By Tyler Trieglaff

Notes from the Chief

Notes from the Farm…Well, we had quite a week last week down in Bloomington. The DA and I attended the annual conference for the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The conference is largely for the employees of the districts with continuing education type of seminars.  

We went down Tuesday morning and were asked to attend one seminar that afternoon.  The seminar was about a farm bus tour we took last summer and I was asked to talk a little about the experience.  

That evening the Becker County SWCD took us, their board members and employees out for supper. That was a fun evening socializing with those folks. We retired to the hotel and then joined them again in the bar for some more socializing and networking.

Wednesday morning there were a couple seminars that we attended, one on honey bees and one presented by the Minnesota Raptor Center. There was also a room full of exhibitors peddling their products and services. 

Lunch time was the banquet for the Outstanding Conservationists from throughout the state. The emcee gave a brief presentation on each of the 88 district winners. After those presentations I was humbled to be included with all of the other district winners.  Next was the presentation of the eight area finalists. Blue Line Farm/The Trieglaff Family was presented with a plaque recognizing the accomplishment for Northwest Area 1.

Once all the area finalists were recognized, they presented the award for the State Conservationist of the year. I had it in my heart that there were many more deserving recipients and was grateful to be included. When the emcee called out Blue Line Farm/The Trieglaff Family as the Outstanding Conservationist for the state, I was taken aback.  

It took me a moment to stand up and realize what had happened. The DA herself was verklempt. We walked up to the stage and were presented with the award and I gave a short speech, thanking all those that helped us along the way. I even got a little emotional while talking and ended my speech with, “The most expensive words on the farm are, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’”  

This recognition for our farm is very much a major award just like in the movie “A Christmas Story.” I would like to again thank all the support from the NRCS and Becker County SWCD.

Dad joke of the week…What do you call a fat cop? A pot bellied pig.

Friday, Dec. 5

7:40 a.m. Assist with a high school student who would not get out of the car. Officer and deputies assisted with getting the student into the school and turned over to school staff.

12:12 p.m. Two background checks for a landlord.

4:11 p.m. Vehicle unlock at the gas station.

Saturday, Dec. 6

6:05 p.m. Assist with Snowplow Parade.

Sunday, Dec. 7

6:54 p.m. Assist with a pickup pulling a trailer that had worn the tires off on the driver side of the trailer. Trailer was parked and repairs would be made the next day.

11:37 p.m. Suspicious vehicles parked by a vacant house on Main Ave. Officer talked with the occupants who said they were at the next house and were waiting for someone to drive the other vehicle. Officer asked that they wait for their friends at the gas station rather than by the vacant house. One occupant was not feeling well and left the remnants of a bean hotdish on the ground in the street.

Monday, Dec. 9

4:34 p.m. Resident reporting that a package was delivered to an address a few houses away and she had a photo of the package at the delivered house. Reporting party said that she attempted to recover the package but they would not talk to her. Officer talked with the other party who had returned the package but it was opened by the kids so Walmart would not take it back. Officer brought the package to the original caller.  

6:50 p.m. Assist with a car vs deer.

Tuesday, Dec. 10

1:50 p.m. Report of a compressor on fire at a business.  

Wednesday, Dec. 11

2:31 p.m. Resident reporting that their vehicle is broken down on the street and they are working on getting it moved.

2:38 p.m. Report of a bad check from a business.

8:20 p.m. Report that a bar patron was back at the business after an officer told him last week that he might be better off finding a new place to drink because he was harassing females in the bar. Bar employee talked with the officer about the options and the employee then told the male that it would be best if he took some more time off.

Thursday, Dec. 11

7:51 a.m. Report of RR crossing arms down with no train in sight.  BNSF notified.

10:25 a.m. Vehicle unlock at the Care Center.

3:17 p.m. Assist with a medical.

7:01 p.m. Vehicle unlock on 2nd St SE.