From Lanesboro to Washington, D.C., one woman helped shape the future of rural education in America.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we trace the remarkable life of Katherine Cook, born in Lanesboro, Minnesota, who rose to become Chief of the Division of Rural Education for the U.S. Bureau of Education. At a time when rural schools were often overlooked, Katherine traveled the country—sometimes by small plane—studying school conditions, advocating for children in isolated communities, and pushing for better education for rural students, minority groups, and children with special needs.

Though her work influenced classrooms nationwide, her story is rarely told today. We explore how a woman from a small river town helped guide national education policy, why her contributions mattered, and how Lanesboro quietly left its mark on America’s schools.

This is a story of leadership, persistence, and a hometown legacy that reached far beyond southeastern Minnesota.

Why did one stretch of woods gain such a dark reputation?

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we explore the infamous Jordan Woods—a place repeatedly named in historic newspaper crime reports across Fillmore County. Using original sources, we uncover what really happened, what may have been exaggerated, and how reputation alone can shape local history.

A story of headlines, human behavior, and a place that became larger than life.

What if Fillmore County once echoed with the footsteps of a saber-toothed tiger?

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we journey back to the Ice Age to explore evidence of ancient predators that once roamed Fillmore County, Minnesota. From caves and fossils to climate shifts and extinction, we uncover how these animals lived—and what traces they left behind.

This is Minnesota history, long before history was written.