Josh and Melissa Wolf of Glenwood, Minnesota have been married just 8 months, so winning a new 2015 Chevy Silverado 4 X 4 truck is like a big, belated wedding gift. "We're just starting out together, so this makes a big difference in our lives," said the 32 year-old Wolf. He was one of hundreds of qualifiers attending Minnesota DU events over the past 12 months and one of five statewide finalists for a new 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 4 X 4 truck awarded Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Minnesota Ducks Unlimited (DU) State Convention in Willmar, Minnesota. Wolf selected the winning key and is scheduled to take delivery of his new Chevrolet Silverado this month at
Marthaler Chevrolet in Glenwood, Minnesota. Said Wolf, "When I saw those truck lights go on and I won, I jumped about three feet in the air, raced onto the stage and picked up the emcee and threw him over my shoulder!"
Josh Wolf works for Osakis Silo, Osakis, Minnesota supervising farm silo building and repairs. His wife, Melissa, is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) who will soon start a new job in Alexandria, Minnesota. Said Josh Wolf, "My brother got me started in duck hunting and the outdoors when I was young. I got involved in the Minnewaska chapter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited in Glenwood about 6-8 years ago, and have chaired our committee most of those years. DU events are a great way to meet people who love the outdoors and support wetland conservation," said Wolf.
Minnesota Chevrolet Dealers annually join together contributing a new Chevrolet Silverado 4 X 4 truck as a grand prize in the program. Attendees at Minnesota DU events can win specially commissioned artwork by one of America's leading outdoor and sporting dog photographers, Lee Kjos of Webster, Minnesota. Artwork winners can qualify to win the new truck. D.J. Raduenz, Stillwater Motors, Stillwater, Minnesota is President of the Select Heartland Chevrolet Dealers. Said Raduenz, "Each Minnesota DU event works with a neighboring Chevrolet dealer. It's a perfect grassroots partnership. Helping DU volunteers raise dollars for wetland conservation at local events helps our dealers build great customer relationships." He presented Minnesota DU a ceremonial check for $1,749,354 raised for wetland conservation since the program began in 1997.
A 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 4 X 4 will be awarded in February 2016 to a person qualifying at a Ducks Unlimited event in Minnesota now through December 2015. 18 Chevrolet trucks have been awarded since the program began. Past Minnesota new Chevy Silverado winners include Mike Kuka, Maple Plain, MN (1998) Gary Ricard, Chatfield, MN (1999), Jay Kimble, Stillwater, MN (2000), Patrick Doyle, Faribault, MN (2001), Marcia Gamer, Farmington, MN (2002), Mike Lidgerding, Wabasha, MN (2003), Ken Cryer, Bloomington, MN (2004), Tom Bollman, Pine Island, MN (2005), Perry Nodsle, Detroit Lakes, MN (2006), Spencer Kvam, Granite Falls, MN (2007), Tim Woelfel, Redwood Falls, MN (2008), Carrie Roble, Frazee, MN (2009), Ruth Hoefs, Le Centre, MN (2010), Colleen Patterson, North Mankato, MN (2011), Robyn Abner, Benson, MN (2012), Tamara Revier, Olivia, MN (2013) and Rachel Olson of Benson, MN (2014).
"Each $250 we raise translates into one more acre of wetland preserved for waterfowl and wildlife in North America," said Brian Ross, Minnesota DU State Chair-Elect, Baxter, MN. "DU is the largest grassroots member conservation organization in Minnesota and consistently one of the top states in the nation raising dollars for wetlands." Minnesota DU has over 200 local chapters, conducts close to 250 fund raising events, and lists over 39,000 men, women, and youth as members. In the U.S., Ducks Unlimited has chapters in 50 states and a membership of over 773,000. Ducks Unlimited began in 1937 when lands in the North American waterfowl flyways, particularly the upper Midwest and Canadian Prairie Provinces, were drained and developed. DU counts close to 60 million acres protected for wetlands and waterfowl habitat in North America since the 1930's.
