The Inspiring Journey of Scott Huso
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The Inspiring Journey of Scott Huso

North Dakota Wheat Commissioner, farmer, brain tumor survivor, and family friend—these words describe one person in the state of North Dakota: Scott Huso. His story is one of perseverance and adaptability, not just in his professional career, but also in overcoming personal challenges and life experiences that have shaped his path.

Photo Credit: Florian K


Scott was born and raised in Anetta, ND, where he currently farms and lives with his wife. Growing up in a small community, Scott experienced a unique educational journey. He attended four different schools during his high school years. He began at Anetta, where he attended kindergarten through 6th grade. When Anetta and Mackville, ND, combined, he moved to Mackville for seventh and eighth grade. After Mackville closed, he attended Palma, ND, for his freshman year. Finally, for his sophomore through senior years, he attended Petersburg, going to four different schools in the same district during his high school career. Although Scott participated in sports during high school, it was less out of passion and more out of expectation. However, his true passion was music, particularly playing the trumpet and participating in choir. This love for music led him to the University of North Dakota (UND), where he initially pursued a degree in music. Unfortunately, the demands of the marching band program conflicted with his responsibilities at home on the farm, particularly during the busy harvest season, forcing him to reconsider his college path.

After a brief time at UND, Scott transferred to North Dakota State University (NDSU), where he switched his focus to agricultural economics, a field recommended by his brother and one that was more aligned with his rural roots. At NDSU, Scott immersed himself in campus life, joining several organizations, including the concert choir, Blue Key Honor Society, and the Ag Ambassadors program. These experiences helped him overcome his shyness and develop leadership and communication skills. As part of the Ag Ambassadors program, he traveled to high schools to recruit other students to NDSU. His involvement in Blue Key, a prestigious service organization, culminated in his election as president, a role that helped him further hone his leadership and communication abilities.
Upon graduation, Scott’s professional journey also took several turns. Initially, he was drawn to Monsanto, but when they informed him that he would need to relocate to Nebraska, and his mother had a car accident (though she wasn’t seriously injured), he realized that he wanted to be closer to home in case anything happened to his parents. As a result, Scott took a job with Ad-Farm, an advertising agency in Fargo, North Dakota. Although this job wasn’t his dream role, it provided valuable experience. While working at Ad-Farm, Scott moved to Canada for a few years. However, his life took an unexpected turn when he had a conversation with Tim Brekke, a prominent local farmer.

Scott never imagined he would become a farmer, but that five-minute conversation with Tim opened the door to a future he never expected. In 2008, Scott made the life-altering decision to leave his job in advertising and return to Anetta, where he worked with Tim Brekke for a summer before fully committing to farming. During this time, Scott reconnected with his now wife, Elizabeth. They married in 2009 and have a son, Karl, born in 2013. Although Scott’s life on the farm has been rewarding, it hasn’t been without its challenges. In 2018, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, a personal challenge that forced him to reassess his priorities. Despite the diagnosis, Scott continued his work on the farm, showing remarkable resilience and determination.

Photo Credit: Neal Fisher

Today, Scott’s life revolves around the farm, his family, and the North Dakota Wheat Commission, where he has been a board member since 2021 and has served as a Steele County representative since 2009. He continues to contribute to the local and state agricultural community. His days are filled with managing farm operations and the various tasks that come with working on a farm. Outside of his farm work, Scott enjoys playing guitar, restoring a 1991 Dodge truck, and listening to music—a passion he shares with his son, who also loves playing guitar and music.

Scott Huso’s story is one of continuous personal and professional growth. From a shy high school student to a leader and North Dakota Wheat Commissioner, his journey reflects the importance of adaptability, hard work, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities.

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Be Like Bob: The Story of Robert “Bob” Young

Robert Young is best known to his students as Bob Young, the high school history teacher at Park River Area School and the high school varsity basketball coach. Born and raised in Michigan, North Dakota, his story is a lot more than that though. From years of teaching history at Pingree-Buchanan to his first year at Park River Area School, Robert Young is building a strong relationship with his students and helping them learn more. 

