Pure maple syrup produced in Hibbing has taken top honors at the annual international competition held by the North American Maple Syrup Council.
David Dahl, a hobbyist member of the Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers Association, was judged the North American Council’s Best In Show.
Dahl’s syrup was among entries from fifteen states and Canadian provinces. It also took first place in the golden maple syrup category, one of four categories judged.
Golden syrup comes in early spring and makes up a small portion of a season’s crop. The delicate taste of golden maple syrup pairs well with vanilla and dairy, or in light flavored cocktails.
Dahl taps about 100 trees each spring to make his Cedar Valley Pure Maple Syrup for family and friends.
He also won Best In Show last year at the Minnesota State Fair.
-
Organizers say 100 clergy were arrested Jan. 23, 2026, at a morning protest at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.
-
The first of two Native American Heritage Nights Jan. 20, 2026, included drumming, dancing and an Ojibwe-language broadcast. The second is Jan. 30 against Grand Rapids.
-
Becker County Sheriff Todd Glander and Clearwater County Sheriff Darin Halverson recently announced they wouldn't seek reelection in 2026.
-
Plus: Nisswa City Council votes to censure Mayor Jennifer Carnahan and strip her of committee posts; and a general strike against ICE presence in Minnesota is Friday.
-
Permits are needed to visit the Boundary Waters in May through September. The Superior National Forest encourages planning your backcountry trip and only reserving permits you can use.
-
The area is located in the Rainy River Watershed, next to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and contains deposits of copper, nickel and cobalt.
-
The Nisswa City Council advised its attorney in December 2025 to draft a resolution censuring Mayor Jennifer Carnahan, which passed unanimously on Jan. 20, 2026.
-
-
Citing the killing of Renee Good by federal agent Jonathan Ross, the “ICE Out” day organizers say the general strike is intended to be a day of nonviolent reflection.
-
And: The Baxter City Council opposes MnDOT's plans for the Highway 371/210 intersection; and Rock Ridge hosts the first-ever high school broadcast in Ojibwe.
-
Wind chills or "feels like" temperatures could range between 30 and 60 degrees below zero Jan. 22-25, 2026.
-
Three warehouses in Hibbing store core from over 20,000 holes drilled throughout Minnesota, keeping a "natural record" of the state's geology — but the DNR is running out of room.