Relocation and Coordination in Minnesota
The COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2023 brought structural shifts to the Stadum family. For Scott, this period involved relocating back to Faribault, Minnesota, in Rice County, to support his family, coordinate care, and begin organizing historical family documents.
During his time in Faribault, Scott engaged in public advocacy journalism. He wrote articles for Access Press, Minnesota's disability news resource, covering state Department of Human Services (DHS) programs and policy updates. This writing provided vital public information on how state support structures were adapting to pandemic constraints, translating his digital transparency background into direct local reporting.
Historical Archiving and Local Coordination
This era also marked the genesis of this living family archive. While residing in Faribault, Scott began collecting Palmer's model train photos, historical news clips from the Baker cooperative electrification, and oral histories recorded from his father Rodney. The physical proximity to family files and obituaries in Rice County allowed for a systematic categorization of the descendants chart and documents.
In addition, Scott assisted with administrative tasks and digital coordination at Trinity Lutheran Church, where his mother Kathy Bode served as the long-time office manager. This era of relocation represented a quiet but highly productive period of preserving family heritage, laying the foundation for the digital archive launched in 2024.
