Mentor: Xiaoxi Meng
PI: Laura Shannon
Date: August 7, 2022
Do you know what the most-ordered menu item at fast-food restaurants is? Yes, the answer is fries. Whenever one visits a fast-food restaurant, they automatically expect to receive fries. Fries are produced from potatoes. Potatoes are essential, and they are the subject of my study. People are unaware of all the work it takes to get that perfect golden fry or that perfectly round potato chip. In my research, I am studying the connection between the genetic information and different traits of potatoes using a research method called GWAS. GWAS stands for Genome-Wide Association Study. My research aims to uncover the genetic architecture of agronomy and morphology traits in potatoes using GWAS. Hopefully, we can identify genes that control potato yield, size, shape, and skin color. This project will eventually benefit potato breeding with the knowledge of this genetic information to breed potatoes to meet growers' and consumers' demands.
During my internship thus far, I visited Becker potato field with my mentor, Xiaoxi, to meet a drone pilot. Xiaoxi and I set ground control points while we were there. We have planted over 50 potato plants in the greenhouse. Being a member of Dr. Shannon’s Lab has been an absolute joy! Everyone in the lab attends the lab meeting once a week. During that time, everyone discusses their research projects, asks questions, voices their concerns, and gives advice about different situations. I was allowed to join the lab’s journal club! As a result, I am gaining knowledge about the fundamentals of research. We all went out to eat for lunch and had bonding time. It has been fantastic working alongside such a great group of people!
Mentor: Michael Miller
PI: Laura Shannon
Date: August 7, 2022
Hi my name is Ejay. This field trip took place in different parts of Minneapolis. It's about the youth farm and their influence in the society. It also tends to be called a food forest. One of the associates of the youth farm talked about how he started the youth farm 13 years ago. The farm took the place of a house. Another garden he started is across the street from his house. The shape of the garden is like a basketball court. They talked about how they have a progressive model Youth farm program that is 27years old. The people running the farm talked about how they can be more efficient, create healthier soil and increase yield. The youth farm breeds raspberry, tomatoes, cabbage , peppers , okra, egg plants, sunflower plant, maize etc. The Peace Haven youth farm has a lot of medicinal plants like the Angelica, Catnip plant which is good for an upset stomach. The youth farm is also full of pollinating plants like the cub plants, sage and molen which can be used to treat ear infection. The goal is to keep growing. Their capacity is not in organization but in people. One of the challenges the youth farm has encountered over the years is providing water to the plants. I liked how this was resolved as the youth farm has a relationship with the community and firefighters as they assist by watering the plants.
Mentor: Gaby Hidrobo
PI: Julie Grossman
Date: July 31, 2022
On Thursday we were lucky enough to have three experienced individuals from the private sector talk to us about what their jobs look like and how they found themselves in that industry.
Josh Friell was originally trained in mechanical engineering but found himself working with Toro in their research and development sector. Steve Rosenzweig works for General Mills on their sustainability team which involves preparing plans for how the company can be more sustainable in the future, most of which comes down to agricultural practices. Madison Gohl from Sunopta works in food science, where her company produces many food products but mostly non-dairy milks, and she works with everything from designing the product to recipes, to making sure the plant is running smoothly.
The largest takeaway that I had from the panel was that if you are looking to gain experience as an undergraduate or graduate student, the best thing you can do is diversify experience. They told us that an employer is looking for someone who has experience in multiple roles because of their unique ability to problem solve. The other takeaway that I had related was to communication, whether that is for an interview or presenting an idea to the higher ups, it is important to convey your ideas in an articulate way.
Something I found interesting while hearing them speak was how they referenced previous education, whether it be an internship program, undergraduate or graduate school, they touched on how these experiences helped them to think in unique ways which has aided them in problem solving. They seemed to enjoy the freedom associated with their jobs and I can see how the ability to solve unique problems along with freedom to create leads to a fulfilling career. We were all glad to have them give their options and I am sure all of us took one two things away from the panel.
