Conservationist’s legacy remembered at Minnesota wildlife management area dedication

New Prague, Minn. — Supporters gathered in May to dedicate a new state wildlife management area  in Minnesota and to pay tribute to a conservation champion who lived by the motto, as she would put it, “just payin’ it forward.”

The Stacy Dvorak Memorial Tract is a 52-acre addition to the Bradshaw Lake Wildlife Management Area. The acquisition is nestled in an existing 736-acre public lands complex located northeast of New Prague in Scott County.

Dvorak was a longtime volunteer for Scott County Pheasants Forever, serving on the board of directors and leading the banquet committee. She was honored as the 2011 Pheasants Forever Minnesota Volunteer of the Year – the youngest recipient of the award and the first female to receive it.

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In addition to her passion for upland hunting, Dvorak dedicated herself to military veterans, founding Charlie’s Hero Hunt, the first annual military hunt in Minnesota. She also founded Operation Puppies for Soldiers. Because of her work, 19 puppies were given to returning soldiers in appreciation of their service.

Dvorak died in 2015 at the age of 41.

“Stacy did more for conservation and the outdoors in her 41 years than most volunteers are able to do in twice that amount of time. She never quit paying it forward,” Pheasants Forever Development Officer Scott Roemhildt said during the event. Roemhildt previously was a regional representative and worked with Dvorak often.

Scott County Pheasants Forever committee members, friends, and family members remembered Dvorak’s smile and her devotion to the land. She enjoyed the tradition of upland hunting and encouraged others to learn the sport through mentoring opportunities. 

The Stacy Dvorak Memorial Tract was acquired through multiple partnerships, leveraging resources from 24 donors including Pheasants Forever chapters, conservation organizations and individuals. The Build A Wildlife Area project was supported through funding from Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Minnesota DNR, and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The tract includes several important wetlands and prime upland habitat. It is less than an hour from the Twin Cities metro area, providing quality outdoor access to a significant population center.