Minnesota's Mower County

PAGE 38 OUTDOOR NEWS MARCH 23, 2018 importance of the ventures Conservation in and in which he’s been involved, around Schamber’s most likely because he believes they’re all important in their hometown of Austin own unique ways. But it’s clear easily can fly under the Mower County Habitat and Pheasants Forever Chapter has the radar been a particular passion for By Tim Spielman one of two founding members Editor of the chapter (the other was innesota’s Mower County David Hagen), which just a few may not have a reputa- weeks ago held its 18th annual Mtion for big bucks. And it Outdoor News Person of the Year Arlen banquet. surely isn’t known for a famous Schamber took this mule deer last fall in He was the chapter’s first trea- chain of lakes for which fishing Montana. Photo courtesy of Arlen Schamber brings statewide acclaim. Few surer – he likes to point out he’s hunters flock there been the treasurer of various for waterfowling or organizations – for more than a duck hunting in a MINNESOTA decade, then served as its presi- given fall season. Arlen Schamber dent for a couple more years. But what Mower And, he admits, creating County does have is what every habitat and places for people to other county in the state also has: hunt in Mower County always a dedicated group of individuals Outdoor News has been a challenge. The USDA working to make conservation states that in 2012, about 94 per- a priority, to improve the area’s cent of land use in the county hunting and fishing, and to create was in agriculture. Person of the Year “We’ve done some good Minnesota’s future outdoorsmen and women. things in Mower County even though In Mower County – situated on the it’s basically a farming community,” he Iowa border and three counties in from says. Among them: working with oth- the Wisconsin border – one of those er groups and agencies to acquire 160 individuals is Arlen Schamber, Outdoor acres from Edward and Lucy Schottler News’ 2018 Person of the Year. It’s like- – what is now the Schottler Wildlife ly never again will such an honor be Management Area, complete with wet- bestowed upon an individual who was lands and grassland habitat. instrumental in building not one, but In doing so, Schamber says, “There two Spam museums. were a lot of hoops to jump through,” That’s just one of many accomplish- but the owners wished for conserva- ments that make Schamber, 66, smile tion of the land. It’s now open to public with pride at the mention. The South hunting. Dakota native and former Hormel engi- Justin Hanson, district manager for neer has a host of others, ranging from the Mower County Soil and Water work with conservation groups, help- Conservation District and a member ing the area’s youth in firearms safety, of the Mower County PF chapter, says working to ensure the city of Austin Schamber also was involved in the cre- (pop. 24,718) stays on high ground ation of the 500-acre Ramsey Mill Pond during periods of rising rivers, and so WMA in that county. It’s one of many Arlen Schamber (with plaque) invited family to join him as he accepted the much more. projects in which Hanson worked with 2018 Outdoor News Person of the Year Award. Joining him were (l to r): Schamber. For 39 years he worked for Hormel, daughter, Gretchen Reetz, granddaughter, Anne Marie Reetz, wife, Mary, “He’s a different kind of guy,” he says until his retirement in 2013. He’s been grandson, Benedict Reetz, and daughter, Rachel Minerich. Photo by Rob Drieslein a DNR firearms safety instructor for 27 of Schamber. “He immerses himself in years and counting. For the past year, plummeted.” pany sold that division, he moved to these things. I’ve never met anybody he’s been providing engineering over- There weren’t many deer in the area Austin in 1980, where he remained until who puts what he does into these sight for an in-progress 100,000-square- of his South Dakota home, but later, retirement. things. foot recreation center that will keep Schamber hunted near the Black Hills For most of his career, Schamber says, “It’s his level of leadership that I’m so Austin youth active and occupied. with a friend he met while attending he used his engineering skills to build impressed with.” Those who best know Schamber the South Dakota School of Mines and and remodel company plants, along the All told, in just 18 years, the PF chap- describe him above all else as humble Technology in Rapid City. way also working on environmental ter in Mower County has raised $1 and soft-spoken. But that, they say, Schamber entertained a number of issues. million to fund 21 