Here’s my Teacher Man.
Hello, my name is Lara and I am many things – wife, mother of one son, writer, musician, gardener, farmer’s daughter.
I grew up on a farm near Hector, Minnesota and wanted nothing more than to leave that small town at age 18, get my journalism degree at the University of Minnesota and take that wherever it would lead me.
A funny thing happened along the way. My degree and experience led me back to agriculture and for the past 20 years, I have talked turkey (and chicken) as the Communications Director for the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, Chicken and Egg Association of Minnesota and the Midwest Poultry Federation. It’s a job – a career – I love more now than when I first started, but who could’ve guessed I’d be known as Minnesota’s Gobble Gal?!
I live in Buffalo, Minnesota – part small town, part suburbia – with my husband (a teacher), our soon-to-be 6th grade son, and our senior citizen pug dog, Earl. I am beyond obsessed with shoes and dresses, love white wine and a good sidecar martini, like to get my hands dirty in my gardens, and am a self-proclaimed baking queen and travel junkie.
You can reach me anytime via the contact form below, at ldurben@charter.net or stop by my Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages – I’d love to meet you.
Welcome to my other more exciting self!
My boy Joe, circa December 2012
Earl the Pug
Typical me – dress, boots and iPhone. 🙂
My Other More Exciting Self 
Looking forward to all the posts!
LikeLike
Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing more posts with you soon!
LikeLike
Congrats on making the big jump to the blogging world. I will be looking forward to following your posts! As you might remember, your high school English teacher always said you would write something someday. . .not too sure this is what she envisioned but I will be sure to spread the word!!!
LikeLike
Thanks for signing up to follow my blog this afternoon. I hope to meet you someday and learn some more about turkey 🙂
All the best,
Anne
LikeLike
I would love that, Anne! I know I have a lot to learn about beef so we can trade stories!
Take care,
Lara
LikeLike
Let me be the first (and likely only) uncle on your mother’s side to reply. The choices (as you know) would be Duane, Gene, Terry, and Allan – the four males in the “Fab Five.” Notice the use of the Oxford comma. Without that you would only have three uncles (on your mother’s side). And just think of the challenges that third uncle would have had in life being named “Terry and Allan.” Out here in NY we are not whining but instead we are wineing. Of course before I replied, I had to check out the correct spelling and in doing that I found a website that I thought you might enjoy. Check it out at quitwineing.com. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah (a little late – sorry). Your one and only Uncle Allan.
LikeLike
I am honored that my one and only Uncle Allan replied! I will definitely check out the website you mentioned – sounds interesting. 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and the family in NY!
LikeLike
Hi Lara,
My brother, Steve Nelson & Karyn Lamb both posted your remarks on FB about Mrs. Sweezy and I agree totally with your assessment with one exception:
Your Mother! I had the privilege of having Miss Anderson and later, Mrs. Ginsberg as my Home Economics teacher at Hector! She, too was tough but fair. I learned a great deal in her classes for which I am thankful.
I must say that for me, both your mother and Mrs. Sweezy were teachers that had very positive impacts on me!
This is my Mother’s Day and Teacher’s Appreciation week gift to you and your Mother!
Sherry Olson
LikeLike
Hi Sherry, Thanks so much for finding and sharing this post about Mrs. Swezey! And I can’t wait to share your comments with Mrs. Ginsburg – my mom! 🙂 I’m not surprised she was tough and fair as a teacher, much like Mrs. Swezey – she was that way at home as a parent too. I continue to learn from her every day and I’m grateful to call her Mom! 🙂
Lara
LikeLike