• EVENTS
• HUMAN HISTORY

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50th Photo Contest
In celebration of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center 50th Anniversary, we are excited to announce the first-ever JCHNC Photo Contest! We are seeking photos taken on the JCHNC or at JCHNC programs any time in the past 50 years (including, but not limited to outings, summer adventure programs, school and public programs). 
Starting April 12th, entries for the contest will be accepted and held for display until our Annual Nature Art Show on August 21st and 22nd where they will be publicly voted on to determine winners in each category and age group.
For more information: [Click Here] ​

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50th Special Programing - Bill Cagley 
Interpretive Center • Free 
Thursday, August 19; 6:30 p.m. 
Enjoy a variety of great music for people of all ages with Twin Cities musician, Bill Cagley! His skillful guitar flatpicking and infectious wit are sure to entertain.  

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50th Special Programing - David Stokes
Interpretive Center • Free 
Tuesday, August 24; 6:30 p.m. 
Join us for a special evening program from JCHNC favorite, David Stokes! Audiences of all ages will enjoy David's amazing energy, live critters, songs, and stories about the natural world.   

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50th Special Programing - Dariel Bustad
Interpretive Center • Free 
Thursday, September 9; 6:30 p.m. 
Stop on by the nature center for an evening of good music and great company. With guitar in hand local musician, Dariel Bustad, will perform a delightful selection of music for all to enjoy. 

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50th Special Programing - Tom Pease
Interpretive Center • Free 
Thursday, September 16; 6:30 p.m. 
Come enjoy music from Tom Pease! He creates concerts that leave audiences laughing and singing with movement, sign language, humor, and joy. Tom Pease loves to explore the role of music in shaping our lives and the world we live in.  ​

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Human History - 50 Profiles for 50 years: 

​Every week we will highlight memories and experiences from treasured members of our community over the last 50 years that have been a part of the narrative that makes the Nature Center what it is today. Below are all of their stories!

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April 15th - Dr. Mike Williams

The Hormel Nature Center has been an important part of my family’s life. My children, grandchildren and I all participated in many educational programs and entertainment events over the years. I most enjoyed nature walks and cross country skiing. The extensive trail system produced many opportunities to observe wildlife.

Shortly after the Nature Center opened, it became a place people turned to with questions concerning injured wildlife. I was honored to be asked to evaluate injured birds of prey as to whether or not the birds could be treated at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center. Over the years watching the Nature Center take an active part in preserving the birds of prey, it made me proud to be a small part of this effort.

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PREVIOUS PROFILES FOUND BELOW
CLICK TO EXPAND AND EXPLORE THEIR STORIES!

January 6th  - Cynthia (Cindy) Lysne Tays

Cynthia (Cindy) Lysne Tays 
First Intern at the Nature Center

​​Last year on Mother’s Day I received a unique and wonderful gift from my son, Zach. He had uncovered a notebook full of records I’d created in the summer of 1976 while I was an intern at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in Austin, MN. It was my good fortune to be the very first Nature Center intern working under Nature Center Director Richard Birger. 
 
Mr. Birger assigned me a very surprising number of tasks and projects for a naturalist student with little experience and also let me run with my own ideas.   After just a few days there he told me my first group to lead was the local ladies’ garden club. It was fun to take them through the many habitats available in our southern Minnesota location. Soon after that I taught a several week children’s class called Nature Explorers, led other groups through the trails and interpretive center, painted animal footprints on the walls, created tape recordings for use on the trails and modified interpretive center displays. I also got to transport a new snake from the Minneapolis area for our indoor display.
 
Quickly the excitement ramped up for me, partially due to my passion then for teaching about edible wild plants. This topic had become popular at that time due to Euell Gibbons’ writings and TV appearances on this subject in the early 1970’s. This edible wild plant theme carried through many experiences as an intern that summer. I even wrote a book on the edible wild plants growing in the nature center, illustrated by a work study student available at the center, and we were able to raise center funds by selling the book. This led to appearing on a local television show, speaking to community groups and receiving newspaper coverage for the center on that subject. Soon groups from other areas were coming to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center because of our book and instructions.
 
It was also important for me to realize that not all Nature Center responsibilities are connected to outdoor education and recreation. I have records of attendance at an Austin Parks and Recreation meeting that summer, which is an essential part of maintaining an adequate annual budget. I observed trail restoration by a group of Vietnamese refugees and learned how they harvested watercress at local waterways. And I participated in community service by measuring the barometric pressure, humidity and temperatures that were submitted to the local TV station as part of the daily Austin news weather report.
 
