Starbuck Chamber of Commerce

06/26/2024

Growing on the Prairie
Chamber Member Highlights
Spring 2024, Hope Community Church

Hope Community Church, part of the Evangelical Free Church denomination (so thereby the only non-Lutheran church in town!) purchased the old Starbuck Theatre building in 2009. However, their full history is that the church started meeting in the Minnewaska High School in 2002. After wearing out their welcome at the high school (ha!) and they’d purchased the building in Starbuck, they started services in two sites, one here in town and the other at Glenwood Central Square. Seen above are the staff, Caitlyn Jorgensen as musical director, Vickie Anderson as administrator, and Kelly Mahoney as senior pastor. Hope Community consists of approximately 160 attenders split between the 2 services, 9:00 a.m. in Starbuck and 10:30 in Glenwood. There are many young families, and lots of energetic children which bring so much life! Hope partners with the First Bapt. Church of Glenwood to offer a weekly children’s program, AWANA, and to host VBS each summer.

How do you sum up a church’s focus? Like all businesses, there is a mission statement, but they talked about their dreams for Hope by saying the priority is relationships. Intimacy with God is number one, being in community with other believers, and redemptive relationship with the world outside the church’s walls. The staff are committed to our community, trying always to emphasize connections.

Each of these three staff are involved in our county. Caitlyn is part of Jorgensen Drywall, which many of us have hired and admired. Vicki and her husband Randy farm south of Starbuck, along with his role as a banker, formerly in Starbuck and now Morris. Many will know Kelly as he helps coach youth soccer and the new robotics team. He is part of the expo, baccalaureate, Night to Unite, and pretty much every joint venture between all area churches. He is on the Glenwood chamber board of directors. Also, you may have seen and heard him helping with the Heritage Days church service in the park. His wife Cheryl is a nurse working in Alex, along with helping Kelly with many activities listed above. This coming Heritage Days Fly In Pancake Breakfast will be the third year the church members have helped serve. All this to say, the church is the people and they are focused on emphasizing connections.

When asked why they are members of the Starbuck Chamber of commerce, Kelly said “Jesus spent more time in the marketplace than in the church and He is our CEO, we follow His example!” When asking for suggestions for the town or chamber, they did gently suggest that the chamber might do well to hire a part-time employee to help with communication. (Yes, we would agree, but that’s another article!)

Their final thoughts after our interview were to let all know that they are a casual, come as you are, contemporary worship service style. They care about fellowship!

06/26/2024

Growing on the Prairie
Chamber Member Highlights
Spring 2024, Lakes Area Inn

Very few people who call Starbuck home don’t know Kevin and Judy Stadler! They have immersed themselves into our community after buying the Lakes Area Inn in 2019. What a fabulous example they’ve been of becoming one of our own.

The history of the 22-room motel is that it was built in 1988-89 and had three previous owners before Kevin bought it to become the 4th owner. He had been in the hotel business his whole career working at many high-end facilities in Minneapolis and surrounds. With that background, he’s done much renovating and upgrading of Lakes Area Inn, including new TV’s, bedding, painting, and removal of sofa beds. They’ve put money and work into their separate building housing laundry, and a fully equipped kitchenette and dining room, making it a perfect place to have a long-term stay at the Inn or enjoy a private space for your meetings or meals.

As a new business owner in Starbuck, Kevin has a lot to say about doing your homework to find the right business, in the right town. Talk with the mayor, check on crime, chat with other business owners in town to gauge their success. When doing his own research about Starbuck, he mentioned seeing a video of a Heritage Day Parade and was excited seeing the crowd. (meaning the need for housing for visitors!) He is supportive of all the events happening in Starbuck. That activity and “life” creates a place people want to visit.

Kevin joined the Starbuck Chamber the year he bought the Inn and is a board director and has been on the board for all but a short stint since moving here. He appreciates how this role helps one know what’s going on, be part of decision-making, and ultimately “helping the town helps every business” as well. To that end, he’s supportive of every existing and new downtown business; both for his clients to have spots to eat, shop, and get supplies, but for he, his mom, Judy, and his daughter to live a full life. Judy LOVES bingo-thanks VFW!

Kevin is really pleased with the clientele his Inn attracts. All very respectful of their rooms, great payers, and all- around easy people to have as guests. His business is seasonal, so when/if Starbuck creates more winter events or has businesses that bring in off-season travelers, that’d be just fine with Kevin!

Watch for the improvements they anticipate this year, landscaping, solar panels, more marketing and maybe a new exterior paint color! In brainstorming businesses they’d like to see in town, a car wash comes first to mind. More housing is needed, and he suggests businesses geared to young adults; axe throwing, mini golf, baseball batting cages. (so fun-right?!)

