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2025 Defeat of Jesse James Days Horseshoe Hunt

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The 28th Annual, 2025 Hunt Dates: Aug 27th – Aug 31st **

Clues posted on this site under DJJD News, Facebook, KYMN and Northfield News

You don’t need to register a button to win $1000! BUT, if you register this years button number before the game begins, you can double the prize!

REGISTER HERE!

Historical Hunt Hiding Help Here! This map plots every hiding spot since 1998. 

** Note. This event is being shortened by 1 day beginning this year (2025), starting on the same day of the week (Wednesday) but going only to Sunday, instead of Monday (which is Labor Day)

Horseshoe Hunt Rules and Guidelines

  • Buttons need to be registered before the start of the hunt to receive the full $2000 prize! Otherwise the payout is $1000. Buttons are available at multiple locations (mostly retail) around Northfield and Dundas.
  • Northfield public school grounds are exempt from this contest.  Please stay off all school property, including the colleges. Private property owners have the right to contact authorities if you are on their property.
  • Members of the DJJD Committee and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
  • Clues are posted online here, the Northfield News, and KYMN Radio websites and their respective Facebook pages each day no earlier than 7am.
  • When the horseshoe is found and finder eligibility is confirmed, the announcement will be officially posted through media partners listed above. A full explanation of clues will be posted here shortly after.
  • The winner must be 18 years old or older.  In past years, families & groups join together to work out the clues and search for the horseshoe.  This is acceptable as long as a legal adult is supervising the search and is able to represent the family/group if found.
  • The horseshoe will be located on public property within Northfield or Dundas and will not be buried. NO digging will be needed in the retrieval of the horseshoe and it will not require the use of a ladder. PRIVATE property is excluded and we ask you to be respectful as you search public areas. Be sure you research whether a spot is public or not before looking there.  Should damage to any property occur, or any rule be broken while searching for the horseshoe, the participant(s) become disqualified, forfeit prize money, and may be banned from future contests.
  • The DJJD Committee is not responsible for any personal injury or accident incurred hunting for or retrieving the horseshoe. The horseshoe will never be placed within 15′ of any major water source, train tracks or county controlled roads.  The horseshoe is placed with safety in mind. Closely monitor children in your party. Please hunt responsibly.
  • When the horseshoe is found, the winner must immediately notify Tim Freeland: 507-581-5038 and/or Ali Feldman: 612-619-0287. There is only 1 horseshoe like this one in the world. Only past winners are aware of the markings on its backside used for verification. The horseshoe is a historical artifact and must be returned to the Committee. Tim will take the horseshoe from you upon verification or shortly after and payment arrangements will be made.
  • There is no cost for this event but you do need to register this year’s DJJD button in advance to claim the FULL prize.
  • If you win, you must agree to be publicly named along with the possibility of an on-air radio interview, your photo and name(s) on various local websites, etc.
  • If the horseshoe goes unfound by 11:59pm Sunday, the week of DJJD, the hunt will officially end for the year, and prize money will be returned to the donors. The purse does not grow into the next hunting year.
  • The use of metal detectors are prohibited. If you see someone using one, please alert either Tim Freeland: 507-581-5038 and/or Ali Feldman: 612-619-0287.. The use of magnets are allowed.

Hunters: Thank you for hunting/playing! Our goal is to get people outside to enjoy our great city, the public areas and to be with friends, family and neighbors. We hope you learn something about our City and world-renowned history.  If you have any questions about whether or not something is “in play” please text either of us.  Once the game is over, we will publish an explanation of all clues, we promise.  Tim Freeland: 507-581-5038 and/or Ali Feldman: 612-619-0287.  Text anytime.

Hunt Information
Dates
Scheduled Dates
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Find Date
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Finders
Name
Chad Beumer
Prize
Maximum Prize
$2000
Awarded Prize
$2000
Location
General Location
Between The Crossing and the Cannon River
Pinpointed Location
Right on the edge of the city owned property
Concealer
In the Tall grass

44.460092681169, -93.159867525101

Clues
Clue 1
Published Date
Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 7:00 AM

Now gather ’round, you seekers true, for tales of yore, I’ll spin for you.
A man once rode with fire and pride, where Jesse’s gang came to collide.
A quiet soul, a friend to men, this hunt begins about Chip DeMann.
He volunteered his spirit, for truth and history’s plea, a guardian of the past, for all the world to see.

The official meaning of the clue.

Long time James-Younger Gang reenactor leader Chip DeMann passed shortly after last year’s Defeat Days on Sept 13th 2024. He was considered by many to be the founder of the modern day “Gang” around 1973.

Chips Obituatry Link here. 

This is nothing more than a poem setting the scene for the rest of the clues. There are 3 references to the mini-roundabout that sits right in front of the Fairfield Inn & Suites Hotel. “Round”, “Spin” and “About”.