Freeman Tilden, in his book Interpreting Our Heritage, suggests that “the chief aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation.” Every outdoor experience contains the potential for life enrichment. But experiences which are provoked by an interpretive program’s introduction of new ways of perceiving and thinking will retain the stimulation longer and fuse it into more aspects of an individual’s life. That capsulizes the opportunities and goals of outdoor education I had the pleasure of experiencing at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center in the summer of 1976.
 
Cynthia (Cindy) Lysne Tays
Austin High School Class of 1973

january 13th - belita schindler

Peter, Belita's grandson, is all smiles holding a frog he caught himself

Belita Schindler

It is now nearly 50 years that my family has been enjoying the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. It’s a wonderful place. All of our grandchildren have loved it.

When she was about three, one granddaughter would walk down the paths picking up little pea sized stones, because they were beautiful. Another older granddaughter and I were walking one fall day when a pair of little fawns, that still had their spots, crossed in front of us. Then they just stood there watching us and eating grass. “Grandma, they’re not running away.”

They all scaled the big rock, and if they felt really brave would leap off the far side onto the grass. Another time our grandson, Peter, was able to catch a really big frog with his bare hands and insisted that we go back to the interpretive building to show Julie. Julie found his photo that she took of him that day after I shared this story with her for this history project.

We had one daughter’s wedding reception in the new building. As long as we promised that there would be no alcohol or loud music and no craziness, we could have it there. I guess they knew we were not too wild… crazy maybe, but not wild. The reception was beautiful.

But by far, my favorite story came from my husband Dick. He came home from work one day laughing out loud and saying, “We owe the Nature Center $3,000.”  “OK, but why do we owe the Nature Center $3,000.” This is how he answered.

If you knew Dick, you would know that he dearly loved cross country skiing. He loved to go really fast or just go slowly and look. He would go out several times a week when the weather and snow permitted. And it was even better if it was a moonlit night and he had no time limit.
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One day he was reading the poster that listed prices for adult and children’s ski rentals. I think it might have been $6.00 for kids. He really wanted families to be able to bring all their kids out for skiing, so that they could learn to love it as much as he did. But he realized that the rental fee times the number of kids in the family might make it impossible.
 
So he talked with Larry Dolphin, and said that if he would only charge the kids $1.00; keep track of how many kids took advantage of that cost; and let him know in the spring how many kids’ rentals there were... he would give Larry a check for the difference. And that’s why we owed the Nature Center $3,000.
 
He was so thrilled to think of how many kids might have been able to ski with the lower price… how many families would have had outings together… had a good time… and gotten good exercise at the same time.
 
So that’s what Dick and I did each winter... Paid the difference.
 
Dick is gone now, but I’m carrying on the tradition. He would be so thrilled to know that his idea is still at work. I will continue to underwrite the kid’s ski program and hope that lots and lots of kids come out to ski and have a really good time.
 
Good idea, Dick.
Love, Belita
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january 20th - bonnie and tim rietz

Bonnie and Tim Rietz
 
Ah! What fond memories we have of our unique, wonderful Jay C. Hormel Nature Center! We arrived in Austin in 1979 with three little girls (4, 2 and 3 months) and right away enjoyed walking the trails. Fast forward to 2019 when we ran a family 5K on the trails with all three girls and their families including our 7 grandchildren!
 
Throughout the years we have enjoyed cross-country skiing where one time we skied by at least 30 deer. The 8K fall runs were a high-light jogging through the forest and prairie while crunching through the beautiful, colored leaves.
 
The kids and grandkids have experienced many activities including archery classes, canoeing, catching butterflies, getting scared at Halloween and holding snakes.
 
We have attended many meetings and community gatherings in the Ruby Rupner Auditorium and the most exciting for us was when our youngest daughter Mindy had her wedding reception there.
 
Ah! The beautiful pictures that Tim has taken throughout the years and now in retirement show the amazing flora and fauna that you can experience in this unique oasis.
 
Happy 50 years to this wonderful jewel in our community!

