Articles
Conservation Notes: Fall in Love with Fall
2009-09-21 09:17I have no favorite season, as I am fond of them all. In fact with each change in season, I find different aspects to love and appreciate. There are so many reasons to adore fall. On weekends, I love waking up to brisk, sunny fall mornings. Crisp mornings transform into beautiful, warm afternoons. Fall colors are absolutely magnificent with hues ranging in red, orange, yellow, and purple. These colors are an amazing contrast to the bright blue sky. It is incredible the colors that nature creates. The sound of the breeze blowing through the trees and leaves gently floating to the ground is peaceful. The fuzzy caterpillars are a funny sight as they inch their way along. As a young girl, I loved finding different colors of caterpillars. Fall has a simple beauty in its sights and sounds. While harvest will be in full gear soon, take time to appreciate the beauty of fall.
-Monica Stevens, Resource Conservationist
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Conservation Notes: Respect
2009-08-13 14:15On my nightly jogs or walks, I look forward to time outside enjoying the beauty of the environment around me. It is frustrating to see how much litter is along our rural roadsides. One evening, I spotted a Long John Silvers carry-out bag carelessly tossed along my road. The nearest fast food restaurant is twenty miles away. Needless to say, I was annoyed because it was a sign of complete disrespect. Growing up, my brother, sister and I were taught to respect. We learned to respect not only people, but our environment. I have often wondered why others choose to throw their garbage outside the window as they drive along. Can they not wait to throw it out or recycle when they stop? Let's keep our roadsides beautiful and give them repsect by not littering.
-Monica Stevens, Resource Conservationist
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Conservation Notes: Lightning Bugs
2009-08-01 15:31Once I figured out that lightning bugs really wouldn’t “zap” me, I fell in love with them as a young girl. During the summer nights in the country, I loved running around the yard barefoot chasing and catching lightning bugs. That is one of my favorite summer memories I have growing up on the farm. Hopefully it will be a memory that I can share with my three nieces this summer.
To this day, I am still fond of them lighting up the summer sky. In the evening, I enjoy sitting outside on my porch relaxing and taking in the beauty. The glow from the lightning bugs in contrast to the darkening sky truly is a beautiful sight. Lightning bugs look so peaceful as they float through the air twinkling as the sun is setting. They almost look like stars…just a little closer to us. Summer seems to be the perfect time to sit back and enjoy the simple things in life.
-Monica Stevens, Resource Conservationist
News
Snodgrass Recieves 20 Year Director Service Award
Jerry Snodgrass of rural Geneseo recieved a 20 Year Director Service Award at the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Annual Meeting Springfield, July 26 through 28. Snodgrass is currently serving as Chairman of the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Area 1 Vice President on the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts Board of Directors.
Congratulations to Jerry Snodgrass!
Johnson and Brink Win Henry County Door Prizes
Each year during the Henry County Fair, the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District conducts a drawing for a door prize. This year, those attending the fair could sign up to win a rain barrel that was on display at the Henry County SWCD fair booth. Activities for the children coincided with the Soil and Water Stewardship theme, "Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats". Children had the opportunity to go "fishing" for fish facts, eat "worms", learn facts about frogs and toads, and sign up to win a fishing tackle box.
Congratulations to Carol Johnson of Kewanee and Logan Brink of Cambridge! Carol won the drawing for the rain barrel from the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District. Logan won the drawing for the fishing tackle box.
Bob Rishel Memorial Prairie Walk
The Henry County Natural Area Guardians will hold the Bob Rishel Memorial Prairie Walk on Sunday, June 27th at 1:30 p.m. The tour will be held two miles north of Cambridge at the intersection of 1300 North and 1300 East at the Munson Township Cemetery. Tim Keller will be conducting the prairie walk tour. Refreshments will be served.
For more information about the Bob Rishel Memorial Prairie Walk, please call the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District at 309.937.5263, extension 3.
IDOA Schedules Clean Sweep Collection in Northwest Illinois
Program will safely dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides
Springfield, Illinois - Residents of eight northwestern Illinois counties can dispose of unwanted agrichemicals for free this year through the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Pesticide Clean Sweep Program.
A Clean Sweep collection has been scheduled in late summer for Carroll, Henry, Jo Daviess, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties. The collection, which rotates among Illinois counties, is open to farmers, retired farmers, nursery owners, private pesticide applicators and landowners who inherited unwanted agricultural pesticides with their property.
