Minnesota State Highway 68 near Morgan in my native southwestern Minnesota. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
ROOTED IN THE MINNESOTA PRAIRIE. Those words summarize my most recent photo essay published in the regional lifestyle magazine Southern Minn Scene. The four-page Through a SoMinn Lens spread features 23 of my photos, all from the southwestern Minnesota prairie. Some are recent while others are pulled from my extensive files. All were selected to showcase the land that shaped me as a person, a writer and a photographer.
My images and words fit the theme of this month’s issue, “the best of southern Minnesota.” In 2014, my Minnesota Prairie Roots blog was voted the Best Local Blog/Blogger in this annual competition. Bloggers are no longer included in the contest which spans theater to restaurants to breweries and a wide range of businesses, events and people in southeastern Minnesota. I learned a lot paging through the winners’ summaries.
I welcome you to meet the entrepreneurs and others who garnered the winning votes from readers. Please take time also to view my photo essay (beginning on page 46) about the prairie place that roots me.
Click here to read the November issue of Southern Minn Scene.
© Copyright 2019 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Cngrats for the publication of more of your wonderful photography. Well deserved.
Thank you!
Wonderful photo spread in a local magazine. Congratulations!
Thank you!
Love, love the photos, especially the Sleepy Eye Water Tower one. This magazine has it going on and one that has great information with an awesome layout. How cool to be part of this Audrey – love your article and compilation of photos 🙂 Happy Weekend – Enjoy!
Thank you. The magazine has evolved through the years to one that I am now happy to contribute to via my monthly photo essays.
Wonderful photo essay Audrey. Are hard copies available? Where?
Yes, print copies are available. Go to the Scene website to see locations where the magazine is on newsstands. In Faribault I’ve gotten mine at Fareway Foods.
Your picture of the highway near Morgan sure could be in North Dakota. Although, a small bit of my 300 mile UPS route had a bit of the Badlands and the Heart River running through it. It’s called the Heart because the Mandan Indans said the river is in the heart of their land. After driving through the prairies and fields it was always a treat to reach the river running through the little Badlands. I’d stop my truck, shut off the engine, get out, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Gods creation.
You paint such a vivid picture of the landscape with your words. My husband is originally from the Mandan/Bismarck area (St. Anthony). I love that you took that pause from work to appreciate God’s beautiful world.
Congrats on your publication! You have the best photo’s!
Oh, Jackie, thank you. I just got a letter in the mail today that my photo of a veteran earned third place in the people category in the National Mutual Benefit annual photo contest. I’ve placed in that contest several times previously. Always exciting to have one’s work recognized.
Thats awesome! 🙂
Thank you!