Farm City Hub Club & Black Powder Show

THUMBS UP: This weekend, New Ulm hosts two long running event shows — the 42nd annual Farm City Hub Club Show and the 43rd annual New Ulm Trade Fair Living History event.

The Farm City Hub Club Farm Show started Friday and ends Saturday at the New Ulm Civic Center. On both days, the show showcases 67 vendors of agricultural products and services. The show features the latests farm equipment, technology and services. The show also features educational seminars and a town hall meeting with elected officials State Sen. Nick Frentz, State Representatives Paul Torkelson and Jeff Brand.

The 43rd Annual New Ulm Trade Fair and Living History event will be held at the Royal Oaks Event Center today and Sunday. The Trade Fair, formally known as the Black Powder Show, focuses on the United States’ frontier-era. When the show first came to New Ulm in 1980, the emphasis was on black powder style rifles, but has expanded into a history themed vendor fair.

The Farm Show and Living History event will offer a variety of information and entertainment for the community.

Possible federal funding

THUMBS UP: for crosswind runway

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that includes $2.5 million in funding for the New Ulm Municipal Airport’s crosswind runway. The funds would relocate and construct a new crosswind runway at the New Ulm Municipal Airport. The new crosswind runway will improve air travel to New Ulm and meet FAA guidelines.

The City of New Ulm has been planning to reconstruct the crosswind runway for over a decade. With a new crosswind runway, New Ulm’s airport could see greater use.

The aviation funding bill including this funding for New Ulm has passed through the house with bipartisan support. Senate approval is still required, but if passed New Ulm’s dreams of new crosswind runway could finally come true.

Daylight Saving takes another hour

THUMBS DOWN: We are all losing an hour this weekend. Daylight saving will go into effect at 2 a.m. Sunday, skipping ahead one hour. The daylight saving measure was officially passed by Congress in 1918. The rational for the continued changing of the clocks is to make better use of the longer daylight during summer. However, the main reason of daylight saving seems to be annoying people. Few people seem to want to continue “springing” forwards or “falling” back. Every years, studies are conducting showing the loss of one hour negatively impacts sleep cycle, leading to less productivity. Several states, including Minnesota, have pending legislation to make daylight saving permanent if Congress takes action. In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, to make daylight savings permanent nationwide. The House never took it to a vote. It is not currently on the docket for approval this year. It is about time legislators take action to end an unpopular tradition that we are all tired of observing.