Still Serving
By Jake Lillehaug 10-15-26
There is something special about driving a country road in western Minnesota just after sunset in October.
The sky glows with brilliant oranges and reds while the last sunlight catches the changing leaves. Across the countryside, clouds of dust rise from freshly harvested fields, illuminated by the headlights of combines working well into the evening.
Grain trucks wait along field approaches. Service trucks travel from farm to farm, keeping equipment running. Somewhere, a family is gathered around a tailgate sharing supper before another long night.
It is a beautiful kind of busy.
Fall has always been one of my favorite times of year. The mornings turn crisp, the leaves change, and the smell of freshly cut grass mixes with the familiar scents of autumn.
Of course, this year we’ve also been blessed with an apparently endless supply of Asian lady beetles and boxelder bugs. I’ve sprayed my house three times already, and I’m beginning to suspect they’re winning.
But even with the bugs, I wouldn’t trade this season.
While farmers race against the calendar to bring in the harvest, our communities are bustling with activity of their own.
Last week, the flag football season wrapped up with a Super Bowl celebration, complete with team introductions and the national anthem. The kids also had one final opportunity to defeat the moms in tug-of-war.
They lost. Again. Badly.
Homecoming brought students and families together, while the Upper Minnesota River Art Crawl Meander offered an opportunity to appreciate the remarkable talent living right here in our communities.
Monday night, our Parent Teacher Organization served roast beef sandwiches at a packed volleyball game. The student sections were loud, the band sounded fantastic, and the evening raised more than $1,400 for a local cancer support group.
Different events. Different people. The same community spirit.
What strikes me about this season is how much happens because people are willing to give their time and talents.
Farm families support one another through long harvest days. Volunteers organize youth sports and school fundraisers. Artists share their talents. Coaches, teachers, parents and neighbors find ways to contribute between everything else on their calendars.
It’s easy to look across our quiet countryside and assume life moves slowly here.
But take a drive after sunset. Visit a school gymnasium. Stop by a community event.
You’ll discover there’s nothing slow about the people who keep these places alive.
As the days grow shorter and winter draws closer, I encourage you to enjoy this season. Attend an event, thank someone working late, support a fundraiser or simply take a moment to appreciate the people around you.
Because sometimes the most beautiful thing about autumn isn’t the changing leaves or the colorful sunsets.
It’s watching an entire community hard at work.
If you have a story idea, know someone making a difference, or would simply like to share your thoughts about the column, I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at jhlillehaug@gmail.com. Please put STILL SERVING in the subject line so I don’t miss it.