Photo Credit:Tweten’s

To help everyone understand the type of person Robert is, I want to share a personal story from this year. The day Mr. Young started teaching us about economics, he brought everyone a plate and a big bag of chips. He started dumping the chips onto the plates of the students in our class but then he ran out. He showed us what it’s like for the demand to be high but the supply to be low.  I thought that it was a funny little demonstration to get us started on Economics.

We always have fun days filled with laughter and joy in his class. He also is a firm believer in the fact that there are way many more ways to learn than just taking notes and tests. He finds fun ways to make it a better learning experience for everyone.

What is so special about Robert is his way of teaching. Robert really enjoys connecting with the class and finds ways to make sure everyone is engaged or involved in what we learn. His teaching style is special. Robert does not believe in giving a longer lecture on notes and then giving you a test. He finds other critical ways to get you thinking and engaged in topics that I think is a really special way to connect with your students. 

When Robert Young graduated from high school he attended college. At first, Robert Young was gonna go to college to become an elementary teacher. But in my interview with Mr. Young, he had this to say, “When I first got into education and you know my favorite subject in class was always history I enjoyed reading and writing about history and when I went to college those were always the classes I got the best grades in so I guess that’s why I initially got into history.”

When he attended college he ended up going to two of them the first time he attended college. Robert went to Valley City State University where he said “ I did not enjoy the college experience the first year so I decided to drop out.” 

Another 10 years went by before Robert would attend college again. Robert ended up at Minnesota State University Moorhead where he got his degree. Robert then returned to Valley City to earn his graduate degree. 

Now Robert plays a key role in our community; he is our high school history teacher and also our varsity basketball coach. In an interview, I had with Eli Beneda, one of the players on the varsity basketball team. He said, “He brought great energy and enthusiasm to our basketball program. Robert completely turned around our program.” 

Robert matters a lot to our community because without him we would not have a history teacher or a renewed basketball program.

Credit: Yearbook

In Robert’s free time, he loves the outdoors. He does lots of hiking, camping, cycling, and mountain biking. He also really likes to attend concerts. Robert has an amazing personality. He is a very outgoing, funny, super nice guy. Robert always finds a way to make his class laugh and is always able to keep his class engaged. 

Teaching high school students can be fun. I think Robert does a great way of showing that. Robert comes to school every day with a great attitude ready to help students learn and better understand history. Robert’s energy radiates into the classroom every day and he makes sure he reaches all of his students. “Be Like Bob” 

               

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From Playground to All-State: Nevin Daley’s Rise

Dreams do come true, at least when you push yourself and keep going and reach your goals. That’s the story of Nevin Daley. From a fourth grader to an all-state player Nevin has always pushed himself to keep going and become the best he can be.


In fourth grade, Nevin started his football career and that accidentally set him up for life. Nevin has always lived in North Dakota, just outside Park River which is where he also went to school. His father Scott and his mother Shelly Daley have made Nevins dream come true by helping him grow and teaching him what to do. 


Nevin is a great role model, a great football player, a good person to talk to, and a great friend. He is also the President of our school council and is very good at that, too. Nevin has always been a good person, and that’s what makes writing about what he has done important: to let others know that their dreams can come true if they just put their mind to it.

Photo Credit: Yearbook


Lots of people supported Nevin in his football career like his mom and dad, friends, coaches, or just anyone that he talked to believed that he could do it. Other than looking like a great football player he had a lot of early success that also pushed him to become greater and better. 

Allstate has helped Nevin in many ways being friends with so many people, making memories, and going to college. Nevins’s high school career has grown so much going from just playing it in middle school to an honorable mention for all regions in freshman year to becoming an all-state player. Nevin has felt that his hard work and dedication have shown especially being named All-State without even making it to a state tournament or anything like that. Showing that people can get to where they want if they put the time and effort into being there.

Other than football, Nevin likes other sports. He mainly likes basketball and throwing in track. Nevin also is a big fan of hunting, fishing, and hanging out with his friends, which I’m sure a lot of people can relate to. In Nevin’s off-season, he would keep at it with football camps, weight room, and yoga to keep fit and be able to keep playing and play better than last year. 

Playing football during school is one of the easiest sports to balance. Nevin was always able to do his school work after practices and their games were always on a Friday so it was easy to get stuff done. Their schedule never changed as Nevin would say.

One of Nevins’s highlights comes from a game in Carrington where it was a really close game and they needed to bring the ball back. Then the quarterback ran the ball and Nevin tackled him using one of his own players. 

