MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Mid-County Coop Board Member Shawn Eastman enhances Marsh Lake Hunting Club ’ s season for a unique experience
By Ben Ernhart Correspondant
As temperatures and leaves continue to fall , hunting action across the country continues to ramp up , and Mid-County Coop board member Shawn Eastman is right in the middle of it , ensuring members of the Marsh Lake Hunting Club ( MLHC ) are having the best hunting experience possible this season .
“ Despite it being pretty warm these first couple months , we ’ ve still done pretty well to start the season ,” Eastman said .
Located in rolling hills just south of Victoria , the Marsh Lake Hunting Club has been offering quality waterfowl , and upland bird hunts since 1969 . With a relatively small membership of 160 individuals and five different areas to hunt on one 400-acre parcel of private land , members don ’ t have to worry about bumping into other hunters , and get to enjoy a unique hunting experience .
“ We ’ re really fortunate that we have a lot of natural barriers between our hunting areas , it really keeps the area separated .” Eastman said . “ It also helps deliver on the experience we ’ re trying to provide of ‘ hunting the family farm .’”
Operating as MLHC ’ s general manager , Eastman admitted that this wasn ’ t the career path he envisioned for himself when he graduated high school , in fact , he didn ’ t know this type of career existed . However , while he was attending the University of Minnesota Crookston , Eastman was offered an internship with the club , and hasn ’ t looked back since , working his way up to assistant manager , and eventually general manager in 2000 .
“ It was never a long-term goal , but as I was working here I found out I really enjoyed it , and I just kept moving forward . It can be a lot of work , and long hours , but it ’ s been great .”
There ’ s no such thing as a “ typical ” work day as a hunting club manager , and Eastman stays busy year round at Marsh Lake . The season begins September 15 each year , and from then until April 15 , Eastman ’ s day-to-day tasks are primarily planning the logistics for each member ’ s hunt .
Apart from member hunts , during the season Eastman also helps plan several hunting and target shooting events for organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project , Ducks Unlimited , and Pheasants Forever .
The work doesn ’ t slow down in the off-season , and as soon as the hunting season closes , the Marsh Lake crew wastes no time getting ready for the next season . In addition to training dogs , and maintaining Marsh Lake ’ s buildings and equipment , Eastman spends a majority of the off-season improving the property ’ s habitat , ensuring the birds have adequate food and cover come fall .
As Mid-County ’ s Secretary Treasurer , Eastman ensures the co-op is making fiscally responsible decisions , but as the MLHC general manager , and a Mid-County customer , he also understands just how important Mid-County ’ s products and services are to the club ’ s success each season .
“ Mid-County has been a great help to Marsh Lake ,” Eastman said . “ I ’ ve been so impressed with their services over the years . They do whatever they can to help , and whenever I call , they ’ re here right away .”
While MLHC doesn ’ t harvest crops , about 20 percent of the 400 acres is farmed for corn and sorghum that are planted with Mid-County seed . The club also has about 40 acres of native grasslands , primarily switchgrass , which is also supplied through Mid-County .
Eastman said that in addition to seed , Mid- County also supplies the MLHC with fertilizer and crop protection chemicals , as well as fuel for their equipment and propane for the five propane tanks on the club ’ s property . During the planting and growing season , Eastman is in constant contact with a Mid-County agronomist , gaining insight on appropriate planting times , and weed control methods .
Whether it ’ s a phone call from an agronomist in the spring telling him the conditions are right and it ’ s time to plant , or late-night fuel delivery from one of the co-ops drivers , after being a Mid- County customer for almost 30 years , Eastman has seen first hand how much Mid-County cares and values its customers .
“ The big thing with them is their customer service ,” Eastman said . “ With some of the bigger co-ops you tend to lose that . From what I ’ ve seen as a board member and a customer , I think Mid-County really shines in helping local farmers . They really cater to the smaller farms that still exist in the area .”
A testament to the quality of the hunting experience Marsh Lake provides , membership
is currently full with a two year wait list . Those interested in joining the club can still schedule a tour of the property and fill out a membership application to get on the waitlist .
More information about the Marsh Lake Hunting Club is available on its website at https :// marshlakehuntingclub . com .
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