Reverence for the Land

https://prairieenthusiasts-bloom.kindful.com/e/tpeconference2023

Hosted by our Minnesota Driftless Chapter, the 2023 conference, Reverence for the Land, will celebrate the role you play as a steward of soils, water, plants, animals, and other members of the land community. More details coming soon!

Friday, February 10 - Prescribed Burn School and Evening Social Film Screening of "Landscape Stories - Helen Allison Savanna" at 6:30pm followed by Q&A with director, Regina Flanagan.

Saturday, February 11 - Keynote Speaker, Conference Sessions, and Evening Banquet

Location: Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Minnesota (Map) 

Special group booking rates for hotel rooms will be available at Treasure Island. 

Featured Keynote

The Pollination of Native Plants

by Heather Holm 

Heather is a National Honorary Director of Wild Ones and award-winning author of Pollinators of Native Plants, Bees, Wasps, and Common Native Bees of the Eastern United States.

Silent Auction 

Great news!  The annual conference silent auction will be back in 2023.  This fundraising event helps our chapters with restoration projects.  All money raised goes directly to the donor chapter!  Everyone can bid on a variety of great items, such as cookies, jams, honey, artwork, beer and wine. 

If you wish to donate to the silent auction, contact your chapter chairperson no later than January 1.  Handmade items raise the most money – people like to know who made what. Service items are also very well received -- people are always looking for someone to rake clear buckthorn, conduct a prescribed burn, etc..

Items will be available for bidding Saturday until 3:30pm.  Winners will be announced and items must be paid for before the banquet.

Photo Contest 

Send your submissions to Jerry Newman by email at [email protected] by January 31, 2023.

Enter up to five photos total, one per category. Judges will pick one winner from each category, conference attendees select grand prize winner from those five. Finalists will be viewed and voted on live at conference, so submit photos suitable to be framed in 8 x 10. Must be a current member or conference registrant to make a submission. 

Photo Contest Categories:

•    flora
•    fauna
•    seasons
•    landscape
•    people

Prescribed Burn School

This 1-day class is for people without previous burn experience or those who want a refresher. The training follows the guidelines of the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council and is taught by The Prairie Enthusiasts volunteers. Successful participation in this training, plus a half-day field practical course provided by a local chapter, and helping on two The Prairie Enthusiasts burns as an apprentice, provides the qualifications to be a new crew member on The Prairie Enthusiasts burns.

Key topics addressed:

• Why do we burn? Fire ecology
• Fire behavior
• Fire suppression
• Safety on the fire line
• Burn crew roles

For questions about Prescribed Burn School reach out to Scott Fulton at [email protected]. 

Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities

Build awareness for your business by connecting your prairie community. If you’re interested in sponsoring or exhibiting, let us know at [email protected].

Explore sponsorship and exhibitor options here. 

Questions?

Please write to [email protected] with any dietary restrictions or accommodation requirements. 

[email protected] / (608) 638-1873