1ST ANNUAL MINNESOTA RIVER GRASS-ROOTS GATHERING Hosted by the Friends of the Minnesota Valley On Saturday September 13th, 2003 from 9 A.M. to 11:30 P.M. the public is invited to attend the first annual MINNESOTA RIVER GRASS-ROOTS GATHERING at Benders Park in Henderson, MN at the Minnesota River. Activities include; informative and interesting river presentations, musical entertainment, food and refreshments, exhibit booths, river issues public input opportunities, farmers market, and more. Bring your lawn chairs. Admission is FREE. Hospitality area opens at 9 A.M. Top naturalist and river enthusiast Art Straub will present "At the Water" and "River Artifacts and Life at the River". At 12:30 P.M. MNDNR Fisheries will present "Fishes and Fishing the Minnesota River". At 1:30 P.M. Bob Finley with the MSU Water Resources Center and the Minnesota River Basin Data Center will present "Minnesota River Conditions". He will be followed by Scott Sparlin and Kevin Bigalke who will present the Lower Minnesota River Watershed Initiative and facilitate a public input session. At 3 P.M. Sheryl Corrigan, MPCA Commissioner will speak. U.S. Senator Mark Dayton is also an invited speaker. At 4 P.M. "Glen Wondra and the Country Gentlemen" will entertain until 7 P.M. when "Josh Reinitz and the Oxbow Boys" will perform. At 8:15 P.M. Mankato's hottest Country band "Hatfield and McCoy" will play music until 11:30 P.M. Exhibit Booths include the Minnesota River Board, MNDNR Fisheries, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, USFWS, MPCA, Minnesota River Basin Data Center and Friends of the Minnesota Valley. Sponsors of the event KCHK Radio, Grain Belt Brewing and August Schell Brewing, 1919 Root Beer, Brass Top in Henderson, and CCMR welcome you to enjoy this 1st annual free event. Don't miss this opportunity to meet and talk with other watershed enthusiasts from all over. Contact: Scott Sparlin ssparlin@friendsofmnvalley.org P.O. Box 488 New Ulm, MN 56073 507-359-2346