SHERBURNE SWCD Water Resources Specialist Dan Cibulka holds a northern water milfoil plant that is native to our area lakes. Of the 20 different plants he demonstrated, only two of them are non-native. (Photos by Gloria Vande Brake)
SHERBURNE COUNTY Parks Coordinator Gina Hugo instructed participants on trees at SWCD Discovery Day Aug. 2.
SHERBURNE SWCD DISTRICT Tech Miranda Wagner (right) demonstrates how rainfall can impact watershed to keep healthy soils.
Over 70 adults and children joined the staff of Sherburne Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) as they celebrated 75 years of working with landowners to implement conservation practices to protect our natural resources at Discovery Day recently at Sherburne History Center in Becker.
Staff and area experts focused on five areas of conservation that participants spent around 20 minutes in each station.
Aquatic invaders, forestry, native plants, sustainable produce and soil health
“At my station on aquatic invaders”, explained Sherburne SWCD Water Resources Tech Dan Cibulka, “I had 20 plants that grow in our area lakes.
“Only two of them, “ Cibulka continued, “ are non-native: curly leaf pondweed and Eurasian water milfoil. Our area lakes associations are controlling these non-native invaders fairly well. We want to avoid getting the starry stonewart that is found in lakes in nearby counties.”
Participants at the native plant station were able to hunt for native plants and insects at the Sherburne History Center grounds, play Plinko and paint a rock organized by District Tech Franny Gerde. She also had a display on the long roots of some native plants.
District Tech Miranda Wagner reviewed the importance of soil health by sharing how rainfall affects the watershed. Sherburne County Parks Coordinator Gina Hugo instructed participants on trees in the county. Local farmers shared information about their sustainable produce operation.
Sponsors such as Gretchen Venske and Becky Pollard of Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge let the participants touch pelts of beaver, coyote and fox that roam the Refuge.
Participants enjoyed pizza and a pollinator ice cream sundae after learning about the honey bee. Many of them explored the various exhibits at Sherburne History Museum.
Event sponsors included Sherburne SWCD, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Sherburne County, Sherburne History Center, and Farm Friends Barn.
“In late 2018 the Sherburne SWCD was awarded Outstanding Conservation District in the state,” proudly noted Administrative/Marketing Assistant Andie Bumgarner. “So celebrating 75 years of conservation work with our landowners has been great!“At our fall meeting we’ll recognize the volunteers, name the conservation operator/land-owner of the year,“ Bumgarder concluded,” and again celebrate our years of conservation work in Sherburne County.”