Our good friends Gary and Rosie Anderson’s cousins from Norway arrived in Minnesota recently to visit relatives and tour the Gopher State (with a side trip to Wisconsin). They wanted, of course, to see some of the cultural highlights of our State such as The Mall Of America and Target Field. Shopping, a well known American custom was also to be included in the schedule. . The Troutbirders involvement was to arrange a visit to a "real" American farm. Through the graciousness of our neighbors, the Jahn family, our visitors got to see a Corn Belt hog operation.
Eli Sather Bergstuen is the grandmother. Her home is Biristrand, Norway. This is just south of Lillehammer. The parents are Even and Gerd (Eli's daughter) Taraldsrud and children Henrik and Mina. They live on a farm in Biri which is south of Biristrand by a couple of miles. The Lake Mjosa, part of the Mjosa River (like Lake Pepin is part of the Mississippi River) runs from Gjovik, south of Biri, to just north of Biri. The river continues on up past Lillehammer about 25 miles north of Biri.
Gary and Rosie (on the left) brought their visitors to the Mississippi river town of Winona to a family gathering that featured people from all over the United States. Here on Garvin Heights, high above Winona the Norwegians get a look at the broad Mississippi Valley 
Traveling by light rail, the visitors checked on the Guthrie Theater, Target Field and the Mall of America. 
Traveling by light rail, the visitors checked on the Guthrie Theater, Target Field and the Mall of America. 
Mrs T. put on an fine dinner, Minnesota style, after the visit to the Jahn farms in the Spring Valley area. Never had they seen so much corn in the fields and the scale of the farming operation definitely made a big impression. Neighbor Rick Jahn provided a 2 hour tour of the facilities and equipment.
Taking a peek at the baby pigs.
Out in the field the guys have to check out the big Cat hauling liquid pig manure. Perhaps the ladies were not quite so impressed. 
We began trooping into one of several large machine sheds. The size of a combine was evident by a tire towering over 6'3" Gary. The general impression was... Wow!
We had a great time meeting Gary's Norwegian cousins. Or as Minnesotans are not always accurately portrayed saying in the movie Fargo. Yah sure! You betcha
Great post! I know you enjoyed showing your guests around. You guys aren't really like Fargo? Guess it's more accurately Prairie Home Companion?
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun having people from some other country come to visit. You get to see your own familiar neighbourhood through the eyes of these travellers.
ReplyDeleteThey will never want to leave! Great tour. :)
ReplyDeletehow awesome! lots of heritage blending going on there! :)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if the visitors got to see quite a bit of the 'real' America. I'm not sure that the Mall of America qualifies, but I hope they enjoyed that as well.
ReplyDeleteVery cool! Some friends here recently got in touch with their Norwegian roots & relatives, they visited there and were amazed at how well they were received (and about how good the coffee was) and it looks as if their son will be spending a year studying abroad there. One world for all of us.
ReplyDeleteWell, they certainly looked the part of being Norwegian, all blond and strapping. Nice tour, both for them and now for me! Thanks, Troutbirder!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you gave your visitors and unforgettable time. Thanks for taking us along. Will you get to visit them in Norway next?
ReplyDeleteGreat tour! I have never been to the Mall or to Target Center..I was at the dome once when it had a roof:0
ReplyDeleteI hope they liked Minnesota..at least the Southern part! We say you betcha all the time up here:)
How fun to have international visitors. I'm sure you and your wife were excellent hosts.
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