The Edgerton Enterprise

10/31/2025

🥇RUNNERS HEAD TO STATE!

Hannah Masselink and Jonah Uilk of the SWC-E Eagles cross country team are advancing to the MSHSL State Championships after standout performances at the Section 3A meet in Madison, Minn., on October 23.

Uilk placed 8th out of 137 runners in the boys’ race with a time of 16:56.60, earning his first state berth, while Masselink claimed 5th out of 127 runners in the girls’ race with a time of 19:56.80, securing her long-awaited trip to state after narrowly missing last year.

Both athletes will compete at the state meet on Saturday, November 1, at the University of Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul.

10/31/2025

10/30/2025

ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN IN TROSKY ONE OF THREE CHURCHES TO CLOSE

After 114 years of faith, fellowship, and service, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Trosky will hold its final worship service on Nov. 2.

Founded in 1911 by local settlers, St. John’s became a cornerstone of community life — from its early days worshiping in Trosky Hall to years of quilting, Vacation Bible School, and caroling traditions. Though its doors are closing, generations of memories and ministry will continue to shine through the lives it touched.

The digital sign along Highway 75, donated by Larry Lee Brockberg before his passing, has shared inspirational messages of faith and hope with all who drive by. The church has not yet decided exactly how to continue to use the sign, but hopefully it will continue to inspire motorists for years to come.

10/28/2025

⭐️2025 HARVEST IS PILING UP!

The 2025 harvest has been one for the record books. Most farmers are harvesting bumper crops with the timely rains we had over the course of the summer. According to Craig Vreeman, manager of the Edgerton location of Chandler Feed Company, they are seeing averages of 210 to 260 bushels per acre.

Chandler Feed was prepared to put corn on the ground this year, having asked permission from the Edgerton City Council in September. The last time they piled in corn in was 2015. In Oct. 2016, they completed a expansion project that included 1.1 million bushels of additional storage space (see the bins in the background of the photo). Prior to piling on the ground at the ball fields, they also piled on their own property near the elevator offices on Klindt Street, where the Hormel building was located.

There were also reports that the Hardwick location was closed to corn because they had used up all their space.

10/27/2025

10/26/2025

The Dutchmen move on to the section finals next Friday after defeating the Adrian-Ellsworth Dragons 46-22 this afternoon.

