2012-2013 Projects & Accomplishments
- Received “Conservation Excellence -$2 Million Spending on Habitat” award at 2012 Minnesota PF state convention for cumulative chapter habitat expenditures.
- Applied for and received $607,500 grant from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council for a 157 acre expansion of the Warsaw WMA. This parcel was donated to the Minnesota DNR in 2011.
- Purchased a used Polaris Ranger 6 wheeler and a dual axel trailer to be used along with a second Ranger 6 wheeler and trailer, both fully equipped with pumps and tanks for conducting controlled burns.
- Conducted 32 controlled burns on 431 acres to assist landowners with their grassland habitat management.
- Hosted eight youth on the DNR’s Special PF Mentored Youth Pheasant Hunts in October 2011/2012.
- Recognized in PF’s annual report as the PF chapter with the second highest amount of habitat expenditures ($916,327) in fiscal year 2011 among all 700 PF chapters nationwide.
- Arranged and assisted on 3 Scout projects including two Eagle Scout projects conducted by the Hastings Boy Scout Troop on the new Warsaw WMA prior to donation to the DNR. Projects included development of the parking area, removal of undesirable trees, developing and installing two new tree plantations and native grass plantings.
- Donated eight cases of shotgun shells to the Goodhue Co. 4-H Shooting Sports project & Pine Island FFA shooting team.
- Received the first ever 2011 Goodhue County SWCD Wildlife Habitat Management of the Year Award.
- Planted and maintained food plots on three of the county’s WMAs.
- Sponsored two Advanced Youth Hunter Education Seminars for 40 youth at the Zumbro Valley Rifle Club.
- Contracted with county farmers for approximately 25 acres per winter of food plots totaling in excess of $7,000 of payments or planting expense.
- Continued seven nesting cover project contracts.
- Gave $6,000 of funding to PF’s Legislative Action Fund in Washington, which has had a major influence on the conservation element of the farm bill. PF continues to be recognized as the most influential and effective conservation organization on agricultural issues.
- Contributed $1,000 to PF’s Minnesota Habitat Fund (MHF), which has been involved in the acquisition of 11,000 acres in Minnesota for WMA’s since 1998. The MHF has invested over 1.6 million dollars in Minnesota public hunting habitat since its start. This fund contributed $20,000 to the Warsaw WMA expansion in 2011.
- Gave $2,000 to PF’s Mn. Land & Legacy Fund which annually funds acquisitions of WMA and Waterfowl Production Areas in Minnesota. Twelve acquisitions for 1820 acres were acquired in 2012.
