Lori Ehde photo/0922 corn stalks on main street

Luverne’s identity as a farming community is once again illustrated by cornstalks decorating lightpoles on Main Street. For the past several years a group of individuals has volunteered time and resources to dress up downtown. Kathy Jarchow and George Bonnema have been the driving force, organizing a group of a dozen boys from Southwest Youth Services in Magnolia to help. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the 2011 version of the decorating committee gathered with a load of corn donated by Grant and Eric Binford. Roughly 20 cornstalks and 20 ears of corn were attached to each lightpole from the library to Herman Motors. “We do it to show we care about how Main Street looks,” Jarchow said. With the Tri-State Band Festival drawing thousands of visitors to town, she said the decorations are one more way to show community pride. Also helping this year were Brandee (Scott) Weber, Tim Jarchow and Lori Martinson.