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SOUTHWEST CHAPTER NEWS and COMMENTARY

Prairie Quotations (PDF- 6.3M) presented to Rose Sime with Gratitude. 4th Graders from Lancaster School Sept. 28th Seeds Collecting Even at Eldred Prairie.

Many Hands Make Light Work!  That's how the saying goes and 54 students from Winskill Elementary School made that a reality.  Led by their Science teacher, Marcia Chambers, these Lancaster students were delighted to help the Southwest Chapter collect seeds at Eldred Prairie on September 28th.  After about an hour of collecting they were thrilled to sow and stomp in the seeds in the newly cleared areas of the site.  Those of us who were there to help found the students to be quite well informed about the prairie ecosystem and an enthusiastic and cooperative group.

Annual Picnic and Prairie Enthusiast Meeting  by Rose Sime

The heavens were certainly with us on July 18th as the rains stopped just a couple hours before our annual meeting and picnic of The Prairie Enthusiasts at the newly acquired Borah Creek Prairie. At least sixty five people attended with representation from The Prairie Enthusiasts, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Driftless Area Land Conservancy and neighbors surrounding the prairie.

The day began with the The Prairie Enthusiasts Board of Director’s meeting and tours of the prairie led by Gary Eldred and Jesse Bennett, which included good sightings of the signature species Prairie Bush Clover. Folks were pleased to see the rattle snake master, blood milkwort and hills thistle along with many other species blooming that day. Everyone acknowledged that much work had been done since seeing the prairie two summers ago and that a good deal more work still needs to be done.

We all enjoyed great food, an informative meeting regarding the workings of the organization, reports from the various chapters and field trips across the prairie either by foot or wagon. Perhaps the most exciting event of the day was the transfer of the deed for Borah Creek Prairie to The Prairie Enthusiasts. Tim Jacobson, Executive Director of Mississippi Valley Conservancy, signed over the deed and literally passed the torch to the southwest chapter with the challenge to start every fire at Borah Creek Prairie with it. It was a great day for all involved

Click here for photos.