Founded 1901

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All content by Chris Hardie
What does April hail showers bring?

Early planting always a challenge

May 1, 2022
Chris Hardie

The disappearing work ethic

April 24, 2022
Chris Hardie drills into a maple tree before setting the spile.

Maple season brings back sweet memory

April 17, 2022
This bear sow and her two yearling cubs came out of hibernation near Black River Falls in good shape. (Photo courtesy of Bill Quakenbush.)

Bears awaking a sign of spring

April 3, 2022
Little Creek during the last few hours of winter. The stream is fed by dozens of springs along the valley on Chris Hardie’s farm. (Chris Hardie photo)

A moment of reflection as spring arrives

March 27, 2022
Farmers face challenging season ahead

Farmers face challenging season ahead

March 27, 2022
Threadbare might be one way to describe Chris Hardie’s t-shirt from June Dairy Days 1994. (Chris Hardie photo)

‘He doesn’t throw anything away’: Frugal fashion fans respond to Hardie column

March 13, 2022
This icicle was created by a dripping rain gutter outside Chris Hardie’s back door.

Appreciating the science and beauty of icicles

March 6, 2022
A Wisconsin historical marker on a wayside south of the peak tells the story. (Chris Hardie photo)

Story of Decorah Peak reveals rich history

February 27, 2022
Chris Hardie dons a shirt worn in his youth that he still wears today.

Don’t throw it out, wear it out

February 20, 2022
The Franklin Store in 2021, now used as a residence. (Chris Hardie photo)

Reader memories fill in details on general stores

February 13, 2022
Buckets filled from a hydrant are carried 182 steps to water animals after the waterer froze.

The sound of winter

February 6, 2022
Two bare spots in the snow indicate deer beds in the woods. Deer can bed down for hours or even days if the conditions warrant. (Chris Hardie photo)

The annual urge to hibernate

January 30, 2022
A button marking the historic cold on Jan. 9, 1977, in Rice Lake. (Photo courtesy of Jack Daniel)

Cold-weather column stirs memories of frigid day

January 23, 2022
Chris Hardie’s barnyard animals gather at the feeder on a morning when the temperatures were minus 20. (Chris Hardie photo)

The day Wisconsin froze to 60 below zero

January 16, 2022
Chris Hardie was trapped on the roof when the ladder fell down. (Sherry Hardie photo)

Stranded on the rooftop

December 12, 2021
Chris Hardie and his 9-point buck and an 18-inch antler spread shot opening day, Nov. 20, 2021. (Ross Hardie photo)

A sweet end to a successful hunt

December 5, 2021
Half of this blue hubbard squash is big enough that Chris Hardie could wear it on his head. (Chris Hardie photo)

Bountiful squash, a tire blowout and reader response

November 28, 2021
Chris Hardie’s deer stand is ready for 2021 hunting season that opens Saturday, Nov. 20.

Making scents of deer hunting

November 14, 2021
The view from atop Brady’s Bluff in Perrot State Park.

A view steeped in history

November 7, 2021
What did 13-year-old Chris Hardie hear while walking through these woods on a late summer evening? (Chris Hardie photo)

Spooky tales of sasquatch sightings

October 24, 2021
It won’t take this combine long to finish picking the remaining corn in this field

Harvest time means busy time

October 10, 2021
This sycamore growing on the Hardie farm is a survivor.

Hardie sycamore is a hardy survivor

October 3, 2021
Warm fall day sparks memories of cinnamon

Warm fall day sparks memories of cinnamon

September 26, 2021
The sudden signs of summers end

The sudden signs of summer’s end

September 23, 2021
A view of some of the sea caves along the north shore of Lake Superior.

Lakeshore trip reminds of Wisconsin’s natural beauty

September 5, 2021
Two iron wheels salvaged from the farm junkyard on the Hardie farm.

Wisconsin’s farm treasures still exist

September 5, 2021
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Founded 1901
Chris Hardie