In what has become a Labor Day tradition, farming enthusiasts from across the region gathered Monday to plow the earth using a method lost to time.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER It wasn’t long after Eric Hartel discovered Freeman Academy and began learning about the larger community that he came upon a way of life that resonated deeply — that this was a place that cared deeply for one another.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER “If it’s a whirlwind, we’re spinning in the right direction.” That’s the 35,000-foot view summarized by Jake Tietje when looking at his relatively short time as superintendent of Freeman Public Schools — specifically the growth in enrollment the district has seen since he arrived as the top administrator in the summer of 2021.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER When Ashley and David Downs moved their family to Freeman from Washington State in December of 2021, they did so because they wanted to experience a different way — and pace — of life. They had always loved South Dakota and, after taking a look at the Experience Freeman Welcome Guide that included a page featuring a quick glance at the community and some of what it has to offer, they settled on Freeman.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER When Ashley and David Downs moved their family to Freeman from Washington State in December of 2021, they did so because they wanted to experience a different way — and pace — of life. They had always loved South Dakota and, after taking a look at the Experience Freeman Welcome Guide that included a page featuring a quick glance at the community and some of what it has to offer, they settled on Freeman.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER Von Vangenderen, a radio personality with WNAX and 104.1 The Wolf, has been to the Freeman Volunteer Fire Department Firehouse Rib Cook-Off before, so he knew what he was getting into when he stepped foot onto the grounds of the Swimming Pool Park Saturday afternoon to be a judge for the rib competition. He still had his socks knocked off.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER Von Vangenderen, a radio personality with WNAX and 104.1 The Wolf, has been to the Freeman Volunteer Fire Department Firehouse Rib Cook-Off before, so he knew what he was getting into when he stepped foot onto the grounds of the Swimming Pool Park Saturday afternoon to be a judge for the rib competition. He still had his socks knocked off.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER It’s that time again — time for school. Classes will begin at both Freeman schools, in Marion and in Menno next week. Students from Marion will report first on Monday, Aug. 21 and will be dismissed at 1:30 p.m. that day. Freeman Public will hold its first day of classes on Tuesday, Aug. 22 with a noon dismissal; lunch will be served. Freeman Academy and Menno will both start with a full day of classes Wednesday Aug. 23.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER It’s that time again — time for school. Classes will begin at both Freeman schools, in Marion and in Menno next week. Students from Marion will report first on Monday, Aug. 21 and will be dismissed at 1:30 p.m. that day. Freeman Public will hold its first day of classes on Tuesday, Aug. 22 with a noon dismissal; lunch will be served. Freeman Academy and Menno will both start with a full day of classes Wednesday Aug. 23.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER Win when it matters. That’s the old sports adage that the amateur baseball team from Menno is wearing on their collective jersey sleeves — figurately, of course — following a memorable District 6B tournament in Crofton late last month. After losing their first 11 games of the regular season and going into the playoffs with just a single victory, the Mad Frogs won two of three in Crofton to punch their ticket to the State Amateur Baseball Tournament in Mitchell.