Mentor/PI: Cindy Tong
Date: July 30, 2022
My project this summer has completely revolved around Broccolini. This phenomenal new-to-me plant that I actually didn’t know existed up until a few months ago, when I applied for this program. The key idea behind this research study was to develop a variety trial comparing yield, growth, and pest prevalence. I’ve been looking at bolting, longevity, earliness, yield, as well as the economic prospect of this crop for growers. Looking at 4 distinct varieties: Sweet Stem, Melody, Happy Rich, and BC1611, I kept track of yield and other unique traits of the varieties. So far the most interesting part of my project has been developing the enterprise budget for my crop. I’ve never created anything like this before, and the learning process was different than what I am used to. My project keeps me in the field daily, but luckily opportunities for me to branch out have consistently been available. Visiting sites such as Chicanos Latinos Unidos En Servicio, community gardens to change out swede midge traps, and doing community outreach with the Somali American Farmers Association. Overall I feel this has been a successful summer and I could not have gotten a better introduction to broccolini than working directly with the crop.
Mentor: Jennifer Nickley
PI: Nic Jelinski
Date: July 24, 2022
Hello! This little bit is about the graduate school panel on Tuesday
The end of the SOAR-REEU program is slowly approaching and as research students we are beginning to think more seriously about what our academic future holds. On Tuesday we were visited by a panel of fantastic students who explained some of the tips and tricks of graduate school. The panel put a lot of thought into carefully crafting advice for us to be able to navigate our way through applications, coursework and research. The panel provided some mental clarity by sharing amusing stories, personal challenges and important factors to keep in mind. I appreciated how the students talked about advocating your academic and personal needs during school and affirming that we can set ambitious goals while asking for support. This panel definitely guided me to a much better understanding of what the graduate school experience looks like for folks at the University of Minnesota and inspired me to explore more academic opportunities after graduation.
Mentors: Alex Crum/Natalie Hoidal
PIs: Natalie Hoidal/Ya Yang
Date: July 24, 2022
Hello everyone!! My name is Adiel J. Andino Acevedo, I am 20 years old and I am from Puerto Rico. I am currently studying a bachelor's degree in Sustainable Agriculture. Since I was little I have always liked agriculture, I remember when I was little, when I was 12 years old I started selling mangoes, and all the people who bought from me told me that I should be a farmer in the future since it is something that is needed in Puerto Rico. So here I am doing what I love.
During this internship I will be working on a very important and interesting project. I am working with a group of professional people who have helped me to have a better experience, these are Alex Crum (PhD student), Natalie Hoidal (Extension) and Dr. Ya yang. This project was initiated by a Hmong farmer named May and two of her daughters. They are organic vegetable farmers, and for the last few decades they have stewarded their family's medicinal herbs. They are primarily herbs for the postpartum chicken soup diet, plus some other medicinal plants. They sell these herbs to hospitals around the Twin Cities so that hospitals can provide more culturally relevant care for Hmong women after labor. While the farmers have a deep understanding of these plants - how they are used, propagated, etc., they wanted to know the scientific names of the plants and conduct a literature review, with the ultimate goal of creating a book to share their knowledge with the next generation. For me, being able to work on this project is very special, being able to meet and learn new things about a culture makes it more delicate.
Other things that I am doing is having experiences on the work of an agricultural extension. On Tuesday June 14, I visited Naima with Natalie to plant the Somali American Farmers Association garden in Minneapolis in the morning, it was great fun working with her and seeing how other cultures work with agriculture. Then on June 17, I also visited another farm with Natalie where different varieties of pumpkins are being investigated and which one will have the best results on those lands, this is being done since the farmer is from Africa and they grow it to eat the leaves and is looking for the best variety that adapts to this climate, it is very interesting. Last Tuesday, June 21, I visited three farms with the group of extensionists from the university. We were looking for different insects on plants, flowers and leaves to identify whether they are pests or beneficial. For me it was a new experience, I really liked being able to visit those farms and be an insect hunter.
On Friday, June 24, together with Alex, we visited Big River Farm. I was finally able to meet the Hmong farmer May. This visit was to collect her medicinal plants in order to start the pcr process in the lab. Today's visit was very fun, we collected 8 medicinal plants, of which 3 of them are not for the chicken soup recipe.
I think that the Hmong community is a well organized culture, very faithful, they maintain their beliefs regardless of what others may think. I am very impressed to learn about other cultures, and even more so to see how they maintain the culture of medicinal plants and their remedies without having scientific proof and then, after doing the research, to see if their plants and their remedies really give results.
I am very convinced that I will have many more new, interesting and unforgettable experiences in this program. I am very grateful for what I have been doing.
