If you were to pull into any farmyard in Westman and take a peek in the front closet, you'd likely see some plaid, a few pairs of coveralls, and a dusty old ballcap, all part of the uniform for the stereotypical farmer. At first glance, the Lepp sisters Cassandra and Stefanie may not fit the style found in most farmers' closets, but they can pull a wrench, stack a bale and drive a tractor better than most. The sisters who help run Rivers Air Spray, a family businesses just north of Brandon, have developed a social media / online following showcasing their love for fashion and farming. "We have always enjoyed expressing ourselves through our style, and at the same time, we are equally as comfortable in our workwear. We think that is an important message to send out to young girls and all women," Cassandra told BDNMB. "Stefanie went to modeling school and has always loved photography. We were and are constantly told we do not look like farmers. We started our page to empower anyone to chase their passion." The sisters have over 19,8000 followers on Instagram (@thetulepps), and although the online presence plays a significant role in their life, they know where the real priorities are. Cassandra and Stefanie are the ground crew for their father as he flies his Dromader and 802F Air Tractor all over Westman while helping their two brothers market a commercial sweep that is sold worldwide. Their unique collection of photos showcases the two sisters changing the oil in the tractor, helping at harvest time, unloading grain, and playing with the family dogs, all while displaying an impressive eye for fashion, makeup, style, and art. It may be an unconventional look behind the curtain into the world of farming, but the Lepp’s know they are making an impact. "We think it is important, especially for young girls, to see women comfortably glammed up or with no makeup fixing a tractor.  What we put out is very much who we are, and we are humbled by the support we have received. We have been told we have inspired other women to get in the tractors or do something they are uncomfortable with, and that is really rewarding for us." While they may not define themselves as trailblazers, the Lepp sisters know that the dynamic of the family farm has changed drastically in the last 40 years. Long gone are the days where papa went to work in the field, while mama stayed home and cooked up the meal. Women are more involved in the day to day operations of the farm than ever before, something the Lepp’s are proud to help showcase. "We share positivity, individuality, empowerment, mental health awareness, and facts about agriculture, “added Cassandra. "We want our page to be a positive one. We want to share our lifestyle with the general public to show the world what the ag community provides to society and not what the media often shows.  Farmers are some of the smartest, multitalented, hard-working, and kind people we have ever met."

Brandon, MB – When you can't visit your local barber to get your hair cut professionally, why not shave it off for a good cause? That is exactly what Q Country & 94.7 STAR FM's Tyler Glen did. On Friday, May 1, 2020, Glen went LIVE on Facebook after blowing his fundraising goal of $5,000 for the Samaritan House Food Bank out of the water. With the support of the local community, he was able to raise over $5,600 for his "Ty's Awful Haircut 2 Battle Hunger 4 Samaritan House Food Bank" initiative, and he stayed true to his word by shaving his head. "Food banks everywhere are going through a really tough time right now, and our local food bank is no exception," explained Glen. "Like so many in self-isolation whose hairdressers are closed, a home haircut was on my agenda! I thought it might be fun to take it to the next level and help the food bank at the same time. The result was something that helped Samaritan House and helped put a few smiles on people's faces at a tough time." After seeing this on Facebook over the weekend, Westman Communications Group, who owns and operates Q Country 91.5 FM and 94.7 STAR FM, stepped up to the plate to support this amazing cause by matching the funds raised and bringing the total to over $11,200. "We are very proud of Tyler's efforts to support the local foodbank, especially right now when they need donations the most," said President & CEO Dave Baxter. "We are honoured to support Tyler's initiative and such a great nonprofit organization with a matched donation of $5,500." Westman Communications Group is proud to support the local communities in which they serve, as they know that it is especially important to support local, now more than ever. (submitted)

A new coffee shop (H Coffee) will soon be operational in Brandon's west end at 60- 3300 Victoria Ave, inside the Sunset Mall. H Coffee stands for happy, home, health. The neighborhood community coffee shop will serve a variety of coffees, teas, lattes & more. Dessert items will also be added to the menu. The owners had previously run a similar coffee shop in China prior to relocating to Brandon in July of 2019. They are members of The SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) and the Q Grader of CQI (Coffee Quality Institute). Renovations on the unit started in December and a soft opening has been scheduled for Monday, May 11. For now store hours will be Monday-Saturday, 9am-6pm.

Popular Brandon restaurant Sabor Latino shared information earlier today that they plan to open a Mexican Food Trailer this summer in the parking lot of Canadian Tire and Tim Horton's on 18th Street. Anamilena Beltrancastaneda tells bdnmb.ca that she is hopeful for an early June opening. Her and her husband (Helder Niano) are currently completing some renovations on the 28ft trailer as well as finalizing the menu. While Sabor Latino showcases the cuisine of 4-different countries, this new trailer will feature an authentic Mexican menu with items like burritos, tacos, nachos and quesadillas. They are going to explore the option of having some patio type seating. According to Beltrancastaneda, they wanted to open a food trailer as a way of expanding their exiting business. Once fully operational she said that they expect to hire an additional 5-6 people and that the trailer will be available for catering including weddings, anniversaries, staff functions, festivals & more. Stay tuned to bdnmb.ca in the coming weeks for both a menu and the opportunity to win some free meals.

Running With Wood is a local business making beautiful, hand-crafted wood items including sport logos, cutting boards, toy boxes, kitchen tables, business logos, cabin signs & more. Gordon Sokolosky, owner of Running With Wood, tells bdnmb.ca that he has been doing woodworking for around 4 years. He's a stay at home dad who was just looking for something to fill empty time and a different challenge to his day. Sokolosky's grandpa was a woodworker and his dad currently is woodworking out of Portage. Everything he makes is made to order and he’ll make, or try to make, anything people want. According to Sokolosky, pieces can take anywhere from a few days to a week to a couple months. "Just depends on how hard it is or the time I have in the shop". He usually gets up most mornings at 4am with a run, then straight to the shop after until 7am when the kids get up. That’s how he came up with his business name "Running With Wood". He is an avid runner who we recently featured for placing 3rd in a 100-mile race in Arizona. The best way to view or get in contact with Sokolosky about his work is his Facebook page. The demand of keeping up with custom orders keeps him extremely busy and leaves little time to make enough extra stock for craft sales.