The Wabasha Forestry Committee is pleased to announce the reboot of the annual Wabasha Forestry Day. It, too, was derailed by Covid. We will have an indoor and outdoor portion for this year’s program. Please attend as much as you are able. There will be fabulous and not-so-fabulous prizes. You must be present to win. Cost to attend is $10 if you are having a meal.
We look forward to reconnecting with you on Friday, May 20th at the Front Porch Bar & Grill at 100 N Sheppard St Kellogg for the indoor presentation portion. Registration begins at 9am along with coffee and donuts. Presentations begin at 9:30 am starting with a tree grafting demonstration by Wabasha Forestry Committee member Tom Gosse. Following Tom is Larry Gates, private landowner and chair of the Southeast Landscape Committee. He will talk about direct hardwood seedings he has done on his property, the how-tos and programs he has utilized.
We will be learning about carbon sequestration from David Ruff, Southeast MN Conservation Coordinator with The Nature Conservancy and vice-chair of the Southeast Landscape Committee. David will speak to what carbon sequestration is, the need for carbon sequestration, private landowners’ potential involvement and the work The Nature Conservancy is doing in this capacity.
Our next presenter is Dan Greenheck, landowner. He is utilizing carbon credits in his family’s woodland management activities. He will share processes and timelines involved to become eligible to receive payment for credits.
The Woodland Manager of the Year award will be presented ahead of lunch. You will have to attend the forestry day to learn the identity of the Woodland Manager of the Year.
Lunch will be provided by the Front Porch Bar and Grill. Immediately following lunch, we will travel in separate vehicles (car-pooling is encouraged) to the Gorman Creek LLC property at 202nd Ave Kellogg, approximately 10 minutes from the Front Porch. This location will offer the opportunity to see various land management (e.g. stream restoration, direct hardwood seedings, tree grafting, prairie resto, erosion control structures, wetland bank, etc) activities underway. This will be a walking portion over relatively level ground. A port-a-potty will be available onsite. Please dress for the weather and provide your own water bottle, writing materials and items to be comfortable outside.
We do request an RSVP if you intend to join in the lunch in order to provide an accurate count to the Front Porch. Please provide that RSVP by May 4th. We will plan for some extra. To request a copy of the announcement to put on your refrigerator or to RSVP for lunch, please contact Sarah Stegen, MN DNR, 651-299-4014 or email sarah.stegen@state.mn.us . Any other questions can be directed towards the following Wabasha Forestry Committee Members: Jen Wahls, jen.landscapeconnections@gmail.com or 218-310-9058; Mark Miller, mark.dnr.miller@state.mn.us or 651-249-1231 or Henry Stelten, henry.stelten@mn.nacdnet.net or 651-560-2051. This program is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Forestry Association, MN DNR – Forestry and the Wabasha SWCD.