Mentor: Xiaoxi Meng
PI: Laura Shannon
Date: July 24, 2022
On Thursday, July 21, 2022, our Thursday Action Learning was A Research Field Day. It was amazing! Before it started, I knew we would have a great time when we were told to load our source of transportation, which was a tractor pulling a bench! The tractor ride was so fun. As a data analyst in the lab of Dr. Shannon, getting the opportunity to tour the other side of research was eye-opening. I learned that it takes a lot of work to get the data that is emailed to me daily. I really enjoyed learning about all the different research projects that are going on around the campus of the University of Minnesota.
There were various graduate students and professors that educated us on different species of crops like trees, strawberries, peppers, and corn. Everyone was so passionate about their field of work. It was very inspiring. I noticed that many projects are working to develop a solution to better product production. Various challenges are faced in field production, including weeds, insect pests, and water availability. Professor Tim Michaels, a professor at the University of Minnesota, taught us how to distinguish between a male and female plant and how seed production works. The informatics team was imposing. They use their device systems to collect environmental data, which helps interpret results to figure out what went wrong during a project. The team introduced several devices. One device that stuck out to me the most was a device they called “Big Brother.” Its purpose is to increase the resolution of time and management. In addition, I got to learn about a few of my cohort’s research focus. I loved seeing my new friends in their zone and talking about their research projects which they have obviously grown to love throughout the course of this program.
For me, the Research Field Day helped show the connection between University of Minnesota researchers and the Minnesota community. It is very evident that the university takes its community partnerships seriously. I think it is very generous of the university to donate mainly all the produce grown on campus after collecting the needed data. All in all, the Research Field Day was a great experience and very informative. I want to thank all the University of Minnesota professors, graduate students, interns, and workers that helped make the field day a success.
Mentor: Michael Miller
PI: Laura Shannon
Date: July 14, 2023
Hi my name is Ejay. I get to do research on potatoes and a disease that affects the potato called common scab. This disease decreases the quality of potato. The study of common scab is important because the fourth largest food crop is potatoes. Common scab is a disease found among potato tubers. Preventing the outbreak of this disease will lead to healthier potato crops. My research is trying to discover ways of using machines in order to analyze potatoes infected with common scab. The goal of my summer is to get more fluent in using these machines and through the use of applications like Fiji and Weka data analysis. So far in my research I have analyzed data by machine learning through application called Weka and Fiji. It has been really fun as I see how data mining can be applied through machines. Other things that I have gotten to do that are not related to my lab is visiting other farms, including the bee hives, on the Saint Paul campus with my mentor.
PI/Mentor: Cindy Tong
Date: July 14, 2023
Getting to The Good Acre in itself was an adventure. Having to reschedule our tour multiple times, we are happy to announce that we finally made it! This past Thursday, REEU students and special guests, Mayah and Sarah-Beth, accompanied us to tour the very unique and one-of-a-kind food hub known as The Good Acre. Programs Director Anna Richardson gave us the full rundown on how The Good Acre came to be, an overview of programs offered, and a tour of their phenomenal facilities.
The Good Acre was founded with the idea that they’d be able to support small farmers and help them compete against larger, conventional farming operations. Acting as a middleman between small farmers and large scale consumers, The Good Acre aims to support its small farmers in an array of ways, ranging from seed selection to getting their product on our tables. The Good Acre has even hired a full time Grow Support director whose job is to aid farmers at any stage of the growing process. Offering programs such as LEAFF, that provide financial relief and added security that their crop will be bought, The Good Acre isn’t just a consultation service, but a reliable partner for emerging farmers.
However, The Good Acre’s community support doesn’t just stop at farmers. Their facilities offer small businesses the opportunity to rent out their communal kitchen. A space where tea, sauce, and even pasta makers have access to affordable state-of-the-art facilities to make their goods. Offering affordable rates, and constant support, The Good Acre makes it possible for the nontraditional farmer or business owner to succeed in an industry that typically belongs to those who’ve been in it for generations.
Overall, The Good Acre isn’t your average food hub; it’s a safe space to help the newest generation of entrepreneurs to succeed. Founded from the generosity of others, The Good Acre continues to give back to its community, believing that with the proper knowledge, guidance, and resources available, any farmer and small business can compete in the conventional market. A special thank you to The Good Acre for showing us all they give and allowing us to tour their facilities.
