Founded 1901

Royal Purple

Founded 1901

Royal Purple

Founded 1901

Royal Purple

: Chris Hardie used to camp by Beaver Creek the night before the opening day of trout fishing.

Driftless Area hooks anglers

Chris Hardie, Journalist April 28, 2024

“Time to catch some fish,” Grandpa whispered.   I jumped out of bed in my grandparent’s home in downtown Franklin in Jackson County. Downtown meaning it was at the corner of Highway N...

he field is now green and growing with the winter rye.

Cover crop springs to life

Chris Hardie, Journalist April 21, 2024

The lifebl ood of any farmer is the soil that provides their livelihood, so taking care of it has to be a top priority.   That care involves more than simply adding fertilizer and chemicals...

Spring captured in a flower

Spring captured in a flower

Chris Hardie, Journalist April 7, 2024

One certainty that I have learned over my long years is that nature moves at her own pace. Yes, we’ve done our worst to mess with the climate and destroy ozone, but nature slowly responds to the changes....

On the road to recovery

On the road to recovery

Chris Hardie, Contributor January 29, 2024

All journeys begin with a step. I thought about that as I ventured outside for the first time since my left hip was replaced eight days ago. Slowly, one foot in front of the other, I walked without...

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The world of shrinkflation

Chris Hardie, WNA October 29, 2023

Let’s set the record straight – I am not an economist – which the Bureau of Labor Statistics defines as “an expert who studies the relationship between a society’s resources and its production...

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Building his own bridge

Chris Hardie October 15, 2023

Back Home by Chris Hardie Download this column as a Word document Download the photos that accompany this story Chris Hardie’s headshot   Last week I wrote about the remaining...

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Covered bridges still part of the landscape

Chris Hardie October 8, 2023

A year ago I wrote about some of the historic or memorable bridges that I have crossed or traveled to – including a few located near my home in western Wisconsin. The topic was a hit with readers,...

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The slow turn of summer to fall

Chris Hardie September 24, 2023

The turn of summer into fall isn’t an overnight makeover but more like the gradual creation of an autumnal artist. It starts subtle with splotches of yellows, oranges and reds dotting the green canvas....

This gray tree frog recently emerged from hibernation on Chris Hardie’s farm.

A surprise spring lesson

Chris Hardie, Contributor April 30, 2023

I’m putting the blame squarely on Mother Nature’s shoulders, but it’s happening again this year, despite my best efforts to prevent it. This gray tree frog recently emerged from hibernation on...

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)

More winter storm memories

Chris Hardie, Contributer April 24, 2023

Can anyone honestly say they are really surprised that Old Man Winter isn’t quite done? As of this writing on the morning of April 17, there are 14 inches of snow outside driven by a strong northwest...

Cecile Hardie, Chris Hardie’s grandmother, had a pot of coffee going on the stove.

Late season snow memories

Chris Hardie, Contributor April 9, 2023

Late season snow storms always take me back to March 24, 1979 in the tiny town of Franklin in Jackson County. My feet were wet, and I was beginning to shiver as the three of us stood at the dark back door...

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Cut down a notch

Chris Hardie, Journalist April 5, 2023

Experience is the teacher of all things. These words from Julius Caesar proved all too true recently when I tackled what I thought would be a simple task on the farm. The job at hand was to remove a...

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