projects that have might belie his self-confidence, and his job offers upon graduation, eventual- Beyond the job impacted some 815 acres, according to ability to lead. ly choosing Hormel Foods Corp. for, Today – as he was during his working the group’s website. among other reasons, its focus on food “He’s what people should be like,” years – Schamber is involved in an array “We’ve done some good things, and products: “Being a farm kid, I knew says Jon Erichson, former Austin of activities that included being active we’re pretty proud of that,” Schamber about eating ya know.” city engineer, who was active, as in conservation organizations, water- says. was Schamber, on the Turtle Creek On to Hormel shed districts, committees, the Hormel And there’s more … Watershed District’s board. His career began in Fremont, Neb., Nature Center, and things that are Schamber also has been a longtime Like so many other conservationists, before he moved to Coon Rapids, Minn., just plain good for the kids of Mower member, as well as an officer with the Schamber’s journey began on a farm to work in a division of Hormel focused County and Austin, such as high school Mower County Chapter of the Izaak – his family’s, a small dairy operation on wastewater and pollution equipment trap shooting, firearms safety, and the Walton League. He’s been the group’s near the rural town of Freeman, S.D., design. Once the com- current recreation center proj- president and secretary (oddly, not its north of Yankton. It was there he first ect. treasurer …). learned the value of wildlife habitat. “If it weren’t for all the kids He says he joined the Ikes at the urg- Early observations in town, I’d probably stay ing of a neighbor during a backyard retired,” he says with a laugh. What’s occurring today in the realm conversation shortly after moving to of a federal ag land set-aside conserva- Schamber doesn’t rank the Austin. It’s a conservation group, he tion program mirrors what Schamber At left, Schamber (l) and says, that makes sense and is effective at witnessed growing up in southeast- Marty Lienau, past officer for the legislative level. ern South Dakota. The rise and fall of the local PF chapter. “I believe in the core things (the Izaak Conservation Reserve Program acreage Photo courtesy of Mower County Habitat Walton League) believes in,” he says. and Pheasants Forever Chapter reminds him of the Soil Bank program It was a combination of his involve- of the mid- to late 1950s and early 1960s. ment with the Ikes and his “I grew up when employment at Hormel that Soil Bank acres were led Schamber to another inter- still in play,” he says. est: the Jay C. Hormel Nature “Pheasants were run- Center, located on the east side ning around all over of Austin. the place.” Schamber took an active role But that changed in in the construction of a new the mid-1960s, due in building at the 500-acre nature part to U.S. secretary center which, he says, “offers all of the Agriculture kinds of programs and nature Department Earl Butz classes.” (who served under The history of the Hormel Richard Nixon and Nature Center dates back nearly Gerald Ford), who 100 years. In 1927, Jay C. Hormel “promoted farming A firm believer in doing things that benefit Schamber (front row, left) used his position on the planted more than 200,000 trees fence row to fence Turtle Creek Watershed District board to help slow on the land that would become row,” Schamber said. area youth, Schamber presents a scholarship to Aaron Jaenger in 2010. water flow that occasionally caused flooding in his the center. It wasn’t until the 1970s Eventually, the pheas- hometown of Austin. ant population “just Photo courtesy of Mower County Habitat and Pheasants Forever Chapter Photo courtesy of Turtle Creek Watershed District (See Person of the Year Page 39) MARCH 23, 2018 OUTDOOR NEWS PAGE 39 cussed), with a well thought-out eye of Schamber, the owner Deer Hunters Association, statement,” Hanson said. “He project engineer. The Hormel and the Rocky Mountain Elk Person of the Year could kind of diffuse the situa- Foundation, he said, helped Foundation. (From Page 38) Erichson, the retired Austin tion.” fund it, and in doing so will A monument to Spam city engineer who now has his make the facility accessible to that the city of Austin acquired About the kids Hormel’s Spam Museum, own engineering company, all kids. 123 acres of land around the Ask Schamber about what Schamber says, is a little bit like sought out Schamber to serve The center will have basket- Hormel estate.

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