Owatonna’s Hometown Sampler This Weekend

March is Minnesota's FoodShare Month, a grassroots campaign to get the food shelves stocked throughout the State to help those who have food insecurities. "Minnesota FoodShare began its work in 1982 with a campaign advanced by congregations to restock food shelves in the 7-county Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. The effort was so successful and the need was so evident, the March Campaign became a statewide program just one year later." What a testament to the original group, it is still going strong, over 30 years later.

The Owatonna Hometown Sampler is this weekend already, a great way to get momentum going for FoodShare Month. What better way to get rid of the cabin fever we are all feeling and help out the Steele County Food Shelf? And, the best part is the admission; it's a freewill donation of non-perishable food, or money, which goes right to the Steele County Food Shelf.

There are four local bands for your listening pleasure, Fruit Cocktail, The Gogs, Turn the Page, and Mile 5. Vianna Bohlen and Colin Whalen were guests on Talk of the Town Monday, and they said that the music covers most genres, so there is something for everyone. And, the emcees, well, they said they were practicing hard to make it a memorable performance. The emcees this year are John Havelka and Dave Otto. You can check out their Facebook page here.

There are four performances this year, which has grown from the single performance of the first Sampler, over 20 years ago. You can catch this great medley of hometown musicians at the Little Theater of Owatonna on Friday, March 1 at 7 pm, Saturday, March 2 at 3 pm and 7 pm, and Sunday, March 3, at 3 pm. I was told that they are dedicating this weekend to the memory of Dave Schroeder, who played a huge role in getting the Sampler started in Owatonna.