Minnesota Made 2025 Auction

Into the North with Chel Anderson

Experience the North Shore like never before—through the eyes of a master naturalist.

Generously donated by Chel Anderson, Clark Lensing, Emily Wood, and the North Shore Winery

A Guided Journey Into the North Shore

This is more than a walk in nature—it’s a rare opportunity to explore the North Shore’s natural wonders through the eyes of one of Minnesota’s most celebrated naturalists.

Discover Hidden Stories Beneath Your Feet

Chel Anderson—co-author of North Shore: A Natural History of Minnesota’s Superior Coast, will personally lead your group of up to 12 people on a day-long walking adventure through either the Lutsen Scientific and Natural Area or along the Superior Hiking Trail (you choose).  

With decades of expertise in the region’s forest and plant ecology, Chel will reveal the quiet, living stories hidden in the soil, plants, and trees along your path.   

Stay in Style: A Modern North Shore Retreat

Your North Shore experience includes a three-night stay at Loretta’s Lodge, a stunning, fully furnished 3-bedroom modern A-frame cabin in Lutsen. With 8 beds, 3 bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen, a game room, and an 8-foot barrel sauna, it’s the perfect basecamp for a weekend of wonder. After your hike, unwind with a gift certificate at the North Shore Winery—a place where stories flow as freely as the wine. 

Two Prime Weekends to Choose From—Start Planning Now!

Start making your plans now. The winner will choose from two peak-season weekends—August 7–10 or October 9–12, 2025, confirming their choice no later than May 19. 

Package Details

• Chel Anderson is a Minnesota Land Trust landowner an expert botanist, and forest & plant ecologist. 
• Trip for up to 12 people on Minnesota’s North Shore. 
• Day long nature walk or hike at either Lutsen SNA or the Superior Hiking Trail which can be tailored to your group’s ability level. 
• Two available weekends: Aug. 7-10 or Oct. 9-12, check-in Thursday at 4 pm, check-out Sunday at 10 am. The winner must confirm their trip date selection by May 19, 2025. Mid-week options may be available but are not guaranteed.
• Learn more about your accommodations at Loretta’s Lodge. 
• North Shore Winery gift certificate valued at $180.

Private Dinner at Owamni

A chef’s curated culinary journey grounded in Indigenous heritage and innovation.

Generously donated by Owamni

One-of-a-Kind Culinary Experience

This is more than a dinner—it’s a cultural and culinary feast that few will ever get the chance to experience. You and 9 guests will be welcomed into a private dining room at Owamni, the nationally acclaimed restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Sean Sherman, for a five-course dinner with exclusive drink pairings. 

Menu Rooted in Place & Tradition

The executive chef will craft a never-before-served, family-style menu rooted in the flavors of Mni Sota Makoce—Land Where the Waters Reflect the Clouds. Every dish will feature pre-colonial, Indigenous ingredients, celebrating the rich culinary heritage of this land. You’ll taste the foods that once sustained generations—reimagined with care, creativity, and respect. 

Paired with each course are wine and non-alcoholic beverages, featuring Indigenous producers from California, Mexico, and New Zealand—many of them exclusive to Owamni. 

Recognized World-Wide, Only Found Here

Owamni was named Best New Restaurant in the United States by the James Beard Foundation in 2022 and one of USA Today’s Best Restaurants in 2024. Sean Sherman himself was named to Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023 for his role in revitalizing Native cuisine and inspiring a new generation of Indigenous chefs. 

You can’t buy this menu. You can’t reserve this experience online. This is a singular opportunity to share an evening of deep flavor, story, and connection—right here in Minneapolis. 

Package Details

• One-of-a-kind, chef curated private dinner for 10 with drink pairings. 
• Owamni is a James Beard Award winning restaurant. 
• Use by May 1, 2026, mutually agreed upon date between the hours of 9 am and 11 pm, subject to availability. 
• Tax and gratuity are not included and will be charged at the time of redemption. 
• Valid only on food. No additional alcohol or drinks are included besides drink pairings.

Prairie Tour & Dinner in the Wild with Scott Rall

Big skies, blazing blooms, fireflies, and great food round out this larger-than-life experience.

Generously donated by Scott Rall

A Prairie Experience Like No Other

Get ready to experience some great southern Minnesota hospitality! Join Land Trust landowner, Pheasants Forever National Volunteer of the Year, and outdoor writer Scott Rall and Minnesota Land Trust CEO Kris Larson and be transported back to a time when tallgrass prairies dominated North America.  

Explore Rare Native Prairie, Up Close

The highlight of this experience is the guided tour of some of the last rare remnant native prairie in existence in Minnesota and learning what it takes to restore cultivated row crop fields to prairie splendor from someone who’s done it. Also included is the chance to try your hand with clay pigeon and .22 caliber target shooting with Scott to coach or cheer you on.  

Dine Under the Open Sky

The evening continues with a dinner in the wild with your choice of steaks, ribs, or a seafood boil with all the fixings and a full bar. Finally relax with a glass of Scott’s locally acclaimed homemade Pheasant Run wine and an unobstructed view as you watch the sky fade to starlight, miles from the nearest streetlamp. 

