Eve in the Orchard

This year, the Fairmont Women of Today hosted a new event. “Eve in the Orchard” was a night for women to leave all their cares behind, laugh and have fun, make new friends, and leave newly inspired.
Our generous hosts for the evening were Gordy and Karen Toupal of Center Creek Orchard. If you have not yet visited Center Creek Orchard, it’s an absolute must! The picturesque apple orchard is just eight miles southeast of Fairmont, off County Road 18. While you could spend all day picking the most perfectly crisp apples off the over 500 apple trees, you may miss a few other fun things.

• 

• 

• 

Center Creek Orchard offers hayrides, a jump pad, mini golfing, a super slide, a giant maze, pumpkins, adorable goats, and much more.

The women who attended “Eve in the Orchard” were able to participate in all of these activities, along with a few special event additions. Guests also enjoyed wine tasting, a photo scavenger hunt (with prizes), a meal, chair massages by Jessica Larson, horseback riding, and delicious fudge samples. If that wasn’t enough, attendees also learned a few Instant Pot skills as Sue Bay and Denise Lewison showed us how to whip up a mean pot of homemade applesauce. Furthermore, Dee’s Floral demonstrated how to craft a fall floral arrangement to add that perfect pop of color to any fall event.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The evening concluded with a special presentation from our guest speaker, Mandi Kosbab. Mandi shared some humorous and inspiring words of motivation and support. Her words left us feeling enlightened and encouraged to build ourselves and each other up.

Overall the event was deemed a success, and The Fairmont Women of Today continue to receive positive feedback from the attendees. We thank everyone who helped make the evening special and look forward to repeating this event next year. We can’t wait to see you…and a friend or two!

Couple Evening

There are many things that bring me joy in my life so I had a hard time picking the event that I would like to do. Spending time with my husband is one of the things that brings me the most joy. He is my rock, my biggest supporter and my best friend.  In honor of our anniversary in September, I decided to combine a few of my joys together and create a fun couples evening.  We even invited our good friends as spending time with friends brings me joy. It was very enjoyable spending time with our spouses, good friends and getting to know one another.  We had supper, a bonfire and a few drinks.  I picked a fall evening as my favorite season is fall.  It brings me joy to sit outside and enjoy the nice fall evenings sitting around a bonfire with the ones I love.  Cooking also brings me joy so I made supper and snacks for everyone.  

Denise Lewison, State Delegate

Kayaking & Boating

“When asked what brings me joy…. it’s nature!  There is nothing more relaxing than being by water.  We are fortunate to live in a county that has so many lakes.  I kayak every Tuesday night with a group, and we go to a different lake each week.  It’s amazing to experience the peace that is found on the water.  I wanted to share my joy of kayaking with the wonderful Fairmont Women of Today.  For many of them, it was the first time they have kayaked.  Fears were conquered and with the help of each other, everyone was able to get in and out of the kayaks and nobody capsized!  It was a team event with many laughs and memories made.”

Mary Meier, FWT Secretary

The Fairmont Women of Today making memories and conquering fears by kayaking.

• 

  Finished the night with a Sunset…..

• 

  and Bonfire!

Yoga & Wine

The Fairmont Women of Today enjoying a relaxing evening of Yoga and Wine at Fairmont CrossFit. Josie shared with the members what brings her joy. Thanks for finding joy in the journey!

For my women’s group, we were asked to share something with the group that brings us joy. It was fun to share my yoga practice by holding a yoga & wine night at FCF. Throughout the years, yoga has given me stress relief and a great balance to another joy of mine: CrossFit. I am also grateful for the ability to teach yoga and watch people grow in their physical journeys.

Josie Soderstern, FWT Member

President Joanna’s challenge to Women of Today members for this year was to think of something that brings us joy and for each of us to either plan an event or service which represents that joy. I chose to show my joy for families. I grew up as an only child because my sister was twenty years older than me and married with children of her own. Our family still spent quality time together, and I had many great memories of picnics and holiday celebrations with my sister and nieces and also with my grandmother. However, it wasn’t until I met my then to be husband Ken, that I really got to know what it was like to come from a “big” family. He was the only boy with five sisters. I was welcomed into the family with open arms. His parents treated me like one of their own. His sisters always made me feel like I was just another “sister” in the family. Even the extended family of aunts, uncles, grandmothers, and cousins accepted me. This is how it has remained even today. I feel blessed to have had these family members in my life.

As the years passed, many fond memories were centered around picnics, potlucks, reunions, and holiday gatherings. This is why I chose families as my Joy in the Journey, as today more than ever, we need to strengthen our family ties in this ever-changing world where some families seem to fall apart. And of course, I love potlucks too!!

Kathy Simmering, FWT Membership VP

The Fairmont Women of Today and their families enjoy a beautiful day at Gomsrud Park. We find joy with our families.

Find JOY in the JOurneY!

It is a start of a new year for Fairmont Women of Today (FWT). That means changes, including new board members and a new theme. The theme for this year is “Find Joy in the Journey.” When life is butterflies and roses it can be easy to find joy, even radiate with it. When it’s a season of struggle it is more difficult to find joy, even impossible. No matter what season you’re in, I encourage you to take a few minutes each day to do something that brings you joy. It can be something as simple as making a list of things you’re thankful for, walking outside, dancing, laughing, watching a sunrise or sunset, volunteering, giving someone a hug or compliment or snuggling. Over the next year, the FWT members will be sharing with each other and you what brings them joy. Follow our Facebook page to find out what exciting things we have planned! Hope you Shimmer, Sparkle and Shine with JOY!

