And last but not least, I would like to thank Jerry Larson, Tim Parker, Mike Flanagan and Pete Jonas for attending the USSA event at Camp Ripley. Despite the pouring rain, they were able to educate some of the 300 boy scouts that were at the event.  

Thank you and see you at the convention.
Deb Offerdahl

By Shawn Johnson

Greetings Trappers,

By this time the freezers are full and the springs on the pickup can finally have some relief from the burden of hauling all those beavers around the countryside.

Extremes seemed to summarize this particular spring statewide.

Flood waters here, near drought conditions there and basically little in between.

Nonetheless, most I suspect got in the water to take a few flat-tails if for no other reason than purely tradition with little financial incentive.  Once trapping is in your blood- there's little choice in the matter.

Trapper Education classes have been completed for the most part across the state as well and many new trappers both young and old are looking forward to next season full of expectation. I once again thank those individuals who made the effort to host classes this year and encourage most who've been "talking about hosting a course" to finally decide to actually do it. By the time we completed the second Saturday of field day activities this spring, I'd already been contacted by several additional individuals that wanted to know when the next classes would be offered.  At times I look forward to hosting these classes as much as I do anticipating the actual trapping season.  I think one would be hard pressed to find any trapper who has ever hosted a class that didn't have interest in hosting another at some point. Year after year many of the same individuals MTA members choose to share their time and knowledge with the goal of nurturing a genuine interest in the outdoors among the next generation of perspective trappers. By sharing this knowledge with these young people, the general public is ultimately educated as well.

In this spirit of recognizing those individuals who year after year have taken the initiative to host classes in their communities, give presentations, man booths at fairs etc.  I request the assistance of the membership in nominating such a trapper for the first annual MTA Education Award. Please take the time to write a few words (and preferable include a photo of the nominee) outlining the dedication demonstrated by this individual to share knowledge with the next generation.

1.) Personal stories are particularly encouraged to be included in a nomination letter.

2.) Please enclose your contact information so that I may get a hold of you as well.

3.) Nominations can be made by a group of people but must include at least one MTA member for consideration.

I'm looking forward to reading these nominations and having the opportunity to introduce these forward -thinking individuals to the membership at- large in appreciation for what they have done in the past and what they will continue to accomplish in the future.

Although mentors are not always recognizable to the public, their impact on an individual and ultimately the community should not be underestimated.  Fanning the spark of interest into a flame of passion for the outdoors in this day and age becomes more and more vital to encourage responsible and legitimate concern for our natural world and the proper management of the resources within it. Computer games and distractions of this modern age entice many from the simple pleasures offered by God through his creation.  It is a sad fact statistically that those that are not exposed to outdoor pursuits such as hunting, trapping and fishing at a young age are extremely unlikely to take them up in adulthood.

The loss of one more generation to technology and the media as their primary source of information about the outdoors should be of great concern for us all. The generations of those that grew up with an intimate knowledge of the fields and streams and the ways of the wildlife within them is passing away. Our role as stewards of these bountiful resources is also being cast aside in favor of a new "hands off" nature ethic.
Those individuals that understand our role in the natural world that we are a part of, coupled with the dedication to share this truth deserve to be recognized.

Please help the MTA do just that.

Keep your skinning knives sharp,
Shawn