Nevin has shown everyone that doing what you want can become true if you put your mind to it and prove that you can do it. So if you don’t believe that you can do it just keep going and prove to yourself that you can. 

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The Man, The Myth, The Legend – Brett Omdahl

Photo Credit: Tweten’s

Behind every successful and unsuccessful team, every championship, and every story throughout high school, there is always someone working hard who helps the program become what it is. For Park River Area School, that person is Brett Omdahl. Not only was he named Region Athletic Director of the Year, but he is also a man of many with a lot of dedication. Brett takes great pride in what he does for the school and community, and it shows what kind of person he is.

Brett Omdahl is from Fordville, North Dakota, where he grew up and attended school. After graduating high school, he went on to further his education at Mayville State University, to pursue teaching. Today, Brett teaches elementary physical education and coaches junior high basketball, high school baseball, and summer baseball.

In addition to teaching, coaching, and being an athletic director, Brett volunteers in the Fordville and Park River communities. He is constantly helping out the youth, both in and out of the classroom. Brett thinks it is very important for people to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. As Brett helps out the community, it has definitely shown in the work that he has put in.

As the Athletic Director of Park River Area School, Brett plays a huge role in running school sports programs smoothly. He manages the schedule for every sports team within the school and makes sure events run smoothly and efficiently.


I asked Brett what makes him so successful as an athletic director.
He responded by saying “Organization for sure, communication for sure, those two things I would say daily are essential.”


Brett’s workday typically starts early. He checks schedules and confirms that officials and staff are ready for that day’s event. He checks that the opposing team is coming that night and makes sure that their locker room is clean. He also helps out wherever needed throughout the school. As he said in an interview, “It’s just a lot I guess, the amount of steps I put in a day during the spring or during the fall and winter is a lot. I mean, you just gotta keep your motor running otherwise, you’ll burn yourself out.”

“I think you have to have a growth mindset in anything you do and the idea that you can always become better.”


On top of being an athletic director, Brett stays busy coaching too. Coaching is a difficult responsibility that only some can do. It’s not just about wins and losses, it’s about teaching young athletes not only on the field but off of it too. Coaching is challenging, not only physically, but also mentally. It is very demanding but Brett takes it on with determination and energy every day.


Brett is not only respected for his professional skills but also for who he is. He is kind, hardworking, funny, patient, honest, and intelligent. Outside of school, he enjoys sports, spending time with friends, and practicing his faith but most importantly, Brett values family, believing it comes before everything else.

I’ve personally experienced Brett’s kindness and leadership. During one of our rough baseball years, our baseball team lost its coach halfway through the season. There was not a lot anyone could do but then someone with a great heart stepped in. Brett, already coaching another team, stepped up and took over. I know this wasn’t easy for him, but I truly know that everyone on the team was grateful for what he had done. That moment meant a lot to me, and it’s something I’ll always be grateful for because I know that it was hard for him to do.

Through times like that, seeing what he has done to help people. Brett has become one of my biggest role models. He’s taught me lessons that I’ll remember for a long time. Not just about sports, but about character, dedication, and how to treat others.

Brett is not only an athletic director and coach. He’s a mentor and leader to many people. His actions always reflect the kind of person he is. He has shown me the kind of person I want to become. He is also someone that others can look up to.

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From Old to New: Aaron Schramm Opens Up a New Opportunity For the Growing

When you drive on 5th Street, you’ll see a construction zone right across the street from the elementary school. All you wonder is what it is and who is behind it.

Who is Aaron Schramm?

Aaron Schramm is the superintendent of Park River Area High School. He is a very well-known figure in the community’s eyes as the superintendent of Park Rivers High School making him an important figure. What makes him so special? He is important because of his role in the school and what he does to keep it running. As of right now, he is helping with the construction of an early Learning Center for kids to go to before going into kindergarten.


A little background on Aaron Schramm. He grew up 7 out of 8 on a farm in central North Dakota about 15 miles from Carrington where he spent his adolescent years. Later he left to seek out higher education at the University of North Dakota where he achieved an undergraduate degree in mathematics and a teaching degree. Later he received his master’s degree from Minnesota State University-Moorhead in Educational Leadership.

