From the Editor

Life is full of contrasts.

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In fact, it is those jarring juxtapositions that catch our attention, from the unexpected change in tempo in a song that keeps our mind from drifting to a ripple across an otherwise smooth lake surface that makes us look for its source, or the historic home clinging to its place in a changing neighborhood that forces us to recognize the change happening around us.

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Often, it is the people we encounter who refuse to fit neatly into a single category or box whom we find most interesting. Those are the people and things we are celebrating in this issue, and we’re making some unexpected moves of our own at the same time.

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At just 18, our cover woman is the youngest woman we’ve ever featured on a cover. And while her diverse talents and interests fit the theme perfectly, perhaps it is also a juxtaposition that we’re highlighting her for her potential, rather than reserving recognition strictly for a lifetime of achievement. Following Adey Oliver through her high school years—from dance studio to hockey arena to parade float to a favorite fishing spot—leaves us wondering what wide-ranging possibilities await as she takes to the skies, the science lab and the future.

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Throughout this issue, we introduce you to women who are far from one-dimensional and aren’t afraid to shake things up a little to see what happens next.

Katie Fries’s voice may be soothing and steady as she helps college freshmen navigate their new lives, but it is strong and unmistakable belting out amazing songs in musicals onstage with local community theater groups.

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Emma Justin’s analytical brain works overtime managing the complex world of commodities for Kwik Trip, but she puts the creative side to work creating cozy spaces in the growing portfolio of vacation cabins she manages alongside her husband.

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Staci Kring is going against the grain as she and her husband craft a whole new line of cocktails with spirits distilled from the Dairy State’s namesake product.

In a world of specialized medicine and fragmented information, family physicians are bringing us back around to the relationships treasured with the old-time “family doc” who truly knew you, as a person not just a patient.

Meet a retired pastor who is painting her own perfect retirement story, proving that life doesn’t have just one chapter.

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And keep rolling with a kindergarten teacher, a retired hot-air balloon company owner (really!) and other women whose weekday personas seem at odds with their weekends full of horsepower and hot rods, showcasing their personal passions at area auto shows with some sweet rides that feature emotional tributes and unexpected pop culture references.

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There are sure to be other surprises inside the 14 homes you’ll find featured in the La Crosse Area Builders Association 2026 Parade of Homes lineup—a partnership we’ve been honored to continue since 2003. 

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As we work through our 25th year of publication and beyond, we intend to keep bringing you the unexpected stories that make you rethink preconceived notions about what is possible, that help you appreciate the unique characteristics of each individual around you and that inspire you to think outside the box. Don’t let outside expectations pigeonhole who you are or keep you from uncovering your true self—in all of its variations.