10/25/2025

County food shelf grows to meet community needs

Jill Fennema
The Pipestone County Food Shelf has come a long way since its modest beginnings more than four decades ago. What started in a small building once used as the Dairy King has now grown into one of the most active food shelves in the region, serving hundreds of people across Pipestone County each month.
Last year, the organization moved into its new home inside the Schroeder Building at 205 2nd Street NW, the same building that houses the Pipestone Senior Center. The larger, brighter space has transformed how the food shelf operates, allowing volunteers to serve more people in a friendlier and more efficient setting.
According to coordinator Roger Raske, the move has made an enormous difference. “The warehouse space we have now is extremely helpful,” he said. “We can get things when they’re on sale and stock up.”
The new facility reflects design guidance from the University of Minnesota’s “Super Food Shelf” program, which emphasizes color, organization, and a welcoming atmosphere. The shelves are painted in bright primary colors, arranged in neat aisles, and staffed by volunteers who greet each visitor with warmth. The layout gives clients a sense of dignity and choice, encouraging them to shop for items they know their families will use.
The food shelf’s regular hours are Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m., with additional hours on Fridays reserved for seniors. Each household can make one full shopping visit per month, choosing from all available items. On the other weeks, they can stop in for perishable goods such as dairy products, bread, and fresh produce.
Today the Pipestone County Food Shelf serves about 114 families each week, a number that has grown substantially since 2019. That mirrors statewide and national trends showing increased food insecurity since the pandemic and inflationary spikes in grocery prices.
In 2023, the food shelf saw one of the largest year-to-year increases in local food shelf use, prompting the move to a larger facility. The move to the Schroeder Building has improved accessibility and expanded capacity, especially for older residents. The Friday senior shopping time also gives seniors more time to browse, as well as easier parking, and volunteer assistance in loading groceries into their vehicles.
Raske said the food shelf’s growth would not be possible without its volunteers. Every Thursday, a core team and many helpers unload the delivery truck, stock shelves, assist shoppers, and carry groceries out to cars. “On an average month, we log about 700 volunteer hours,” Rakse said. “These people are very dependable.”
Among those who keep the operation running smoothly are Paula Domino and Karla and Alan Conrad, who help organize the store and manage the flow of food each week. The sense of teamwork, Raske said, is what makes the place special.
“The food shelf is more than just a place to go to get free groceries when times are hard,” he said. “It’s a community. The people who come get to know the volunteers, and the volunteers really enjoy one another’s company. For many, coming here is a social ‘out.’”
Most of the food shelf’s inventory comes through Second Harvest Heartland, a regional food bank that supplies food shelves across Minnesota. Additional donations come from Coborn’s and Hank’s Foods in Pipestone, as well as from Kwik Trip and JBS. The partnership with Kwik Trip began this past January and has already made a noticeable difference. “They started giving us bread and convenience food items,” Raske said. “That’s been a really big benefit.”
Each month, the food shelf purchases several thousand pounds of food to meet demand. It also distributes pork tenderloins and other meat products donated by Wholestone Pork and JBS, ensuring families have access to high-quality protein.
With the extra warehouse room in the Schroeder Building, volunteers can now safely store larger quantities of food. Pallet shelving lines the back rooms, stacked high with everything from soup to cereal, and seven freezers hold frozen items.
Most of the equipment that makes this possible — from pallet jacks to refrigeration units—was acquired through grant funding. Raske has written or managed grants to cover nearly every major piece of infrastructure the food shelf owns.
The Pipestone County Food Shelf operates on a “client-choice” model, meaning patrons can select their own items rather than receiving a pre-packed box. That cuts down on waste and helps families feel more empowered. “We want people to have the dignity of choosing what fits their needs,” he said.
While most of the clientele are Pipestone County residents, the food shelf does serve some individuals from nearby counties and even a few from across the state line. Raske noted that, despite the county’s relatively small population, the Pipestone food shelf has served more patrons than the food shelves in Marshall or Worthington.
Raske began volunteering about 13 years ago, when the food shelf was located in the former Dairy King building. It later moved to another site on the corner of Second Street and Fourth Avenue before relocating again in March 2024 to its present home.
For those who would like to help, the food shelf welcomes donations of food, household goods, or cash, which allows staff to buy discounted items through Second Harvest. Volunteers are also needed to stock shelves, assist patrons, and help with deliveries.
Information about hours, registration, and ways to give can be found at www.pipestonefoodshelf.com.
Raske said the mission remains simple: make sure everyone in the county has access to food when they need it. “It’s about feeding people, yes,” he said, “but it’s also about caring for them. This is what community looks like.”

