Young Conservationists

Every year it is more challenging to give our ribbons. Every exhibitor deserves a ribbon, they are all great.
The projects are getting more complex and informational.
Our young people are really learning and trying to improve and protect nature and our lands.

The Following 4-H er's were asked questions about their projects. The questions were as follows:
1. Tell me about your project.
2. What is the title of your project.
3. What does your project represent.
4. Did you have help with your project.
5. What have you learned from your project.
You will find a brief summary on each of the winners and their projects.

2024
We had 9 wonderful 4-H exhibitors that we gave Conservation Recognition Ribbons to this year. Here they are with their projects and a little about them.

 Cole Christensen, Palmer Sunbeams
The Ring Necked Pheasant Poster

Cole's trifold poster is an overview of Minnesota Pheasants. His project represents facts about the Ring Necked Pheasants. He had some help from Mom and Dad. Cole told a little story about the feathers on his poster. When asked what he learned about doing his project, he said he learned what the pheasants ate, how they lived and where they came from and other facts.

Jamison Berg, Janesville Jacks-n-Jills
Log Bench

Jamison's bench is all natural, made of oak. His bench represents nature. With help from his dad, he has made this bench to sit and enjoy more of nature. The main thing Jamison learned is that everything is easy as long as you never give up on it.

Alexis Olson, Waldorf Peppy Peppers
"The Summit" Oil Painting

Alexis' painting "The Summit" was inspired by Bob Ross' Painting displaying a mountain and forest areas. Her project represents a beautiful and untouched landscape. Alexis painted this at the Waseca Art Center. She has learned new oil painting skills and layering techniques.

 Audrey Gray, Homegrown Explorers
Flowers in a Barnyard

Audrey's picture "Flowers in a Barnyard" was taken along Highway 14, between Waseca and Mankato. Her picture shows the Cycle of Nature and Agriculture with the regrowth of wildflowers in the spring and new crop planting in the field. Throughout this project, Audrey has learned the Rule of Thirds in Photography (3X3 Grid-equally dividing the image into 9 parts). She has also experienced how to capture the beauty of Nature.

Molly Volovsek, Riverside Ramblers
Sprague Lake Swans

Molly's trifold poster is an overview of the Trumpeter Swans' life including habitat, diet, mating, young and an important back story. Her project represents her love of kayaking at Sprague Lake and seeing these swans and getting to learn more about them. Molly's Mom helped her with taking the pictures of the swans on the lake. Molly has learned more about the Trumpeter Swans' kind of habitat needed and their comeback throughout the years.

Treysen Tietje, Janesville Jacks-N-Jills
Wood Duck Nesting Box

Treysen has built two wood duck nesting boxes. His project represents his effort to help keep the wood duck population strong. Treysen's Dad helped him with his project. Treysen has learned that a young person can help the wood duck population.

Oriana Jewison, Homegrown Explorers
Native Trees of Minnesota

Oriana's project is on Native Trees of Minnesota. Her project helps educate others about the different types of trees that are native to Minnesota. It tells how to identify them by certain characteristics. Oriana did this project on her own. Oriana has learned so many things about Minnesota trees, from how they look to the many important details and characteristics about them.

 Mikael Nelson, Riverside Ramblers
Element of Photography

Mikael's photo was taken north of New Richland using a drone. The photo shows the farm fields with water damage from the heavy spring rains. Mikael keeps improving on the use of his drone and recently aided in showing another farmer by taking photos of his water damaged fields. Mikael did have the assistance of his dad in the use of the drone.

Cooper Mason, Janesville Jack N Jills
Moths & Butterflies

Cooper is very interested in learning about and catching moths and butterflies. Some kinds she has caught are cecropias, painted ladies, question marks, black swallow tails, wooly bears, white lined sphinx moths, american daggers, monarchs and many more. Her project represents that by planting host and nectar plants it helps moths and butterflies continue their life cycle. With the help of her Mom & Dad, she gets books from the library and has a chance to explore and collect the moths and butterflies from different areas. While hunting for caterpillars in Texas, Cooper learned that the southern wooly bear caterpillars become swamp moths. She would also like others to know that making a garden of host plants is pretty easy and helps the moth and butterfly population grow.

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2023 Waseca County Fair SWCD Conservation Ribbon Recipients

Thank you to all the 4-H Exhibitors for all of your projects.

    Alexis Olson, Waldorf Peppy Peppers
   Dandelions Friend or Foe?

Alexis made a poster explaining both the good benefits and the disadvantages of dandelions. Her project represents that stereotypes are not everything. The main point that Alexis would like to make is that dandelions are really misunderstood.

