Hay Days Trail Grant News

Last year the following 17 clubs received funding from the Sno Barons with grants ranging from $150.00 to $1,500.00 dollars. Priority consideration is given to clubs applying for the first time or those seeking to add new trails. In all these clubs were in need of more than 300,000 dollars to complete the projects they had undertaken!

Many Minnesota snowmobile clubs and trail associations have been and are soon to be recipients of trail development funds, courtesy of the Sno Barons Snowmobile club. Each year the Sno Barons set aside a portion of the profits from the September Hay Days grass drag race and give it back to the snowmobiling community to support trail development and improvements. The average grant is just under $1,000, and will be used for trail expansion, re-routing, bridge work, fencing and signage. Some of the clubs that benefit include the New Prague Snow Drifters, Palisade Snow Sledders and the Ortonville Snow Riders. According to Grant Coordinator Steve Bethke, the need for funds far exceeds the resources available. "We would need literally hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to fully fund the requests that come in. We're just glad we can help out a little bit, and give support to those 'unsung heroes' who keep the Grant-in-Aid trail program afloat. Without their hard work we would have a lot fewer miles of trails to ride on", said Bethke.

Sno Barons Trail Grant Committee is accepting applications for Trail Grants. Clubs can apply by downloading an application from from the Sno Baron web site or by contacting them at 952-758-3649.

"We try to keep some money available throughout the snow season in case a special needs arises. Regardless, come March we intend to have all the money spent", said Bethke.

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• Aitkin Sno Drifters - for new bridge (Letter)
• Crane Lake Voyageurs - for new bridge
• Faribo Sno Go - for new groomer
• Marcell Sno Drifters - for a new groomer and drag
• Babbitt Club - for trail improvements (Letter)
• Longville Lakes - for new groomer
• Frosty Riders (Worthington) - for new groomer (Letter)
• Voyageurs (Two Harbors) - for bridge repair
• Itasca Drift Skippers (Grand Rapids) for trail reroute
• 38'er (Grand Rapids) - for new trail
• Mille Lacs Trails - for new bridge

• Harding/Lastrup Snowdusters (Hillman) for a new bridge.
• Faribo Sno-Go (Faribault) for new grooming equipment.
• Edge Riders (Angle Inlet) for new grooming equipment.
• New Prague Snow Drifters (New Prague) for trail signage & fencing.
• RidgeRunner’s (Northome) for warming shelter
• Itasca Drift Skippers (Grand Rapids) for bridge and trail repair.
• Wrenshall Sno Sharks (Holyoke) for bridge construction.
• 38’ers (Grand Rapids) for bridge repair.
• Rice Creek Trail Association (Circle Pines) for grooming equipment repair.
• Hinckley/Pine City Flames (Pine City) for bridge repair.
• Over the Hill Night Riders (Duluth) for trail signage.
• Longville Sno-Mobile Club (Longville) for adding new trails.
• EC Riders (Mora) for new grooming equipment

• Country Climbers, Winona - heavy equipment rental and materials
• Valley Crest Riders, Rushford - culvert and bridge replacement
• Itasca Drift Skippers, Grand Rapids - groomer purchase
• New Prague Snow Drifters, New Prague - bridge decking & signage
• Whitewater Trailblazers, St. Charles - bridge repair
• Clay County Trail Blazers, Moorhead - groomer purchase
• Ridge Runners, Northome - groomer purchase
• Hardwood Trailblazers, Waubun - bridge construction

• County Sno Riders, Wabasso - new groomer
• Riverview Riders, Red Wing - trail posts and signs
• Mille Lacs Trails, McGrath - bridge replacement
• PathBlazers, Hibbing - new bridge
• Valley Crest Riders, Rushford - storage facility
• Itasca Driftskippers, Grand Rapids - trail improvements
• Kenyon Snowdrifters, Wanamingo - new drag
• Railriders, Goodhue - new trail
• Reservoir Riders, Duluth - trail signs
• Lakes Area, Longville - trail improvements
• River Runners, St. Stephen - trail signs
• Big Stone Lake Sno Riders, Chokio - new groomer
• Swampstompers, Hillman - trail improvements
• Marcell Snow Driters, Deer River - trail improvements
• Benton County Snowmobile Club, Sauk Rapids - new groomer

