Friends of the Hormel Nature Center
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Interested in supporting us through membership? Please use the button on the left to join the Friends of the Hormel Nature Center or to renew your membership.
New in 2022: Choose to continue your membership with monthly, semi-annual, or annual donations.
Become a lifetime member for a donation of $500 or more.
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Why join the Friends?
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Join/renew online, OR download membership form here and send with your donation to: Friends of the Hormel Nature Center (FHNC) PO Box 83 Austin, MN 55912 |
A note from our President:
Spring 2023
Walking into a Minneapolis hotel lobby in January, I knew that carrying a replica mussel nearly 12 times the size of a real one would draw some attention. I just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.
Within seconds of walking inside, someone commented that the replica – officially named Russel the Mussel – looked like an interesting table centerpiece. Thus began Russel the Mussel’s first encounters with people outside of the nature center. His first field trip came about from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asking me to present at a DNR annual conference.
They wanted a presentation on the outreach support provided by the Cedar River Watershed District (my employer) and the Friends of the Hormel Nature Center for the DNR’s mussel-restoration efforts in the Cedar River watershed. The DNR also jumped at the idea for Russel to tag along.
Throughout the day, the DNR’s mussels table at the conference drew a steady stream of visitors, with a big attraction being the touch-and-feel Russel the Mussel. Some got a kick out of feeling the different mussel parts and others took selfie photos with Russel.
While this highlights a great project made possible by the Friends and our generous supporters, it also is a good example of where we want to continue pushing the Friends, which is to a broader, regional audience outside our community. With nature center pamphlets at the DNR table, I took a few questions from people about our connection to the Hormel company. This was a great reason to talk with them about the nature center, its interesting history and great mission.
We are working to get the Friends better set up for more outreach and public awareness in our efforts to better support the nature center’s staff, programs, facilities and 530-plus acres of public land. We are working to create a Friends logo and outreach materials through a branding process that will help our nonprofit with events, fundraising and community awareness efforts.
With the nature center designated by the state a few years ago as a “regionally significant park,” the Friends want to continue building off that by reaching out beyond Austin and Mower County to reach new “friends” and supporters.
There’s no doubt the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is in the strongest position ever in its 52 years of educating and connecting the public with the outdoors. Thank you for your support, and please help the Friends spread the word about this amazing place.
-Tim Ruzek, President of the Friends of the Hormel Nature Center
Spring 2023
Walking into a Minneapolis hotel lobby in January, I knew that carrying a replica mussel nearly 12 times the size of a real one would draw some attention. I just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.
Within seconds of walking inside, someone commented that the replica – officially named Russel the Mussel – looked like an interesting table centerpiece. Thus began Russel the Mussel’s first encounters with people outside of the nature center. His first field trip came about from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) asking me to present at a DNR annual conference.
They wanted a presentation on the outreach support provided by the Cedar River Watershed District (my employer) and the Friends of the Hormel Nature Center for the DNR’s mussel-restoration efforts in the Cedar River watershed. The DNR also jumped at the idea for Russel to tag along.
Throughout the day, the DNR’s mussels table at the conference drew a steady stream of visitors, with a big attraction being the touch-and-feel Russel the Mussel. Some got a kick out of feeling the different mussel parts and others took selfie photos with Russel.
While this highlights a great project made possible by the Friends and our generous supporters, it also is a good example of where we want to continue pushing the Friends, which is to a broader, regional audience outside our community. With nature center pamphlets at the DNR table, I took a few questions from people about our connection to the Hormel company. This was a great reason to talk with them about the nature center, its interesting history and great mission.
We are working to get the Friends better set up for more outreach and public awareness in our efforts to better support the nature center’s staff, programs, facilities and 530-plus acres of public land. We are working to create a Friends logo and outreach materials through a branding process that will help our nonprofit with events, fundraising and community awareness efforts.
With the nature center designated by the state a few years ago as a “regionally significant park,” the Friends want to continue building off that by reaching out beyond Austin and Mower County to reach new “friends” and supporters.
There’s no doubt the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is in the strongest position ever in its 52 years of educating and connecting the public with the outdoors. Thank you for your support, and please help the Friends spread the word about this amazing place.
-Tim Ruzek, President of the Friends of the Hormel Nature Center
Sunrise from the trails. Photo by Steven Conradt
Mission Statement
To enhance and encourage environmental education, scientific opportunities,
and the enjoyment of nature at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.
To enhance and encourage environmental education, scientific opportunities,
and the enjoyment of nature at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.