January 27th - diane and terry dorsey

Diane and Terry Dorsey

In 1970, my wife, Diane, and I moved to Austin, Minnesota to teach. I was hired to teach physics and she was hired to teach elementary in Oakland, Minnesota. We were both interested in the environment so in 1971 we signed up for a program in Sarona, Wisconsin at the National Audubon Society’s Audubon Camp in Wisconsin.

During that two-week program, I became very interested in bird watching. The Directory of the camp, Ed Brigham, was vice president for the upper Midwest for National Audubon Society. During that summer of 1971, three things merged into the formation what became the Hormel Nature Center: The city of Austin acquired what was King’s Woods; I joined the Minnesota board of Audubon; a woman in Austin started the collection of names of local National Audubon Society members.

Result: Ed Brigham was part of the advisory group from National Audubon Society that helped develop the plan for the formation of King’s Wood’s into a nature center, I became the first president of the Austin Audubon Chapter when it received its charter membership in the national group.

​The chapter became a strong supporter of the lay advisory committee and later the naming of the center to the Jay C Hormel Nature Center. In conjunction with the lay advisory committee, Audubon members became volunteers for weekend afternoons, leaders of bird hikes and participants in the many programs of nature “adventures“. The Audubon newsletter was named Austin Jay and met monthly at the interpretive center.

Many Audubon members took advantage of the fantastic and Environmental diversity at the Nature Center to build a life of birds they ID’d during the springtime. From 1972-1984 the Center helped me build a life list of 246 species, the most notable, a Kentucky  Warbler, May 26, 1986. Diane was not thrilled at my being gone spring Saturday mornings. When the trails were developed, she did enjoy the cross-country skiing at the nature center. I think we were one of the few of our friends who looked forward to snow.

The center also provided great opportunities in my environmental studies classes. I had two-hour class field trips including chemistry of Dobbins Creek, deer  “poop" population surveys and cross country skiing. The nature center provided fantastic opportunities for all those types of field trips.

​Coincidentally, I had two students in my years of teaching that ended up helping with the nature center. Alex Watson was an intern at the nature center who later became a Minnesota Department of Natural Resource’s Division of Parks and Trails.

Also Luke Reese a student, an intern and, now our current Director/Naturalist!

The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center continued to be part of our lives; we enjoyed cross-country skiing, Diane took some of her elementary classes and I helped with a skiing class just before the Pandemic shut activities down.

I can’t believe it’s been 50 years since I’ve been part of the Nature Center’s activities. It’s been a wonderful, long, enjoyable, rewarding and educational experience for me and many others.

Thank you Mother Nature. Terry and Diane Dorsey

February 4th - Merlene and Jim Stiles

Merlene and Jim Stiles

In the mid-60’s, I enjoyed riding my horse through the Nature Center. We would share the trails with Nuns, as the Hormel House was their retreat. My favorite trail was slightly downhill, with a gentle curve at the bottom that was magical to go around in a gallop. The trail in the meadow with a lone oak tree provided shade on a hot summer day. In high school, I would bring friends to the Nature Center at night to enjoy the magic of the moonlit trails.

In the mid-70’s, I learned to cross country ski. I carried a flask of wine, cheese and crackers with me when I skied. I saw only one other person skiing there. We stopped to chat on that warm, sunny winter afternoon, and I noticed his very long wooden skis.

In the mid-80’s, I took my date cross-country skiing at night through the Nature Center. He wasn’t sure where he was, and asked me if I knew where we were. He realized that I did know the trails, and could be trusted, and maybe a little more.

In the 90’s, I would bring our children to the Nature Center. Jim trained for his  four Twin City  Marathons running on the trails. He remembers seeing clouds of Monarch butterflies in the Fall.

​I was hired as the Nature Center intern. I learned to identify the macroinvertebrates in the pond and stream, and helped 6th graders do the same. The curriculum for each grade that attended the Nature Center programs was fun to learn and teach. I got to play Queen Helga of the Trolls for the Nature Center Warm-up, and my children were also actors.

In the decade of the new century,  I would bring my Environmental Studies students to the Nature Center for several field trips throughout the school year, with the help of Larry and many volunteers. As a Friends board member, I was elected President and honored as Volunteer of the Year in 2002. We began fundraising to double the size of the Nature Center.

​Jim supplied the prairie plants this year around the buildings. Now I bring my grandchildren to the Nature Center. They will value the Nature Center as much as we do.