• Mesabi Sno Voyageurs
• Springfiled Ridge Runners
• Ely Igloos
• Naytahwaush Nightriders
• Two Harbors Voyageurs
• Chisholm/Hibbing Pathblazers
• Eveleth Rangers
• Savage Sno Pacers
• Squaw Lakers
• Itasca Drift Skippers
• Deer River Bush Wackers
• Clay County Trail Blazers
• St. Stephen River Runners
• Lutsen Trail Breakers
• Marcell Snow Drifters
• Rush City Sno Bugs
• Mille Lacs Trails

• North Branch Sno Drifters
• Lawron Trail Riders
• Red River Club
• Springfield Ridge Runners
• St. Stephen River Runners
• New Prague Sno Drifters
• Itasca Drift Skippers
• Mille Lacs Trails
• Pequayawan Trail Blazers
• Scott County Trail Association
• Goodhue Rail Riders
• Birchwood Bobcats
• Savage Snow Pacers
• Squaw Lakes
• Swampsiders

Here's the list of clubs that received donations so far this snow season.

• New Prague Snow Drifters
• Scott County Trail Associations
• Itasca Driftskippers
• Savage Snow Pacers
• Goodhue-Bellechester Rail Riders
• Swampsiders
• North Branch Sno Drifters
• Lawron Trail Riders
• Red River Club
• Swampsiders Club
• Squaw Lake Club
• Birchwood Bobcats
• St. Stephen River Runners
• Springfield Ridge Runners
• Pequayawan Trail Blazers

In all so far Sno-Barons donated $15,750.00 to 21 clubs and trail associations in 2003.

• LeSueur County Trail Association - Le Center, MN
• SnoMos Snowmobile Club - Hastings, MN
• Sno Joes Snowmobile Club - St. Joseph, MN
• Greenway Snowmobile Club - Marble, MN
• Swampsiders Snowmobile Club - Bigfork, MN
• Mille Lacs Trail Association - McGrath, MN
• Rice Creek Trail Association - $1500
• Pipestone Sno Blazers- $1000
• New Prague Snow Drifters- $750
• Cannon Falls River Riders- $1000
• Lakeville Sno Trackers- $1000
• Parkers Prairie Snow Drifters- $250
• Maple Lake Sno Trackers- $1000
• Koronis Hills Snowmobile Club- $250
• St. Stephen River Runners- $1000
• New Ulm Dutchmen- $250
• Grand Rapids Driftskippers- $1000
• Scott County Sno Trails- $1000

• Sauk Centre Sno Cleats
• Appleton Ridge Runners
• Zumbro Valley Snowmobilers
• Montgomery Sno Busters
• Cambridge Drift Dusters
• Rice Creek Trail Association
• Faribo Sno Go
• Henning Sno Cruisers
• Wrenshall Sno Sharks
• Southwest Trail Association
• Elbow Lake Low Plains Drifters
• Clay County Trail Blazers
• Montevideo Snow Drifters
• Nevis Trail Blazers
• Lakeville Sno Trackers
• Stateliners
• Ely Igloo
• Palisade Super Sledders
• Pine City/Hinckley Flames
• Scott County Sno Trails
• Minneiska Snowbankers
• Ortonville Sno Riders
• Ostrander Trail Blazers
• Arlington Drift Dodgers
• Cook County Trail Association
• Kimball Central Lakes
• Todd Area Trail Association
• New Prague Snow Drifters
• Farmington Sno Tigers
• Kasson/Mantorville Snowdrifters
• Wanamingo Fire & Rescue

As a result of an increase to our budget, we have now given away more than $20,000 in trail grants for the 2001-02 snow season. Here are the additional communities that are receiving money.

• Sauk Centre
• Appleton
• Zumbrota
• Montgomery
• Rice Creek Trail Association
• Faribeault
• Henning
• Wrenshall
• Southwest Trail Association
• Elbow Lake
• Clay County
• Montevideo
• Nevis
• Lakeville
• Ely