Lester Prairie Business Association
Established in 1995, the Lester Prairie Business Association’s primary goal is to promote a strong business community in Lester Prairie.
The LPBA provides a welcome packet for new residents, sponsors Santa at the LP Holiday Celebration, helps sponsor a spring fling and business expo, is one of the sposnors for Music in the Park, and sponsors a Halloween Business Treat or Treat.
The association meets on the third Tuesday of each month at noon at the Longhorns Burger House.
Lester Prairie Lions Club
The Lester Prairie Lions Club meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month at Longhorn’s Burger House or city hall, as a business dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Lions secretary, Deb Lohse at (320) 237-2567 or by email at lesterprairielions@gmail.com.
Ray Kirkpatrick American Legion Post 463
Open to any member of the service, currently active or honorably discharged.
The Post meets monthly on the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at city hall. There are no meetings in July. New members are always welcome. Membership is $44.
For more information, contact Post Commander Darvin Heldt at 320-223-2603 or Post Membership Chairman Jim Lindfors at 320-469-0475.
To have a veteran’s name engraved on the Veterans Monument, call Veterans Monument Chairman Ralph Machemehl at 320-395-2246. The only requirement to have a veteran’s name placed on the monument is an honorable discharge from active or reserve forces. The veteran can be alive or deceased. Check out the monument in Central Park.
American Legion Auxiliary
Currently, about 20 members are strong, and the group meets the first Thursday of March, April, May, September, October, November, and sometimes in August and December, if needed, at the city hall at 1:30 p.m. Membership dues are $30 per year. To be a member, you must be a wife, mother, sister, daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, or grandmother of a member of the American Legion; a female veteran who served in any of the following conflicts (or the mother, wife, sister, daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, or grandmother of a deceased veteran who served during any of these conflicts): Persian Gulf War, Panama, Grenada/Lebanon, Vietnam War, Korean War, World War II, World War I, or US Merchant Marines.
Any questions about eligibility may be directed to the auxiliary president at the number listed below.
Some of the events in which the auxiliary is involved include:
• each spring, sponsoring a fluff and puff pillow cleaning service at city hall for area residents;
• Poppy Day in May, which supports local veterans;
• Memorial Day program with the LP American Legion;
• sending a representative of Lester Prairie High School junior class to the American Legion Girls State in June each year;
• assisting with the bloodmobile when it is in town in June and November;
• during the Lester Prairie annual garage sale days in September, offering tacos-in-a-bag at a food stand downtown;
• Veterans Day program with the LP American Legion at the school;
• honoring teachers and staff during American Education Week in November;
• remembers our homebound veterans during November and December.
• decorates with a Christmas wreath at Veteran’s Memorial Park; and
The auxiliary also donates to various veterans and school programs in McLeod County.
For more information, contact any auxiliary member or Auxiliary President, Audrey Litzau, 15 Hana St., Lester Prairie, MN 55354, 320-420-6631,or litz@mchsi.com.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Meets every Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Lester Prairie City Hall.
Lester Prairie Booster Club
The Lester Prairie Bulldog Booster Club has more than 90 family and business memberships. The group, whose purpose is to support fine arts, athletics, and activities in Lester Prairie Schools, meets monthly during the school year.
For more information, contact the Lester Prairie High School office at (320) 395-2521.
Lester Prairie Garage Sale Day
Citywide garage sale day in Lester Prairie is the third Saturday in September. To place your garage sale ad in the Herald Journal, call 320-485-2535.
Howard Lake, Waverly, Winsted, Lester Prairie Community Girl Scouts
HLWW Lakes Community Girl Scouts encompasses the communities of Howard Lake, Waverly, Winsted, and Lester Prairie, and is open to all girls entering Kindergarten – Grade 12.
The Girl Scout program levels correspond to what grade you are in at school.
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We provide an all-girl, girl-led, and girl-friendly environment created with and for girls.
At Girl Scouts, a whole world of opportunities is waiting just for you! You’ll always get to think big, try new things, and unleash your inner leader!
For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with HLWW Lakes Community Girl Scouts at lakesprairiesgirlscouts@gmail.com.
Early Childhood Family Education
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) is a program for all Minnesota families with children between birth and kindergarten.
For more information, contact Helen Lester at Lester Prairie Community Education at (320) 395-2521; fax (320) 395-4204; or write to 131 Hickory St. N., Lester Prairie, MN 55354.
Lester Prairie Foundation for Education
The Lester Prairie Foundation for Education was organized to provide a vehicle for members of the community and alumni to donate financial resources to continue the great job Lester Prairie Schools do in educating our youth. The Lester Prairie Foundation has been in existence for over 20 years.
The group’s mission is to promote educational and extracurricular opportunities for the children in the LP school district. Money is raised to purchase items for LP school and to provide teacher classroom grants each fall.
Money is raised through alums, community members, parents, and business donations.
Each year the foundation hosts an annual fundraiser, the “Bulldog Bash.” Close to $30,000 is raised each year with this event.
Lester Prairie Scholarship Fund
The Lester Prairie Scholarship Fund has been in operation since 1984. Over the past 40 years, we have awarded over $620,000 in scholarships to over 450 Lester Prairie High School graduates.
Each year applications are made available to graduating seniors of the Lester Prairie School. The applications are reviewed anonymously by individuals not associated with the school. All scholarships are given out based on the student’s completed application forms and are meritbased.
The awards are based on academic achievement, extracurricular participation, volunteer efforts in the school and community, and short essay questions regarding how they have been a role model and their hopes and plans for the future.
This past year the Lester Prairie Scholarship Fund was proud to award 16 scholarships totaling $16,500 to LPHS 2023 graduating seniors. If you are interested in becoming a scholarship sponsor or donating in memory of a loved one, don’t hesitate to contact Christine Mattson or Terri Helland at Lester Prairie Schools 395-2521 or Kelli Machemehl at 320-224-4368.
