Minnesota DNR — A Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Organization

About the Program

Since 2005, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been a leading state agency in supporting service members, veterans, their families, and the broader military community.

In 2013, Governor Mark Dayton formally recognized the DNR as a Yellow Ribbon Company—a distinguished honor that demonstrates the agency’s deep commitment to military support. A committee of 14 staff members from all divisions and regions works to ensure the DNR fulfills this mission by:

  • Supporting staff with military connections
  • Providing outreach to the military community
  • Leading internal and external engagement around veteran-friendly practices.

Vision Statement

The DNR will be a veteran-friendly workplace that expands outdoor opportunities to support past, present, and future members of the military and their families.

Mission Statement

Continuing Minnesota’s proud history of supporting our nation’s military, the DNR’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon initiative brings together a diverse group of employees and leaders. This network unites key areas across the agency to:

  • Leverage existing support activities
  • Build awareness about military-related issues
  • Take meaningful action to recognize and support veterans, service members, and their families

DNR BTYR Goals

  • Encourage and assist individual career development for all group members
  • Help translate military skills and experience into civilian roles and education paths
  • Educate DNR coworkers about the value veterans bring to the workplace
  • Support other state agencies in becoming veteran-supportive employers

The DNR BTYR Committee

The BTYR Committee serves as a resource for both internal staff and the public, offering guidance and support on veteran-related issues.

Focus Areas:

  • Recruitment – Building pipelines for veterans to join the DNR workforce
  • Retention – Ensuring veterans feel supported and valued at work
  • Professional Development – Helping veterans grow and thrive professionally
  • Community Outreach – Engaging with veteran organizations and the broader community

Committee chair and military outreach representative:

Public Activities

Coming soon: A list of public-facing BTYR activities and events.

Have an idea? Reach out to the BTYR Committee!

How You Can Help Military Families

When service members are called to active duty, their families undergo major life adjustments. Support from the community can make these transitions easier and less stressful.

Veterans Crisis Line

If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available.

Call 988 and press 1

Veterans Crisis Hotline

Nature Time Planner

Time spent in nature can play a crucial role in helping active military members and veterans manage stress and successfully transition to civilian life.

To support this, the DNR and the St. Cloud VA Health Care System developed a Nature Time Planner for:

Plan your time outdoors, download your copy here
  • Active-duty service members
  • Veterans
  • Military families

To request a printed copy:

Email DNR Partnership Development Consultant Arielle Courtney.

Resources and Helpful Links

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