Youth News

Tri-County Snow Czechers Youth Organization

Tri-County Snow Czechers youth club hard at work at Brett Simon’s shop in St. Thomas, MN, putting signage together after the evening of shop work. Later that weekend they moved outdoors to install the same signage they made on the section of trail they maintain. Congrats to the Tri County-Snow Czechers for their commitment to service before self.

Derrick Kohlgraf

MnUSA Scholarship Recipient

In the September issue the 2021 MnUSA scholarship recipients were announced. This issue we are featuring an essay from Derrick Kohlgraf. The MnUSA Scholarship Program will continue in 2022 with applications due by February 28, 2022. Application forms can be found on MnUSA’s website under Programs.

MnUSA Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee on the basis of their essay, academic achievement, leadership, participation in school, snowmobile and community activities, work experience, and additional insight from two outside references.

Derrick Kohlgraf graduated from Mora High School in Mora in June 2021 and plans to study finance or business at St. Scholastica, Duluth. He is an active member of the Giese Sno-Gruisers and helps with grooming, cleaning trails, marketing and other club activities. His high school activities include lettering in football (All Conference), band (All Conference), choir (All Conference), and drama. In addition to Minnesota Honor Society, he lettered in academics and participated in Knowledge Bowl. Derrick is the son of Joseph and Michelle Kohlgraf and is the recipient of a $750 scholarship.

With the many restrictions put on Minnesota residents due to the COVID pandemic, people are embracing outdoor activities and many have been introduced to or returned to snowmobiling. With all the activity comes a greater responsibility for all riders to respect the generosity of landowners and stay on the trail.

Derrick – What would you do to educate and stop riders of all ages and experience levels from trespassing and to say on the trails?

Simple rules. They’re some of the easiest things to follow, but people still don’t follow them. Whether they choose not to follow the rules or don’t know about them, there is always a solution. In this case, the simple rule is staying on trails and avoiding trespassing. This particular problem has defeated many of those who try to give an answer, but I believe I have a beginning to the answer. I believe that the key to solving this problem is education, punishment, and reward.

The first step to solving this problem is attacking at its roots. Since snowmobiles and their tabs are required for riding, educating customers who purchase a snowmobile or snowmobile trail sticker will help. Some people don’t know they are supposed to stay on the trails and showing them a quick presentation from the salesman or another outside group will make them aware. If people are shown that trails could be lost if they continue to leave the trails, the problem could be ended quickly. All that is required to accomplish this is a presentation and a way to present. A presentation is easy to make, relatively inexpensive, and helps to notify people of problems. This presentation could be created by someone in MNUSA or an outside company. After the presentation is created, it can be shared with every business selling snowmobiles or their trail stickers. Since businesses need to be technologically advanced, they already have the requirements for these presentations. Adding these presentations is a small responsibility to add to a salesman’s job and can make a massive difference in the amount of people who trespass.

Presentations will help to make the general public aware of the problem and the possible results, but people will still think they are above the rules. A small portion of riders will continue to think they can ride wherever they want without consequences. Because of this, a punishment system will have to be enacted. There are many punishments that can be enacted but I believe a system of punishments that slowly get worse would be the best. If people know what could happen to them if they trespass, they will be less likely to continue doing it. Installing cameras along trails and posting people on look out could help identify those who trespass and leave the trail. The first time they leave the trail or trespass, they should be given a warning or a small fine or ticket. This will encourage them to stay on the trail. The second offense should be more serious. A large fine or ticket would be a step in the right direction. Most importantly, the third offense should strip the offender of their snowmobile safety until they prove that they won’t break the rule again. These punishments should eliminate all the violations of the rules, but as always, some people still will test the system.

Since some people may still need further encouragement to follow the rules. One more step would be some type of reward for being conscientious of following the trail riding laws. Since many groups of people ride with groups of friends or family, some type of free food and drinks would definitely work. Many people enjoy riding to ride but many people also love to ride to a destination. Chili feeds, pancake breakfasts, and any other type of meal attract lots of people. The two best ways to make this a reward system would be to either invite people or give coupons to people who chose to follow the rules. Since people love free things and enjoy being rewarded for good actions, the amount of trespassing and riding off trails will decrease considerably if it doesn’t disappear entirely.

Once forms of education, punishment, and rewards are introduced, the amount of people who trespass and ride off of trails will decrease considerably. Without the necessary education, people won’t know about the problem and what illegal riding can do to Minnesota snowmobiling trails. If this education is introduced, the only people who will continue to trespass will be those who choose to break the rules. Punishments like a ticket, fine, and revocation of a snowmobile safety will also be added if people continue to break the rules. To reinforce good behavior, offering free or discounted meals will help even more. After all these changes are added, trespassing and riding off of trails may be eliminated and keep Minnesota’s snowmobile trails open for many years to come.