When growing up Aaron was raised with the belief to put a high value on family resulting in making it a priority to spend quality time with one another. He believes that putting extra effort into doing things well is something that was ingrained in him as he grew into being an adult. He has used what he learned to be brought into both his personal and professional life leaving him well-focused as well as disciplined. He furthermore believes in preparing the youth (the next generation) for their future. This includes providing opportunities for them to find their gift and develop to their fullest potential.

Since Aaron is the superintendent of Park Rivers High School, his job is to make sure that the school stays well-disciplined and kept under control. Part of his role is to make sure that the other roles that are taking place are moving forward smoothly without any complications making sure that the structure of the school is kept up.


A typical day for Aaron varies quite a bit from week to week and depending on the time of season. He starts the day at 7:00 AM when the buses are sent out to pick up kids. He is in the office to take phone calls and relay information to drivers when necessary. Sometimes it’s related to building, budget, personnel items, or even all three in one day. Including meetings, emails/phone calls along with other related office work. Before school and during lunch time he tries to get out into the building to interact with the students and staff.

Outside of being a superintendent, he tries to spend his time with his family, going to his kids’ activities and watching his favorite Minnesota sports teams.

When I asked Aaron to share a time when he personally helped someone or made a difference without having to do it he replied “I think anyone who works in education has this opportunity every day. Education is a people business meaning that it puts people first. To do that, you need to be willing to make sacrifices and do things for people or a school without any expectations of something in return. Sometimes these things are noticed and other times they are not, but they always make a difference in the lives of the people.

Early Learning Center

photo credits: Aaron Burden, Unsplash


Not only is Aaron Schramm the superintendent of the High School in Park River, but he is also working on a project for the future generation. He is currently working on helping with the construction of the new Early Learning Center.

What is an early learning center? An early learning center is a preschool for three and four-year-olds. It’ll be half a day and there will be wraparound childcare services included with the preschool for families that are unable to get their child at the time when they get done.

Staff members came up to Aaron around four years ago to bring light to the fact that kids coming into kindergarten have some noticeable delays in development, as well as kids, are struggling more with mental health challenges. He wants to put more energy into teaching them adaptive skills early on when they enter school. Overall, his main goal is to get the students more prepared and more successful throughout their school careers.

The making of the early learning center has been since August 2021 when the conversation was first brought up leading to that winter was when the idea started to take shape. The opening date should be sometime in the first half of August but the date they are shooting for is August 1st.

The funding of the building has gone through creative ways of finding funding to prevent a tax burden on our taxpayers. Aaron took a few grants out and received money from the Department of Commerce.

How much is enrollment to put your child in preschool? The preschool is going to be free to be able to help people who are economically challenged, leaving the childcare end of things to have a cost. The cost of childcare is still in the making on how much that will cost, but the State of North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services can help reduce the cost of childcare.

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The Workings of Park River Hardware: The Story of Joel and Martha and Their Hardware Store

Two and a half years ago, I was looking for a job when I happened to notice a strange man who I thought was a foreigner because he was speaking in a funny voice. He was in the lot next to the hair salon, setting up a greenhouse. We talked for a few minutes, and I found out his name was Joel. He was the new owner of the hardware store—and, in fact, was very much American. As I was leaving, he gave me a job application. I filled it out when I got home, and I was hired as the store’s first new employee after the change in ownership.

That was just the beginning. But this isn’t the story of my time there—this is the story of Joel and his wife, Martha.

Joel comes from a large farming family—I’m talking more than ten siblings. He learned how to fix just about anything, from simple household repairs to car engines. His wife, Martha, comes from an ex-Amish family in Wisconsin. I don’t know many details about their pasts, but that’s the basic background.

In 2023, Joel and Martha officially became the full owners of the business.

Now, in the present, Joel and Martha run Park River Hardware (PRH for short). From what I can tell, the last three years have been challenging in many ways. In 2024, they nearly went under. As Joel once put it, “We almost died as a business last year. Yup, one bad year can break you.”

I was there when it was happening. You could see the stress weighing heavily on both Joel and Martha. Despite so many setbacks—like the failure of the greenhouse project and the semi-success of the fireworks—they pushed through.

They’ve shown incredible perseverance over the past three years. They could have easily given up, but they didn’t. That kind of determination is something we all need in our lives—and it’s something I’ve learned from watching Joel and Martha.

