On March 7, the Minnesota Mycological Society gathered for its Annual Awards Banquet and Silent Auction. With 129 members and guests in attendance, the event was one of our best and most fun yet! It brought together outstanding food, inspiring photography, spirited bidding, and well-deserved recognition of our community. Survey feedback captured the enthusiasm perfectly: “The event was wonderful, very upscale and put together. The food and menu was amazing.”
The event highlight for many was the exceptional mushroom-forward menu prepared by Chef Dave Nelson, which earned rave reviews from attendees—one of whom described the meal as “SUPERB, SUBLIME, and unimprovable!”
A Mushroom-Forward Feast
The menu started with a Smoked Wood Ear Salad with roasted beets and toasted pine nuts, followed by a Braised Maitake with root vegetables, mushroom consommé, and citrus-herb gremolata as the main, and Candy Cap Semifreddo with apricot, pistachios, and porcini shortbread for dessert.
Photography, Awards, and Recognition
The banquet also celebrated the creative and volunteer spirit of MMS members. During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed browsing the silent auction items and could view the photo contest entries looping on high-definition screens—an engaging way to appreciate the range and artistry of member photography before the awards were announced.
See the winning photos from the 2025 Photo Contest.
President’s Awards
Three members were awarded the President’s Award:
- Mike Tangedal is a Foray Leader and our Culinary Correspondent. He consistently volunteers at MMS events and brings an unmatched level of enthusiasm and joy to everything he does. We are so thankful for the generosity of his time and many talents that he shares with the MMS.
- Grace Sommers is in Germany now. But before leaving, Grace started an important project on rare fungi that we should be on the lookout for while foraging. You can read all about it HERE.
- Mary Dresser, MMS Coresponding Secretary, keeps us all informed with her weekly email blasts to the membership. She also makes sure that incoming requests from the public get routed to the right place. Mary often finds opportunities for the MMS to shine in the community. She is a joy to work with.
Golden Chanterelle Award
Presented to Aaron Berg in recognition of his contributions to the MMS Community.
Each recipient exemplified the curiosity, generosity, and passion that make MMS such a thriving community.
Silent Auction, Raffle, and Generosity
Our auction was a great success this year, with strong participation from registered attendees and 60% of active bidders winning at least one item. Thanks to the generosity of donors and bidders alike, our Silent Auction contributed meaningfully to support MMS educational programming. Together, we raised over $4,500 through the auction and raffle.
The transition to an online format enhanced the experience with real-time notifications and more competitive bidding. It also allowed us to accommodate participants who were not present at the banquet, expanding access and engagement. Checkout was smooth and efficient, making for a seamless close to the event.
As one survey respondent put it, “LOVED the electronic silent auction format!! It was so easy and fun to use.”
The Auction and Raffle
We featured more than 80 unique packages, including popular private forays, grow kits generously donated by R&R Cultivation, gourmet food and wine, handcrafted items, clothing, and a wide variety of books and magazines donated by Ron Spinosa.
Thank you to everyone who donated, bid, and supported the auction—your participation made this event a success.
Chicken Purse!
One of the surprise highlights of the afternoon was a handmade chicken purse, which sparked a lively bidding war and ultimately sold for over 134% of its market value.
The 2026 Awards Banquet truly showcased what MMS does best—bringing people together around a shared love of fungi. Thank you to the planning committee, volunteers, Chef Dave Nelson, photographers, donors, and everyone who attended. We look forward to building on this success—and to seeing what next year brings. We’ll leave you with one final comment from the post-event survey that sums it up well: “This was incredible—every aspect of it!” See you next year!