Jacob Hart
The Members of Bridges International posing for a picture at Shady Oak ATV trails.
This year’s international cookout and ATV riding event was hosted by Bridges International. Bridges hosted this event in order for students to safely learn how to shoot guns and ride ATVs with the main goal to get people together and build relationships while learning more about what life is like in rural Minnesota as well as learning about other people’s cultures.
I asked Jacob Hart, the off-campus adviser of Bridges International, what it
’s about. He said, “Bridges International is a club to build relationships together and perform a multitude of activities involving Swimming, broomball, going to church, sharing meals with families, learning how to use construction tools while discussing relevant topics and serving others because relationships are important.” He says this with the hope that Bridges International can be a big family
On Oct. 2, 2025, the event began with a lunch hosted by the Hart family welcoming students in and trying out foods from different cultures made by them and students. Some of the dishes were Spanish paella and Jollof rice from Nigeria. After eating food, we then went out to do some shooting.
Jacob Hart went over the safety procedures of how to safely use a gun and challenged us to shoot clay pigeons. After we shot some clay pigeons, we then packed up our equipment and went to Shady Oaks ATV trail in Russell, Minnesota to learn how to ride ATVs and to go on the trails.
Hart went over the safety procedures on how to safely ride an ATV. He made us go through a safety course test he planned for us to make sure we know how to steer, brake, accelerate and what to do going uphill or downhill.
As the sun came down, we got together and made some food on the grill to talk with each other and learn more about each other’s cultures.