We have just concluded our seventh annual Thanksgiving Feast. It was a wonderful success thanks to all of you. There were 52 turkey pluck items, 18 live auction items, 185 silent auction items, five raffle baskets, 250 tickets sold and more than $12,000 in monetary donations. Our net profit is near $30,000.

Congratulations to everyone. With your donations, we can continue to provide quality programs for our community to enjoy.

Special thanks are being sent to our major donors: Thrivent, Helen Hocker, Hormel Foods, Co, HyVee and Superfresh. Thank you to the Saint Edward’s Corcoran Center staff for doing a wonderful job of supporting us with the banquet.

The folks that donated and/or came to the Thanksgiving Feast “get it.” You truly understand the value of the nature center to the community from the summer adventure and school programs to the many outdoor opportunities afforded visitors by having hiking and cross country ski trails. We cosponsor major events like the Energy Festival, Ecoblitz, Halloween Warm Up and the Ruby Rupner nature programs. We promote good stewardship for the Earth. This is a wild place for the wild ones.  It is a place for you to visit and enjoy them.

The nature center belongs to all of you and you have done an excellent job of supporting us. On behalf of Julie, Duane, Ryan, Jill and all of the Friends committee and board, I thank you for your generosity. Natural places inspire our thinking, replenish our souls and remind us that where we live is like no other place in the world. Please take the opportunity to get out and experience nature at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in all of our seasons. It will make you feel good.

Larry Dolphin, Director/Naturalist

Thanksgiving Feast Co-chairs Gordie and Marsha Kuehne and Committee members

Friends of the Jay C. Hormel Nature