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The newly-assigned Conservation Officer in Chisago County, Philip Mohs, was not even born when Charles Bergquist first volunteered to be a firearms skills and safety instructor for the DNR.  And, Mohs was four-years-old when Rick Ekstrand held his first firearms class.  Conservation Officer Mohs had the pleasant assignment this week to give the two men awards of recognition for their 40 and 30-years of service.

Monday night this week, prior to the start of a youth firearms instruction class, at the Sportsmen’s Club, Bergquist accepted a framed nature scene print and Ekstrand a wood and glass award.  Some of the 12 or so youth in this class were accompanied by a parent who had also been taught by Bergquist and Ekstrand.
Bergquist said it just seemed like the right thing to do;   when he started teaching firearms safety and skills he had two children coming up and he volunteered to help out.  The classes were at the school in Chisago City at the time.
Ekstrand said he was recruited when the black powder expert moved away from the area,  and the program needed a black powder instructor.

Officer Mohs shared his amazement that anybody would stay involved in any one thing for 30 to 40 years, let alone holding a position that doesn’t pay.  He commended all the DNR’s volunteers for their time and passion, and said if it weren’t for them he would have to take time away from being in the field and enforcement would suffer.

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