Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance

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2003 MOHA Couples Banquet

May, 2003

The highlight of the evening was the appearance by Governor Tim Pawlenty and First Lady Mary Pawlenty at the event. Governor Pawlenty spoke before dinner about Minnesota's outdoor heritage, and the importance of groups such as NWTF, MDHA and MOHA to the future.

All of DNR's Fish and Wildlife leadership was in attendance at the banquet, and Deputy Commissioner Mark Holsten spoke after dinner about the agency. He told a story about a Monday morning a couple of weeks ago in the Commissioner's office. Commissioner Merriam had spent the weekend hunting turkeys in South Dakota, Assistant Commissioner Brad Moore had been in Wisconsin that same weekend fly-fishing for trout, and Deputy Commissioner Holsten had spent the weekend trapping beavers with his son.

When is the last time we had DNR leadership with that kind of passion for hunting, fishing and trapping?

We have a bright future ahead. Thank you for your support!

Lower right photo: Ron Harmon, Sr. (right) an officer with the Minnesota Firearms Instructors Association, was the lucky winner of the Austin & Halleck muzzleloader from A&H Vice President Doug Evans (left). Event Chairman Dave Overland said Mr. Harmon is likely to return with friends to future MOHA events "thanks to the generous contribution from the fine folks at Austin & Halleck who understand what it means to support our hunting heritage." The Austin & Halleck muzzleloaders are prized by banquet guests. These guns have great curb appeal. You can bet they will be part of our prize mix from now on.