Kevin and Judy ended our conversation by saying they feel so lucky to have found a need where that they can fill in Starbuck and that they are now part of a community that is so welcoming! They could have landed anywhere, and they are thrilled it is here. To quote Kevin directly: “We’re all responsible for our own happiness, don’t let anyone pull you down!”

05/02/2024

Growing on the Prairie
Chamber Member Highlights

Spring 2024; Minnewaska Real Estate and Insurance

“Ready to start the search for your dream home?” or “Home, farm or car-we’ve got you covered!” These are headings from the website of Minnewaska Insurance and Real Estate. Their main office is conveniently located in Starbuck at the intersection of 28 and 114. The firm is owned and run by Kurt and Lara Amundson. They have a huge milestone coming up as they’ll celebrate their 25th anniversary of their business in July of this year. What an impressive accomplishment! Along with being real estate brokers, they will take care of your every insurance need weather home, auto or you name it.

Their firm has 3 employees and 3 agents who work with them helping to cover the Glenwood market, Villard, Hancock, Alex, and everything in between. When you call the office, the friendly voice you’ll get is that of Lacie Wersinger, not only the official greeter (my title for her!) but also a realtor.

Kurt and Lara grew up in Starbuck, and they love having their business in the town they know so well. Most of their business is referrals (another compliment to them) and what better match for your real estate and insurance needs than where you’re not a stranger. Most of their clients are within an hour radius, and this means they have knowledge to both help direct and protect their client’s real estate decisions.

Lara says Starbuck is a great place for them to live, because of life-long friends and the joy of living on Lake Minnewaska. Having raised 4 sons, lake-life had so much to offer. Great fishing, great water sports, not to mention great education at both Glacial Hills and Minnewaska.

When asked what advice they’d give to someone starting a new business in Starbuck they enthusiastically suggested that that person/family live in Starbuck proper and get involved in any way they can. Amundson’s have certainly done this themselves. They advise a new business to join the Starbuck chamber and volunteer where they have an interest. They have put their money where their mouth is and done this their whole lives. Anything to improve our community is part of their DNA.

Check out their website and be sure to know they’ll take care of you beautifully if you have the desire and need! www.minnewaskare.com

[email protected].

05/02/2024

Growing on the Prairie
Chamber Member Highlights

Spring, 2024; Joyce Baukol

Joyce grew up in Starbuck, daughter of Melvin and Avis, graduating from the Starbuck High School (go Bucks!). She married David Baukol, and they raised 3 daughters. Although our visit was the first time I’d met Joyce, I can say that her daughters, sons-in-law and especially her grandchildren hold a very dear portion of her heart. We visited the little “photo gallery” (pride of place!) of family members in her home, and what beautiful people they all are!

Joyce told me her husband David, who has passed away, was the active one in their marriage, being a guy who loved to visit! He had a hand in many organizations in Starbuck. He was involved in the Lions, Friends of the Glacial Lake State Park, the Chamber, Fron Church and of course his career of teaching and coaching, both Starbuck and Minnewaska. Someone outside the Baukol family talked about the amazing impact he had in so many students’ lives. Joyce was no sluff-off either, having worked at the Minnewaska Nursing Home for 16 years, and the Wahlquist law office for more years than she could remember!

Joyce loves living in a small town and although this is changing a bit, she has so enjoyed knowing nearly everyone she meets. She has her daughters nearby, one in Starbuck, one Osakis, and the furthest being in Burnsville. Her favorite event in town is Heritage Days, but she mentioned her high school reunions held at the Nutcracker and has had a solid group of women friends to dine out with.

If she wished for anything new in Starbuck, it would be a clothing and a hardware store. She fondly remembers the great shopping once available in town.

May I say that Joyce has a very specific distinction in that her maiden name is also her married name. Yes, she was a Baukol and married a Baukol (not related of course)- Wow! Being a Scandinavian, I can see two Petersons, Andersons, Larsons, or Nelsons doing this, but Joyce’s maiden/married name takes the cake!

[email protected].

05/02/2024

We will no longer be utilizing this page. So please go like and follow the new Starbuck Chamber Page! 😎

Amidst recent challenges with Facebook, the Starbuck Chamber of Commerce has taken proactive steps to establish a fresh platform aimed at showcasing our vibrant community, bustling with both established and burgeoning enterprises. We invite you to join us in celebrating the myriad of exciting news and events that define our wonderful community. Your contributions are invaluable in fostering our shared success!

05/02/2024

Seamless Summer Option is BACK! Last year, we offered free meals to kids ages 18 and under. We are fortunate to be able to offer kids in our community this opportunity once again. This is open to anyone on the community. Breakfast is served from 8-9am and lunch is from 11:15-12:15pm.

04/21/2024

04/12/2024

We are ready for boats & pontoons! ⚓️ Summer is right around the corner!! ☀️