“The club worked closely with the Minnesota DNR back then assisting with the northern pike in the rearing pond at St. Olaf,” said Mendenhall. The DNR later purchased the rearing pond acreage with proceeds of the sale being split equally between the sportsmen’s club, the city of New Richland and the St. Olaf Lake Association. Funds from the sale can only be used for public interest projects at the lake.

The club has stayed active in providing accommodations for the public at St. Olaf Lake. They built the present dock and fishing pier and also the dock at the public access boat launch. In a joint effort with the City of New Richland, the club constructed garage doors in the picnic shelter at the park. A light and facilities were also made available at the boat landing. In 1997, the club received 17 acres just east of town from the Anderson family to be used as a club facility and wildlife habitat area. The current club house is an old school classroom which had been moved to its present location.

The NRHEG FFA chapters, under Mendenhall’s direction, were instrumental in helping develop the present site.

“The kids built the privies and the storage shed, “said Mendenhall. “They also planted a bunch of trees and the native prairie grass area along the driveway into the property.”

Membership in the club seemed to peak in the late ‘90s as it approached 200 members. The club had many activities including a float in the annual Farm and City Days Parade, fish fries, burger nights and Firearm Safety Training for youngsters.

Fast forward to September of 2010. The heavy rainfall which inundated the New Richland area hit the sportsman’s club especially hard. The flood waters were halfway up the fireplace in the club’s main lodge.

“The heavy rains severly damaged our trap throwing machine which we had to repair,” said Mendenhall. “We have recently remodeled the interior of the club house which included new windows and drywall.”

Current president of the club Dave “Sharkey” Dunnette is optimistic about the future of the club. He has been a member since 1976 and is a past president.

“Since bow hunting has become so popular in the area, I would like to see us put in an archery range,” said Dunnette. “We have about 75 paid members right now. We will be having an open house later in the year where people can come out and see what we have here at the club.”

Dues in the New Richland Area Sportsmen Club are only $20 per year and new members are always a top priority. Families are especially encouraged to join to get younger people involved as sportsmen and women, to preserve our natural resources for future generations.