It was announced Friday night that Austin would be the host for 2019’s Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunt Opener.

The announcement came during this year’s banquet in Luverne, in southwest Minnesota where the hunt will also be taking place. The event will bring hunters and media from all over Minnesota to hunt the fields around Austin.

“The night was absolutely fabulous,” Discover Austin, MN Executive Director Nancy Schnable said, just after it was announced Friday night. “Austin is honored to be hosting the 2019 pheasant opener and showcasing Austin to the state of Minnesota.”

Governor Mark Dayton recognized the community during his speech at Friday night’s banquet and the tradition the hunt has become.

“I thank the people of Austin for graciously offering to host the 2019 Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener,” said Governor Dayton in an earlier statement. “The Pheasant Opener has become a special Minnesota tradition, made possible by our tremendous host communities. Minnesotans can look forward to another fantastic opener in Austin next year.”

Next year’s hunt will be Oct. 11-12 with the banquet taking place that Friday night and the hunt and other activities throughout the day Saturday.

“We are thrilled to be selected as the host community for the 2019 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener,” said Sandy Forstner, Austin event chairperson. “We’ve assembled a great team of organizations that are working collaboratively to prepare for this event that will showcase the great habitat, good pheasant hunting and many other attractions Austin can offer. We’re thankful to have been chosen.”

The announcement comes at the end of a lengthy organization and proposal process.

“Earlier this year a group collaborative from the community came together,” Schnable said. “A lot of those became part of the organization that would be involved in hosting it.”

Austin was selected through an application process that considered available hunting land, event facilities, travel recreation opportunities and community support.

They also had to finalize a schedule of events for the two days.

“Everything was laid out before we submitted,” Schnable said.

All of it was the target of a single aim — showing off the area.

“Austin has a lot of attributes that could make this a successful governor’s opener,” Schnable said.

Much of the broader details have already been laid out including the hunting area, which expands to a 10-mile radius around Austin, featuring 2,415 acres in both Mower and Freeborn counties where the hunts will take place.

The proposal was officially submitted on Aug. 1.

Hosting the hunt is one thing, but there is a lasting benefit as well. Not only will Austin be able to showcase the hunting in the area, but the area itself.

It’s a chance to show others there is reason to come back.

“We want people to continue to come back and so we highlight those things that people can enjoy for many years to follow,” Schnable said. “There will be so many media from out of town and they will be able to see first hand as well.”