Written by Mollie Gudim, Communications Specialist
Last December, Minnesotans placed bids online for vacant rural properties across Carlton, Clearwater, St. Louis, and Wadena counties.
DNR land auctions give people a chance to own rural properties well suited for hunting, camping, and outdoor adventures—plus, they help the DNR fulfill its statutory duty to sell surplus public land that no longer fits the state’s conservation and recreation needs or goals for the state’s outdoor economy.
"Land sales are a vital part of the DNR's efforts to strategically and regularly improve Minnesota's public land offerings so that the land meets our conservation and recreation needs. It's similar to how a farmer might sell land that isn't suitable for crops to a neighbor, allowing for better use," said Andrea Johnson, land sale coordinator for the DNR. "We periodically sell surplus lands to invest in higher-quality lands for the benefit of all Minnesotans."
During the 2025 public land auction, 188 of 190 acres up for bid were school trust lands. School trust lands were granted to the state by the federal government to generate a continual source of income for public education. Since these parcels have limited potential to generate revenue, selling them is in the best interest of the Permanent School Fund and Minnesota's students.
In Carlton County, a small, isolated 2.57-acre property near Wrenshall, MN, sold at auction for $75,250. The proceeds from this sale may be reinvested to help the DNR acquire higher-quality state lands for recreational, environmental, or economic benefits. In Clearwater and Wadena counties, bids on three landlocked properties resulted in the sale of 120 acres out of 188 acres of school trust lands, generating about $130,000 for the state’s Permanent School Fund, which supports 850,000 K-12 students in Minnesota.
Future land auctions
The Minnesota Constitution states that school trust lands may be sold only by public auction. The 67-acre school trust land parcel that did not sell at the 2025 public auction may be offered for sale again at a future public land sale. Information about 2026 public land auctions will be posted on the DNR land sale webpage.