Joanna Borkenhagen, FWT President

My acreage where we kicked off the new theme! One of my many joys is enjoying the outdoors by watching a sunset and seeing the fireflies come out while listening to nature and feeling the breeze in your face. It reminds me of a simpler time. I invited members to my acreage to share in my joy with them. It was an absolutely beautiful night for a bonfire! There was food, fun and friendship! I encourage you to take a few minutes each day to do something that brings you joy.

Touch A Truck 2019

Fairmont Women of Today’s Motto is: Service, Growth and Fellowship; all three attained at this years “Touch A Truck.”

Fairmont Women of Today hosted our 2nd “Touch A Truck” on June 7th, 2019. It was a 90+ degree day on the hot pavement at Fairmont Jr/Sr High School, but area families showed up in force. We saw an increase in visitor attendance for several reasons; first year guests were great at spreading the word of last years event and sponsorship from several businesses and the collaboration with Interlaken Heritage Days also prompted the larger crowd.

Sponsors this year included: Barrts Trucking, Profinium of Fairmont, State Bank of Fairmont, NuWay Cooperative, Martin County Star Newspaper, Hy-Vee and Fareway of Fairmont, Minuteman Press and the Interlaken Heritage Days Committee.

A highlight this year was Fairmont Police Department’s Officer Tietji and his new K-9 Partner Titus. Titus was great with the kids and he enjoyed chewing some ice cubes on the extra hot day. Ten Fairmont Women of Today members and four FWT family members were instrumental in getting “Touch A Truck” off the ground and many worked during the event. FWT is grateful for all the business owners and community service members that generously gave. Twenty plus vehicles were displayed and those who brought vehicles were enthusiastic and engaging. FWT members and collaborators came together with a shared vision, giving up part of their summer weekend to bring enjoyment to our area families.  

Truck Yeah! Amber DeClercq posing with one of the vehicles at Touch A Truck.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Sharing SMILES

Earlier this year, I wanted to find a way to express my gratitude to a woman at a local business that had the warmest greetings when I would stop in. I don’t know anything about her except her name and where she works. I had an idea to send her a hand stamped card telling her how much I enjoyed coming into that business because she went out of her way to make me feel like an appreciated customer.
I shared this story with my chapter and told them I would like to start a campaign to acknowledge outstanding women in our community that make this a great place to live and work. After some brain storming, an acronym was developed and the S.M.I.L.E. campaign began. Simple Moments Influence Lives Everywhere.
I look for excuses to spend time making cards and this was just the ticket I needed. After a quick personal message was written inside the card, an insert was put in each card explaining our campaign and the back talked about the Women of Today organization.
To date, our chapter has mailed over 50 cards out sharing smiles with deserving woman. There was a quote that we shared on our Facebook page that sums up why I enjoyed this project. “When you see something beautiful in someone, tell them. It may take a second to say, but for them it could last a lifetime.”

If you would like to nominate a deserving woman for this card, send our group an email at: fairmontwt@mnwt.org

Sue Bay

Touch-A-Truck 2019

It’s Official! Back for the second year “Touch-A-Truck 2019” Presented by Fairmont Women of Today. Vehicles of any size, age and type are welcome.

Come see and climb inside an ambulance, a fire truck, tractor, mail truck, a hearse (plus many more) and the people who drive them. They all will be gathered at the Fairmont High School Parking lot on June 7^th from 5PM to 7PM to Touch-A-Truck!

This is a FREE community event open to all ages, but adult supervision is required for all children. We have a lot of fun vehicles lined up for you to see.

THANK YOU to Martin County Star for their donation of advertising for our upcoming Touch-A-Truck event! We really appreciate your efforts in helping us make our upcoming event successful!

STARTING 2019 WITH DOING WHAT WE DO BEST…..SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

The donation of a freezer to begin a breast milk donation center. A special thanks needs to be shared with Dan’s Appliance for helping by donating the balance of the purchase price above our donated cash.

Fairmont Women of Today is a group with varied interest, a fact that is highlighted by our various projects, activities, and events. But one thing we all agree on is that helping each other helps us all succeed. So when the Minnesota Women of Today announced that the Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies was looking for locations for their breast milk depots, Fairmont Women of Today was quick to agree that this area would be ideal. Much to our surprise when we followed up, there was another group in the area that was pursuing that goal. In the spirit of collaboration, Fairmont Woman of Today and Faribault and Martin Counties Human Services department began working together to get the equipment, location, and press ready. In late 2018, we began working on the project, and in early 2019, the ribbon was cut on the new Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies Fairmont Breast-milk Depot, located at Faribault and Martin Counties Human Services location in Fairmont. The depot allows women who have passed a medical questionnaire, who have surplus breast-milk to donate their supply to the milk bank, who then collects the milk, ensures it is safe to distribute, and repackages it. Hospitals often buy and use the milk for premature babies and other babies who need supplementation. Eventually, the milk will be for sale to families directly. This generous donation can literally be the difference between surviving and thriving for the most vulnerable of our community, and Fairmont Women of Today is humbled to be part of making that happen. We are also extremely grateful for the women who are giving a part of themselves for the benefit of others, and we have created gift bags to give the women when they donate their milk at the depot. This small token of gratitude will hopefully bring smiles to these women, we know we had fun putting them together!

It is projects like this that define Fairmont Women of Today – everyone benefits when we work together to lift others up and help each other help each other.

Fairmont Women of Today assembling Thankful Bags for the women when they donate breast-milk to the milk depot.