 Noah Harguth, Riverside Ramblers
Agronomy & Horticulture

Noah created the Farmyard Setup for the fair because he really enjoys farming. The title of his project is Harguth Farms, which represents a hard working farm. He has learned that it takes a lot of hard work to keep a farm
running smoothly. Farmers have to work hard to keep the environment nice.

Molly Volovsek, Riverside Ramblers
Monarch Timetraveler

Molly's project shares important information and details
about the Monarch Butterfly's life. She shows their diets, predators and their migration pattern. Molly has dis-
covered a great deal of the migration journey that the
Monarchs make each year.

Oriana Jewison, Home Grown Explorers
Soybean Growth Stages

Oriana's project is about how soybeans grow and develop and what to look for in each particular stage. Her project shows what the ideal growing conditions are for a plant. Oriana learned how to identify what stage a soybean plant is in and how soybeans grow and develop.

Cooper Mason, Janesville Jacks-N-Jills
Cooper's Microscopic Organisms

Cooper's project explains the life of Water Bears. Water
bears are microscopic organisms, scientific name Tardigrade.
They can survive in various conditions including extreme heat, extreme cold (even Antarctica), space, radiation and dehydration
for very long periods of time. They have tube like mouths,
6-8 legs, black eye holes, no ears an claw like feet. You can find them by putting water on a piece of moss and putting it under a microscope, they will float to the top. Cooper's project brings attention to the tiny life that surrounds us and we don't know about it. Cooper has learned more about Water Bears by reading with her mom and discussions with her dad. One other item of interest is that there are over 1,000 species of water bears.

 Mikael Nelson, Vista Busy Bees
Photography Project

Mikael's photo was taken after 14 inches of rain that fell over several days in early May. It shows the water flow in the upper part of Ditch 43 in Otisco Township. The photo shows how much of the area was flooded and which parts of the area were affected. This is a good way to get information from areas that you do not have access to because of the flooding. Mikael is learning more about the uses for drone photography.

John Olson, Palmer Sunbeams
Horse Chestnut Tree Poster

John was interested in this tree because his grandpa has one on his farm. He then went to the library and did research on it. His project
represents a concern for the environment in Minnesota and it provides squirrel food. By doing this project, John has learned the value in housing and food for squirrels.

 Genna Coon, Palmer Sunbeams
Wood Duck House

Genna picked this project because she attended a 4-H Camp in Byron, MN. She made this Wood Duck House as a project there because she likes wildlife animals and wants to help them. Her project represents a way of taking care of wildlife animals by giving them a house to live in. Her grandparents aided her in staining and varnishing her Wood Duck House. Genna has learned how to build a house for the Wood Ducks that helps to keep them safe.

 Isaac Feldkamp, Clover Clan
Pileated Woodpecker Poster

Isaac's poster is about the Pileated Woodpecker. He has these woodpeckers in his orchard. He explains how they may be migrating south. His project tells you what the Pileated Woodpecker eats, how and where they live and their nesting and mating habits. Isaac learned all about what the woodpeckers do.

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2022 Waseca County Fair Waseca SWCD Conservation Award Winners

Thank you to all the 4-H Exhibitors for all of your projects.

Adler Bethke, Vista Busy Bees

Plants in natural display.

Adler planted 3 different succulent plants into a chunk of decaying root that his mom pulled out of the ground, where a tree was cut down a few years ago. His project represents that something that is dying or dead can still be useful. He learned that succulents don't need a lot of watering, but do need water once in a while.

Alexis Olson, Vista Busy Bees

My Backyard Bounty

Alexis made 8 different jellies and jams from plants in her backyard. She mentioned her Mom did supervise the preserve making. Alexis has learned about patience in doing her project this year.

Cole Christensen, Palmer Sunbeams

Wood Duck House

Cole likes being outside and wants to help the Wood Ducks, so he made a house for them, so they would have a home. It's made of cedar wood. His dad and him are going to put it in the woods. His project represents keeping our wildlife wood duck population alive and well. In doing his project, Cole learned how to use a hammer and a measuring tape with a little help from his dad. He also learned why wood ducks need wood duck houses. Cole also put matting or tape in the house for the babies so they can crawl out and learn to fly.

Isaac Feldkamp, Clover Clan

Invasive Species in Minnesota Waterways

Isaac's poster was about the most common and new invasive species in Minnesota Lakes and how to prevent them. His project represents responsible ecology. He interviewed his brother, who works for the DNR checking boats, for information on Invasive Species. Isaac learned what invasive species can do to rivers and lakes.

