News

Have you taken photos that represent the unspoiled beauty of Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless Region)?

The design team at Visit Bluff Country Magazine is asking the public for photos to appear on the cover of the 2020-2021 Visit Bluff Country Magazine.

For the 2019-2020 Visit Bluff Country Magazine, the following photographers were recognized for their photos contributions: Rich Aske, Madelyn Bergey, Jana Boyum, Tina Burmeister, Taylor Bushman, KJ Corson, Rylie Gatzke, Gary Gibson, Menno Hershberger, Jim Hoffman, Darla Kelchen, Mia Kelsey, Jennifer Lancaster, Felicity Lewandowski, Joni Mehus, Melissa Meyer, Adrianna Meiergerd, Addie Peters, and Taryn Raaen.

All photo contributors received a $25 gift certificate photo used from businesses that participate in the magazine.  Visit Bluff Country Magazine will again offer a $25 gift certificate per photo used for the 2020-2021 Visit Bluff Country Magazine.

If you are interested in having your photos published on the cover of 50,000 magazines that will be delivered to more than 1,000 locations in 35 counties in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, please submit your photos here or e-mail your photos to info@vistibluffcountry.com by no later than January 31, 2020.

Along with each photo, please indicate when and where the photo was taken.

Visit Bluff Country Magazine, the premier tourism magazine of the region, is affiliated with the Fillmore County Journal newspaper, and both publications are celebrating 35 years in 2020.

Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro will host its 23rd annual fall banquet fundraiser, Banquet on the Bluff, on Saturday, October 12. The event raises funds that support Eagle Bluff’s year-round outdoor environmental education programming. Eagle Bluff serves more than 16,000 students, adults and families every year, providing outdoor-focused experiences that empower people to care for the earth and each other.

For many children, Eagle Bluff offers the rare opportunity to experience nature and the environment first-hand while supplementing their classroom learning in history, language arts, and the sciences. The Eagle Bluff curriculum adheres to the state of Minnesota academic standards and reinforces STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) objectives. Attendees of Banquet on the Bluff will be making these transformative experiences happen for children with their generous support.

“We offer students the chance to self-discover the natural sciences hands-on,” Eagle Bluff Executive Director John Torgrimson said. “Imagine learning geology by studying our karst region first-hand, or calculating the velocity of arrows while shooting archery, or navigating the night sky by studying constellations.”

This year Eagle Bluff welcomes Murt Boyum from the Lanesboro Sales Commission as the evening’s featured auctioneer. Guitarist Kerry Klungtvedt will serenade guests while they enjoy an exquisite main course of beef top sirloin medallions, garlic herb mashed potatoes with mushroom sauce, and seasoned tri-colored carrots followed by a dessert of poached pears and cranberries. Vegan and gluten-free meal options will be available. Doors open with beer, wine and appetizers at 5:00pm.

Fun and entertainment will round out the evening as guests try their hand at various drawings, a game of heads-or-tails, and bidding on many unique auction items. The following is just a taste of what the auctions have to offer:

• Half-day Guided Drift Boat Tour
• Custom Eagle Bluff High Ropes Experience
• Bluff Country Airplane Tour
• Rustic Cabin Getaway Weekend
• Overnight Hunting Experience on Private Land
• Community-Supported Fishery Share

The event is Saturday, October 12, 2019 at the Eagle Bluff Dining Hall on their campus in Lanesboro. Tickets can be reserved online at eaglebluffmn.org/banquet or by calling 507-467-2437. Ticket packages range from $60, which includes dinner and drinks, to a Patron package of $100 (valued at $140) which includes dinner, drinks, a drawing ticket package, and specialty Eagle Bluff recycled ChicoBag. The evening is presented by F & M Community Bank.

Located five miles northwest of Lanesboro, Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is empowering people to care for the earth and each other.

Date: October 9, 2019

Location: Field of Dreams Movie Site

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Sixty plein air (in open air) artists from 14 states will paint Dubuque scenes Sunday, Oct. 6 – Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, and THEY’RE COMING TO PAINT THE FIELD OF DREAMS Wednesday evening, October 9 from 6pm-8pm!

Come to the Field for this FREE event and watch true artists at work at our corner of fantasy and reality while enjoying live music and food from a local vendor. Don’t forget to bring your glove and ball for a game of catch under the lights. And who knows, you may see some Ghosts make their way out of the corn!

Date: October 5, 2019

Location: Field of Dreams Movie Site

Time: 12:00pm – 2:30pm

The Field of Dreams Movie Site is pleased to announce we are holding a First Responders Game at the Field of Dreams Movie Site Saturday, October 5 at noon between the Chicago Police Department and the New York Police Department. Join the Field of Dreams for this FREE GAME and enjoy food from Manchester BBQ restaurant, Rockin 5k BBQ & Shack! Part of the proceeds go toward the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and the New York Police Widows and Children’s Foundation.

Katie Harstad of Preston, Minn., stands next to her brand new Grizzly 40 Cooler she won in a recent contest.

On August 31, 2019, Visit Bluff Country Magazine conducted the fourth prize giveaway drawing of the summer, which was a brand new Grizzly 40 Cooler. As the magazine celebrates 34 years as the premier tourism publication of Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless Area), they will be conducting prize giveaways each month from May through September. Prizes include kayaks, a Grizzly cooler, and a Green Mountain Grill (with WiFi).

Nikki van den Heever of Cresco, Iowa, won the first kayak drawing on May 31, 2019, Rebecca Wangen Kahn of Plainview, Minn., won the second kayak drawing on June 30, 2019, and Kara Noren of Ettrick, Wis., won the third kayak drawing on July 30, 2019.

The final drawing of this contest will be for a brand new Green Mountain Grill ($599 value) on September 30, 2019. Please to go www.visitbluffcountry.com/thebest to enter this drawing.

Photo submitted