February 11th - Robert auer

Robert Auer
Retired Austin Park, Recreation and Forestry Director

​My story has three parts: the check, the Vice President, and a big rock!

(A check) I was Director Jim Haben’s Assistant Director when the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center began planning and applying for grants to fund the new center. We had our offices in the old Shaw Gym and I remember a gentleman coming into our offices and handing over a check to purchase the 123 acres of the Hormel Estate with the intent of building the new Nature Center. “ I had never seen a check for that much money and I have never seen one since.”

(The Vice President and Senator) On July 11, 1975 at the grand opening of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center there were several hundred people attended the dedication. I had the pleasure to have lunch with Senator Hubert Humphrey and many of our community leaders. It was an honor to meet the former Vice-President of the United States under President Lyndon Johnson 1965-1969. Instead of a large red ribbon and giant scissors, a pole was set up across one of the arboretum’s paths and a two man cross cut was used by Senator Hubert Humphrey and Mayor Bob Enright to signify the grand opening.

(The Big Rock) Vince Shay and I headed out to the former Nielson farmstead to see the newly found glacial erratic that was sticking out of the ground. I asked Vince what a glacial erratic was and he  said “It’s a big rock!” Moving this big rock was a very difficult task that took almost a month to complete. Wally Bustad broke a number of cables trying to drag the rock up out of the ground and the City used their water trucks to create a road of ice for Wally to move the rock from north of Todd Park to the Nature Center one and 1/2 miles. On a very cold day in December (with subzero temperatures) Vince and I were trying to decide just where the final resting place would be for this big rock. We needed to mark the spot where Wally and his crew would deposit it. I asked Vince where he wanted it. Vince walked over and stood on the spot. What should we use to mark the spot? I dug in my pants pocket and pulled out some coins to spread on the frozen ground around him. I spread about 80 cents. I wonder if those coins will ever be seen again?

The Nature Center is a great place to take a walk  after a stressful day. Vince and I would often take a walk on the trails and he would always point out something new in nature as the seasons changed like mushrooms, plants, animals and wildflowers. I remember that on one of our walks Vince stopped me mid-stride and said “Bob, don’t put your foot down.” I asked why and he pointed out the wildflower and leaf of the Yellow Lady Slipper that I almost stepped on. Sadly the Yellow Lady Slippers of the Nature Center were illegally dug up and removed and did not grow here again. Orchid thieves!

I remember another story about one of the first tours given at the new Nature Center. Dr. Dick Nordin organized a walking tour with a host of community leaders. There had to be at least 30–40 people. We headed into the woods on the south trail and circled up from Dobbins Creek into the grasslands that is now prairie. One of the people on the tour asked Dick “Where are all the deer?” Dick turned to the grassland waved his hands and said “Okay deer can you all stand up now.” Amazingly, almost on cue, a mother doe and two fawns stood up in the grasslands and scampered off. Dick’s power to call the animals was quite the story for a long time. HA!

February 18th - abbey bergstrom

Abbey Bergstrom

Growing up in the Austin area the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center was a place I considered to be very special; a place to feel connected. As a young child, little did I know that my connection to JCHNC began with my dad, RJ Bergstrom.

My dad was a second year carpentry student at Riverland Community College and he, along with other carpentry students, constructed the first Interpretive Center. He had the honor to meet and even gift a handmade bottle opener to Senator Hubert Humphrey during the Interpretive Center dedication. My dad was pretty proud of his accomplishments and even received a letter from Senator Humphrey thanking him for his one of a kind bottle opener.

My mom, Dedee Bergstrom, loves Halloween and when I was younger she took the family to the Halloween Warm-ups. I may not be able to recall all the times we went, but one occasion I never forgot. We were walking the trails, listening to the stories, enjoying the skits along the way, and then one of our last stops was on the Covered Bridge. We heard a frightening story about a girl (Jenny Green teeth) being stuck in the water and next thing I know someone is grabbing at my feet from under the bridge. I definitely was startled. The actress did a great job and every time I walk across that bridge I make sure to stay in the center.  
 
When I was about nine or ten years old I participated in a class at the JCHNC that focused on Native American culture. I was so excited to participate in this class and wanted to soak up all the information I could. We made a choker out of chicken bones, a rug out of cattails, a shield from a deer hide, and even made some arrowheads. It was fun to learn how Native Americans utilized things that nature provided, and how they appreciated and connected to the earth. I wanted to share my knowledge and abilities, so I entered my deer hide shield that summer for 4-H.

