Submitted photo Pictured left to right is Conservation Officer Thor Nelson and New Ulm’s Steve Rykhus. Rykhus was recently named the 2024 Minnesota DNR ATV Instructor of the Year.

NEW ULM — New Ulm resident Steve Rykhus was recently honored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as the 2024 ATV instructor of the year.

“I was surprised,” Rykhus said. “I didn’t even know my name was submitted. The Conservation Officer called me and congratulated me, and I said, ‘For what?’ Said I was chosen as instructor of the year for ATV. So I was surprised and I didn’t expect it.”

Rykhus has been teaching ATV safety courses for the past 20 years, helping to certify nearly 1,200 students in Brown and Lyon Counties after teaching close to 70 classes.

“We bring it up, and we find that there is some students that don’t realize they have to be certified, and even some parents still yet today that don’t know they have to be certified,” Rykhus said. “After July 1 of ’87, everybody has to be certified to operate an ATV in the state of Minnesota. Some people think that once they turn 18 or 21 or get their driver’s license, it goes away. No. They need it the rest of their life. When they want to operate on the side of the road, if they’re born after that date, they have to have their ATV certification along with their driver’s license.”

Rykhus had previously been recognized by the Minnesota DNR as the Volunteer Firearms Safety Instructor of the Year in 2014, and he also is a certified snowmobile safety instructor.

“Me and also the team of instructors I have with me, we’re all passionate,” Rykhus said. “Because they’ve got to be certified for one, but also we’re also all passionate about being safe out there. Enjoy it and have fun with it, with whatever they’re doing, but also be safe is the biggest thing.

“Do the right stuff and make sure nobody gets hurt and they can enjoy it for the rest of their life with their families. We’re all passionate about the safety of everything. And we enjoy the students that come through it.”

Conservation Officer Thor Nelson said Rykhus was a devoted and passionate instructor that was more than deserving of the award.

“Steve is devoted to introducing the next generation to the outdoors and providing the foundation the students need to enjoy a lifetime in the outdoors,” Nelson said. “He’s passionate about volunteering as an instructor and is a great example of the very best of the thousands of people across the state who serve as volunteer safety instructors.”