GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - It's time for someone else to "teach a kid about the outdoors."
Longtime Minnesota Bound Host Ron Schara is stepping away from the show he started after 23 years of espousing the benefits of fishing, hunting and the great outdoors. Schara made the announcement last weekend, during the airing of episode number 854, on the show's longtime home here at KARE 11.
"Instead of one host, you're going to have two," Schara explained. "Yes, Bill (Sherck) and Laura (Schara) are going to be taking over as co-hosts of Minnesota Bound. And you know guys, I know you're going to handle this show great, it's going to be a great success. I wish you all kinds of luck, OK?"
Both Sherck (known as The Man About the Woods) and Laura Schara, Ron's daughter, have been fixtures on the show for years and are familiar faces for viewers. Despite leaving his regular hosting gig, Ron insists he's not 'riding off into the sunset', promising viewers he would return occasionally to report a story or perhaps host a Minnesota Bound special or two.
In the closing minutes of Saturday's show Schara thanked his longtime staff, especially his assistant of 23 years Kelly McDonnnell and chief photographer Aaron Achtenberg. He then addressed the viewers that have stuck with him for more than two decades.
"Lastly, I've got to thank you, the viewer, without you we wouldn't be around," Schara said, his normally silky voice breaking. "I ask you to just keep watching because this is a great show, and you've made it that way."
The first Minnesota Bound episode appeared all the way back in 1995, with Ron accompanied by his buddy, Raven the black lab. Through the years there have been a number of Ravens, and Schara often said the dogs were far more popular than he was. The show appeared on KARE TV, ESPN, Versus Network, The Outdoor Channel and Fox Sports Networks.
Schara was also a noted outdoor columnist at the Star Tribune for decades.