Mentor: Jennifer Nicklay
PI: Nic Jelinski
Date: July 11, 2022
Almost anytime you are outside and look around, what do you see? No, it’s not the hustle and bustle of cars or people that I’m talking about. What I’m talking about is grass, turfgrass; and what you don’t realize about turfgrass is that it needs a lot of water, fertilizer, and care which goes into its upkeep towards the standards of what we would consider “good quality grass”. The reason why the work I have been doing with my mentor, Florence Sessoms, and the Watkins Turfgrass Lab is important, is because it targets that specific issue of fertilizer input, in particular nitrogen. Florence’s work with perennial ryegrasses– a type of turfgrass species–from around the world seeks to address the issue of all of the excess nitrogen fertilizers we use to try to maintain the perfect and beautiful lawns we see on a daily basis.
The work I have been doing with Florence looks at the capacity of grass to produce and secrete exudates called Biological Nitrification Inhibitors (BNIs) because of their ability to naturally inhibit nitrification and retain nitrogen in the soil under the form of ammonium. Again, this is with the goal of screening perennial ryegrass accessions from various places around the world to test their potential ability for Biological nitrification inhibition. In order to further research this topic, Florence has looked at past research and came up with an experiment which involves using a soil slurry method which looks at the amount of NO2 and NO3 left in samples after a certain amount of time. This gives a good measure of the overall capacity of certain accessions to inhibit nitrification.
Other work I have been doing with Florence has been looking at the winter hardiness of grass. For the past couple of days, I have been helping clone multiple accessions of fescue grass, which is going to be used in her trials for cold hardiness in the next couple of weeks. Aside from being in the lab and the greenhouse, I have had the opportunity to be in the field taking pictures of plots of turf, as well as checking out Allianz Field and the incredible grass field the Loons have. This far, I have really been enjoying my exposure to different aspects of the turfgrass lab, whether that be in the field or lab, and am looking forward to seeing the work we have been putting in towards Florence’s projects come to fruition.
Mentor: Florence Sessoms
PI: Eric Watkins
Date: July 11, 2022
Our Thursday afternoon trip to the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) began with Professor Julie Grossman giving us background about the Hmong population’s immigration to Minnesota. Many Hmong, as a result of aiding the US during the Vietnam War, were heavily persecuted in Laos following the culmination of the war. Many Hmong and their descendants left for the US in an attempt to find stability, opportunity, and a home. This led to many Hmong settling in certain US regions, with the largest population of Hmong currently living in California. However, the highest citywide population of any place in the US is the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Seeking a way to make a living, Hmong utilized traditional farming techniques. This is where HAFA comes in.
The Hmong American Farmers Association works towards creating equitable conditions for Hmong Americans by bridging the gap between farmers and buyers. It also works towards ensuring laws created are fair for Hmong farmers, who historically have been taken advantage of by retailers. Along with the protection of Hmong farmers rights, HAFA is a 155 acre farm which provides 5 acre plots for Hmong farmers. It also has land for research collaboration between local universities for agricultural advancement. Additionally, HAFA provides instructional sessions for farmers so that they can learn about methods for more sustainable and efficient farming practices, such as cover cropping and organic pesticide use.
The work HAFA has done with local Hmong farmers not only has allowed them to gain a foothold in the farming market in the Twin Cities, but also allows them to financially flourish. HAFA farmers have been able to make considerably more profit per acre compared to other non-HAFA farmers. Further, the farm was designed to be visually appealing. In visiting the farm, we saw the red farm sheds unique to HAFA farmers, which serves to distinguish plots from each other. The plots themselves looked lush with growth, and the diversity of plants grown on them was astonishing. They have over 100 different varieties of plants grown on the farm with origins ranging from Minnesota to Southeast Asia. One of the more interesting highlights was the description of the bitter melon, which for lack of better words, was said to taste like a grapefruit rind.
Our tour on the farm took us on a circle around the main farm station and office. We saw a few different farm plots where we got waves from friendly farmers, and eventually made our way to some organic strawberries which were being grown in collaboration with a lab at the University of Minnesota. The strawberries were delicious. We then made our way to the produce preparation and storage area, where fruits and veggies are made ready for sale at a local farmers market or grocery store. At the prep area, we were soon greeted by a smiling and insistent farmer, who gave us an entire crate of cucumbers. We gladly accepted them, and finished up our tour with our stomachs full and spirits high.
