Stockmen's Greenhouse and Garden Center in Hutchinson opened Tuesday. Tracy Droessler of Litchfield, right, purchased the former Dundee while Tammy Field will manage the business after managing Dundee for many years before it closed last July.
Stockmen’s manager Tammy Field inspects one of the smaller greenhouses that’s ready to go for eager planters this spring.
Despite a late start to ordering, Stockmen’s in Hutchinson was stocked with flowers and vegetables ready for customers.
It was a sad day for Hutchinson area green thumbs last July when Dundee Nursery and Floral closed its doors. The news was a surprise to Tracy Droessler, owner of Stockmen’s Greenhouse and Garden Center in Litchfield.
“When I heard that Dundee had closed I was absolutely shocked,” Droessler said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
As the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens. Droessler saw the need for a nursery in Hutchinson and was in contact with Tammy Field, the longtime manager of Dundee. With Field’s help, Droessler worked with the owners of Dundee to purchase the building, and in February the sale was final.
Stockmen’s Greenhouse and Garden Center at 1150 State Highway 7 E. in Hutchinson opened its doors Tuesday, just in time for the upcoming planting season. Its spring hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. You can also check out Stockmen’s on Facebook and Instagram, or visit stockmensgreenhouse.com.
“It will by eight weeks from the time we bought it to (opening), and it went from empty to everything you see,” Droessler said.
It’s been a whirlwind since last August, when Droessler began talking to the former Dundee owners. But answering the door when opportunity knocks is how Droessler got into the nursery business to begin with. She’s an accountant by trade but decided to follow a different passion when she purchased Stockmen’s in Litchfield in 2017.
“I worked in a greenhouse when I was in high school and loved it, and that’s what I always wanted to do,” Droessler said. “I went to school for accounting and I had the opportunity to do that and did that until I could save up enough money to buy my own (greenhouse). … Everything just came together in 2017. I’ve gotten a horticulture degree in a hands-on way rather than through schooling.”
One of the people who has helped Droessler along way is Field, so the two had already developed a strong rapport that will continue with Field managing the Hutchinson business. When Droessler expressed interest in purchasing Dundee, it was good news for Field and the people she had been hearing from in the community who were missing their local nursery.
“Tracy is a very proactive person and community-oriented, and it was very exciting that she was going to take over,” Field said. “It’s a great addition to the community.”
“People have called and asked if it’s true (Stockmen’s is opening),” Field added. “People I know in the community are like, ‘Really, is it going to happen?’ They’re very excited. It’s a big enough town, we deserve to have a nursery in this town, and Tracy’s ownership is going to be a benefit to the whole community.”
Customers can expect lots of vegetables, herbs, annual and perennial flowers, trees and shrubs, as well as garden accents at the new store. Other services offered by Stockmen’s include a cemetery service, custom and business planting, a bare root program as well as a seasonal program in which customers receive a fresh planter delivery with each new season.
Although Stockmen’s in Hutchinson has only had a couple months to prepare, the manager and new owner said they’re ready and excited to show the community their new business. Although ordering usually happens in August, Droessler and Field ordered in January and were grateful for the flexible vendors, as well as the wonderful gardening community that’s helped them get ready for this week’s opening.
“We’ve had a good team of folks here,” Droessler said. “Some folks came back from Dundee who were employees at Dundee. We’ve had people from Litchfield come down to make this happen, everybody’s pitching in on one team and just trying to get it all going.”
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For three years, the Tiger Time Challenge offered hundreds of participants of all ages a variety of obstacles to overcome as part of a large community event. After a two-year break, this Tough Mudder-style competition is back as part of Water Carnival festivities.
A couple of Hutchinson firefighters decided to turn up the heat at the Tiger Time Challenge in 2016. Fully geared, Brent Reiner and Mike Alberts took on one of the many challenges.
Dylan Pundsack soldiered quickly through the mud in the 2016 Tiger Time Challenge. Events such as this one are returning this summer.
Hutchinson residents desperate for more community activity have plenty to look forward to this summer, especially for those who might want to push themselves to get moving again.
The Tiger Time Challenge is returning after a two-year break. For three years, the independent athletic event was hosted by the District 423 Foundation, but this time around it will be launched in partnership with the Hutchinson Jaycees. It will still be used as a fundraiser to jump-start creative teaching projects, but now it will be part of a bevy of outdoor summer activity.
"It's the perfect partnership of two missions, where the focus is on children and families in Hutchinson," said Jon Beach, Hutchinson Jaycee Water Carnival commodore. "Nonprofits and volunteer organizations have struggled to do events with safety and planning and volunteers. Working together we can do a bigger event."
