The glasses will once again be rising in celebration of the natural brilliance that lies on Becker County’s back door, and to the dedicated people who call themselves “friends” of Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.
Toast to Tamarac is coming up Friday, Sept. 12 at the Richwood Winery just northeast of Detroit Lakes.
The 4th annual event goes from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is being hosted by the Friends of Tamarac.
“Our mission is to raise money to promote the environmental education program at Tamarac,” said Vonnie Jacobson, who is chairing the event.
“It’s such a fun way to make the funds we need to do the things that are our passion, which is getting kids to Tamarac, paying for the busses to get them out there, the materials we need and to help the programs at Tamarac reach people,” said Jacobson.
Toast to Tamarac has turned out to be a successful fundraiser for the Friends, and according to Jacobson, it gets better every year - like a fine wine.
“Well, it’s fall in Minnesota, you’re in a beautiful setting with the vineyards in the background, and it’s just a really nice, relaxing time,” said Jacobson, who says they expect over 200 people to be “toasting.”
The Richwood Winery will be providing samples from several of its wine varieties produced there on the grounds, and “toasters” will get to take home commemorative glasses from the event.
Heavy hors d’oeuvres will also be served.
“We will have meatballs and all kinds of hearty things,” said Jacobson.
The Dave Ferreira Trio (jazz musicians) will be setting the musical ambiance at the Toast to Tamarac, as attendees try their hands at games of chance and make their bids on a variety of silent and live auction items.
One of those items includes a week in Kauai, Hawaii.
“A guy with a condo is offering it for a week, and it’s really quite beautiful,” said Jacobson, who adds there will be several extraordinary pieces of art up for bidding as well.
“We will have a number of fine art prints - all nature-themed - that will be offered, and Michael Webber, who is a nature artist, will be there working live,” added Jacobson, who adds Webber’s work can be seen on greeting cards at the Tamarac Gift Shop, as well as in a series of all the birds at Tamarac.
There will be a stained glass piece created by artist Rob Larson, as well as an antique quilt that was hand-quilted and embroidered.
“And on that quilt are the birds of every state, so it’s a vintage Americana thing that’s very unusual,” said Jacobson, who lists several other big auction items, including a Richard Sloan print, a large, framed wolf print, a left-handed Taylor guitar and WE Fest tickets worth $480.
Tickets for the “Toast” are $30 at the door, or they can be purchased in advance for $25 at the Richwood Winery, the Tamarac Visitor’s Center, Central Market (until Sept. 10) or from any Friends of Tamarac board member.
Those board members will all be out at the event making sure the details are in place - everything from stringing the lights in the tent to getting the food ready and helping people find parking spaces.
“It’s a group of women who just make this happen every year, and we have so much fun putting it together,” said Jacobson, who adds they all share the same passion -“To connect children with nature.”
Added Jacobson: “We do love our wild spaces and helping that next generation become conservationists who appreciate the wilderness we have left.”
For more information on the event, call 218-846-9815 or 218-847-7193.
