I mentioned in my last column I was off to Austin for the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener (MGPHO). The press is invited to this event to provided coverage and bring attention to pheasant hunting in Minnesota, and along the way the host city gets a lot of positive press coverage, much like Luverne benefited from hosting the event last year.
I attended the event as a press person, but truth be told, I was there more as a past host city committee member to see how Luverne stacked up to this year’s host city.
In keeping with the Minnesota nice tradition, Austin, Explore Minnesota and the DNR put on another great show. Unfortunately for Austin, the weather didn’t really cooperate and many of their events had to be canceled or moved inside. To Austin’s credit they rolled with the bad weather punches and pulled off the event with what I am sure had a lot of behind-the-scenes shuffling and juggling of events.
I must say, and in the spirit of full disclosure here I may be a bit biased, but Luverne is still the standard that all future host cities will be compared to. That said, Austin did top us on one front. They actually had the governor at their event.
One of the things we wanted to accomplish as a host city of the MGPHO was to somehow carry the momentum from last year’s opener to an annual pheasant-hunting get-together. Well, our first try at such an event is going by the name RINGNECK REUNION.
The first annual Ringneck Reunion gets underway Friday night with the Rock County Pheasants Forever Banquet kicking off the two-day event at Take 16. There are only a few tickets left, so if you want one, stop down at the Star Herald.
Immediately following the Friday banquet under the tent at Take 16, The Fattenin’ Frogs take the stage with the sounds of electric country music and that is free and open to the public.
Saturday’s events included a veterans hunt, and here is a public plea. We have room for about 10 veterans for a guided pheasant hunt. All you need is a Minnesota hunting license and a pheasant stamp. Give me a call or stop down at the chamber office and talk to Jane and we’ll get you signed up.
We are also having the first-ever side by side rally. The Side-by-Side rides will gather at Take 16 shortly before noon, get registered (no cost) and receive the information packet. The ride is about 85 miles long with stops in Kenneth, Hardwick, Beaver Creek, Hills and back to Luverne. You can travel the route any way you wish.
And while all this is going on, there is a Team Pheasant Hunt underway. Teams comprised of up to four hunters will be hitting the fields in search of roosters. Teams can turn in up to four roosters that will be weighed, tail feathers and spurs will measured and tallied to determine the winning team. There is a $100 entry per team. First place pays $500 to the winning team, $400 for second place, $300 for third.
The longest tail feather of the day is worth $100. The team with the lowest total will win some beer chips from Take 16.
A huge thank you goes out to Security Savings Bank for sponsoring the first-place prize. Loosbrock Electrical Construction is the second-place sponsor, and the Luverne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is the third-place sponsor. The Beaver Creek Sportsman’s Club put up the $100 for the longest tail feather.
Around 5 o’clock at Take 16 the After Crow Party and Awards event gets underway. Barbecue pork sandwiches will be available — and of course your favorite Take 16 beverage. Live music by Too Drunk to Fish will be on hand starting at 6 p.m. Awards will be handed out at 7 to the team hunt winners as well as the Side-by-Side Poker Rally winners. In addition to all of that, the trophy will be presented to the winner of the “We Love Pork Challenge” contest.
So this weekend is sure to be full of pheasant hunting, high school football and Side by Side fun, enjoy.