The trip to HAFA was inspiring because it showed us clearly the connection between community, farmers, and family. It was obvious that the community at HAFA was tight-knit, and the support that HAFA provides for its farmers is thorough and thoughtful. They were very friendly and welcomed us with open arms, and made the tour experience really enjoyable by giving us a glimpse of what they are trying to accomplish as an organization in a personal way.
Mentor: Florence Sessoms
PI: Eric Watkins
Date: July 11, 2022
Almost anytime you are outside and look around, what do you see? No, it’s not the hustle and bustle of cars or people that I’m talking about. What I’m talking about is grass, turfgrass; and what you don’t realize about turfgrass is that it needs a lot of water, fertilizer, and care which goes into its upkeep towards the standards of what we would consider “good quality grass”. The reason why the work I have been doing with my mentor, Florence Sessoms, and the Watkins Turfgrass Lab is important, is because it targets that specific issue of fertilizer input, in particular nitrogen. Florence’s work with perennial ryegrasses– a type of turfgrass species–from around the world seeks to address the issue of all of the excess nitrogen fertilizers we use to try to maintain the perfect and beautiful lawns we see on a daily basis.
The work I have been doing with Florence looks at the capacity of grass to produce and secrete exudates called Biological Nitrification Inhibitors (BNIs) because of their ability to naturally inhibit nitrification and retain nitrogen in the soil under the form of ammonium. Again, this is with the goal of screening perennial ryegrass accessions from various places around the world to test their potential ability for Biological nitrification inhibition. In order to further research this topic, Florence has looked at past research and came up with an experiment which involves using a soil slurry method which looks at the amount of NO2 and NO3 left in samples after a certain amount of time. This gives a good measure of the overall capacity of certain accessions to inhibit nitrification.
Other work I have been doing with Florence has been looking at the winter hardiness of grass. For the past couple of days, I have been helping clone multiple accessions of fescue grass, which is going to be used in her trials for cold hardiness in the next couple of weeks. Aside from being in the lab and the greenhouse, I have had the opportunity to be in the field taking pictures of plots of turf, as well as checking out Allianz Field and the incredible grass field the Loons have. This far, I have really been enjoying my exposure to different aspects of the turfgrass lab, whether that be in the field or lab, and am looking forward to seeing the work we have been putting in towards Florence’s projects come to fruition.
Mentors: Alex Crum/Natalie Hoidal
PIs: Natalie Hoidal/Ya Yang
Date: June 27, 2022
For me, the visit to Big River's Farm was innovative. I like the concept of the farm and how they work to help small farmers. I was amazed to see the love and professionalism of how they do it to have better agriculture. They help farmers by renting a piece of land for a time agreement and then help them sell their produce. They sell the products with a very efficient marketing, this consists of customers paying a membership in exchange for receiving a box of fresh products every so often, for the delivery of these boxes they have volunteers who work supporting these organizations. This farm in winter is dedicated to giving talks to farmers on agricultural techniques and how they can be more efficient on their farms. The post-harvest, preparations and packaging facilities that Big River Farm has are very efficient and safe for the consumer. We need more organizations that help the farmer to be able to sell their products in a successful way. For me, everything I am seeing and learning is of great value, since I can take the best ideas from different places and then apply them on my farm in Puerto Rico and thus be able to provide an excellent service. In this farm they practice sustainable and organic agriculture, this adds value to the work of the farmers. They also support the diversity of cultures, which is something I really like. Last Friday the 24th, I visited Big river farm to collect some medicinal plants and start a part of my research project. There I was able to meet May, a farmer from the Hmong community. It was great fun to see the diversity of crops and the love with which they work.
PI: Dr. Mary Rogers
Date: June 19, 2022
Aaniin niiji-giikino'amaaganidog. Karen Joy nindizhinikaaz, mikinoc niin (n)indoodem, Gakaabikaang niin (n)indoonjiibaa, Niminwendam ji-nitaa-ojibwemoyaan.
That was a Minnesota Native Ojibwe greeting. “I say hello to you my fellow students. My name is Karen Joy, my family clan is Turtle. I am from Minneapolis.
I like learning my Ojibwe Language” I am a student of Red Lake Nation College, taking courses online since last August. I'm re-learning the history of my people, taking Native American studies with a focus on communications and traditional plant medicines. I have been assigned the first blog of our SOAR-REEU Summer fellowship.
