Community

The Spinler family of Grand Marais has been named Cook County’s “2025 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota. Melinda and Mark Spinler have spent over 40 years building their homestead nestled east of town in the forest. What started as a simple effort to clear land and grow food has turned into a working farm that supports both their family and the surrounding community. Managing life in the Northwoods has not always been easy, since protecting livestock from predators and developing usable soil takes ongoing effort, but they have found creative ways to make it work.

Located on Forest Service Road 304, about nine miles up the Gunflint Trail, the Flintlock Sports Park shooting and archery range is now being developed. Jerry Kohl, Kali Hawkins, and Bill Dalin were working a booth during the Fisherman’s Picnic to raise awareness about this exciting project.

Reprinted from the Sept. 3, 1970 Cook County News-Herald

The theme for this year’s Rendezvous Days was “Dressing the fur Trade”, with textiles-clothing, moccasins, finger weaving, rabbit fur, blankets, beaded garters and more on display throughout the Grand Portage National Monument, a site managed by the National Park Service in conjunction with the Grand Portage Band, the interactive demonstrations and workshops related to the 17th and 19th-century fur trade.