As I mentioned earlier, I believe that JCHNC provides a place to find, make and create connections with the environment and others that share that passion for nature. We’ve attended weddings, birthday parties, showers, graduations, and many types educational opportunities through the JCHNC programming. I feel very blessed to have a place like the JCHNC in our community and appreciate all that they have done and are doing to continue to make this a place to find connections.

​Now more than ever, being a mother of two, it is important to me that I provide my children with similar experiences and opportunities for them to appreciate, respect, and connect to nature. It is my hope that they too can grow up knowing that JCHNC is a special place.

february 25th - richard bIrger

Richard Birger - The Nature Center's First Director

When I arrived in 1974, the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center was mostly an idea – a good idea, but outside of a couple of hundred acres and some scattered developments, it still was mostly an idea a few interested citizens and the Austin Park and Recreation Department shared.

Much of the emphasis to further develop the center came from a stalwart group of citizens that over time became the Friends of the Hormel Nature Center. They spent a lot of time and effort to convince residents and elected official that this was a worthy addition to the community. As I recall. Remember it has been a half century, the first Interpretive Center was built with a lot of volunteered materials. The labor came from students at the local Community College engaged in learning the construction trades.

Their instructor wouldn’t let anyone use a power saw until he was convinced they were proficient with a hand saw. Even so, my recollection is, two of the walls didn’t line up until some major onsite changes were made in the plans.

In 1975 the first Interpretive Center was dedicated. I didn’t know enough about protocol to not invite everyone I could think of that may have had an interest in this venture. Among others noted for their environmental interests, HRH Prince of Wales, politely declined.

Former Vice President Hubert Humphrey did accept the invitation and participated in, rather than a ribbon cutting, a ceremonial sawing of small branch leading up to the front door.

As they say the rest is history. Good luck and best wishes in the future.

March 4th - Vince shay

Vince Shay - The Nature Center's Second Director

I remember asking Bob Auer (Austin Park Director) to describe the local landscape prior to my first visit for an interview. When I arrived, I realized that his view of ‘gently rolling’ and my view were somewhat different. Yet, it didn’t take long before I learned to love the vistas in Mower County.
 
There were two big floods along Dobbins Creek in the summer of 1978. So, when I arrived in August, the trails in the floodplain were erased. They were replaced by mud and driftwood. The naturalist who was, I thought, a ‘regular’ employee was actually ‘short-term’ and left about two weeks after my start. I must admit to being a bit dejected and feeling just a little defeated, thinking, “There isn’t much else that can go wrong!”, when staff from the Bell Museum of Natural History showed up and removed the little dioramas that were the primary displays! They had been ‘on loan’.
 
Yes, there was plenty to keep us busy during those early years, and the people in Austin were wonderful and eager to utilize the sanctuary. Teachers were receptive to school visits. Scouting groups, YMCA groups, Sunday walks, night hikes, stargazing, moonwalks, owl prowls, woodcock walks, wildflower hikes, were all well-received.

We started: cross-country skiing, canoe rentals, maple syruping, craft classes, apple-cider Sundays, summer programs for kids, and so much more.
 
I can’t believe I led walks for a dozen 3-5 year olds. The cost per child? Fifty cents!

It was a very gratifying ten years. I owe so much to an involved community, as well as dedicated co-workers and volunteers.
 
We had our first Pioneer Day in 1980 I think, and while I anticipated, with luck, 200-300 people, it turned out to be more like 2000 visitors. It was a huge success and caused a horrible traffic jam. Parked cars encroached on the I-90 ramps and some very aggravated state highway patrol officers visited me that afternoon and asked if I knew anything about ‘crowd control’. Crowd control was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to things I didn’t know much about, but my time at the nature center, and the people of Austin, were thoughtful teachers.
 
Ten years flew by, and two major land acquisitions more than doubled the size of the sanctuary. Oh, and one more thing, that rock. It wouldn’t have gotten moved without Bob Auer’s dogged persistence, matched only by Wally Bustad’s artful use of heavy equipment.

​I remember the enormous sense of relief that poured over me when we had the erratic across 21st Street and on the sanctuary. I said, “THAT’S GOOD ENOUGH". Bob Auer walked up, looked me in they eye, and said, “TELL THEM EXACTLY WHERE YOU WANT IT!” I did, and there it remains.