Jacob Harguth, Riverside Ramblers

Nature On The Farm

Jacob took pictures of nature on his farm. His project represents the beauty of nature and in farming. Jacob mentioned that the one thing he had help with doing his project, was having his parents drive him around. He learned what makes up a picture and what you can do to make it better in your eyes.

Lucas Hoehn, Riverside Ramblers

Worm Farm

Lucas made a step by step poster on how he made a worm farm. His poster shows that you must put holes in the top and bottom of the container, then add paper, dirt, leaves, coffee grounds and banana peels. He shows that you must keep the paper moist. He then mentions that you add lots of worms and then you go fishing.

Mikael Nelson, Vista Busy Bees

Droning in Crop Farming

Mikael's project shows some examples of how a drone can be used in crop scouting. He helps his dad by checking the fields for crop damage from winds, water, weeds and drought. He has learned about plant health, variety changes, and mechanical failure displaying itself through drone photography.

Oriana Jewison, Home Grown Explorers

Top 10 Worst Weeds Poster

Oriana shows the 10 most worst weeds in corn and soybeans that are challenging to control in fields. Her project represents why it is important to watch and manage these weeds. She learned how weeds affect the crop yield and why it's important to manage them.

Rylee Gruenhagen, Vista Busy Bees

PFAS "The Forever Chemicals"

Rylee's poster explained the forever chemicals and the risks associated with them. His project represents the way humans have shaped the planet over time and how we have to adapt to it. Rylee did all the research on this topic with the glue and craft board supplied by his grandmother. He learned how much our world has changed for the worst and how much is being done about it.

2021
This year with the Waseca County Fair being held, the SWCD gave out 8 ribbons for projects with outstanding conservation ideas. There were many deserving entries. Congratulations to all of the 4-H Members who exhibited this year. 4-H is a wonderful association for learning, making friendships, setting and achieving goals, and overall great experiences.

(Look for these pictures in our 2022 calendar.)

Molly Volovsek, Riverside Ramblers

Molly's Project was a Poster on Racoons titled 'Unmasking the Bandit'. The poster contained information on their habitat, diet, young. Molly's inspiration for this topic came from wanting to learn more about them. Why and how they can get into locked places and why they make such a mess in the water.
Through this project, she has learned they are NOT a nuisance animal. They have certain habits like wetting their food to help them survive.

Alexis Olson, Vista Busy Bees

Alexis' project was a poster titled 'Trail Camera Adventure'. She used a trail camera to capture photos in her yard from February to July, day and night. Alexis discovered that there is a lot of activity and a lot of different animals that roam around in her yard both day and night. She drew the pictures of the animals on her poster and also had the photos of the animals put together in a book.

 Gavin Hodgkins, Clover Clan

Gavin's project was a Butterfly Garden. He used plants that attract butterflies. Gavin learned that he likes planting a flower garden.

Laura Jahr, Waldorf Peppy Peppers

Laura's project was under the Elements of Photography. Her photo was taken at Minneopa State Park. Laura's photo captured the native landscape and beautiful skies. She has enjoyed taking photos of nature and animals for 5 years. She has gained important experience in capturing the theme of her photos.

 Mikael Nelson, Vista Bust Bees

Mikael's project was a poster titled 'Drone Photography'. Mikael captured many landscape photos over the year, from planting to harvest. He also likes to use his drone for scouting fields, watching for water damages, and even pictures for insurance adjustments. The photos he has taken include family pictures, field and farmstead pictures, and wonderful sunsets.

 Alexis Myers, Riverside Ramblers

Alexis' project is about the uses and fun facts of the Poplar Tree. Alexis did her project as a way to let others know about the Poplar Tree. Poplars are a common tree in the area. She learned that the tree cross pollinates, so there are many types. She also found out that the Poplar wood has many uses such as musical instruments and even snowboards.

Isiah Alvarado, Riverside Ramblers

Isiah's project is titled 'Bumble Bees'. Isiah wants everyone to know about the importance of the Bumble Bee. The main focus of his project is to let us know that the Bumble Bee is endangered and how important they are to our daily lives. There are many products we use everyday that a bee helps provide. He was also able to show a hive model as part of his project.

Isabella Eaton, Homegrown Explorers

Isabella's project was a Fairy Garden. The gardens were planted in a stump that she found on their property. To Isabella, the focus is on natural beauty. She has used different types of flowers to enhance the beauty of the stump. Through this project, Isabella has learned time management.