10/24/2025

Milestones for Voge and Vande Griend
Mike Drooger
Having two players on the brink of career milestones for the Flying Dutchmen volleyball team created some excitement as the 2025 season wound down. Senior Kya Voge was on the threshold of 1,000 career assists, and fellow senior Reese Vande Griend was closing in on 200 blocks and 800 kills. In their first game at Adrian on October 13, Voge got set assist 1,000, and Vande Griend reached the 200-block plateau.
Edgerton Head Coach Katelyne Alderson was asked about Kya Voge as Edgerton’s setter neared the assist mark. She replied, “Many people do not realize how volleyball actually works. We’ve used a 6-2 offense for ninety-five percent of Kya’s career, which means we have two setters. Many setters who reach 1,000 or 2,000 assists have played in a 5-1 system, meaning they are the only setter. So, for Kya to reach this milestone under these circumstances makes it even more impressive and highlights her setting skills.”
Alderson was aware of Voge’s setting skills going back to junior high. “She was most certainly a standout even early on. I never recall Kya struggling with setting. I think it just came so naturally to her.”
Alderson, a former setter, knows setting is about confidence and being comfortable under the ball. “I always tell players that setting is trusting your hands, and if you can do that, it makes the difficult skill of setting look easy. Kya certainly had made setting look easy.”
Alderson stressed the importance of placement and height of the set, which makes it easier for the hitters to strike the ball and gain kills. “Kya has an uncanny ability to know whose hands the ball needs to go to at the right time, making her wildly impressive as a setter. She also runs down a lot of errant passes and receptions and rotates so nicely to get the ball back to the net.”
Alderson said she prefers a 6-2 offense but recently switched to a 5-1 because, as Alderson put it, “Kya’s setting was her undeniable force on the court. We could spare her elsewhere but not there.”
Alderson also pointed out that what sets Voge apart from a lot of other players is her sheer determination to win. “She is arguably the most competitive person I know. To be completely honest, I’d be terrified to face her in a game.”
Alderson said she believes Voge would be a great coach someday because she has all the knowledge, and she understands rotations so well. Coach summed up what her setter means to her when she said, “Over the years, she had been the setter behind some of the biggest hammer hits we’ve seen. I will truly miss her ability on the court and I will miss her outside of volleyball, too.”
Head coach Kaylan Untiedt at Hills-Beaver Creek said, “Kya has great setter hands and has helped to run a smooth offense for Edgerton.” Morgan Schoonhoven of Southwest Minnesota Christian added, “When facing Kya across the net, it is easy to see that she’s a gamer. She wants the win and plays with intensity to get it. Congrats on 1,000, Kya!”
With Reese Vande Griend on the cusp of 200 career blocks and 800 kills, Coach Alderson gave her thoughts on her 6-foot middle hitter/blocker. “I’ve been coaching her for many years, and I tell you, there has never been someone easier to coach. She listens so well, and she strives to do better and better every day.”
To have that many blocks and kills is notable, especially with the extra attention Vande Griend receives from the opponent. Alderson said, “I think many teams prepare for Reese. They study her. They try to block with three. Their game plan involves mostly shutting Reese down, but what people don’t understand is that Reese cannot and will not ever be shut down. She could be blocked over and over, and she’d still go in swinging. She’d keep trying until she found a way. She has learned so much this year, how to cut around blocks, how to tip, and how to make people pay for that third blocker. Every once in a while, she’s up so far, she can’t be blocked.”
About Vande Griend’s 200 blocks, Coach Alderson called it an “insane accolade.” “I’ve said it a thousand times in practice, blocking is the hardest skill to be successful at, and yet she has always been good at it.”
When Vande Griend was asked the secret to her blocking success, she replied, “One thing I think is important about blocking is knowing when to look at the ball and when to look at the hitter. It’s important to know who your main threats are and if they are right-handed or left-handed. Another important part about blocking is knowing where to line up your block and who will be blocking with you. You can’t line up with a left-handed hitter the same way you would a right-handed player. The thing I get told to do now is hold and push over. You need to hold your block as long as you can. There are times when you get the block, but it lands on your side of the net because you didn’t push your hands over the net enough.” Blocking is much more complicated than the average fan realizes, but Vande Griend makes it look easy thanks to a combination of hard work and stick-to-itiveness.
Coach Alderson also praised Vande Griend for her back-row play. “She can grab so much, and she’s just so relentless. I can tell you there are very few things Reese can’t get her hands on.”
Coach Schoonhoven at SW Christian called Vande Griend a force at the net. “Not only is she a spark for their offense with her powerful swing, but she also leads their defense with a wall of a block. She makes it tough for opposing hitters to score, and that’s a key component for a team’s defense. Congrats on a huge accomplishment, Reese!” When Coach Untiedt of HBC was asked what contributes to Vande Griend’s success, she said simply, “Reese’s greatest attribute is competitive net play!”
Aside from volleyball, Coach Alderson has a deep respect for Vande Griend and has been inspired by her. “Several times during games or afterward, I have had tears in my eyes because I am so emotionally overwhelmed by watching someone who is so impressive and, more importantly, so resilient! I will never understand how Reese goes out on that court and plays every single point at 100%. The score never mattered. The win never mattered. The record never mattered. That’s what’s so beautiful and inspiring about it. She truly loves this sport, and I’ve never seen someone match this level of talent with that much heart.”

Kya’s assists over four years:
Freshman—218
Sophomore—268
Junior—237
Senior—289
TOTAL—1,012 (as of 10/13/’25)

Reese’s blocks over four years:
Freshman—33
Sophomore—36
Junior—68
Senior—64
TOTAL—201 (as of 10/13/’25)
*143 of Vande Griend’s 201 blocks are solo, and 58 are assisted (with a teammate). Thanks to Nancy Wassink for the statistical information.

10/24/2025

The holidays are coming—get your festive greens ordered now! Stop by the Enterprise office to place your order.

10/22/2025

The Dutchmen volleyball season came to a close last night with a loss to TMB in 5 tough sets.

10/21/2025

SWC took on RRC in the first round of the MSHSL volleyball tournament. It was a 5-game battle, with the Eagles coming up short at the end of the match, 2-3.

10/17/2025

SWC hosted Worthington tonight, taking the first two games, but ultimately losing 2-3.