Minnesota Funeral Directors Association

04/03/2026

⛳ Swing for Support Golf Tournament – Register Today!

Hit the fairway, build connections, and support a great cause! Join us for MFDA's Swing for Support Golf Tournament on Tuesday, May 12 at Cragun's Legacy Golf Courses in Brainerd, MN — part of MFDA's 135th Annual Convention!

Whether you're a seasoned golfer or a first-timer, the scramble format makes it fun and beginner-friendly for everyone. Each team of four tees off, picks the best shot, and plays from there — all the way to the hole. It's teamwork, strategy, and a whole lot of fun!

Here's what your day looks like:
🕚 11:00 AM – Check-in & Range Opens — Warm up those swings! Lunch options are available for purchase in the Legacy Clubhouse.

🎯 Putt for PAC – Kick off your day at the putting green! For a minimum $50 personal donation, take a swing at winning a prize while supporting MFDA's advocacy efforts. Cash, check, and credit card accepted onsite.

💚 Mulligans with Heart – Need a do-over? Purchase mulligans to use during the scramble — 100% of proceeds go directly to Healing Hearts Connection to fund grief camps for families navigating loss. Personal and business donations welcome!

📢 12:45 PM – Welcome & Announcements

🏌️ 1:00 PM – Shotgun Start — All teams tee off at the same time across the course!

🏆 5:30 PM – Awards Dinner Banquet — Celebrate the day with dinner, awards, and great company to close out the evening.

Throughout the day you'll also enjoy hole contests, door prizes, an attendance gift, and plenty of networking opportunities with fellow funeral service professionals.

Registration includes: 18 holes of golf, GPS cart, range balls, Awards Dinner Banquet, hole contests, door prizes, attendance gift & networking opportunities.

💰 Early Bird Pricing (through April 27):
$150 – Single Entry
$575 – Four-Person Team

Can't golf but want to join for dinner? A Dinner Guest ticket is available for $50.

Register here: https://www.mnfuneral.org/event/MFDAGolf2026

04/02/2026

TOMORROW is your last chance to save $150 on exhibitor registration! Don't miss early-bird pricing for MFDA 2026.

Register today: https://www.mnfuneral.org/event/exhibitors2026

04/02/2026

We are delighted to welcome Barbara Kemmis to this year's convention, May 12–14, 2026 at Cragun's Lodge in Brainerd, MN! Barbara is Executive Director of the Cremation Association of North America, where she advances cremation through member programs, education, and strategic partnerships. With over 20 years of association leadership experience — including roles at the American Theological Library Association and Donors Forum — Barbara is a passionate believer in the power of bringing people together to get things done. We cannot wait for you to experience her expertise firsthand!

Register Today! https://www.mnfuneral.org/event/convention2026

03/31/2026

We are excited to welcome Dominick Astorino to this year's convention, May 12–14, 2026 at Cragun's Lodge in Brainerd, MN! A licensed funeral director and embalmer, mortuary science faculty member, and author of the seminal textbook Postmortem Restorative Art: Principles, Methods & Applications, Dominick is a globally recognized presenter and passionate advocate for elevating standards of care and education. We cannot wait for you to experience his expertise firsthand

Register here: https://www.mnfuneral.org/event/convention2026

03/30/2026

Registration Is Open!
Join us for our Spring Family Grief Camp on April 11–12, 2026 in Annandale, MN.
This free weekend retreat is designed for families who have experienced the death of a loved one. Together, we focus on finding hope and healing in the midst of grief.
Learn more and register here:
https://healingheartsconnection.com/get-healing/

03/26/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Contessa E. King to this year's Convention, May 12–14, 2026 at Cragun's Lodge in Brainerd, MN! A licensed funeral director, embalmer, and restorative artist based in Washington State, Contessa brings a rare and fascinating blend of environmental science, art, and mortuary science to her work. As the sole contributing artist to Postmortem Restorative Art (Astorino, 2024) and a recent presenter on the international stage in Belgium, she is truly a standout voice in the field and we can't wait for you to hear from her. Register today to secure your spot!

Register here: https://www.mnfuneral.org/event/convention2026

03/23/2026

🎉 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲.

During our Anniversary Celebration last week, we revealed the 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 + 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 for two unforgettable Funeral Women Lead experiences:

🧡 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 + 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁
🧡 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗞𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗢𝗳𝗳

✨ 𝗬𝗔𝗬… 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘.

Powerful connection. Real growth. Big energy.
𝗔 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗢𝗨.

Want to be 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀?
👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: https://funeralwomenlead.org/newsletter/

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗼𝗻. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱. 🧡

03/20/2026

Restoring the Helpers is TOMORROW and we couldn't be more excited for this incredible group of funeral directors to finally take a day for themselves.

-TOMORROW!
-9am-4pm
-6 Professional Practices CEUs
-Minnesota Humanities Center, Saint Paul, MN

Register today! 🔗 mnfuneral.org/event/wellnessretreat

03/18/2026

Available this Saturday? What if you could finally set down the weight of your burnout — even just for a day? Our inaugural MFDA Wellness Day Retreat on March 21 in St. Paul is your chance to breathe, reset, and reconnect with why you do this work.

-March, 21 2026
-9am-4pm
-6 Professional Practices CEUs
-Minnesota Humanities Center, Saint Paul, MN

Register today! 🔗 mnfuneral.org/event/wellnessretreat

03/16/2026

We couldn't be more excited about this duo! 🙌 If you've ever seen Kelly in action, you know this day is going to be something special — and Bryan is the perfect partner alongside her. Don't miss your chance to experience it for yourself THIS Saturday!

-March, 21 2026
-9am-4pm
-6 Professional Practices CEUs
-Minnesota Humanities Center, Saint Paul, MN

Spots are limited — register today! 🔗 mnfuneral.org/event/wellnessretreat

Conversations with Kelly

03/12/2026

The work is heavy — and funeral directors carry more than most people will ever understand. But you don't have to carry it alone. MFDA's Wellness Day Retreat on March 21 in Saint Paul was created just for you — a full day of rest, reflection, and real tools to help you breathe again. Because the families you serve need you at your best, and so do you.

-March, 21 2026
-9am-4pm
-6 Professional Practices CEUs
-Minnesota Humanities Center, Saint Paul, MN

Spots are limited, so don't wait. Register today!
🔗 mnfuneral.org/event/wellnessretreat

03/11/2026