The team members and riders of the Friendship Wagon Train are gearing up for their annual week-long trek to raise funds for children and adults with developmental disabilities who attend Camp Winnebago.

Many of the volunteers of the 2009 Friendship Wagon Train will be traveling across the countryside in wagons pulled by horses or mules, while others will be riding in a saddle. The trip begins near Caledonia and ends at the Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin. The public is invited to come out to see and visit with them during the week of June 20-27. This year, the group will be assembling at Camp Winnebago on Friday, June 19. The wagon train will leave on its journey at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 20.

Camp Winnebago, located near Caledonia, runs several one-week camps for these special people to share in outdoor activities that most of us take for granted.

The wagon train will follow:

Saturday, June 20 — Camp Winnebago to Eitzen (lunch) to Spring Grove (camping along state Highway 44 in the field in front of Kraus Oil Co)

Sunday, June 21 — Spring Grove to the Paul Vickerman farm (just outside Mabel) for overnight camp

Monday, June 22 — Vickerman farm to Lenora (lunch) to rural Canton (camping in field along Fillmore County Road 30 southwest of Canton)

Tuesday, June 23 — Rural Canton to Granger (lunch) to Mike and Juliann Mueller farm

Wednesday, June 24 — Mueller farm to Etna (lunch) to Ostrander (camping in field behind old school)

Thursday, June 25 — Ostrander to Jim Bustad farm (lunch) to Adams (camping in field along state Highway 56 across from swimming pool)

Friday, June 26 — Adams to Rose Creek (lunch) to Austin (camping at Mower County Fairgrounds)

Saturday, June 27 — Final ceremony at the Mower County Fairgrounds to present all donations to Rande Gustafson, director of Camp Winnebago

Meals along the route will be prepared by several organizations in the communities the Wagon Train is passing through — Lions Clubs, American Legions, churches, 4H clubs, local individuals and businesses.

On Wednesday, June 25, at the overnight camp in Ostrander, the Friendship Wagon Train will be holding an auction, with all proceeds being donated to Camp Winnebago. The public is invited.

All of the funds raised by the Friendship Wagon Train will be donated to Camp Winnebago on June 27.

Last year the group raised more than $30,000 during the week’s journey. They hope to have a successful fundraiser again this year. Individual, business and group donations are accepted all along the route.

Souvenir T-shirts, hats, bandanas, pins and more will be available from the Wagon Train’s Peddler Wagon. For more information, contact John Davis, wagon master, at (507) 365-8064 before June 17.