FRIENDS OF OXBOW

Zoodazzle will be December 6th and 7th (all events), and the following weekend, December 13th and 14th (lights only).

We are looking to our volunteers to help us out with the following:

• We need items for our silent auction! We would welcome gift baskets, giftcards, crafts and handmade projects!
• Volunteers to help hang lights starting November 12th
• Volunteers to help on December 6th and 7th from 5-8PM
• Homemade cookies

Interested in donating or volunteering for the event? Call the nature center, send an email to: friends@friendsofoxbow.org, or contact Friends of Oxbow on Facebook.

Thank you to all who came out to help us celebrate Oxbow Park turning 50! Despite the lingering rain showers, we had thousands of folks come out to join the fun! We raised over $10,000 dollars and are really grateful for all of the donations! An extra special shout-out to our sponsors and our volunteers! Without sponsors or volunteers, the events we host would never be possible!

Check out our website for more pictures!

With generous support from our community, FOX was able to fund $5000 to purchase the new cougar. It took over a year to find a replacement for the 13-year-old cougar, but the wait was worth it! Photo credit: Joe Ahlquist from The Post Bulletin.

Post Bulletin "Best of the Best 2019" named Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo "Best Tourist Attraction!" What an amazing honor!!!

TerraLoco donated $2200 to Friends of Oxbow as part of the Summer challenge! What is the summer challenge? Now in it's 4th year, this 5-week challenge is a fun, mildly competitive way to get the whole family moving. Each year TerraLoco partners with a charity and they chose Oxbow Park in 2019! Thank you TerraLoco!

https://raceroster.com/events/2019/24251/terraloco-wild-summer-challenge

Make sure to keep an eye on your email or snail mail for your renewal membership forms! We thank all of you for your continued support!

I grew up in Byron and my wife Jeanne and I raised our family just a mile away from Oxbow and have always enjoyed family outings to the park. We have camped, had reunions, visited the zoo, walked and cross country skiied the trails and had many adventures with our now adult children. We continue to enjoy the zoo with our young grandchildren. I retired from my work as an Ag Risk Management Advisor November 1, and am looking for opportunities to stay active and do meaningful volunteer work. I cannot think of a better or more fun place to volunteer time and energy!

There are many exciting improvements and additions in the works for Oxbow Park that will benefit young and old from all over our area. I look forward to having a hand in the good work being done at Oxbow!

Favorite Animal in the Park:

The wilcat exhibit. Especially excited to see the young cougar appear!

Favorite Trails:

I love them all. There is nothing like hiking west side of the river during the fall.

Fun Facts about You:

Retired from Advance Trading, Inc and Byron Elevator Company after 42 years in the Ag Marketing business.

Raised our family of 4 children in Byron and now have 8 grandchildren from near and far.

I enjoy all types of biking, hiking, time at the cabin with family, and traveling to new places.

In the late 1970's and early 1980's, a small group of people became very involved with Oxbow Park. These folks shared a common love of the outdoors and nature, and took advantage of all that this relatively new county park had to offer. Almost immediately, these pioneers had a vision for how they could influence, support and provide services for the park. In 1982 FOX was formed and has gone on to raise over $750,000 dollars to support Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo.

Current Board Members:

Barb Jensen, President

Seanne Buckwalter, Vice President

Deb Hanson, Secretary

Harold Davison

Jason Kluck

Lou Kuhlmann

Jan Nelson

Byron Stadsvold

Dawn Thompson

Email: friends@friendsofoxbow.org
Website: foxbow.org/
Location: Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo, County Road 105 Northwest, Byron, MN, USA
Phone: 507-328-7340