Be Inspired

Don’t miss your opportunity to experience this Land Trust-protected property with Scott, all while supporting the mission of the Minnesota Land Trust.  When you bid on and win this one-of-a-kind experience, you’re sure to come away with an inspired heart and a new friend in conservation.  

Choose Your Summer Adventure—Start Planning Now!

Start planning your road trip to Nobles County now and choose your Saturday: June 21, July 12, or August 16. (For the best blooms, aim for June 21 or July 12). The winner must confirm their date no later than May 21. 

Package Details

• One evening beginning at 3 pm and ending after sunset. 
• Hosted by Scott Rall and attended by Kris Larson. 
• For up to 12 people. 
• Available dates: June 21, July 21, or August 16, 2025. Winner to confirm date by May 21, 2025. 
• Located in Rushmore, MN (Nobles County). 
• Steak, ribs, or seafood boil dinner and full bar. 
• Included: clay pigeon and .22 caliber target shooting. 

Arboretum Tour with Executive Director Andrew Gapinksi

Get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Minnesota’s favorite garden and wildscape.

Generously donated by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

An Exclusive Look Behind the Scenes

This private, behind-the-scenes experience for up to eight guests begins with a customized golf cart tour led by Arboretum Executive Director Andrew Gapinski. Andrew will guide you through 1,200 acres of vibrant display gardens, natural woodlands, wetlands, nationally recognized tree collections, and preserved natural areas, exploring the intersection of conservation and horticulture.  

Explore the Intersection of Conservation & Horticulture

The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum—a public garden and research institution in Chaska visited by nearly 700,000 people each year—plays a vital role in protecting and celebrating Minnesota’s diverse landscapes. But none of those Arboretum visitors have seen it quite like this. 

From the shifting color palettes of seasonal blooms to the quiet work of pollinators among native prairie grasses, this is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in Minnesota’s living landscape—through the lens of stewardship, science, and sensory wonder. 

A Seasonal Feast at Rootstock

Finish your experience with an onsite three-course seasonal lunch from Rootstock, the Arboretum’s signature restaurant known for its warm hospitality and fresh, locally inspired cuisine.    

This experience is perfect for garden lovers, conservationists, or anyone who simply wants to savor a special day outdoors with good company and great food.  

Package Details

• For up to 8 people. 
• Includes a three-course lunch catered by Rootstock. 
• Mutually agreed weekday, season & time. 
• Use by May 1, 2026.  

Nature-Themed Library Rare Books Tour with Adam

Visit a hidden natural history trove in the heart of Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Central Library Private Rare Books Tour

If you’ve ever dreamed of going behind the scenes at a world-class library—or getting up close to some of the most beautiful books ever created—this is your chance. You and up to 9 guests will enjoy a private, two-hour tour of the Minneapolis Central Library led by Adam Breininger, certified bookworm and Minnesota Land Trust Director of Development and Communications.  

Explore the Wonders of Special Collections

You’ll get access to architectural highlights and Special Collections—a treasure trove of rarely seen, exquisitely illustrated works on birds, botany, mammals, and insects—one of the most comprehensive collections in the Midwest.  

Where Nature, Art, and Storytelling Meet

Whether you’re a lover of libraries, nature, or art, this tour offers a rare chance to glimpse the wonder of the natural world… captured on the page… in one unforgettable visit. You won’t find this experience anywhere else. 

Package Details

• Two-hour private tour for up to 10. 
• Schedule for a weekday morning or afternoon during library hours by mutual agreement. 
• Must be used by May 14, 2026. 

Estuary Restoration Tour with Daryl & Kris

Go beyond the gala and explore the St. Louis River and America’s largest freshwater estuary. 

A Private Tour with the People Behind the Projects

If this year’s Gala theme—“Restoring Nature, Reviving Hope”—speaks to you, this is your chance to experience that promise firsthand. Join Minnesota Land Trust Director of Restoration Programs Daryl Peterson and CEO Kris Larson for a private, half-day boat tour through the St. Louis River Estuary, the site of the Land Trust’s largest and most ambitious restoration project to date. 

See Restoration in Action

This fully customized experience for up to six guests offers a close-up look at the estuary’s dramatic ecological comeback. You might visit the restored common tern habitat on Interstate Island, cruise past regenerating manoomin (wild rice) beds, duck into our most recent success story at Perch Lake, or visit other restoration sites guided by the very leaders making it all happen. 

Lunch, Learning, and a Little Wonder

With Daryl’s restoration expertise and Kris’s knack for telling the big-picture story, you’ll come away inspired, informed, and probably with a full stomach—thanks to a lakeside lunch from Northern Waters Smokehaus. This is a VIP field trip for the conservation curious. It’s relaxing, eye-opening, and totally unforgettable.

Package Details

• Private, half-day boat tour for 6. 
• Guided by Land Trust Director of Restoration Programs Daryl Peterson and CEO Kris Larson. 
• Custom itinerary, scheduled on a mutually agreed weekday. 
• Includes lunch from Northern Waters Smokehaus. 
• Must be used by September 30, 2025.