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Attitude Is The Root Of Everything: The Story of Jordan Hollingsworth

Two footballs sitting on a football field at sunset
Photo Credit: Raymond Petrik

Jordan Hollingsworth is best known as a teacher and principal at Edinburg High School. Many could also say that he is known for being a coach (head or assistant coach) for many different sports. His new title, which was a change that does not happen very often in Park River, is the new head football coach. He is someone who engages with students and athletes with more than just the skills they need to perform homework or the event at hand.

Jordan Hollingsworth teaches more than just the sport of football; he values and teaches his players valuable life skills and lessons to help engage with them even more. Coming into a program that has won three games in the last five years is not an easy task to take on. Things had to change. The culture, attitude, and discipline were the main areas that changed in year one under Hollingsworth.

Before he became a leader on the field, he was someone who shaped his own experiences and influences. Hollingsworth brings both energy and excitement every day to the kids he is around. Growing up in Wyndmere, North Dakota, he developed an interest in education, which later took him to where he is now. After high school, Jordan attended Mayville State University and the University of North Dakota to pursue education.

Those who know him best describe him as driven, compassionate, and deeply committed to making a difference. These words people use to describe him have guided his path to where he is today.

Hollingsworth’s everyday life during the season is very busy. Since he is a principal, he has to handle those tasks every single day. So, he plans each day in advance, starting with putting together the schedule for practice the following day. He sends the other coaches what they plan to work on for the next day, which includes specific periods for position groups.

The next day, when he arrives, he has meetings with the coaches. He stated, “We would talk about focuses for the day. If there’s any challenges with kids at school that day, I try and get a grasp on that sort of stuff,” Jordan stated. He also watches plenty of film every day to come up with a scheme for the team they will play that week.

Although Jordan’s coaching plan is a great way to teach the athletes, I feel that his discipline—on and off the field—helps make great people and great teammates. His ability to make everything fun, while at the same time ensuring good quality reps, is what makes people like him as a coach. With that attitude comes a strong belief in his coaching style.

He stated, “I’m an attitude guy. Anyone who’s had me as a coach knows that we’re going to spend more time focusing on how to be good people than good football players.”

He wants to get people with the right mindset before he begins because, without it, people are not getting good quality reps in practice.

So, before the season started, he had the team do camps, meetings, and decide who the captains were to help motivate the team. In the meeting, he talked about how he wanted to turn things around in the program and return to being a winning football team. He pointed out that it all starts with what you believe and how you want to achieve it. This helped get many players in the right mindset before the season and motivated them to work harder than in previous years.

The football team ended with only three wins and just missed the playoffs, but this was a great improvement for the program after going two seasons with zero wins in a row. We can learn that Mr. Hollingsworth is someone who puts attitude first in both life and coaching. He is willing to do what it takes to turn things around.

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Winston Churchill once said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

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Dedication in Action: Melissa Denault’s Service to Education and Community

Photo Credit: Tweton’s

When you enter Study Hall, the first thing you’ll notice is the dimmed lights that promote a calming atmosphere. The second thing you’ll notice is the silence, students quietly doing their work, fully immersed in a space built for focus and productivity. All of this is thanks to Melissa Denault, the new study hall teacher whose steady presence has transformed the room into more than just a place to pass the time.

Melissa Denault, born in Park River, has always stayed connected to her roots. She lived in Fordville until she was five, and attended Grafton schools through eighth grade before transferring to Park River. There, she took part in multiple “earn while you learn” programs that allowed her to grow both professionally and personally.

After high school, Melissa moved to the Grand Forks area and began working at the Richard P. Stadter Center as Lead CNA of the Special/ICU Department. At the same time, she worked part-time at Checker Auto Parts, which helped her become Automotive Excellence Certified.

Eventually, Melissa returned home and bought her family home, where she has lived happily for 35 years. She worked at the North Dakota Developmental Center for over 13 years, moving up to become a Vocational Training Technician through courses offered at the University of Mary.

Later, Melissa worked at Ye Olde Medicine in Park River and began a Pharmacy Tech program through Wahpeton NDSCS. Although she didn’t complete the program, it gave her a pivot point. When the local daycare closed and childcare wasn’t available on-site, she decided to move to Park River Bible Camp, where she became the director of the Sprouts program during the summer. During the school year, she chose to work at the school.

