St. Paul, Minnesota – Montana-based Backcountry Hunters and Anglers announced today that its North America Meeting 2024 will be held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds April 18-20. It will be the first time the event has been held east of the Mississippi River and will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the BHA.
All previous meetings have taken place at the Intermountain West and, for the past three years, in the group’s hometown of Missoula, Montana.
Aaron Hebeisen, coordinator of BHA chapters in five Midwestern states, including Minnesota, said he is thrilled that the Minnesota chapter will host the BHA’s premier national event.
“We hope that even if you don’t plan on flying, it will be a more accessible way to meet and bring in some people from the East and show them that BHA is not the Western-centric organization it once was,” Hebeisen said. “It’s a nationwide movement. Public lands are for everyone, all over the country.”
Eli Mansfield, Chairman Minnesota BHA Chaptersaid he can’t wait to show Minnesota.
“For me and the rest of the Minnesota Board, there’s nothing bigger,” Mansfield said. “This is the Super Bowl of environmentalism. We can’t wait to showcase Minnesota as the premier outdoor destination in the country.”
The journey began five years ago when the state chapter proposed hosting the event in Minnesota. In May 2022, Hebeisen said BHA headquarters staff were considering proposals to host the event in 2024. The Minnesota chapter developed a proposal and won the bid.
Feedback from attendees after Rendezvous 2023 pointed to the need for more indoor facilities so the event could better handle adverse weather conditions, Hebeisen said. Another consideration was greater access to the airport, so people could more easily book flights.
In March 2023, BHA staff, including Hebeisen, toured several areas in the Twin Cities. The Minnesota State Fairgrounds offers indoor and outdoor venues, proximity to the airport, multiple hotel options and other local events to cap off the weekend.
“It gives people confidence that no matter the weather, the event will be great,” Hebeisen said.
The state chapter plans to add a few key components to make it a complete “Minnesota experience.” Spring turkey season opens in mid-April, and there are plenty of opportunities to fish — through ice or cushioned water.
Organizers hope Rendezvous 2024 will draw attendees from across the country. As a midpoint between the coasts, the Twin Cities should draw people from east and west.
Ted Koch, chairman of the BHA North America board, said about one-third of BHA members live east of the Missouri River. He hopes the Twin Cities meeting location will make it easier for them to visit the meeting site.
Hebeisen said Rendezvous 2024 will be an opportunity for members and the public to meet the fresh BHA CEO. Land Tawney, longtime BHA CEO and president, announced on July 19, 2023, that he resigned from the organization.
A search for a fresh leader has begun, and the organization’s staff anticipates that the April meeting will be the first opportunity to fully introduce him/her in a public setting. With the potential fresh CEO, the BHA will celebrate its 20th anniversary as an organization.
“It’s not the 20th meeting, but it is the 20th anniversary of the BHA, so that’s a clear part of what we want to focus on in the coming year,” Hebeisen said.
Typically, the meeting runs from Wednesday evening through Sunday, but early portions are focused on BHA leadership, and others are focused on the public, Hebeisen said. On Wednesday evening, the Minnesota chapter will oversee the organization of the event for BHA staff and chapter leaders before chapter leadership training takes place on Thursday.
Thursday evening is a welcome reception for the public, hosted primarily by BHA headquarters staff in Missoula. Friday and Saturday will feature seminars and demonstrations on a variety of topics focused on BHA values and outdoor recreation.
Friday night will be a social event, and Saturday afternoon will be the annual luncheon, followed by a venison contest. Saturday evening will end the weekend with storytelling around the campfire, a special moment for Koch.
“The opportunity to gather a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, sharing different stories about their experiences with our public lands, waters and wildlife never gets old,” Koch said. “It’s a tradition at every gathering and a highlight of every weekend.”
Koch added that Minnesota is a “sportsman’s paradise” and he’s excited to see the chapter create a memorable weekend. The Minnesota chapter is one of the largest, ranking third in the country, Koch said.
Hebeisen wants the weekend to unite the outdoor community and address environmental challenges not only in Minnesota but across the country. He’s excited that it’s coming to the Twin Cities for the first time and hopes it will be a place for future gatherings.
“We are also excited to join conservation partners from many other nonprofit organizations to demonstrate how hard work and collaboration can create a culture that promotes hunting as more than a management tool, but as a heritage to be shared with all,” Mansfield said.
Anyone interested in attending Rendezvous at the Fairgrounds in 2024 can RSVP on the BHA websiteMore information about the event will be available as April 2024 approaches.