March 11th - Dr. Richard Nordin

Dr. Richard Nordin

On this special week, we are highlighting Dr. Richard Nordin. Fifty years beyond the Austin founders, hundreds of thousands of visitors have enjoyed this jewel of a place in the cornfields of Minnesota. Today we celebrate our Golden Anniversary: March 11, 1971-March 11, 2021. We can look back at our past achievements and see the incredible growth of the past 50 years. We look forward to the next 50 years by enhancing our environmental education programs and classes and teaching lifelong respect for nature for patrons of all ages.

“In January 1971 when funds were granted to purchase the property the City Council instructed the City Attorney to see if the Minnesota State Department of Natural Resources would take over the Nature Center and operate it as a State Park. As a result of massive opposition, about 50 people crowded the council chambers and this motion was rescinded. Terry Dorsey said that the Nature Center as a State Park was not in Austin’s best interest and he presented a petition with 1330 names opposing the State take over. The next controversy occurred when an attempt was made to name the new property King’s Woods Nature Center. The Park and Recreation Board and the City Council agreed to the name. However, after many letters of displeasure and many individuals voicing their disagreement with that name the Lay Committee unanimously agreed it should be called the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center to honor the individual that initially started the arboretum. The Park and Recreation Board and the City Council promptly agreed and the name was changed and everyone was happy once again.” - Dr. Richard Nordin

On March 11, 1971, the City of Austin acquired 123 acres of land around the Jay C. Hormel Estate. A combination of state, Federal, and Hormel Foundation grants provided $230,000 to purchase the Hormel Arboretum  from Geordie Hormel. The Jay C. Hormel Lay Advisory Committee begins to plan the development of the Nature Center. These committee members included Dr. Richard Nordin - Chairman (Park and Recreation Board), Bryan Toney - Vice Chair (Austin State Junior College), Gordon Lonning (Austin High School), James Haben (Park and  Recreation Director), Norm Nellen (Soil and Water Conservation), Ron Seath (County Extension Office), Daryl Franklin (City/County Planner), Bob Ackerwold (Austin Park and Recreation Board), Jacques R. Chipault (Hormel Research Institute), Phil Shealey (City/County Planner).

“This committee was a real working group. The statement was made in the beginning that if someone felt they didn’t have the time they shouldn’t accept the position.” - Dr. Richard Nordin

Be sure to check back in soon for an enlightening video interview with Dr. Richard Nordin, our Friends President Tim Ruzek, Director Luke Reese, and Nature Center Office Manager Julie Champlin. Dick will share his stories of the beginnings of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and his personal involvement for the last 50 years.

march 18th - larry dolphin

Larry Dolphin - The Nature Center's Third Director

I spent 28 years as the Director/Naturalist at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. It was a dream job for me. Learning about and taking care of our planet earth and all the “wild ones” is so very important for all of us. Having a chance to teach at the Nature Center about our natural world is my passion.

The Nature Center continues to be a focal point for all to enjoy and learn about our natural world. There have been so many wonderful, hard working, talented, caring people, that have given of themselves to make the Nature Center a better place for all. There have been so many volunteers that have worked hard to raise money for new land, to build new buildings, restore prairie, and plant trees. The financial support for our staff has been challenging at times but the community has always been generous.  

I so enjoyed working with the staff. The interns kept me young. They also assisted me with my computer inability, especially Maria Anderson. The maintenance staff, including Mike Goetz, Duane Sucha and Dan Clayton did a great job through the years taking care of the land, the trails, and the infrastructure. In addition to her excellent work on the “Feast” Julie Champlin was so good at reminding me to be sure to say thank you to all the donors.
 
I would also like to thank to my wife Nancy and family. Amber, Ben and Nancy were very good at clean up after special events. Nancy provided meals and lodging for many Nature Center guest speakers over the years, including Douglas Wood, David Stokes, Tom Pease, Dr. Dean Hanson and James Keelaghan, to name a few. She was also my editor-in-chief. Like the interns, she provided computer support and it continues to this day. Anything that I wrote for the newsletter or other special occasions I wrote at home. The Nature Center was always too busy for me to try and do it there.
   
