MIDWEST ACCESS: July 15, 2026

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – We’ve made it half-way through the week! Here’s how we are celebrating at Midwest Access.

SEGMENT 1: Wheat Trail Festival - Hayden Ashworth performs “A Call Away”

We’re less than two weeks away from the inaugural Wheat Trail Festival in Goodhue, a new country music and camping event created to support mental health and suicide awareness in rural communities.

The idea grew out of LIVIN, a Twin Cities festival launched eight years ago. After attending that event, Goodhue-area residents wanted to bring the same kind of gathering—and its message—to southern Minnesota.

Organizers say their goal is more than just a fun weekend. They want Wheat Trail to feel like a big community get-together where people enjoy live country music, camp under the stars, and leave knowing they’re surrounded by neighbors willing to help when life gets hard.

The message is especially important in rural areas, where a strong work ethic and “just push through it” attitude can sometimes make it harder for people to ask for help. Many farmers face constant stress from things they can’t control—like milk and crop prices and long winters—and may need a reminder that they don’t have to deal with it alone.

The festival will feature performances on July 24 and 25, along with on-site camping. Goodhue native Hayden Ashworth will be performing Saturday night with his band Foster Grand, ahead of Cori Kennedy and Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery.

Hayden is also sharing an original song, “A Call Away,” written after a close friend he served with in the military died by suicide. The song centers on the idea that sometimes reaching out can start with a simple phone call—while acknowledging that asking for help often doesn’t feel easy.

Tickets for single nights, camping details, volunteer sign-ups, and sponsorship information are all available through the festival’s website. Organizers are already planning for next year and are inviting people passionate about mental health and suicide prevention to join the committee.

Hopefully, the Wheat Trail Festival can not only become a yearly Goodhue tradition, but also a model that can be replicated in other communities across the country.

SEGMENT 2: The Landing MN “Lace up for Hope 2026″ Run/Walk with TerraLoco

The Landing MN is inviting families, runners, and walkers to “Lace Up for Hope 2026,” a 5K run and one‑mile walk set for Saturday, July 25 at Little Thistle Brewing in Rochester. The second‑annual event raises money to support people experiencing homelessness, with all registration fees and fundraising proceeds going directly to The Landing MN’s day‑to‑day services, and in partnership with TerraLoco.

There’s still time to sign up online through the Thursday before the race. Organizers say participants can also register at packet pickup or on race day, though prices go up closer to the event. The 5K is designed to be fun and welcoming rather than competitive, with options for serious runners, casual walkers, and families. Strollers and pets are welcome, and there’s a one‑mile option for anyone who doesn’t want to do the full 5K.

The Landing MN is a local nonprofit that operates a day center open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering meals, clothing, showers, laundry, housing navigation, on‑site medical care, and help with documents and job searches—all under one roof. The goal is to remove everyday barriers people face while homeless, from extreme heat and cold to lack of IDs, clean clothes, or a safe place to go, and to help guests take the first steps toward stability.

Lace Up for Hope also includes a dunk tank to raise extra funds, with staff and community members taking turns in the hot‑day splash zone. Registrants receive a swag bag that includes a free drink at Little Thistle and a free scoop of ice cream at Flapdoodle, along with other goodies.

SEGMENT 3: Viv’s Groovy Garden Grub - Hollandberry Pannekoeken

SEGMENT 4: Tooth Talk with Dr. Katie Post - Gum Disease, Heath Impacts and Prevention

Gum disease isn’t just about your teeth—and that’s the big message Dr. Katie Post from Northwest Dental Group wants people to hear. She says a lot of patients with great dental insurance, including Delta Dental, haven’t been in a dentist’s chair for 10 years or more. Often, it’s due to fear; fear of pain, fear of bad news, or just feeling embarrassed.

But staying away has real consequences. When you skip cleanings, bacteria build up on your teeth and under your gums. That bacteria can slip into your bloodstream, latch onto heart valves, and even be tied to infections in artificial knees and hips. Orthopedic surgeons often ask dentists to treat gum disease after there’s a problem—but the ideal time, Dr. Katie says, is long before a joint ever gets infected.

As we age, we’re naturally more at risk. Our saliva gets thicker, we tend to drink more caffeine (which dries us out), and those little changes make it easier for bacteria to thrive.

So how do you know where you stand? Dentists measure the space between your teeth and gums in millimeters:

• 1–2 mm: Healthy, what you’d expect in a typical teen. A toothbrush can reach this easily.
• 3–4 mm: A warning zone. Time to step up brushing, flossing, maybe add an electric toothbrush or water flosser.
• 5 mm and deeper—with bleeding: That’s gum disease. The bleeding is a sign of inflammation and infection.

On the outside, you might notice:

• Pink, firm gums (healthy)
• Or gums that look red, puffy, and swollen
• Black triangles or bigger spaces between teeth
• Persistent, bad breath
• In severe cases, pus around teeth

Dr. Katie Post describes hardened buildup under the gums—called calculus—like a “coral reef” of bacteria. Once it’s there, no amount of home flossing will get it off; it has to be removed professionally.

That’s where a deep-cleaning treatment called root planing and scaling comes in. Patients are numbed so they’re comfortable, and the dental team uses special ultrasonic tools to gently clean deep around the roots of the teeth and remove the bacteria and buildup.

The surprising part? Many patients come back a couple of weeks later and say they feel totally different—more energy, fewer “mystery” aches—because their body isn’t fighting a hidden infection anymore.

Stress can make everything worse. Dr. Katie shared stories from her time as a VA dentist, seeing young veterans back from Afghanistan who had never had cavities but had such severe gum disease that some teeth had to be removed. High stress and cortisol can weaken the body’s defenses, letting bacteria take over—especially if regular cleanings have been missed.

If all of this sounds scary, she’s quick to say: that’s exactly why you should come in, not avoid it. Treatment can be comfortable, and there’s no judgment—just a chance to get healthier.

SEGMENT 5: PCHW Pet of the Week - Parker, Presented by VCA Animal Hospitals

Parker is a playful, animated, radiant, kindhearted, enthusiastic, rescue kitten. He is one of five kittens who came to Paws and Claws Humane Socity with their mother when they were just 5 days old.

The family of cats went to a foster home to get lots of TLC; with fur of the kittens returning to Paws and Claws to be adopted.

Parker stayed in his foster home a little longer, but now he is 4 months old and ready to find a home of his own, too.

Parker loves to play with everyone, even adult cats. Sometimes that gets him into a little trouble. He also likes to prance around like a little pony.

Parker would love to have another kitten or playful adult cat for a pal in his new home.