 

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Clue 2
Published Date
Thursday, August 28, 2025, 7:00 AM

Time moseyed on, and Chip found his part, playin’ Bob Younger with grit in his heart.
He’d ride into town in a cloud full o’ smoke, such a beacon to us all, while the crowd whooped and joked.
When Labor Day had faded, and autumn air grew keen, Chip shed his quiet demeanor, for a more daring scene.
Into the First National Bank, a robber’s desperate plight, he’d reenact the chaos of that legendary fight.

The official meaning of the clue.

Line 2. The big line! “Ride into” is literally in reference to the path the gang takes before ever raid reenactment as they leave the private property they camp on during “Defeat Week”. They ride behind the Crossings and the Fairfield Inn on City-owned land on a path, mowed for people to walk on. It can be hard knowing what property is public and private. Using the Rice County Tax record website “Beacon” or (http://beacon.schneidercorp.com/) you can use the map to click around and see what’s private and what is public. While you’re at it, you can also see (on the map) where the gang stages at the Kopp’s back yard next door (private property of course).

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Clue 3``
Published Date
Friday, August 29, 2025, 7:00 AM

A tale he told of a trail so wide, the hooves still echo near the riverside.
The crowd would cheer, the rifles cracked, as Chip brought Northfield’s past right back.
A second of three generations, in a lineage so grand, the DeManns and reenactment, go hand and hand.
Not for gold, nor for glory, nor fame on the run, but to show how the townsfolk had stood with their guns.

The official meaning of the clue.

Line 1. “(near the) riverside” is the name of the restaurant in the Fairfield Inn and telling people it’s by the Cannons’ riverside. The “trail” that runs the whole way behind the Crossing and the Fairfield leads the Gang from their weekend home during Defeat Week to 2nd street where they ride down Division Street before each raid. This trail is mowed for people to walk on too. This line actually describes the spot to the “T”! Being right outside the Hotel’s restaurant. Along the wide path that the Gang rides back and forth on. (see photo). Of course it’s also “near the [Cannon] riverside” literally. But not within 15’, which was a new rule silently added this year. Ali and I decided not to point this out, while we did point out the other big change, which was changing this from a 6 to a 5 day event. In fact, it was placed as far away from water as possible, on the west side of the trail.
Line 2. “crowd would cheer” is a reference to Laird Stadium across the river on the Carleton campus.
Line 3. This points to 2nd street and Highway 3. Chip’s father Chuck played Henry Wheeler in the first 1948 reenactment. Chuck was a raider and defender in reenactments for many years. Currently, Chip’s son Trip is the leader of the James and Younger Gang Reenactors, his daughter Molly is the Raid Reenactment Coordinator and son Gus is a frequent reenactor.
Line 4. Nothing here. But, it’s just an awesome line.

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Clue 4`
Published Date
Saturday, August 30, 2025, 7:00 AM

He taught his 3 Kin, how the brave made a stand, and baked Jesse’s tale, into Northfield’s brand.
The bank raid re-enactment, a spectacle so grand, thanks to Chip DeMann’s efforts, across Northfield land.
BOB Younger’s role was gritty, a tough One to portray, he’d have to mount with brother Cole, before getting-away.
Down Division Street they’d gallop, for an action-Packed ride, Chip brought that history to life, with Passion deep inside.

The official meaning of the clue.

Line 1. #3 for Highway 3. Stand= Laird. “Baked” references the Brick Over Bakery (BOB).

NOTE: We are spelling out Kopp with oddly placed capital letters, to give homage to the Kopp’s for allowing the “Gang” to use their private property along the river as base camp for the Raiders each year. Using the Rice county website and looking at properties through the Beacon interface, you can click around the public information about property, including owner names. You can see the Kopp’s are adjacent to the City of Northfield property along with the Northfield Crossing LLC. that owns the Crossings Condominiums and the Fairfield Inn, owned by Northfield Hotel Properties LLC.

Line 2. “Bank” is a reference to the Premiere bank. “across”…The Crossing (condos on the river). Also “Northfield” saying its in Northfield and “Land” indicating its on the ground. And that is “City owned property”.
Line 3. BOB is the acronym for “Brick Over Bakery”. Bob Younger’s roll requires the reenactor to fire with both hands and mount behind another rider and ride double out of town. (just some history).
Line 4. Envisioning them riding from camp towards the reenactment down Division street.

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Clue 5

But time, like a river, don’t slow for no man, and the saddle grew heavy, for ol’ Chip DeMann.
He hung up his hat, with a tear and a grin, knowin’ the tale would keep ridin’, through the gang and his kin.
The town tipped its hat, as he faded from view, still hearin’ his boots, as the dust upward blew.
On a crisp autumn morn, with the leaves burnin’ red, the news spread through town: “Ol’ Chip’s gone ahead”.

The official meaning of the clue.

No “Hints” inserted/revealed in clue #5.

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