Back in 2005, when Luke was an intern, he locked me in the enclosure with “Red” our red-tailed hawk. I was feeding and taking care of “Red” at the time. The bolt for the door was on the outside and I was unable to unlock it from the inside. First graders had arrived. Fortunately, Stan Sabin was running by and I yelled at him. He unlocked the door. Luke was already teaching the first graders. What was that all about, Luke?? I did get back at him, though. I accidentally let the honey bees out of the hive in the old interpretive building. He was closest and he was stung a few times. Sorry Luke! Although he was going to school at the University of Minnesota, in June of 2009, Luke was in town and came out to help clean up after the tornado. I was very happy to see him. It was one of many ways Luke showed that he really cared about the Nature Center.  

I love the new bee hive set up and Rita Lickteig’s new enclosure around the cabin. The buck thorn removal with Stantec and the goats have been phenomenal. The Essence of Place by John Duren and Douglas Wood is a superb historical pictorial account of the Nature Center. The eleven-acre Gaard land addition was a very long time coming. Kudos to all those leaders that made land acquisition happen over the years. The “wild ones” appreciate the new habitat. We appreciate seeing and hearing the “wild ones”.

Nancy and I appreciate all the work that continues to be done through the leadership of staff, and volunteers. It seems adapting to change has especially been prevalent the last four years. I would also like to say thank you to the leadership of the Park and Recreation Directors during my watch, including Kim Underwood, Denny Maschka and Bob Auer. I hope to continue to help with teaching at the Nature Center once the virus is under control. Our family will continue to enjoy the programs and trails at the Nature Center. I may be a little biased but I think I have it right. I think the Nature Center is the number one place to visit in Southern Minnesota. So many things to do and see. Thanks to all of you who have made the Nature Center a crown jewel.    

For the Wild Ones, the Little Ones, and Don't Forget the Old Ones,  
Larry and Nancy

March 25th - Amy and Greg Baskin

Amy and Greg Baskin

The Hormel Nature Center has been part of our lives since we moved here in 1986. With two small children we found the nature center to be an excellent place to take our energetic boys to hike, run and play. Countless sticks were gathered and thrown into the creek from the covered bridge as our boys ran from one side to the other to see whose stick came through first. Many adventures were played out while hiking to the tower to look for wild animals. Various things were learned from classes, partnerships and exhibits.

Our boys grew up understanding that nature is centering and calming for the soul. They learned to respect the trails and the habitats of creatures. They saw four very distinct seasons and the joys each one provides. They learned to cross country ski in the winter; jumped over the stepping stones with a raging creek underneath and checked out the levels of sap in the maple buckets in the spring; hiked trails, climbed the tower, saw fields of bluebells and wild flowers in the summer and enjoyed beautiful autumn colors, Monarch butterflies, wild turkeys and Halloween Warm Up in the fall. They still talk about Jenny Green Teeth.

Our boys are grown and Greg and I enjoy peaceful walks and ski adventures together. We have introduced our two granddaughters to the beauty of nature and all that it offers. They now climb the trees, throw sticks, jump the stepping stones, play in the new interpretive center, cross country ski and are learning to respect the habitats of creatures large and small. The Nature Center is one of their favorite places to go.

The staff are incredible and knowledgeable. They are kind and caring and take time to teach and answer questions. Our granddaughters had the opportunity to watch the turtle exercise and understand why that was necessary. They saw how it was fed and why it needs a special diet. They have enjoyed the honey from the bees and the maple syrup from the trees. They love to visit Guka and the hawks and understand why they are not able to be in the wild. We appreciated the availability of the nature center during the pandemic and were often the only ones in the interpretive center giving us opportunities for new adventures.

The nature center is a gem in our community. It has changed and grown over the years to include more land, facilities, classes and opportunities. We are so blessed to have this facility and staff.

​April 1st - Daryl Franklin

How can it be that fifty years have flown the hour glass of time? Growing up in Austin I can recall the Hormel Estate near the airport. Our neighbor was a watchman for the estate. In July of 1973, I started working for the City of Austin and Mower County. At a city council meeting a couple of the council members stated they want me to do some work with Nature Center Lay Advisory Committee. They might need some assistance in doing grant application for the nature center. At the first meeting I was introduced to Dick Nordin, Jacques Chipault, Bob Ackerwold, Ron Seath, Gordon Lonning, Jim Haben, Norm Nellen, Bruce Bergstrom, Bryan Toney, John Beyer, and Phil Shealy. With this group and assistance from the City Engineers office submitted an application to the State of Minnesota. They received a grant for 100% funding for the acquisition of the park since the State considered the project to be of “regional significance”. From my perspective the City Council was pleased not to have to spend money to purchase the land.

