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As I sit in my office at the Henges Center watching the farm crew work to protect crops and habitat from a three‑inch rain, I’m reminded of a simple truth every sportsman knows well: the successes of the fall are earned long before the season begins. A mature buck in a fall food plot or a mallard taken over a carefully managed moist‑soil unit doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of months, often years, of preparation, stewardship, and commitment to the resource. Similarly, wins in the political world often take similar preparation and resources.
Our current Board, including the Founding Board members we’ve recently lost, understood this better than anyone. Their countless hours of dedication laid the foundation for protecting the Confluence ecosystem for generations to come and a legacy in their names.
At GRHA, the same principle guides our work. Every successful event is preceded by months of planning. Every hunt program opportunity is made possible by year‑round coordination with partners such as the Missouri Department of Conservation, Safari Club International, The Fallen Outdoors, BackStoppers, Return to Base – Missouri, the Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation, and now St. Charles County Parks. Off‑season sweat equity leads to in‑season success, including the smiling faces of people experiencing the Henges Center for the very first time.
While fall may seem far off, it will be here before we know it. Rest assured, GRHA is hard at work: attending key meetings, making our presence known, pushing back on development in the 100‑year floodplain, managing nearly 1,000 acres of habitat, and training future land stewards. And yes—we’re still committed to hosting some of the most enjoyable fundraisers and fellowship in the Confluence. If you missed the Game Dinner or Spring Clays Shoot, we hope to see you next year, and we look forward to welcoming you at the many GRHA and partner events throughout the year.
As always, none of this would be possible without your support and our exceptional staff. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Wishing you a wonderful summer, the heat will be gone before you know it!
For the Confluence,
Mike.
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