Fourteen area youngsters received their MN DNR snowmobile safety certification after completing their training requirements last weekend at the Palmer Township Hall. The educational event was sponsored by a new snowmobile club, the Palmer Powder Hounds.

Certification requirements include the completion of an online module, followed by a pre-ride inspection and the completion of a driving course, according to Mike Ganz, Trail and Membership Coordinator for the new club.

“Nine members of our new club went through the training to become DNR certified instructors,” said Ganz. “This is our way of getting the younger generation involved in snowmobiling, and we wanted to focus on safety awareness and teaching the rules of riding safely.”

Ganz noted that riders who trespass and go off the trail give a bad name to all snowmobilers, so a focus of the club is to teach the ethics of responsible riding and to stress the importance of keeping the landowners happy so the trails can remain open.

Students completed the online class last Friday evening at the Town Hall with instructors Keith and Amy Bragelman and then returned Saturday for the hands-on experience. Local DNR Conservation Office Trent Seamans kicked off the morning affair by speaking to the students about the responsibilities of operating a snowmobile and being good stewards of the available resources.

Club Formation

Ganz said that for several years there has been talk of getting a club started on the western side of Sherburne County since that is where the majority of the riding is done because of the less frequent driveway approaches and more open land for trails.

The club will be part of the Sherburne County Trails Association, an organization that oversees the trails and grooming in the county. Once that group gives the final nod of approval, the Palmer club hopes to take over the trail maintenance in the western portion of the county. Several members have already been instrumental in maintaining and grooming the trails in the past, and have the necessary experience to make the transition seamless.

Ganz, himself a member of the Big Lake Sno-Cruisers for the past decade, said the support from the local community has been tremendous.

Meetings began in July and since then, the club has undertaken a variety of projects, including applying to be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.  Current club members who are serving in positions of leadership include President Chris Cotton, Vice-president Wayne Marklowitz, Secretary Amy Bragelman, Treasurer Jennifer Koenig and Ganz.

“It was just time and there were a lot of people in the Palmer area who were interested,” Ganz said about the timing and formation of the club. “We’ve been averaging about 20 to 25 people each month at our meetings so there is a lot of interest.”

The next event scheduled for the club will coincide with the BLCA Ice Day scheduled for February 12 on Lake Julia, as the Powder Hounds will sponsor a vintage snowmobile show.

In the spring, there are preliminary plans being made for an ATV Safety Class, as many of the area youth snowmobilers will shift their attention to their summer machines.

“A lot of our members are in that age range of 20 to 30 years old,” Ganz said.  “We’re hoping that some of them are ready to step up and take leadership roles here in the near future.”

The club holds its meetings the last Tuesday of the month at the Palmer Twp. Hall at 7 p.m. New members are always welcome.