The Minnesota Lottery has teamed up with Minnesota United FC to celebrate Minnesotans who are playing their part for our environment through the Earth Defenders program.

Earlier this summer we invited players 18+ to tell us how they defend our Earth for the chance to win a pair of tickets to a Minnesota United FC match and a lottery prize pack.

Check out the roster for this year’s Earth Defenders and read on to learn how they are making a difference:


Thank you, Jen Schnabel of Falcon Heights. Jen volunteers with REVERB to reduce the use of single use plastics at concerts.


Thank you, Rebecca Froehlich of Minneapolis. Rebecca volunteered to beautify the landscaping of Cornerstone Advocacy Services in Bloomington to help make it more environmentally friendly and clean.


Thank you, Jackie Christensen of Minneapolis. Jackie co-founded an international coalition to work with the healthcare industry to minimize its environmental impacts.


Thank you, Bobbi Pirkola of Canyon. Bobbi plants only pollinator-friendly plants and flowers to support rusty patched bumble bees and monarch butterflies.


Thank you Char Miller of St. Paul for your volunteer work at the Raptor Center and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.


Thank you, Heidi Michlitsch of Vadnais Heights. Heidi has helped raise monarch butterflies for the past 10 years.


Thank you, Kris Winkelman of Ely! Kris is a small bait and tackle store owner who educates customers on the importance of “Leave No Trace” and proper techniques for catch and release methods to help save the lives of fish.


Thank you, Izaiah Bokunewicz of Owatonna. Izaiah is a hydroponics grower working towards greater agricultural sustainability.


Thank you, Jennifer Christie of Minnetonka. Jennifer helped acquire state park lands to preserve, protect and enhance public land for everyone to enjoy and cherish.


Thank you, Shane Van Patten of St. Paul. “We compost, recycle and reuse and are raising our young sons to be super Earth Defenders.”


Thank you, Kyna Levi of St. Paul. Kyna created a pollinator habitat to help protect the rusty patched bumble bee.


Thank you Harmony Schlueter, a beekeeper from Elrosa, who educates people on the importance of pollinators.


Thank you, Jason Ames of Oakdale. Jason is a volunteer event coordinator for the outdoor club at his work. “I enjoy the outdoors and want to help keep it nice for years to come,” he said.


Thank you, Grace Fix of Stillwater. Grace is a volunteer for Prairie Enthusiasts, Girl Scouts, and the St. Croix River Association.


Thank you, Tony Lashuay of Champlin. Tony works in the green industry and uses battery powered equipment while performing ground maintenance to help reduce emissions.

Thank you, Jason Jensen of Farmington. Jason is part of the Minnesota Department of Health’s Drinking Water Protection Program to ensure everyone in Minnesota has safe and reliable drinking water.


Thank you, Lynn Rice of Albertville. Lynn volunteers to help inform people about the harmful effects of copper mining near the Boundary Waters and she is an advocate for Standing Rock and Honor the Earth to challenge the development and expansion of pipelines.

Want to learn about how lottery proceeds are helping to keep our great outdoors … great? Head on over to the Playing Our Part section to learn more.