Styled after a Tough Mudder or Warrior Dash, the Tiger Time Challenge offers participants dozens of obstacles spread out between runs.
In years past, teams and individuals took on the challenge to the sound of cheers in an event that ended in a tunnel of booming applause. Volunteers and other runners helped participants along the way. Teachers and families formed teams, and groups from gyms, sports teams and local businesses took on the community-building challenge together, even dressing up in uniform in some cases.
Money raised from the event goes to the District 423 Foundation, which offers grants to teachers pitching innovative classroom ideas. Residents who attend homecoming football games may recall the grant presentations that take place during halftime.
"Over the years, those grants have benefited over 7,000 students," said Chad Harlander, a Tiger Time Challenge organizer.
As the Jaycees studied whether or not they could bring back the usual Water Carnival Run by the River, there was some hesitation. It was canceled last year due to the pandemic, which meant deposits paid to a race management company were lost.
"The Tiger Time Challenge fits a lot better with the format we need to make it as safe as possible in 2021," Beach said. "It's going to be a great event to add to the Water Carnival."
Expected on the 3-mile course this year are obstacles such as the Tire Grrr Flip, Slippery Climb, Arctic Tank, Crouching Tiger and Farmer's Carry. As in years past, the course will end with a sprint through the Tiger Family Tunnel.
Saturday, June 19, is shaping up to be a full day at the Water Carnival. Down by the river, events such as the junior parade and bean bag tournament will be underway. Food trucks will be lined up along with beer sales from Bobbing Bobber Brewing Co. and wine from Crow River Winery.
But before the day of events kicks off, the Tiger Time Challenge will be underway at the public school campus along School Road. The final schedule will soon be locked in, but the TTC will be timed to wrap up in time for participants to head down to the river for more events.
To sign up, keep an eye on tigertimechallenge.org over the next few weeks. The cost is $30 for adults and $15 for students.
"We had such a good response from the community," Harlander said. "It says a lot about the event that the community is asking for it to come back."
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Minnesota has entered a new stage in efforts to vaccinate the population against COVID-19 now that Gov. Tim Walz has opened registration to anyone age 16 or older.
Doses provided by McLeod County Public Health, however, are limited to anyone age 18 or older, as the Moderna vaccine, which has been made available, is limited to that age group. However, week-to-week distribution from the county government remains targeted.
“While the vaccination is available to all people, McLeod County Public Health still is trying to focus on those priority groups,” said Berit Spors, Health and Human Services director. “Right now, that is Phase 1B, Tier 2 and 3. That’s our manufacturing businesses, any food processing, food retail, service production, post office and power companies.”
Farmers and employees of agricultural businesses are also being targeted, as are child care and education providers who may have been missed. The county is also building a waiting list to make sure vaccines are distributed quickly. The state wants counties to distribute 90% of vaccines within three days of receiving them. McLeod County has been able to maintain a nearly 100% distribution rate within three days.
Public Health isn’t working alone. Local hospitals and pharmacies are also distributing doses. As a result, as of the end of last week, 12,415 county residents (34.6%) had received one vaccine dose, and 8,654 (24.2%) had completed a vaccine series, according to state data. Data also shows 80.3% of county residents age 65 or older have received at least one vaccine dose.
Last week, the county reached the benchmark of 30 vaccine clinics conducted. It aims for two each week, with one on Thursday and Friday. As has been the case the past few months, doses available are dependent on what is made available to the county — one week 300 may be available, while 500 may be available the next.
For more information on how to sign up for vaccination clinics, visit the McLeod County website at tinyurl.com/3drbtrdt.
The county may at some point receive doses of a single-dose vaccine, Spors told McLeod County Board members last week. Public Health is preparing plans for how to best use those doses, and may, for instance, target jail or migrant populations, but no final decision has been made. She also confirmed there has been an uptick in younger residents contracting COVID-19.
“We seem to be creeping up a little bit more each week,” she said, “and it is more of the younger population that is getting exposed and testing positive.”
State data Monday morning showed there had been 3,761 confirmed COVID-19 cases in McLeod County since the start of the pandemic, and 54 deaths. That figure is up from 3,722 cases one week prior, and 3,495 three weeks before that. As of Monday, there had been 54 COVID-19-related deaths.
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Three roundabouts, like this one on the south side of Hutchinson, are mentioned in McLeod County’s five-year highway and bridge plan. The state is also planning to add two J-turns in McLeod County.
McLeod County's five-year highway and bridge construction plan for 2021-25 was approved this past week by the County Board. Though the plan has been completed, it's important to note everything isn't assured.
