South Winn senior Ellie Loesch returns a serve during recent Warrior volleyball action. (Zakary Kriener photo)

SW volleyball competes at Decorah

Zakary Kriener

News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com

The South Winn volleyball squad competed in tournament action Saturday in Decorah, going 0-2 with losses to Decorah and Jesup.

In the first match of the day, the Warriors fell by a score of 2-1 (21-11, 18-21, and 12-15) to the Vikings and 2-0 (15-25 and 22-25) to the J-Hawks. Individual statistics were not available at press time.

Tomahawks will be flying, among many other fun family activities, at the 42^nd Annual Fort Atkinson Rendezvous this weekend. At last year’s festival, young Jedrek Beckman of Cedar Rapids takes aim at his target at the historic fort grounds. (Zakary Kriener photo)

42nd Annual Rendezvous this weekend

The 42nd Annual Fort Atkinson Rendezvous will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29–30, at the historic grounds in Fort Atkinson.

On Saturday, the fun and activities will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 4:30 p.m., while on Sunday, the entertainment will be held between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

There is no admission charge, and parking is free. 

Chris and Jennifer Swenson and their two children, Arthur, 5, and Ellie, 9, are enjoying themselves at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Swenson has worked for the Foreign Agriculture Service in the Legislative Affairs Office at the United States Department of Agriculture since June 2008. Before that, he worked for several Congressmen, including Greg Ganske and Jim Nussle. Submitted photos

The backbone of the U.S. government

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Chris Swenson is one of many people that make up the backbone of the United States government. 

While the President and Congress are the face of our nation, it is people like Chris Swenson — through his job with the United States Department of Agriculture — that help keep the government running on a daily basis. 

Born and raised on a farm north of Clermont, Swenson has spent his adult life in service to the American people. A political science major at Iowa State University, he initially interned with former Iowa Congressman Greg Ganske. 

“I grew up always interested in politics and current events,” the son of Bob and June Swenson said. “Starting out as a freshman at ISU, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life, but that is why working with Ganske was so great. It gave me an idea of the kind of work I wanted to do. I also really liked the city, which is why I chose to move back here (Washington, D.C.).”

With the help of their children, Elizabeth Meyer (right) and Blaze Gaede (not pictured), Perry and Stacey Gaede raise Thoroughbred horses as a hobby through their company, P&S Thoroughbreds, LLC in rural Fayette. The family currently owns 27 horses, which includes 24 on the homestead, one in Kentucky, one in Maryland, and another on Perry’s brother’s farm in rural Plainfield. 

Gaedes give horses second life at P&S Thoroughbreds

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

Horses have been a part of Perry and Stacey Gaede’s lives for as long as they can remember. 

Growing up in the Quad Cities, Stacey began riding quarter horses when she was 4 years old. She was involved in 4-H and showed horses at county and state fairs, as well as American Quarter Horse Association accredited shows. 

Perry, on the other hand, grew up helping his parents raise Thoroughbreds on the family farm in Tripoli. Originally, his parents raised workhorses to help with chores around the farm that are now completed by tractors and combines. Because his parents liked horses so much, they transitioned into raising Thoroughbreads when tractors started to take over the work duty of horses in the 1950s.