Some participants arrived at the gathering spot, Frank and Nancy Bianchi’s farm site in the far western part of West Newton Township, Friday evening, with others pulling in early Saturday morning, in time for a continental breakfast.

Five wagons and nearly 20 horseback riders took part. They travelled seven miles Saturday morning, going down into the scenic Minnesota River valley from Bianchi’s place, then came up the 701st Avenue hill to the Fort Road to reach Peichel’s Hill in Ridgely Township for a noon chuck wagon lunch. Posse member Bob Gluth prepared brats, sauerkraut, and beans for the lunch, with desserts furnished by posse members.

Peichel’s Hill landowner Jerry Peichel joined the group for the lunch.

After a leisurely meal and rest break, the group made the seven-mile trip back to Bianchis for a catered evening meal.

Wagon train participants gathered for a group photo just after they arrived at Peichel’s Hill for a noon chuck wagon lunch. Five wagons and nearly 20 riders on horseback took part in the ride.

Participants came from near and far–Le Sueur, Hutchinson, Waseca, Medford, Lakeville, Eagan, and Swea City, West Bend, Bode, and Algona, Iowa.

The annual ride is sponsored by the Minnesota Sheriff’s Mounted Posse Association and is held in various locations in southern Minnesota. Last year’s wagon train was in Le Sueur County. Next year’s will be in Waseca County, with the 2026 event planned for Steele County. According to the MSMPA Facebook page, the ride will return to Nicollet County in 2027.

Proceeds from the event benefit Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota. Participant fees and donations help families that need medical help and need to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.

The annual wagon train was started 41 years ago as a memorial to Waseca County Sheriff Don Eustice who was shot by a mentally ill man when Eustice and deputy Mert Schwartz attempted to serve commitment papers on him.

Eustice and Le Sueur County Sheriff Pat Smith, Sr., had worked hard for youth in need, starting a boys’ group home in Waseca in 1975. They later opened the Waseca-Le Sueur County Boys’ Home. That expanded into several counties in Minnesota, known as Youth Ranches of MN.

Nicollet County Sheriff’s Posse members on hand to take part in and host the wagon train were, front from left: Tom Kohls, Jim Sunderland, Bob Gluth, Dawn Darge, Tashina Schultz, and Neal Gleason. In wagon: Jim Gieseke, Blake Edmunds, Sheriff Dave Lange, and Frank Bianchi.

Deputy Schwartz organized the first wagon train in Don’s honor and it has continued for more than four decades. A portion of the proceeds goes to the MN State Mounted Posse Association’s Donald Eustice Memorial Scholarship Fund to assist members and/or family members who further their education in law enforcement.

The wagon train is the MN State Mounted Posse Association’s largest fundraiser of the year.