Anyone interested in helping is welcome. Meetings take place
in the commons area at the HLWW High School.
Lake Ann Improvement Association
The Lake Ann Improvement Association was originally
incorporated in 1984. In 2003, it was newly incorporated and
reorganized with new by-laws and board members. The objectives
of the association are to protect, restore, and preserve the water
quality of the lake and its watershed, thereby enhancing the
watershed community. Lake Ann is located between Howard
Lake and Winsted, east of Wright County Road 6. There are 74
property owners who own land surrounding the lakeshore.
In its eff orts to preserve and restore the lake, the original
association succeeded in establishing a public landing and
stocking walleye in the lake. The Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) and the Lake Ann Improvement
Association alternate stocking the lake with walleye.
In 1996, the association participated in the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency-sponsored Lake Assessment Program (LAP),
which refocused the association’s lake management activities.
As part of the LAP study, the association has been successful at
bringing septic systems around the lake into compliance. Since
1996, the association has continued to monitor precipitation
records and DNR lake levels, reporting them to the state.
The association helped initiate the Wright County Lakes
Monitoring Program in 1999, now in its 19th year. It monitors
water clarity and sponsors testing for algae and phosphorous
in the lake.
Annual summer meetings and other events keep the
community educated about association activities and goals.
Wright Soil and Water Commission received a grant to complete
soil testing on watershed farmland in order to test variable
fertilizer application, which will reduce the mineral content of
agricultural runoff . The Lake Ann Improvement Association has
received additional DNR grants to control curly leaf pondweed
in the lake for the last six years. Grant applications are being
considered for other projects to control excess nutrients, such as
phosphorous which enters the lake from drainage ditches. The
association does periodic carp seining.
The association has cooperated with farmers and the Soil
Water Conservation District (SWCD) to install various french
drains and other diversions to minimize agricultural runoff
into the streams and lakes, which earned the association the
Outstanding Wright County Conservation Cooperator of the
Year Award from the Minnesota Association of SWCD in 2000.
The association’s board of directors meets the second Thursday
of each month at 7 p.m. For more information, or to become a
member, contact association president Gerry McMillan at 952-
657-2207. Annual membership dues are $50.
HL Area Chamber of Commerce
The mission of the Howard Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
(HLACC) is to promote a thriving community in the Howard
Lake area.
The Chamber seeks to cultivate new opportunities to establish
Howard Lake as the premier destination for businesses,
customers, and families. It provides innovative solutions and
resources through social networking and business development,
to enhance the quality of life and economic growth in the
Howard Lake area.
The chamber sponsors a business expo each spring, which
a� racts more than 1,000 visitors. Revenue from the business
expo, an annual fall harvest fundraiser, along with membership
dues, provides the chamber with the fi nancial resources to
320.485.2535
support community events, such as Good Neighbor Days, and to
provide new business grants and royalty scholarships.
There are currently about 35 members.
If you are a business owner or offi cial, or potential business
owner in Howard Lake area, you are encouraged to join the
chamber; the fi rst lunch is free. The Chamber meets at the
Howard Lake Legion the third Wednesday of every month.
The chamber provides a great outlet for networking, staying
abreast of community issues, and opportunities to give back to
the community.
For more information, contact Bonnie at 320-543-2650; email:
[email protected]; or check out the chamber
website at www.hlacc.org.
Howard Lake Farmers Market
The Howard Lake Farmers Market (HLFM) takes place each
Thursday, June through October, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Lions Park,
alongside beautiful Howard Lake and US Highway 12.
The market is a family-friendly event that features live
music, Power of Produce (PoP) Club events, fresh produce,
baked goods, and other artisan and handmade items – to
create a fun and welcoming environment in support of locally
grown and produced items. HLFM supports the FFA and off ers
kids’ activities, including rock-painting and eating healthy
education.
Local 4-H organizations
4-H is a youth organization for youth ages kindergarten
through one year post-high school. 4-H focuses on leadership,
citizenship, and life skills through project-based learning, with
a variety of fun activities and events throughout the year. There
are 19 4-H clubs in Wright County, open to all youth, wherever
they live, from all backgrounds and interests. The Wright County
4-H program is part of the University of Minnesota Extension.
If you would like to know more about 4-H, you are encouraged
to visit a 4-H club meeting in your area. Club meeting times,
dates, and locations may vary so please contact the 4-H club
leader before a� ending to confi rm the next meeting details.
• Marysville Merrymakers 4-H Club - meets the third Sunday
of the month at 6 p.m. at the Howard Lake Community Center.
For more information, contact Nicole Karnes at 952-500-0034.
• Woodland Woode� es 4-H Club - meets the second Sunday
of the month at 6 p.m. at the Oster Covenant Church. For more
information, contact Merle Friesen at 612-741-0131.
• Sunrise 4-H Club - meets the fi rst Monday of the month at 7
p.m. at Victor Town Hall. For more information, contact Rachel
Bender at 612-282-9246.
• Handy Dandy 4-H Club - meets the third Sunday of the
month at 4 p.m. at the Howard Lake Community Center. For
more information, contact Joy Decker at 612-978-0296.
Whether it be shooting sports, engineering, fi ne arts, or other
interests, Wright County 4-H has something to off er every
family and youth members. For more information, contact Kelly
Strei at [email protected] or 763-682-7394. Find us on Facebook
or Instagram to learn more.
HLWW FFA Alumni
The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA Alumni was started
in 1980, to help support the local FFA chapter and the agriculture
department at HLWW High School.
The group, currently numbering about 65 members, meets
the third Wednesday of each month at 8 p.m. in the high school
ag room.
The group’s annual events include an auction in August,
monthly meetings the third Wednesday of each month, and a
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