2023 scholarship recipients:
Lester Prairie Foundation for Education Scholarship/$500 – Chase Foust
Lester Prairie Foundation for Education Scholarship/$500 – Logan Lambrecht
Prairie Community Church Scholarship/$1,000 – Sarai Montano
Prairie Community Church Scholarship/$1,000 – Samuel Jeurissen
LP Lions/Don Z. Hall Scholarship/$1,000 – Brayden Hollister
Carroll Tutt Memorial Scholarship/$1,000 – Tanner Scheevel
Florence Tutt Memorial Scholarship/$1,000 – Chloe Engelke
Art Schwitchenburg Scholarship/$1,000 – Jace Cacka
Art Schwitchenburg Scholarship/$2,000 – Ethan Schultz
Lester Building Systems, LLC Scholarship/$2,000 – Brooke Albers
RAM Buildings Scholarship/$2,000 – Shelby Litzau
RAM Buildings Scholarship/$2,000 – Josie Tonn
Wilkens Female Leadership Math/Science Scholarship/$2,000 – Brooke Heimerl
Jilek Family Scholarship/$2,000 – Carly Wolter
Lukas Neubarth Student/Athlete Memorial Scholarship/$500 – Carly Wolter
Male Athlete of the Year/$500 – Tanner Scheevel
Female Athlete of the Year/$500 – Brooke Heimerl
Lester Prairie Youth Baseball and Softball
Lester Prairie Youth Baseball and Softball is a volunteer-based organization, with volunteer board members and coaches.
For more information, contact Jeff Engen at (320) 395-9839 or e-mail him at engenjeff@hotmail.com.
Golf Leagues
ShadowBrooke Golf Course, an 18-hole public course designed by Joel Goldstrand, is located at Highway 7 and McLeod County Road 1 near Lester Prairie.
The course offers Monday and Wednesday night league play and two-person scrambles on every other Tuesday.
It is an excellent place for group or tournament outings or to practice your swing on the driving range.
For more information on membership or joining a league, call the golf course at 320-395-4250, email Tyler at tyler@shadowbrookegc. com, or visit their website www. shadowbrookegc.com/.
Little Learners Preschool
Little Learners Preschool is a 4 Star Parent Aware rated program and part of the Lester Prairie District #424 educational system and provides a certified staff to encourage the growth of your preschool-age child.
The program is designed to stimulate the emotional, physical, intellectual, and social needs of a child 3 – 5 years of age.
For more information about enrolling, contact Helen Lester at Lester Prairie Community Education, 131 Hickory St. N., Lester Prairie, MN 55354, or call (320) 395-2521.
Lester Prairie Ambassador Program
The Lester Prairie Ambassador Program was established in 2001. The Junior Ambassador program offers girls in grades 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th during the 2024-2025 school year a unique opportunity for volunteerism, community service, growth, and friendship.
This Senior Ambassador scholarship opportunity is for young women between 16 and 21 (must be 16 by Prairie Days). The Senior Scholarship Program serves the Lester Prairie Community through volunteerism. Young women gain experience in leadership, professionalism, networking, and much more.
For more information, please email the program at lesterprairieambassadors@gmail.com or call Lauren Trittabaugh at (320) 296-0916 or Taylor Bayerl at (320) 405-9605.
Bergen Busy Bees 4-H
The Lester Prairie Bergen Busy Bees 4-H Club meets monthly and usually takes place the first Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. at Lester Prairie City Hall or other locations to be determined. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have been meeting online.
For more information, or to join the Bergen Busy Bees, call club leaders Joy Bennett at 612-669-4346 or Eric Valen at 952-240-9846, or Darcy Cole at McLeod County Extension Office at 800-587-0770.
Lester Prairie Sportsmen’s Club, Adult and High School Youth Trapshooting
The Lester Prairie, Sportsmen’s Club is located a one-half mile southwest of Lester Prairie on McLeod County Road 1 and is open from mid-April until mid-November.
The club offers clubhouse rentals for graduation parties and other small get-togethers. We also provide trap shooting for the public and high school leagues each spring and fall.
This is our 56th year of throwing targets. Trapshooting options include Wednesday evening team league, individual 16-yard Lewis Class for youth and adults, doubles shooting, and practice shooting. DNR firearm safety training is also offered each spring.
Check our Facebook page for more information: Lester Prairie Sportsmen’s Club. For more information, contact Matt Tonn at 612-735-0970 or mattltlp@gmail.com.
Lester Prairie Sandwich Ministry
Volunteers from the area are welcome to participate on the third Thursday of each month as the Lester Prairie Sandwich Ministry assembles and packages 500 sandwiches for delivery to the Marie Sandvick Center in Minneapolis. The group meets at 8:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lester Prairie. Donations of new socks and underwear, quilts, winter jackets, and outerwear are also accepted.
We are entirely funded by private donations, which can be dropped off at First Community Bank in Lester Prairie. For more information, contact Jane Holasek at 320-224-1742.
Prairie Garden Club
Prairie Garden Club meets on the third Monday of each month, March through November, at 6:30 pm at Holasek Greenhouse or alternate locations.
New members, both women and men of all ages, are welcome at any time during the gardening year. Whether you are a novice or expert gardener, grow flowers or vegetables, have a large garden, or just a few pots — we welcome your participation.
Our activities include planting and maintaining public gardens in Lester Prairie, sponsoring educational events on gardening topics, enjoying garden crafts and garden tours together, and participating in fundraising activities in the community.
Contact Jill Duncan, club president, at 320-420-6284; or Deb Filbrandt, treasurer, at 952-649-2467 for more information.