​      Welcome to Santa’s Secret Shop where kids shop for the ones they love. Santa's Secret Shop is a special Christmas shopping experience just for kids! Little shoppers will bring their Christmas lists and pick out affordable gifts for Mom, Dad, siblings, Grandma, Grandpa & the special people they love.
      While the kids shop, parents will have their own cozy Christmas waiting area to relax and enjoy a little holiday fun of their own. Meanwhile, our little shoppers will head into Santa’s Secret Shop with an Elf Helper—adult volunteers and local high school students—who will help them find the perfect gifts and stay within their budget.
     The shopping area will be filled with homemade, handmade and generously donated gifts from individuals, makers, businesses and supporters near and far. Everything will be kept at affordable, kid-friendly prices so our little shoppers can experience the joy of choosing gifts for the people they love.
Once shopping is finished, each gift will be wrapped and ready to go under the tree—so every surprise stays SECRET!
      Santa’s Secret Shop is supported by the community, for the community, with all profits going right back into our community of Brooklyn. More details—and a few special surprises—coming soon!

      I recently attended a meeting at the Brooklyn Fire Department and explained to our wonderful volunteer firefighters that I would like to donate the profits made from Santa's Secret Shop to them.      BUT, there was a little catch! In return, I asked the Fire Department to parade through town one night close to Christmas.
      You see, I talked to Santa and he has agreed to ride on the fire truck AND bring many friends from the North Pole!!
      The specific date and a map showing the route and stops will be provided in November.
      Kayla Seitz.

       Brooklyn Community Estates staffed crowned a King and Queen for BGM Homecoming Week, Sept. 28 - Oct. 2. King - Dave Schwiebert and Queen - Judy Wacha. Go Bears!

      Top Left: Junior High and High School Band Performing at the Indoor Parade.; Top Right: Elementary Students are ready to Cook the Cardinals.; Second row - Left: Bear Creek Kids Camp are Grilling the Competition.; Second row - Right: Pat Coleman on strike; Third row - Left: Eric Hodina and Amber Coleman are on strike.; Third row - Right: Amiah Lint giving her dad, Shane Lint, a ride.; Bottom Left: Danielle Hanes, Kinze Lacaeyse, Joel Lacaeyse, Jessie Lacaeyse and Pat Coleman - Parents are tired of picking up after the kids, so they brought their things for them to pick up.: and Bottom Right: Dance Team Members: Keeley Kilmer, Addy Hurst, Jentri Kriegel. All photos by Jamie Thompson.

       Quilts of Valor were awarded by the Brooklyn American Legion Post 294 to nine men on Thursday, Sept. 10. Pictured are, from left, front row: Howard Heinen, Ron Clayton, Ray Williams and Dave Faas. Back row: Dan Griffith, Gene Adkins, Dean McClelland, Loren Roudabush and Melvin McClenathan. Submitted photo by Tom Ryan.

       Prairie Jewel Farm logo for the new pumpkin patch business opening on Saturday, Oct. 3 in rural Grinnell. The business is being started to give local and area families a place to come, have fun and build fall traditions. Submitted photo.

By J.O. Parker

         A new rural Grinnell business focused on providing a place for families and children to gather and enjoy building their own seasonal fall traditions centered around agriculture opens its doors on Saturday, Oct. 3.
Prairie Jewel Farm, located at 598 400th Ave., (on the Farmhand Road), was founded by  Tessa (Roland) Perrin and family.
        The new business offers pumpkins, mums, and other fall items for sale. In addition, other family-friendly activities will be available for families and children. They are as follows:
Core Services
         Tour a field/hay rack ride
         Take home your own pumpkin/fruit/vegetable
          See/touch actual farm equipment
          Engage in creative play through various farm yard opportunities, including an obstacle course
          Explore sensory play in a corn pit (Iit’s like a huge sand pit with corn instead)
          Safe farm animal interactions/educational experiences (the farm features a miniature pony, bunnies and goats)
           Provide opportunities for family photos and for family traditions to be started
           Visit an on-site market for seasonal décor and goods
From idea to reality
          Tessa is a 2007 graduate of Grinnell High School. She holds a BA in business and a minor in economics from the University of Northern Iowa, later going on to become a registered nurse.
           After graduating from UNI, Tessa moved to Buffalo, N.Y. where she met her husband, J.D.
          The couple raised and raced Standard Bred Horses (A Roland family tradition) in New York and have two daughters, ages 6 and 9.
         While visiting family in Grinnell a couple years ago, Tessa saw an opportunity to open a pumpkin patch and to provide a place for families to gather in the fall and enjoy building traditions together.
         Visiting the local pumpkin patch in Grinnell was a tradition that Tessa has fond memories of growing up, and she wanted other families to have the same opportunity.
         A year later, Tessa realized that opportunity was still available. She started researching the idea and got the ball rolling this year. It’s a business that she hopes to grow over time.
          The couple built a new home and moved to rural Grinnell in June 2026.
      “I want to raise my family here,” she said of coming home to Grinnell. “We are eager to immerse ourselves in the community.”
         Being the first year, the pumpkin patch will feature tents and temporary spaces on the grounds while the business gets established. Tessa calls it a pop up business.
          Tessa cautioned that everything is outdoors in a hayfield. “So wear your boots,” she said.
          As for the future, Tessa said the plan is to create a space where families have the opportunity to see and learn about some of the farm components that are so vital to Grinnell and area communities while enjoying fun fall traditions.
          The business will be open the following dates from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Oct. 3 - 4, Oct. 10 -11, Oct. 17 -18, Oct. 24 – 25 and Oct. 31.
          There will be a small admission fee charged to visit the outdoor event.
          For more information, contact Tessa Perrin at: [email protected].