Allow me to start us off by saying what an exciting experience it is. I am extremely grateful to be a part of it all. I was delighted to have been invited to study and reside here on the U of M campus. I am in awe of the brilliant and humble people I have met so far. Salut to my cohorts, primary researchers, and my mentor. The staff, coordinators and other hosts are all very gracious and encouraging. They have thought of everything to put forth an enriching experience, along with great comfort in accommodations. We are surrounded by resources and many different disciplines of science and nature that I am eager to have access to and receive wisdom from. I appreciate all the effort that has gone into the planning and making of this incredible opportunity. I am invigorated by hands-on learning, spending time outdoors, playing in the dirt, and soaking up knowledge. I can sum up my first two weeks here in two words...inspiring and exhausting!
Last week our Tuesday seminar exposed us to Research Poster Presentations. We will all be given the chance to create a poster ourselves and present our individual research projects. I have to admit, the thought of all this is a teeny bit daunting. I myself have never done this type of data collecting and research, let alone have to explain to another person but I am up for the challenge. I felt a skosh awkward as I entered, I could sense that a few of my cohorts may have had similar feels. We were all just gazing around wondering where to start. Some of the researchers were readying their stations and talking amongst themselves. Why is it when you see another person in the room sweating, fumbling, or fidgeting that you are instantly reassured? I was reminded that we are all human, we are here to learn and share, and like the plants we observe, we will all grow together through this journey of discovery.
Lunch arrived, ahh FOOD, the international language and gatherer. Before you know it the room was all a buzz with the energy and chatter of intellectuals and the smell of good pizza. I feel that inclusion and community are foundational elements woven into the spirit of this internship. Despite any insecurities I was carrying, everyone was very open and engaging. That allowed me to let go and dive in to absorb all the new info they had to share. I began to observe and then form questions, asking led to more questions. To quote my mentor Matt, “no matter how much we discover, there is always another question.”
What I learned about poster making. There were a good number of research studies that we were able to get into. Potatoes, tomatoes, sunflowers, berries, soil, and fruit flies. (Ojibwe word: Manidoonz. Translates to tiny or little spirit) The biggest poster in the room involved a study that only took a couple of days. Other examples took three years or more to accumulate enough data to present results. There was an abundance of facts, figures, and findings all too much to mention here but I would like to highlight the meat & potatoes per se for my blog. I was dutiful to pay particular attention to the similarities of each study. Keeping in mind our own upcoming task to take our discoveries from lab & field and apply those to a visual guide of our works. Below I have summarized the parts & particles I observed at our seminar to provide readers a blueprint of sorts. So what goes into a good poster? Here is a list of items to consider and include.
Pictures are great attention getters, make them as visually appealing as you can to entice your audience. Try to present a perspective of the subject that people maybe haven't seen before. Microscopic or bird-eye views are something to explore and experiment with through pictures.
Choose an aesthetic or design to demonstrate your information. Play with color schemes, font, borders, etc. Keep a neat consistent visual that's not too busy and helps to lead the eye, including arrows and shapes, and highlights.
Know your project from beginning to end and practice speaking on it. Track or journal the discoveries you encounter through out your works, call out points of interest. Record as many details as you can about the plot design, lab, and experiment setup.
Be willing to share what was most interesting to you. Sharing your personal story or intent are good ways to engage.
Try to think of what comes next, what questions might an observer have and be ready to answer.
Aside from the artsy fluff, there are foundational parts that go into your poster such as
Title, banner, brief description or name of your project, lab name, school, and/or dept.
Abstract, Intro, or Background on the subject.
Thesis, objectives, variables and obstructions, use of data sets, tables, and graphs,
Mention materials and methods used in the study.
Results, Conclusions, and findings.
Cite your sources and include links.
Other optional inclusions can be footers, logos, sponsors, collaborators, your headshot, and contact information for further questions and/or outreach purposes. etc.
I’d like to leave you with one last resource that was shared with me, Google- Better Science Posters for pleather of modern and informative approaches to poster making and presentation. I hope that readers and research assistant can find this useful in some way. I wish us all great success and tons of fun and intrigue in the coming weeks! Mii eta go minik waa-ikidoyaan. Miigwech bizindawiyeg. Gigawaabamin miniwaaa. (That’s all I want to say, Thank you all for listening to me. We will see each other again) Life Long Learner, Karen Joy