News

Eisel Azaleas

Merv Eisel, of Fort Ripley, walks among his 50 blooming azaleas Monday. The 20-year-old plants are hybrids from the University of Minnesota and are being grown on his property to test their winter hardiness. (Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls)...

By Steven L. Kohls

June 02, 2015 07:36 PM

Share

Merv Eisel, of Fort Ripley, walks among his 50 blooming azaleas Monday. The 20-year-old plants are hybrids from the University of Minnesota and are being grown on his property to test their winter hardiness. (Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls)

By Steven L. Kohls

I was raised on a farm in western Minnesota where I participated in 4-H, high school sports, and everything that farm kids do for fun after chores. Graduated from Ridgewater Community College with an AA degree and my first taste of newspapering. I worked a summer on the Ortonville Independent as a reporter and photographer.