By Lori Ehde
Blue Mounds State Park is under direction of a new park manager, John Voges, who started in December.
He comes to Luverne from the St. Croix State Park where he served as assistant manager. Coming to the prairie from a wooded river park is a change of pace, but it's one this outdoorsman welcomes.
"The tall grass prairie is growing in popularity, but it doesn't get all the attention it deserves," he said, adding that he also looks forward to working with bison.
"The bison are a wonderful resource for prairie management. That's one of the things that drew me to this area."
Voges should have no problem adjusting to his new environment, considering he has park experience in nearly all areas of the state.
He's originally from Bricelyn and earned his degree in park management from Mankato State University. His studies emphasized natural resource management.
His first job was in North Dakota, where he interned and spent five years in different areas of the state.
He went on to spend three years in the Minnesota Conservation Corps training college students in the Minnesota DNR.
Since then he's worked in different parks around the state, gaining experience in a wide variety of park management.
When the opportunity to come to Luverne presented itself, Voges said he didn't hesitate to accept a new challenge.
"There's a good staff here, and I know where they're at as far as their prairie resource management is concerned," he said.
"They were going in a good direction with the prairie and buffalo herd."
Voges has considered some goals of his own for the Blue Mounds, but for now he said there are already some exciting plans under way.
For example, the bison pasture area has more than doubled toward the south, and the Interpretive Center will be remodeled this spring.
Voges lives in the house near the Blue Mounds State Park office. He's getting married next month to Dawn Winkler of Hinckley, who is studying at South Dakota State University.
He replaces former park manager Rick White who took over in February 1996 after Merlin Johnson retired from his 15 years with the Blue Mounds.