Note from the Newsletter Editor – Thank you all for your patience with the delay on this one. Hopefully the new web format of the newsletter is easier for everyone to access. We have some awesome new content to add to the website soon, including the seminars from the show!
If you couldn’t make it to the show, you can still watch the seminars if you have a current membership.
If you’d like to put together a how-to video to post to the members-only section, please reach out to me or Aaron and we’ll figure something out. We’re really hoping to make the learning platform something that’s state of the art.
Lexie Neff
Greeting Everyone
Thank you to everyone that made the show such a huge success. It would not and could not happenwithout all our great members in attendance. I had so many people come up to me and say what agreat show it was and how nice and welcoming everyone was. I could go on and on but all the positive comments mean a lot and the MTG truly has become a taxidermy family. That means the world to me and I’m happy to serve the MTG as President.
We are already busy planning for next years show. Show dates are April 9th-12th 2026, held once againat Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center.
Judges for 2026 are: Bill Neuman Mammals, Tyler Erickson Fish, Justin Bach Whitetails. The bird judge hasn’t been determined yet, we’ll post on Facebook when it’s finalized.
Thanks again for every single member and judge that made the Minnesota Taxidermy Guild
Convention and Competition truly, one big taxidermy family.
Aaron Reiling
MTG President
Species: Any Fox (Lifesize or shoulder mount)
Avian: Pintail
Ichthy Award: Best paired fin pockets on a Largemouth Bass
| MTG Treasurers Report – Post Convention | |
| 1-30-2025 to 5-4-2025 | |
| Submitted By: Clifford Knutson, Treasurer | |
| Beginning Balance – Checking 1/30/2025 | $37,203.38 |
| Revenue | |
| Banquet Ticket Sales | $240.00 |
| Convention Auction Sales | $9,025.00 |
| Convention Registration Sales/annual membership | $14,606.18 |
| Day Pass Sales | $60.00 |
| Hospitaility Suite Free Will Donation | $300.00 |
| Interest Payments | $0.00 |
| Ladies Seminar Sales | $300.00 |
| Lifetime Membership Sales | $4,200.00 |
| Public Viewing Sales | $580.00 |
| Raffle Sales | $0.00 |
| Trophy Sponsors & Donations | $150.00 |
| Merchandise Sales | $2,168.00 |
| Vendor Booth Payments | $0.00 |
| Total Revenue | $31,629.18 |
| Expenses | |
| Accounting Expense | $0.00 |
| Auction Items Purchased | $0.00 |
| Award Payout | $300.00 |
| Awards Expense | $3,421.13 |
| Bank and Credit Card Fees and Bill Payment Expenses | $250.97 |
| Board Meeting Expense | $216.43 |
| Convention Advertising Expense – Mailers, Vendor Flyers, & Postage | $0.00 |
| Convention Center Expense – Fees, Food, and Drink | $9,789.29 |
| Convention Supplies Expense | $307.25 |
| Hospitaility Suite Expense | $768.72 |
| Hotel Room Expense – Judges and Photographer | $2,350.24 |
| Judges Fees and Travel Expense | $6,824.53 |
| Ladies Social Expense | $50.00 |
| Misc. Postage | $29.10 |
| Misc. Reimbursable Mileage Expense | $0.00 |
| Raffle Expense(prizes) | $0.00 |
| Raffle Expense(Printing) | $0.00 |
| Raffle Expense(Shipping) | $0.00 |
| Raffle Expense(Admin.) | $110.00 |
| Return Deposit | $0.00 |
| Seminarian Fees Expense | $200.00 |
| Trailer Insurance and Trailer Storage Expense | $432.76 |
| Merchandise Expense | $1,992.34 |
| Website Hosting and Upgrades Expense | $1,010.24 |
| Total Expense | $28,053.00 |
| Net Gain | $3,576.18 |
| Ending Balance – Checking 5/4/2025 | $41,263.66 |
| Money Market Savings Account 5/4/2025 | $26,398.35 |
| Timed Savings Account 5/24/2025h | $11,403.46 |
| Total Cash on Hand | $78,983.89 |
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MN Taxidermy Guild Meeting 4/6/2025
Prepared by Dave Anderson – MTG Secretary
Tentative Treasurer Report:
Total $29,566.62
Expenses (will change) $15,938.15
$11,000 in Market Account
Next Year’s Show:
Next Year Show Dates: April 9-12,2026
Booking into 2028 for 2 more years.
Best Pockets on paired funs on Large Mouth Bass
Avian- Pintail
Species- Any Fox
Judges:
Whitetail- Justin Bach
Fish- Tyler Erickson
Mammal- Bill Newman
Bird- Jordan Hackel / Lowell Shapley ?
Gun Calendars- permit to go in soon
Seminars:
Habitat, Finish Work, Hands on Seminar (Simple)
Live Mounting- Friday afternoon until auction, look at Illinois, ND, and SD to see how they do it.
50/50 Cash Prize
Most Improved Taxidermist Award – Board to choose person and can either be give an award or Ribbon
New Category- Whitetail Open Mouth and Closed Mouth in both professional and Masters
Remove Having to Nominate Best All Around
Website: Needs to be fixed
Board Elections:
New Directors for 2025: Autumn Johnson and Nick Hermanson
Change in By law: No Officer may hold Same Office for more than 2 consecutive terms
Scholarship: Brandon Knicely and Emma Lloyd
Trace Armstrong
117 – Mule Deer
Breakthrough Best of Show
State Champion Large Gamehead
Pro-1 Award
Best out of State Entry
Cole Lenort
170 – Whitefront Goose
Runner Up Best of Show (Sponsored by Ledford Tannery)
State Chapion Large Waterfowl
Taxidermist Choice Best Bird (Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply)
Cole Lenort
171 – Harlequin Duck
WASCO Award
Trace Armstrong
119 – Whitetail
Artisan Award
Taxidermist’s Choice best Whitetail (Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply)
State Champion Whitetail (Sponsored by MN Official Measurers)
DNR Choice
Jordan Osmundson
167- Otter
State Champion Small Mammal
Tom Hansen
83 – Lifesize Whitetail
State Champion Large Mammal
Troy Sazama
183 – Ruffed Grouse
State Champion Upland Bird
Zach Johnson
128 – Wigeon Duck
State Champion Small Waterfowl
Brian Vogelpohl
180 – Turkey
State Champion Turkey
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You can find the full gallery of 2025 images HERE (Gallery Coming Soon!)
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