As the busy mom of three energetic girls under the age of 5, Kathi Johnson of Kiron, Iowa, savors hearty meals that can be made in minutes.  Chunky Italian Soup is one of her go-to recipes during the winter months because it makes good use of their home-grown beef and incorporates a kids’ favorite, Rotini.  Plus, it “disguises” lots of vegetables.

“I do my best to make nutritious meals, so hopefully my kids won’t grow up to be junk food junkies,” says Kathi.  “Anything I can do to help them take part in making the meal helps increase the likelihood they’ll eat it.

Grating carrots and pouring cans of vegetables into a pot are just a few ways kids can lend a helping hand in the kitchen this time of year.  In the summer time, they can help raise fruits and vegetables.

Gardening is a highlight for the Johnson family.  “Our girls love picking raspberries.  They’ll fill each of their fingers with berries,” says Kathi.  “It’s fun to see them excited about how things grow, and I’m glad they enjoy something that’s so good for them.”

Nurturing crops and raising food is a Johnson family tradition.  Kathi’s husband, Troy, was raised on a family farm and has farmed on his own for the past 20 years.  In addition to row crops, he raises feeder cattle and sells seed.

With spring planting still a few months away, the Johnson family values family time inside.  Their girls enjoy building with the Tinker Toys they got for Christmas.  They also enjoy play dough.

How does your family fight cabin fever?

Potosi, Wisconsin… home of Latham® dealer Andria White, the Potosi Brewery and the National Brewery Museum.

Potosi is nestled along the Mississippi River in southwestern Wisconsin and is only a 30-minute drive from Dubuque, Iowa.  It’s well worth the drive – even a two-hour detour – in my humble opinion.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised by all this little village has to offer!  The National Brewery Museum is interesting; the pub grub is some of the best I’ve ever eaten; and the tidy farmsteads dotting the countryside make rural Grant County equally enchanting.

It’s on one of these Grant County farms that Andria White and her husband, Jim, make their home.  After graduating from the University Wisconsin – Platteville in 2008, Andria returned to her family’s farm.  She also decided to become a Latham seed dealer because it allowed her to put her degree to work by starting her own business doing something that she’s passionate about: agriculture.

Andria farms in partnership with her parents.  They raise corn, soybeans, alfalfa and sod and have a cow-calf operation, as well.  Andria and Jim also raise Angus cattle, Katahdin sheep and fainting goats.  Because Jim works off-farm as an electrician, Andria spends the majority of the day tending to livestock.

There’s nothing like a hot bowl of home-made soup to help warm you up after working outside all day.  And it’s only natural that these Wisconsinites would enjoy a hearty cheese soup, featuring the area’s favorite brew.  Add a side salad and a little home-made beer bread, and you have a complete meal!

“Unless you are a big ale drinker, a mild beer such as the ‘Good Old Potosi’ may be a better option.  The ale flavor comes through farely strong,” says Andria.  “I made this soup last night and it was a great ‘comfort supper’ on a cold night!”

Fast Facts on Potosi, Wisconsin

• Population of 703 in July 2009
• “Catfish Capitol of Wisconsin” and hosts an annual Catfish Festival Fireman’s Fish Fry the 2^nd weekend of August
• Boasts “the longest Main Street in the world without a cross street,” according to a 1950s item in Ripley’s Believe It Or Not 

Andria says, “I found this recipe online and decided to try it because it starts off similar to the baked potato soup recipe (which is my FAVORITE!)  that you posted last winter on The Field Position.”