picnic in July. The group has funded a variety of projects for the
agricultural education department. FFA members benefi t from
their mentorship and from scholarships sponsored by the FFA
Alumni.
Membership dues are $30 per year, $125 for Minnesota lifetime
membership, or $150 for a national lifetime membership.
Potential members must have a willingness to support high
school agriculture.
To join, contact the offi cers, advisors Jim Weninger or Seena
Glessing, or call the high school ag department at 320-543-4614. Steve Goebel (612-245-7157) is Scoutmaster, Jon Hucker and
David Groff are the assistant Scoutmasters for the Scouts
BSA Boy Troop 399, and Mandy Busse (612-418-2223) is the
Scoutmaster for Scouts BSA Girl Troop 5399. Janeen Hucker is
membership coordinator (320-310-3694).
Membership is open to boys and girls who have completed
the fi � h grade, earned the Arrow of Light Award, or are 11 years
old, but not yet 18. The Scouts usually meet two to four times a
month.
Ducks Unlimited The Howard Lake Sportsmen’s Club was formed more than 50
years ago, to protect and maintain the natural resources in the
area. Meetings take place at the Howard Lake Legion. Dates and
times of these meetings are announced in the Herald Journal.
One of the group’s most recent accomplishments was working
with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Ducks
Unlimited to secure Legacy Amendment funds to restore Smith
Lake, a shallow lake west of Howard Lake. A fi sh barrier was
installed to keep fi sh from entering Smith Lake from its outlet,
and a water control structure was installed to allow the DNR
to control lake levels. The lake was drained during winter 2010-
11. By fall 2012, it was a� racting large populations of migrating
waterfowl, much as it did more than 50 years ago.
Other major accomplishments of the group include land
develop.m.ent in the Fish and Wildlife “Victor” project,
purchasing two new aluminum docks for Lions Park and the
north landing, and providing materials and equip.m.ent for the
Howard Lake rearing pond. Events put on by the club include
the winter fi shing contest, helping to run the summer fi shing
contest, fi rearm safety training, and helping to fund Deep
Portage.
The Sportsmen’s Club is a sponsor for Ducks Unlimited and
Pheasants Forever, as well as the NRA and the Deer Hunters
Association. In addition, the club donates to the Cub Scouts to
clean the lakeshore, and takes care of the carp trap on the south
side of Howard Lake and the boat landing on the north end.
Offi cers are Dennis Decker, president; Ken Durdahl, secretary;
and Kurt Forst, treasurer.
Membership dues are $10. Contact Denny Decker at 612-703-
7824, or Joe’s Sport Shop for membership information. Write to
the club at PO Box 805, Howard Lake, MN 55349.
The Crow River Chapter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited
supports Cokato, Howard Lake, Montrose, Waverly, and the
Winsted areas. The chapter hosts an annual membership
banquet each spring, which currently consists of 180 members.
Since 1990, this chapter has raised more than $700,000 for
conservation and wetland habitat. Eighty-two percent of DU’s
expenditures are converted directly to conservation work. Some
local projects that have benefi ted from these dollars would
include Smith Lake (located two miles west of Howard Lake
on Co. Rd. 5), Malardi Marsh MWA (located one mile north of
Montrose on Meridian Avenue), Victor PWA (located three miles
southwest of Howard Lake on Co. Rd. 5 SW), and Shakopee Lake
(located eight miles west of Winsted on Pla� Ave. SW).
If you are interested in fi nding out more about your local
chapter, contact Zone Chairman Sco� Schmidt at 612-875-8158,
or [email protected]. You can also check out the chapter’s
Facebook page (Ducks Unlimited-Crow River Chapter) or the
DU website, www.ducks.org, for more information.
Cub Scouts Pack 399
Cub Scouting is a family program that provides an opportunity
for boys and girls to build character and leadership skills, while
also participating in exciting adventures. Adventures may
include: fall camp-outs, Spooky-Ree, Camporee, rock climbing,
archery, biking, hiking, family camp, day camps, Pinewood Derby
races, winter/summer parades, and many other activities.
In the Pack, Scouts also learn the importance of being a good
citizen and making a diff erence in their communities, such as
participating in Memorial Day services and the annual lakeshore
cleanup around Howard Lake and Winsted Lake.
Cub Scout Pack 399 serves Howard Lake, Lester Prairie,
Winsted, Waverly, and surrounding areas.
Boys and girls in kindergarten through fi � h grade are
eligible to join. If you are interested in joining Cub Scouts, email
[email protected]. Check out the Facebook page by
searching under Cub Scout Pack 399.
HLWW Boy Scouts, Troops 399, 5399
Scouts BSA Troops 399 and 5399 serve the greater Waverly,
Howard Lake, Winsted, and Lester Prairie area.
Through its patrol meetings and troop activities, the Scouts
work to develop the character, citizenship, and personal fi tness
of area youth.
The group has seen a steady growth in membership in the
past 10 years. As an active troop, they participate in spring and
fall camporees, go-karting, zip lining, skiing, canoeing, taking
part in area civic events, and developing winter survival skills.
Each summer, they a� end a week-long Scout camp, which
provides Scouts the opportunity for such activities as sailing,
archery, tower climbing, obstacle courses, and fi shing.
Annually, they sell malts at the Wright County Fair, Christmas
wreaths, and popcorn.
22
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Howard Lake Sportsmen’
ortsmen s Club
ortsmen’
Lake Mary VFW Auxiliary
The Lake Mary VFW Auxiliary 9232, chartered in 1963,
supports many veterans projects, including the annual Troops
Coming Home recognition event in McLeod County, Cancer
Aid & Research, McLeod Emergency Food Shelf, four veterans’
hospitals, and fi ve veterans’ homes. Its primary fundraiser is a
chili feed, which takes place in January.
Meetings take place the second Thursday of each month at 2:30
p.m. at the American Legion in Winsted. For more information,
call President Judy Pease at 619-261-4809, Secretary Mary Quast
at 320-485-3831, or Treasurer Rhonda Decker at 763-242-9383.
Love INC-Heartland
Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC)-Heartland is a shared
ministry in partnership with over 50 area churches, working
together to help people in need. Love INC-Heartland serves
people living in Delano, Independence, Lore� o, Greenfi eld,
Rockford, Mayer, Montrose, Howard Lake, Waverly, Watertown,
Corcoran, Cokato, Dassel, Winsted, and Maple Plain.
The Thri� Store in Delano is located at 318 Railroad Ave.,
serves people in need, and sells to the general public to support
the ministry of Love INC-Heartland.
OFFICIAL GUIDE TO HOWARD LAKE 2019-20