"The front end is typically pretty set in stone," McLeod County Public Works Director John Brunkhorst said. "And then the back end kind of moves around a little bit depending on funding and depending on how things go."
Projects planned in the next few years could change as well if funding, priorities or needs shift. Plans are based on crash data, traffic volume, road and bridge condition and available funds.
The following is a summary of projects aimed at county roads, trunk highways, county state aid highways and bridges:
2021
- CSAH 2 — Concrete overlay is planned for 3.3 miles from Sibley County to U.S. Highway 212. The $2.4 million project will be funded with state and county money.
- CSAH 15 — Concrete overlay is planned for just less than 1 mile from 16th Street to CSAH 3. The $700,000 project will be funded with state and county money.
- CSAH 3 — Concrete overlay is planned for just less than 4 miles from State Highway 15 to County Road 75. The $2.5 million project will be funded with state and county money.
Federal funds are also secured for 6-inch pavement markings. The county also plans to undertake county-funded rehabilitation projects, additional pavement markings and seal coat projects.
2022
- CSAH 1 — Concrete overlay is planned for 5 miles from Sibley County to CSAH 3. Federal funds are secured to cover $2.6 million of this $3.6 million project. Concrete overlay is also planned for 6 miles from CSAH 3 to CSAH 22. This is a $4.4 million project.
- County Road 71 — Deck overlay is planned for a bridge over the Crow River north of State Highway 22. This is a $150,000 project.
- CSAH 9 — Deck overlay is planned for a bridge over Buffalo Creek 2.2 miles north of U.S. Highway 212. This is a $150,000 project.
- Glencoe Trail — Trail rehabilitation is planned for 1.5 miles along Morningside Drive and CSAH 33. The trail along Morningside ties into one built on CSAH 33 along the south side of the golf course. The trail was built with Glencoe. The city will cover design and administration.
- Acoma Township — Bridge replacement is planned on 200th Street over the Crow River. The $470,000 project is contingent on $450,000 in township bridge funds.
- J-turns — A state project to add J-turns on U.S. Highway 212 at Chandler Avenue and County Road 1 is expected this year.
The five-year plan also includes $500,00 for other bridge deck maintenance, 6-inch pavement marking, and county-funded rehabilitation, pavement and seal coat projects.
2023
- Roundabout — Construction is planned at the intersection of CSAH 1 and State Highway 7. Federal funds have been secured for this $2.9 million project. The remaining dollars are from state aid and other township and city funds.
- CSAH 115 — Concrete overlay is planned for 3.3 miles from CSAH 7 to State Highway 22. This $2.8 million project will be funded with county bond funds and county funds. Concrete pavement repair is also planned for 4.7 miles from State Highway 7 to CSAH 7 at a cost of $600,000, to be paid from county funds.
- CSAH 5 — New construction is expected from CSAH 1 to CSAH 9, about a half mile. The project is estimated to cost $2.95 million and will mostly be paid with state funds, along with other local funds.
- Hutchinson roundabout — The construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Jefferson Road and Airport Road is contingent on federal funds. The project is estimated to cost $1.45 million. The county had hoped to carry out this project sooner and may still be able to depending on funding.
The plan also includes edge line markings on CSAH 1, 2 and 115 with secured federal funds, and county-funded rehabilitation, pavement marking and seal coat work.
2024
- Glencoe roundabout — Construction is planned at the intersection of Morningside Drive and U.S. Highway 212. Federal funds of $400,000 are secured for the $3.4 million project, which will also include state aid and other local funds.
- County Road 74 — Bridge replacement is planned just east of CSAH 9 over Buffalo Creek. The $900,000 project is contingent on bond funding.
Federal funds are also secured for edge line markings and rumble stripes for CSAH 3, 15 and 115. County-funded rehabilitation, pavement marking and seal coat work is planned.
2025
- CSAH 1 — Concrete overlay is planned for 5 miles from State Highway 7 to Wright County. This $3.7 million project would be paid with county funds and state aid. It is tied to a project in Wright County in an attempt to reduce costs.
- CSAH 13 — Rehabilitation is planned for 7.4 miles from U.S. Highway 212 to Sibley County. The $2 million project will be paid with county funds.
- County Road 57 — Bridge replacement a half mile north of CSAH 17 over High Island Creek is planned. The $500,000 project is contingent on bond funds.
- CSAH 13 — Bridge replacement a mile north of CSAH 17 over High Island Creek is planned. The $550,000 project is contingent on bond funds to add to $300,000 in state aid.
County-funded rehabilitation, pavement marking and seal coat work is also planned.
