Governor coming to Taunton

The governor is coming!
Even though Taunton is a “small” town, a visit by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton on Oct. 13 will make it a “big” deal.
 As part of the 2017 Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener, Governor Dayton, as well as other state dignitaries, will be on hand for the dedication of the new Jim Meger Memorial Wildlife Management Area approximately four miles north of Taunton.
 Dayton will also be participating in the Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener near Marshall on Oct. 14.
 “We’re excited about having the governor come here,” said Al Dale, a board member with Lyon County Pheasants Forever. “The Jim Meger Dedication is open to the public and I expect a good turnout.”
 Meger grew up in Minneota and became one of the state’s most recognized wildlife artists. He died of cancer in 2011 at age 69.
Jim’s widow, Laurene Meger, and their daughter Elise have also been invited to the dedication, which begins at 4 p.m.
 “It’s a lovely gesture and a wonderful honor,” said Laurene, who lives in the Twin Cities.
“Jim would have been taken aback but would have been very thrilled. I think it’s just lovely that he is being remembered like this.”
 Dale came up with the idea for a wildlife area to honor Meger because of the many things he did in regards to the preservation of wildlife.
 “I was lying in bed one night and I couldn’t sleep,” Dale explained.
ne so much not just for pheasants, but all wildlife, through his work.”
 Dale decided on a wildlife management area.
 “I wanted it to be within a 30-mile radius of Minneota where he grew up and hunted a lot,” Dale said. “So I talked to a few members of Pheasants Forever to see what they thought and they liked the idea.”
 The next step was for Dale to propose the idea to the Lyon County Pheasants Forever board for approval, which they did overwhelmingly.
 Before proceeding with the project, though, the Pheasants Forever chapters wanted to get Laurene’s approval.
 “She gave us her blessing,” said LCPF Treasurer Ron Prorok, who contacted Laurene. “She was very thrilled with the idea.”
 A subcommittee, known as the LCPF Meger WMA Committee, was then formed to further advance the project.
 “This project has been the result of Al’s many years of hard work and dedication,” said Nick Simonson, the former president of LCPF who ended his term in April and moved out of the area.
“I served on the committee, helping with fundraising and communication efforts for the project. Al was the lead individual, working with area businesses, groups and private people to further this project, which was his vision from the outset.”
 The Department of Natural Resources and Lyon County and Yellow Medicine County Pheasants Forever clubs then worked together to find a 100-plus acres area that was for sale.
Through Minnesota’s Legacy Amendment, which provides funding for projects fostering clean water, land and air, nearly a half section of huntable habitat approximately 10 miles from Minneota was purchased in early 2016. It will be open to the public for hunting this fall.
 “We found this area about three miles north of Taunton that is 155 acres,” said Dale.
“And we are in the process of acquiring another parcel of land across the road that is another 160 acres.
 “Last fall, the DNR and Pheasants Forever chapters planted native grasses on this area. And the Wild Turkey Association (Marshall), which I’m also a board member of, planted a bunch of trees on the land.”
 In front of the tracts of land will be an impressive memorial marker bearing Meger’s name.
 “We have a large stone for the memorial already set in place out there,” said Dale. “An engraver from Mankato will be coming here to engrave it before the dedication.”
 The stone, which is approximately six feet tall and 10 feet wide, will also include two donor levels for individuals and/or businesses; the first level for those donating $500 to $999, and the second for those donating $1,000 and over.
 Contributions will go toward restoring and enhancing the WMA, which will benefit upland game, waterfowl, deer, small game and watchable wildlife. And it will protect a natural creek from runoff and siltation through the establishment of grasslands which will buffer the flow from sedimentation and improve water quality downstream.
 The LCPF and YMPF chapters have awarded Meger’s artwork at many of their annual banquets. Meger’s paintings helped raise millions of dollars for habitat projects, and even after his death, his paintings continue to raise money for worthy projects.
 Meger graduated from St. John's University in Collegeville with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
He then became an officer in the Vietnam War for 14 months before enrolling at the University of Minnesota where he earned his Master's Degree in Art Education.
 “I was an art teacher at the University of Minnesota and that’s where Jim and I met,” said Laurene Meger.
 While teaching art classes from 1973-79 in Minnesota, Meger consulted with late sculptor and artist Les Kouba of Hutchinson.
 Heeding his mentor’s advice, while also receiving the support of his wife, Meger decided to step down from teaching to devote more time to his wildlife painting.
 He soon became known as the artist who paints “More than Meets the Eye” as evidenced by how he often hid wildlife in his paintings that could only be seen upon close inspection of his work.
 The move to full-time painting proved invaluable. In 1980, Meger won the prestigious Minnesota Duck Stamp contest, and six years later won the Minnesota Pheasant Stamp contest. Six of his paintings were selected by the Minnesota Pheasants Forever chapter as “Prints of the Year”, more than any other artist.
 Meger was always known for his love of rural America, especially in and around the Minneota area. He often included farmsteads and wildlife in his painting, focusing on pheasants in particular.
 “Jim really cared a lot about the preservation of wildlife and wetlands,” said Laurene. “This is a very fitting homage to him.”

For those interested in attending the dedication, take Highway 68 to Taunton and turn north on County Road 1 and follow that for three miles. The marker will be on the west side of the road. If you are interested in donating, contact Lyon County Pheasants Forever at 507-829-9553.