a statue of a turkey. Here, I’ll show you a picture. We have a weekend celebration called Turkey Days, and honestly, it’s a summer highlight for everyone. If you ever want to visit Frazee, that’s when I’d recommend going.

How small is Frazee? Well, the population is under 1,200. We drive 15 minutes to get to the nearest Walmart, and the closest Target is about an hour away. We have no stoplights, just stop signs—yes, for the entire town. I could probably name every person I graduated with, maybe even their parents and siblings. 

People tend to be interested in why I left Frazee, and I give them my vast array of reasons. 

“Would you ever move back?” they ask. “I wouldn’t,” I reply. I’ve been lucky enough to live all over the world—in big cities, villages, and, of course, a majority of my life in small-town Frazee. I have a lot of thoughts about these places, all of them with their own list of pros and cons. Many of those thoughts would spark disagreements. However, one thought has yet to change, and it will follow me no matter where I am in the world: Frazee is a community, and when community comes into play, there is no place I’d rather be from.

On June 1, 2024, our community was in full swing. People from all walks of life came together to hold a benefit for my dad, who has been incredibly brave over the past year. Of course, a benefit includes financial help, which we are more than grateful for, but the emotional support, prayers, and the sense of solidarity are where I struggle to find all the right words to say because I don’t think a simple thank you is sufficient. It’s hard to capture feelings of gratitude into formulated thoughts, so I’ll simply end with this: To the people who donated their time, resources, and energy to plan and organize the benefit, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, coordinating every detail to ensure the event’s success—your efforts have not gone unnoticed. To the local businesses and individuals who donated items for the auction, your contributions were invaluable. To the friends and neighbors who cooked meals, baked goodies, set up tables, cleaned up

afterward, and offered their hearts to our family during this time, we are forever thankful. To the people who spread the word, shared our story, and encouraged others to help, your advocacy has made a significant difference. To those who sent cards, made phone calls, or simply reached out with a kind word or hug, your emotional support has felt like a ray of light to us.

To everyone included above and to everyone I may have missed, thank you for reminding me of the strength and beauty of our community. The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming in the most positive way, and we are all profoundly grateful. On behalf of Barry DeGroat, Tanya Mastin, Caleb DeGroat, and myself—thank you, thank you, thank you.

With heartfelt thanks, 

Felicia Teiken, 

Los Angeles, Calif.