"There are two, big reasons to take advantage of this program." Warren Goetsch, Bureau Chief of Environmental Programs, said. "First, it is free. If individuals were to properly dispose of agrichemicals on their own, the cost would be expensive. But the department is able to provide the service free of charge thanks to a grant it obatined from the U.S. EPA. Second, the state of Illinois, not the program participant, will assume liability for the proper disposal of all materials collected."
Participants must register the products they plan to dispose of by June 25. Registration is required to give the waste disposal contractor time to prepare for the different kinds if materials that will need to be handled. Forms can be obtained either by calling the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Hotline at 1.800.641.3934 or visiting one of the program sponsors listed beloew.
Completed forms should be mailed or faxed to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The mailing address is: Clean Sweep Program, Illinois Department of Agriculture, State Fairgrounds, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, Illinois, 62794-9281. The fax number is 217.524.4882.
Participants then will be sent a reservation card indicating the date, time and location of their collection.
Henry County Farm Bureau
114 North East Street
Cambridge, Illinois 61238
Henry County SWCD
301 East North Street
Cambridge, Illinois 61238
Henry County Extension Unit
26234 Black Hawk Road
Galva, Illinois 61434
Download and print the IDOA Clean Sweep Program registration form
Council 2 Envirothon
The Envirothon is a hands-on and interactive learning experience for high school students. Students gain knowledge of the environment and natural resources. Teams compete in five areas: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a fifth category on an environmental issue. Teams test their knowledge of the environment and compete against other high school teams from Bureau, Marshall-Putnam, Mercer, Rock Island, and Stark counties. Thirty-nine teams from seven counties competed at the Envirothon.
Ten teams from Henry County competed at the Envirothon on April 13th at the Black Hawk Historical Site in Rock Island. The top team from Henry County for 2010 was Galva High School. Team members included: Dustin Jacobson, Matt Johnsonn, Karlee Rylander, Seth Strom and Ryan Werkheiser. The Galva High School FFA Advisor is Trisha Main.
Congratulations to Galva High School!
Henry County SWCD Sponosored 20th Annual Poster Contest
Every year, the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District sponsors a poster contest for kindergarten through twelfth grade students. 2010 celebrates the 20th year the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District has proudly sponsored this annual event. Students are encouraged to express their thoughts about soil, water, and other natural resources topics through art. The poster contest theme coincides with the annual Soil and Water Stewardship theme. 'Conservation Habits = Healthy Habitats' is the theme for 2010. With this exciting and adventurous theme, students had the opportunity to learn about the importance of soil, stewardship of the land, conservation of natural resources, and plant and animal habitats.
Winners of the kindergarten through sixth grade levels receive a bicycle. Contest winners of the seventh through twelfth grade levels receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond. Prizes are donate by the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District. Poster contest winners advance to compete at the state level.
2010 Henry County SWCD Poster Contest grade level winners are:
Second-Third Grade - Emily Henson, Northside Elementary
Fourth-Sixth Grade - Luke Poteat, Northside Elementary
Seventh-Ninth Grade - Thomas VanIseghem, Orion Middle School
Tenth-Twelfth Grade - Karlee Rylander, Galva High School
Honorable Mentions:
Kristen Litton, AlWood Middle School
Emily Hansard, Galva High School
Congratulations to the 2010 Henry County Poster Contest Winners! There were many creative and imaginative posters designed by the students. Thank you to all of the studetns that participated!
Rasmussen wins Henry County SWCD door prize
Each year during the Henry County Fair, the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District conducts a drawing for a door prize. This year, those attending the fair could sign up to win a rain barrel that was on display at the Henry County SWCD fair booth. Soil activites for children coincided with the Soil and Water Stewardship theme, "Dig It! The Secrets of Soil." Children had the opportunity to make edible soil profiles and paint with soil.
A rain barrel is a system of collecting and storing water from roofs of homes, sheds, and barns. They play a vital role in water conservation. Rain barrels prevent water from attaching to soil or pollutants and being carried away and washed into storm drains. Reducing stormwater runoff reduces the amount of pesticides and fertilizer that impacts our water supply. For more information regarding rain barrels, call the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Congratulations to Karen Rasmussen! She won the drawing for the rain barrel from the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Karen Rasmussen is shown with her rain barrel