By J.O. Parker
 
      “Bison Brave: Facing the Storm,” a new children’s book by Bethany Kriegel, a rural Malcom Christian author and mother of four, is a story about finding strength, trusting yourself, and learning that real bravery means facing challenges head-on.
         The book was released in April and is the second book by Kriegel, who released “Buffalo in the Bucket” in June 2025.
         Her first children’s book was born out of a real life experience of a daring skid loader rescue and late-night bottle feedings of a baby bison calf that had been abandoned by its mama.
       The main character in “Bison Brave” is Bella, a bison calf who hears thunder rolling across the open prairie, knowing there is a storm on the horizon.
         “We run toward the storm,” Bella’s daddy tells the young calf in the book.
While many animals instinctively run away, Bella’s herd charges straight in to the storm, just as bison always do.
         “Now, it’s Bella’s moment to discover if she has the courage to follow,” said Kriegel.
As with her first book, Kriegel used AI to create images for the book and then edited them using computer software.
        “I love to prove to myself that I can do anything,” said Kriegel. “So writing a book, and now two books, just makes me feel like nothing is too big or too hard. Of course, Amazon self-publishing (KDP) makes this easier.”
       “Don’t get me wrong, though, that is still a lot of work and patience,” noted Kriegel. “AI does not get it right on the first (or sometimes even on the 10th) try.” 
         The new book is 25 pages and it is geared towards children ages 2 – 12.
          It took Kriegel about four months to write and create the new book.
      “We all have a story to tell,” said Kriegel. “Regardless of your profession or how you live your life, experiences and knowledge that you have are unique to you,” added Kriegel. “I thought of the first book I wrote, and while sharing that book with young readers, I found myself speaking to them in a way that I hope brings about stories in their lives that they can someday put to paper. I guess in short, I was inspired to write another book based on what I was guiding other people to do. Bison are unique. My experiences are unique. The majority of the population will never have the opportunity to raise these amazing animals, so it is up to us to get these stories out there.”
         When asked, Kriegel said she is open to talk about her books with libraries and book clubs.
       The new book is available on Amazon for $12.75 and is also available at Sunset Hills Bison Ranch self-serve onsite retail store that is open to the public 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily.
Sunset Hills Bison Ranch and Lodging
         Sunset Hills Bison Ranch was founded in August 2020. Kriegel and her husband, Karl, and his brother, Neal, and parents, Don and Christy, own the ranch together.
          “We currently have more than 50 head of bison,” noted Kriegel. “Our lodging consists of a year round cabin and two glamping covered wagons. We also have unique spaces like our Teepee used for fire pit and gatherings as well as our actual 1880s covered wagon.”
           The annual annual National Bison Day event at the ranch, located at 1307 400th Ave. in Malcom, will be held on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
           For more information on Sunset Hills Bison Ranch, visit https://www.sunsethills.life.

      Shown is the front cover of a new children’s book “Bison Brave” by rural Malcom Christian author, Bethany Kriegel. This is the second children’s book that Kriegel has published about bison using AI to help with the design and layout. Kriegel, her husband, Karl, and family own Sunset Hills Bison Ranch north of Malcom. Submitted photo.

​       Members of the Grinnell High School Homecoming Court are excited about all the activities of Homecoming week, Sept. 28 – Oct. 2. Pictured are, top to bottom, from left: Lincoln Stensrud, Mallorie Arlint, Aaden Hoopes, Kaitlyn Smith, Beni Kiphanzu, Piper Madren, Aiden Wolfe, Lucy Lindberg, Noah Gosselink and Cadence Cummings. A Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned during a community pep rally in Central Park on Thursday, Oct. 1. The Tigers play Oskaloosa at home on Friday, Oct. 2 with the game kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Photo by Lindsey Peck.

​        BGM seniors are pumped and ready for Homecoming week Sept. 28 – Oct. 2. Pictured are, from left: Sadie Klein, Graydon Arens, Amiah Lint, Esben Hernandez, Ana Coleman, Reed Slater, Kinze Lacaeyse, Jacksyn, Bullers, Hunter Hodina, Shyla VanNevel, Cristian Martinez and Shae Keller. The BGM Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned on Wednesday, Sept. 30 during a pep rally at the school that gets underway at 7 p.m. The pep rally follows the town homecoming parade and Bear Backers meal. The Bears tackle Earlham at home on Friday, Oct. 2 with kickoff at 7 p.m. Photo by Jamie Thompson.

BGM Homecoming Parade Weather Update Announcement
Due to inclement weather, we are moving this evening’s Homecoming Parade indoors to the BGM High School Auditorium.
Here’s the updated plan:
Parade Entrants: Please meet in the High School Gym at 5 p.m.
Parade Begins: Entrants will be announced and will walk across the auditorium stage starting at 5:30 p.m.
Community Members & Parade Attendees: Please come directly to the auditorium and find a seat to enjoy the Homecoming festivities.
Overflow Seating: Additional seating will be available in the High School Cafeteria.
IMPORTANT: There will be NO CANDY THROWN during the indoor parade.
Please also remember that NO FOOD OR DRINK allowed in the auditorium.
While the weather may have changed our plans, we’re still excited to celebrate Homecoming with our students, families, and Bear community! 🐻
We’ll see you tonight at 5:30 p.m.!