​Over time I had the opportunity to work with committee for development of the area and additional land acquisitions. At this time the city council agreed to hire a naturalist for the nature center, as I recall Dick Berger, Vince Shay, we worked with both of these people. After these individuals left Larry Dolphin was hired. While working with these people, we were glad to have Julie Champlin to work with. At this time Mower County established a water planning committee, we needed a place to meet and Larry volunteered the nature center. The water committee included representation’s from townships, small cities, Austin City Council, and Mower County Board. Austin Utilities, Turtle Creek water shed. Soil and water conservation district, Mower County Extension. The committee dealt with issues of East Side lake water quality and encouraged County Board to establish a program of loans to upgrade septic systems. Larry and Julie were excellent hosts and even made coffee for the meeting. 

As young parents Joan and I had the opportunity to take Rebekah and Luke to do hiking, attend programs, and cross country skiing. Joan recalls one time when she was skiing with Becky and it became rather dark and they weren’t back, she was very pleased to come around the corner and see the lights of nature center and parking lot. 

One highlight I recall was the dedication of the Nature Center building and Senator Humphrey came and spoke about the importance of having an area like the nature to be enjoyed by many people. The importance of the nature for future generations was shown to Joan and I when we brought our 2 ½ year old grandson Louie to the new center. He enjoyed crawling in and out of all the exhibits. He was also excited when a staff member asked if he wanted to hold and touch a snake. When it was time for the building to close, he didn’t want to leave. 

Keep up the good work JC Hormel Nature Center staff and volunteers.

April 8th - Mary Roszkowski

Mary Roszkowski

My name is Mary Roszkowski (formerly Mary Hesch). My last name was Anderson for the 4 years I worked at the JCHNC back in the mid 1980’s. I would have to say it was probably the most interesting and definitely the most fun job I have had in my lifetime.

While working at the Nature Center as the assistant to Vincent E. Shay and Dan Clayton (he was the land manager at the time) I was fortunate to experience things most people would not get to do at a “regular” job. Part of my job was to care for orphaned animals. I cared for injured and orphaned deer, raccoons, woodchucks, squirrels, injured birds of all kinds – including predatory birds. I took may of these little creatures home with me at night because they needed care and feedings through the night. I lived in the old gatekeepers house, which was located on the property. I was the first JCHNC employee to live in that little one bedroom house that was torn down a few years later. I took care of all the animals on display as well.  We had a red tail hawk, a great horned owl, frogs, toads, turtles, snakes and of course all the food to feed them... we raised mice and mealworms. When I first began to work there, Vince showed me how to chop up the rats from the Hormel Institute to feed the birds of prey. I told him I was pretty sure I would never be able to do that task and with a month of doing it I could not only chop up rats with my little hatchet, but could eat my lunch at the same time!

I help create displays for the center, designed t-shirts for the events held at the nature center, taught classes on candle dipping, wreath making, summer classes with the kids, school groups, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and even took groups out canoeing. I illustrated a wildflower trail guide book and did illustrations for articles wrote for a magazine called Water, Woods and Wildlife. I also took a class to learn how to do taxidermy. We had a freezer full of deceased animals that did not survive their rehab care that would eventually be turned into taxidermy, and with my affiliation with the nature center was able to prepare predatory birds that most taxidermists never got a chance to work on.

It was during my time at the JCHNC that we produced the first quarterly newsletter – it was written by Vince Shay and I designed the hand illustrated newsletter. It was typed on an electric typewriter and I printed it on a copy machine. It was a major undertaking with the equipment I had to work with, compared to our computers nowadays. We also started Halloween Warm Up during my time there. Pioneer Days was another big event to prepare for as well as hanging buckets to collet maple sap and evaporating it down to make maple syrup with the school groups.

The JCHNC was a big part of my life growing up. It was a fun place to hang out in the 1970’s with my friends. We called it “King’s Woods” then. The lone oak tree was a popular hiking destination for us, which I believe now is long gone. I even had my first wedding on the covered bridge back in 1977. Austin is fortunate to have such a wonderful nature center - it’s one of the best ones I have ever had the opportunity to visit!