Once hired, Melissa was required to take and pass the ParaPro Assessment and complete coursework for Title 1 Certification, as well as training in therapeutic intervention strategies using Ukeru pads. When the school needed bus drivers and offered to train the right person, Melissa “leapt at the chance to learn one more thing,” and became a licensed School Bus Driver in December 2023. The following spring, she completed the Frontline Substitute Teacher Training Course and became officially licensed by the North Dakota Educational Standards and Practices Board.

Melissa’s current role is Study Hall Supervisor, but she does so much more. Her workday begins early, she starts at 6:45 a.m. with her bus route and arrives at the school around 8:10. Once she’s parked the bus, she clocks in and gets to work. During the first hour alone, she takes attendance, lunch count, sends out Remind messages to all the 7th and 8th graders, creates and posts the daily announcements, and enters absentees into Powerschool. Throughout the day, she continues to manage attendance, monitor study halls, and support students and staff. Once a week, she also prints out lunch menus for the upcoming week. Her mornings focus on administrative tasks, while her afternoons are spent with younger students who need more direct support.

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys flea markets, auctions, second-chance stores, and “finding lost treasures of old.” She also values time with her family, whether they’re “traveling, camping, hiking, biking, fishing, motorcycling, or going to the races.” She’s a fan of rom coms and brings the same mix of heart and humor to her everyday life.

Mellisa’s values are grounded in gratitude, honesty, and connection. “Everyone deserves a fair chance,” she says, “but you shouldn’t take your chance for granted as you don’t know if you’ll have that chance ever again.” She believes, “If you hold true to yourself and your family while you grow, your roots will grow just as deep as your wings, allowing you to soar higher and farther than you could ever imagine.” To Melissa, no one is ever truly alone: ”There are more people in this world that are just waiting for the moment for someone to ask.”

She lives by a few golden rules: “Use your manners even when you’re frustrated, slow down and think about it, be honest with people and they will respect you more than if you just told them what they wanted to hear, and last of all, don’t go to bed mad.”

From her earliest days in Fordville, to her many roles in the Park River community, Melissa Denault has lived a life of service, growth and deep care for others. Her story reminds us that the quietest places often have the strongest foundations, and the most inspiring leaders behind them.

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From Barn Boots to Ball Gowns: Zoey’s Pageant Journey

Though she’s a country girl at heart, fifth grader Zoey Sveen of Park River Area Elementary School has recently begun trading in her boots and jeans for a ball gown and heels. Living on a farm just outside of Hoople, ND, with her parents, John and Lindsey, and her four brothers- Henry, Jack, August, and Jedadiah- Zoey’s life is full of hard work, family fun, and now… pageantry.

Photo Credit: Lindsey Sveen

Zoey’s first taste of the pageant world came last summer at the Erskine Water Carnival, where she competed in a small local pageant and proudly took home second place. Her mom, Lindsey, said that it wasn’t really about the trophy, but rather about Zoey had a blast just dressing up, being on stage, and soaking in the fun. 

Since then, Zoey’s passion for pageantry has only grown. Most recently, she received the title of Junior Miss Pumpkinfest 2024 when she competed in the Pumpkinfest Pageant in Walhalla. For Zoey, pageants are about more than tiaras and sashes–they’re about building confidence, not just in herself, but in others as well.

One of her biggest inspirations is Natalie, who was recently crowned as North Dakota Teen Miss in the ND State Pageant. The pair met at the “Knight for a Princess,” father-daughter dance for the pageant families where they clicked instantly, and Natalie became a mentor of sorts, offering tips and encouragement throughout the whole pageant.

When asked about her favorite part of competing, Zoey doesn’t hesitate when she explains that having the opportunity to meet new people was the best. But there’s so much more to Zoey than her pageant titles. She’s described as kind, hardworking, empathetic, genuine, selfless, and resilient–traits that serve her well in every aspect of life. And she certainly stays busy. Outside of competing in pageants, Zoey is involved in football, figure skating, wrestling, volleyball, and BIO Girls.

