Experience the gripping story of the man who refused to let the Mississippi River be destroyed.

The Prairie Woods and Cass County Chapters of the Izaak Walton League and League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area invite you to a unique multimedia program produced by Steven Marking. This immersive presentation brings to life the legacy of Will Dilg, the driving force behind the formation of both the Izaak Walton League and the 240,000-acre Upper Mississippi National Wildlife & Fish Refuge.

In a masterstroke of 1920s organizing, Dilg forged a powerful alliance with women’s groups fresh off their victory securing the 19th Amendment. By enlisting the trailblazers who formed the League of Women Voters and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, Dilg proved that a united front could move mountains—and Congress. Today, over 100 years later, all three organizations remain vital guardians of our civic and natural world.

This program is more than a history lesson; it is a celebration of what happens when citizens "call a halt" to environmental destruction.

Join the Conversation

The experience doesn't end when the curtain falls. Following the presentation, attendees will be served a traditional treat of Wild Rice porridge with maple syrup and cream—a nod to the native bounty Dilg fought to protect. Guests will then transition into breakout groups to discuss the urgent conservation issues currently affecting our region.

Tickets are available online at https://donorbox.org/events/913753/steps/choose_tickets.

Adults $15 and student $7.50 (at the door $20 and $10)