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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...

Back Home by Chris Hardie

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...

Chris Hardie has moved plenty of snow this winter with his snowblower.

Officially sick of winter

Chris Hardie, Contributor March 19, 2023

Being Wisconsin born and raised on a farm, I can honestly say that I’ve dealt with much of the worst that winter can offer. I have cut wood in snow up to my waist, pounded on frozen manure spreader...

Icicles form on a bush.

A tale of ice

Chris Hardie, Contributor March 5, 2023

While politicians and others way above my station and pay grade continue to debate, expound upon and expunge homosapien influence on the stratosphere, one thing I know for sure. The winter weather has...

Chris Hardie’s livestock were included in the 2022 Census of the Agriculture.

Agriculture censuses tell story

Chris Hardie, Journalist February 6, 2023

I have completed my quinquennial agricultural legal reporting duties with a week to spare. My 2022 Census of Agriculture – with a deadline of Feb. 6 – is in the books, a mandatory reporting requirement...

Chris Hardie

Hearing from a Hardie lookalike

Chris Hardie, Journalist January 30, 2023

There are quite a few Chris Hardie’s in the world – or at least a few others that share the same name. Years ago when social media was new, I sought a few out and we exchanged some messages. But...

A deer crash caused more than $6,000 in damage to Chris Hardie’s car. The insurance company says it’s not worth that much, so it’s a total wreck.

Deer crash brings collateral damage

Chris Hardie, Journalist January 22, 2023

I don’t play the lottery and don’t frequent casinos, but if I were a betting man, I’d lay odds that sometime in the next few years I will be involved in a deer-vehicle collision. A deer crash...

Attacked by a tree terrorist

Attacked by a tree terrorist

Chris Hardie, Contributor December 11, 2022

A lot of time and money has been spent in our country coming up with increased security and contingency plans for the possibility of a terrorist or cyber-attack on our electrical grid. With winter weather...

Chris Hardie

Turn thankfulness into gratitude

Chris Hardie, Journalist December 4, 2022

Thanksgiving has come and gone but perhaps this can be the year that we turn a day of thankfulness into a holiday season of gratitude. I can see, smell and hear the ghosts of Thanksgiving’s past when...

This 8-pointer was walking down a town road toward Chris Hardie’s pickup truck.

Observing the rhythms of nature

Chris Hardie, Journalist November 13, 2022

The end of October and early November brings the fall breeding season for deer, also known as the rut. It’s a time of physiological, behavior and chemical changes for deer as well as for bow hunters...

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