About this item
Under Minnesota Skies is a lively telling of stories from several generations and a memoir of three daughters growing up on a farm near Owatonna, Minnesota in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Inspired by their father's love for the 394-acre farm that has been in the family for more than a century, the authors search for their immigrant ancestors to gain greater understanding of their own family traditions, foods and work ethic. Are they Czech or German? Who influenced the family to change from dairy to beef cattle? Does their father really need boys to help run the farm? Answers emerge as the family goes from farming with horses to using tractor power and new laborsaving machinery. The determined daughters tackle jobs mostly reserved for boys: loading hay and straw bales, feeding cattle and pigs and side-raking hay.
About the Author
Coauthors and sisters Bernadette Hondl Thomasy and Colleen Hondl Gengler enjoy reminiscing about the Minnesota family farm where they grew up and sharing the challenging and fun times with readers everywhere. Graduates of the University of Minnesota, the authors love all things book-related and are active Friends of the Library volunteers. Bernadette earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Michigan and worked as a newspaper and public relations writer in Toledo, Ohio for 30 years. Since 2009 she and husband Ken have lived in Sacramento near their two daughters who are pursuing careers in Northern California. Bernadette loves being a grandmother to two girls and visits her Minnesota family and farm as often as she can. Colleen received a master's degree from South Dakota State University and was an educator for the University of Minnesota Extension for 38 years. She and her husband Don live on a farm near Iona, Minnesota. Their two adult daughters pursued careers in Minneapolis and one has found new opportunities in San Francisco. Colleen's public speaking experience gained through Extension work comes in handy now when she makes presentations on Under Minnesota Skies. She also thrives as a Master Gardener and book club member. Look for more family photos and farming anecdotes on