Photo Credit: Lindsey Sveen

When she’s not running to and from her various sports practices, you can find Zoey listening to music, doing art projects, hanging out with her brothers, and helping around the farm. Behind every young star is a strong support system, and Zoey’s mom, Lindsey credits much of their balance to the teamwork within their family.

“I couldn’t do any of these things without my husband, John, he is my number one supporter. But it also is crucial to have amazing mother in laws like Ann to, you know, help watch kids, or help with all the running. And we have really good friends that are always available, like willing to help whenever they can. One of my biggest motivators is that I want my kids to have a better childhood than I did. So it’s important for me to be able to balance all those so I just think that willpower just kind of boils down to it; doing what’s best for them.” 

From farm life to the pageant stage, Zoey is proving that grit and grace can go hand in hand. I believe that there’s a lot we can learn from just observing Zoey. She is more than just a competitor- she’s a beacon of kindness and authenticity. Kimberly Moberg, who witnessed Zoey’s performance first hand, shared this moving reflection: 

“Zoey is one of the most beautiful girls I know. She is not beautiful just based on her looks; she is beautiful because she has a genuinely bright soul that could light up the world, and a heart that was made for loving and giving. She is courageous, strong, and selfless. During the entire pageant, Zoey never stepped away from being her true self. She was honest with herself and what she strives for in life. She is kind, gentle, and inspirational.”

Photo Credit: Lindsey Sveen

As I know her personally, this quote perfectly describes Zoey in the best way possible. These qualities will without a doubt, lead her to many successes in life, whether it be in a wrestling match, or receiving a crown and sash on a pageant stage.

Kim continues, “Zoey did a beautiful job at the pageant, and I think we actually would have world peace if there were just a few more Zoeys.” 

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Mrs. Johnson’s Hearts Across America

Kelli Johnson is widely recognized as the first-grade teacher at Park River Elementary School. However, what many don’t immediately realize is the lasting impact she has far beyond her classroom walls. As someone once taught by her, I can confidently say she was one of my most memorable and inspiring teachers. I still remember the joy of hands-on activities like visiting the local fire department to see what they do firsthand. These weren’t just fun field trips, they were carefully planned learning moments that helped us connect with the world around us.

Two years ago, Mrs. Johnson launched a new project called Hearts Across America, cleverly blending Valentine’s Day with a geography lesson. Her students mailed and received letters from every U.S. state, learning about each one through real-life connections with other classrooms. What started in her classroom quickly spread excitement throughout the entire school, engaging students across multiple grade levels. It became a school wide celebration of learning, bringing people together and sparking curiosity in a whole new way.

Mrs. Johnson began her path in education at the College of Saint Benedict, where she graduated in 1991. She launched her career in Fordville, teaching kindergarten for six years. Over the next 15 years, she expanded her experience by teaching a combination of second, third, and fourth grades. After another year teaching kindergarten, she made the move to Park River Elementary in 2013. Now in her twelfth year there, Mrs. Johnson continues to pour her heart into her first-grade students, bringing unmatched energy and creativity to every lesson she teaches.

Mrs. Johnson’s impact extends far beyond academics. She is known for making learning both fun and meaningful. Whether it’s through seasonal classroom projects, interactive science experiments, or heartfelt group discussions, she consistently brings her subjects to life in ways that stick with her students for years to come. Her classroom is a space filled with curiosity, laughter, discovery, and most of all, care. She’s deeply invested in each student’s growth, always willing to go the extra mile to ensure they feel supported and engaged.

A map hung up in the hallway along with all the Valentine’s they received. Photo credit: Kelli Johnson

To Mrs. Johnson, teaching is much more than just a career—it’s a calling. She often says her students feel like an extended part of her family. She finds great joy in watching them grow over the school year, which she says is one of the main reasons she hasn’t retired, even though she’s had opportunities to do so.

When I asked others who’ve worked with or learned from Mrs. Johnson, the response was unanimous everyone spoke highly of her creativity, compassion, and unwavering dedication. She is constantly thinking about how to better engage students, both in and out of the classroom. Her teaching style combines traditional hands-on learning with meaningful relationships that leave a lasting mark on everyone lucky enough to be in her class.

Future students will continue to benefit from Mrs. Johnson’s passion, energy, and inventive approach to education. Her legacy at Park River Elementary is one of joy, growth, and a genuine love for teaching.