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Posse embarks on wagon train
By JASON KROEKER
Press staff writer
OWATONNA - Mariel Greenlee and everyone else on the
Wagon Train for Youth ride got a chance to see the Steele County
countryside in a different way.
"You get a chance to look at things more than when you're going 55
mph," said Greenlee, who rode with her husband, Melvin, in a covered
wagon pulled by two horses.
The Greenlee's had one of 15 wagons on the ride. There were also about 40
horseback riders. The group left the Steele County Fairgrounds at 8 a.m.
Saturday and rode up Cedar
Avenue to County Road 99 and then through Medford on County Road 45 before stopping for lunch at
the Medford
pit.
On the way back to Owatonna,
the group took a different route.
"They never go back the same way," said Steele County Sheriff Gary Ringhofer.
This is the second year the Wagon Train for Youth has been in Steele County. Every two years it moves to a
different county. It is expected to be in Waseca County
next year.
The Steele County Posse and Auxiliary hosted the event. Many posse members
were on horses Saturday, but Ringhofer said the
majority of people on the wagon train were private citizens
Former sheriff Bill Hildebrandt expected the event to raise $10,000 - $15,000
for the Sheriff's Youth Program of Minnesota. The Sheriff's Youth Program
provides care to children in group homes, family foster homes and shelter
services and offers summer camping opportunities.
The money raised from the posse ride will be used for capital projects.
Warren Vine used a wagon he built himself. Even though the wagon is pulled by
horses it has some high-tech and comfort equipment, such as a GPS system, a
CD player and cushion seats.
Last year he took the wagon on a trip through remote areas of Montana. The horses
grazed for food and used mountain streams for water. He said he goes on wagon
trains for the camaraderie.
Not all of the riders on the wagon train were riding a horse. Kraig Thorsen brought Ginger, a
draft mule.
Thorsen's wife Trisha said mules have more stamina
than horses and won't do anything that's not safe.
"Mules don't spook as easily," said Trisha Thorsen.
Since there are not many horse trails in Steele County,
the Thorsens said they do most of their local
riding on country roads.
This was the 24th year the Wagon Train for Youth has been held.
Jason Kroeker can be reached at 444-2376 or
jkroeker@owatonna.com
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