This past weekend was the annual Fall Picnic at Conrads in Moose Lake.  This year’s theme was “Lutheran Hot Dish”.  My parents and Allison organized the bulk of the activities while the rest of us brought the good weather and an assortment of Minnesotan hotdishes. 

This year’s attendance was spattered with quite a few more kids than previous years.  In all I think there were 40-50 attendees, with 10-12 being kids under the age of 10.  Activities for the kids (and kids-at-heart) ranged from Hayrides around the 80-acre farm, a scavenger hunt, fox-and-the-hen in the pasture and jumping in mud puddles.  For those of us whose wives wouldn’t let us get dirty in the mud, there was plenty to eat and drink, as well as putting on the boots and walking out to the maple grove.

Jason and I were also lucky enough to get out bow hunting on the land on Saturday and Sunday mornings.  Our trail cameras have picked up quite a few different bucks on the land this year.  The biggest reason for this is because Wilbur/Neal Koecher didn’t use the pasture land for their cows this summer.  While I’m sure my parents missed how well the cows kept the grass mowed throughout the property, Jason and I both welcomed the high grass which have given the big deer more reason to stick around the land.  We’re still undecided on whether or not to hunt Conrads this rifle season (November) or if we’ll stick to the public land in Barnum.  I suppose our decision will be made partially from the pictures from the trail cameras between now and then.