Tom Mlada standing on the Lake Michigan shoreline in a red LNRP shirt.

Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters of LNRP:

I might be dating myself here a bit, but one of my favorite childhood songs was “Celebration,” by Kool & the Gang. It’s a really upbeat, fun song, one you are apt to hear at weddings, sporting events, and high school proms. Heck, I think you can still hear it at Lambeau Field when the Packers are victorious! In short, we’ve all probably heard it, at one time or another. Here are the lyrics from one part of that song:

Let's celebrate

There's a party going on right here

A celebration to last throughout the years

So bring your good times and your laughter too

We gonna celebrate your party with you, come on

Celebration

As Summer recently drew to a close, our LNRP Team shared a celebration fitting of Kool & the Gang’s signature song: our annual Barn Dance event at Saxon Homestead Farm on Saturday, September 17th. The event included some tasty food, refreshing beverages, exciting auction items, creative games, good music, and LOTS of fun! And, beyond our Barn Dance event being a true celebration of our shared land and water conservation impact – and all the inspiring, generous friends and partners who join us in that impact! – it is also our biggest LNRP fundraiser each year. Our fundraising goal for this year’s event was $20,000, as a nod to our forthcoming 20th Milestone Anniversary!

As we now look back upon the Barn Dance that was, while we don’t yet have final event financials in-hand, I’m thrilled to share with you that we believe the event was a smashing success. Our heartfelt gratitude to all who made that success possible – our hosts, our sponsors, our volunteers, our auction item donors, our in-kind givers, and of course, all of you who attended and shared in the fun!!

For our LNRP Team, this is a really exciting time of year. Our Barn Dance is always a very special event hosted by very special friends at a very special place. It affords us a chance to pause and give thanks for one another and our partnership on work very much worth doing. It is truly a LNRP tradition – and one that make a very meaningful difference for our organization.

On behalf of our LNRP Team, thanks for all you do for and with us. Happy Autumn

With gratitude,