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. Walk-in registrations will be accepted, however, advanced registration is highly encouraged.
Forty Years of Prescribed Fire in Southeast Minnesota State Parks [Presenter: Shawn Fritcher] McKnight Prairie, Goodhue County, Minnesota: 50 years of Conservation Management [Presenter: Nancy Braker] Weaver Dunes Preserve: History, Management, and Rare Species [Presenter: Autumn Jensen]
Session 2 — Ṫíŋta Iwohdakapi: A Conversation about Indigenous Prairie Stewardship Perspectives [Wacipi / Tinta Wita rooms]
Nicky Buck, Ferin Davis-Anderson, Hope Flanagan, and Gabe Miller
Session 3 — Discovering Prairie and Savannah Insects [Wolf room]
An Overview of Prairie-Dependent Insects of the Upper Midwest [Presenter: Rich Henderson; handouts: Working listNectar sources] Robber Flies of the Prairie and Savanna [Presenter: Mike Reece] Prairie Skipper Losses in the Driftless [Presenter: Jessica Petersen; handout: Skipper cards]
Noon-1:30pm — Lunch and Learn [Wacipi/Tinta Wita room]
12:00pm – Deli sandwich buffet
12:15pm – Welcome from Executive Director, Debra Behrens, and Presentation by Dan Carter, TPE Landowner Services Coordinator,Insights from the Prairie Past for the Prairie Present
Check out the silent auction!
1:30-3pm — Afternoon Sessions (concurrent)
Session 4 — Drawing Life from Nature: Plants, Landscapes, Pollinators [Eagle room] (FULL – pre-registered attendees only)
Session led by Vera Ming Wong, natural science illustrator
Note: This limited-capacity session is full. Email Michelle Cochran at michelle.galles.cochran57@gmail.com if you’d like a place on the waiting list.
Echinacea Seed Source for Restorations: Genetic Implications [Presenter: Amy Dykstra] Density-Dependent Effects of Fire on Plant Reproduction: Implications for Conservation and Restoration [Presenter: Jared Beck] Prescribed Burns and Bumble Bees in Restored Prairie [Presenter: Jade Kochanski]
Session 6 — Practicalities of Savanna Habitat Restoration [Wolf room]
Perspectives on Costs, Funding, and Scalability [Presenter: Tom Hunter] Brush Management with Goats: Considerations and Possibilities [Presenter: Cherie Nolden] Restoring Native Plant Communities Without Herbicide: Focus on Tangled Bank Farms [Presenter: Jen Wahls]
3-4pm — Break, silent auction bidding and photo contest votes end at 4pm.
4-6pm — Social with cash bar and one complimentary keg of beer, poster session. [Registration Area] (included with conference registration)
6pm – Auction winners and photo contest winner announced.
Treasure Island Resort & Casino in Welch, Minnesota (Map)
5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd, Welch, MN 55089
Private accommodation
TPE members Carl and Cindy Nelson are generously offering their rustic cabin in Maiden Rock, WI, (45 minutes to Treasure Island) to conference attendees. First come, first served!
They have 2 bedrooms, one with the single bed and one with a double bed, for Friday and Saturday nights.
Hotels
Special group booking rates for hotel rooms are available at Treasure Island when you make your reservation by phone at 1-800-222-7077 (ext. 0). Outline of hotels in the area:
Hotel
Address
Phone Number
Approx. Nightly Cost
Distance from Treasure Island
Treasure Island Resort & Casino*
5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd, Welch, MN 55089
1-800-222-7077 (ext. 0)
$159.00
0 Miles
Super 8
232 Withers Harbor Dr, Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 347-6954
$79.00
12 miles
Quality Inn & Suites
752 Withers Harbor Dr, Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 388-1577
$101.00
12 miles
Holiday Inn Express
1919 Old W Main St, Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 327-2225
$152.00
12 miles
Nichols Inn & Suites
1750 Highway 61 w, Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 388-6633
$100.00
12 miles
Hastings Inn
1520 Vermillion St, Hastings, MN 55033
(651) 437-3155
$134.00
15 miles
Days Inn
955 E 7th St, Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 388-3568
$45.00
15 miles
The Port of Prescott
201 Broad St, Prescott, WI 54021
715-600-2683
$143.00
20 miles
*Site of conference. Must make reservation via phone for discounted rate.
Featured Keynote
The Pollination of Native Plants by Heather Holm
This presentation is a fascinating journey showcasing the development of different flower types and the presentation of floral resources to pollinators. Exploring the types of insect pollinators, their foraging behavior, and the floral features that attract pollinators, Heather will provide many specific examples of how native plants are pollinated and what pollinator is most effective and why.
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 clear buckthorn, conduct a prescribed burn, etc.
Items will be available for bidding Saturday until 3:30pm. Winners will be announced at 6:00pm and items must be paid for before the banquet.
Photo Contest
Cast your votes at the registration desk, Saturday, February 11, 7:30am-4:00pm. Winner announced at 6:00pm.
WINNER: Gary Schackelford
Winning Haiku by: Hella Cohen
Pray for flower Lure
Wild plum musk, a siren song
Storied flower lore
Poster Session
Please take time to check out the posters on Saturday. The posters will be set up most of the day, but the authors will be present for questions and comments during the official Poster Session from 4:00-6:00. You can view the poster abstracts here.
Prescribed Burn School
Note: Burn school registration has reached capacity. Email info@theprairieenthusiasts.org if you’d like to be added to the waitlist.
February 10 (Friday), 8am -4pm
This one-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.
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 info@theprairieenthusiasts.org.
Please write to info@theprairieenthusiasts.org with any dietary restrictions or accommodation requirements. No refunds will be issued after Tuesday, January 31st.
