Benefit for Hunter Frank to help local groups

Contributors to the Hunter Frank Memorial benefit spoke, and organizers listened.

Last year, donators expressed their feelings about how they would like donations to stay within the confines of Minnesota. The funds raised were given to Wounded Warriors Family Support, which is a national organization.

Brandon Flores, president of HAF Memorial Foundation which operates the benefit, said the board listened to the desires of people and will donate this year’s funds to Ride for Heroes based in Clarks Grove and Operation 23 to 0 of Stillwater. Both organizations help cover the cost of events and fun future programs for veterans.

“They wanted the money to stay local instead of getting thrown into a nationwide pool,” said Flores, who is a sibling to Hunter Frank, a U.S. sailor who died while serving in El Salvador in 2020.

Frank graduated from Owatonna in 2020. He served in the Navy, flying with Team Trident as electronic warfare operator. His parents are Chad Frank and Annette Duncan, who serves as president of the United Way of Steele County.

This year’s benefit will be Saturday at the Beer Garden on the Steele County Fairgrounds in Owatonna. The benefit runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features family activities, silent auction, memorial ride, live entertainment and a car and bike show.

Of special note this year is a theme surrounding the number 25. Frank would have turned 25 this year.

“We’re taking that number and making it a big theme,” Flores said. He noted registration for the ride is $25 with the first 25 people to register getting a free patch set. They are also limiting the silent auction at 25 baskets.

A new item featured this year is a liquor pole where people will have the opportunity to win various types of liquor ranging from $10 bottles of wine to $300 bottles of Bourbon. “It’s quite the hot activity, and it’s a fun game to play,” Flores said, adding 25 bottles of liquor will be available to win.

Since its inception five years ago, the benefit has raised $30,000 to help veterans, according to Flores. He said the benefit started out slow with a memorial ride and has now grown to a full range of activities throughout the day.

Flores said the ride seems to double in size every year, though last year’s total was down because of rainy weather. He estimated about 500 people attend the benefit, which is held in conjunction with Rustic Mama’s annual fall festival at nearby Four Seasons Centre. “Our events seem to complement each other pretty well,” he said.

There will be approximately 12 food trucks located on the fairgrounds throughout the day.

“This is our time to showcase and celebrate the life of Hunter,” Flores said. “We want to shout to the world that Hunter was a great kid. It helps us turn our pain of losing Hunter into something beautiful and enriching the lives of others.”

Flores added, “On a scale of 1 to 10, this is an 11 to our family.”

Joining Flores on the foundation board are wife, Maggi Flores, mother, Annette Duncan, Chelsey Ulferts and Samantha Brunson.

Flores said the board is working on getting more connected into the community. Just this year, they joined the Adopt a Highway program on a stretch between Owatonna and Meriden. They also have been involved in a few local parades.

“We want to be involved in the community through Hunter’s name,” Flores said.