Picking in the prairie

Ikes, AHS club partner to seed the environment

Akeem Oman waded through waist-high grasses, searching for gray-headed coneflower. Across a section of prairie, her cousin, Jukrao Oman, hunted for blazing star.

Throughout the section of native grasses and flowers just north of Mill Pond, about a dozen others were on their own little missions. Armed with paper sacks and knowledge they just gathered about each plant, they collected seeds that will someday foster another stretch of prairie habitat and buffer zone along the Cedar River.

The Oman cousins, along with another Austin High School student and AHS science teacher Kate Schoonover, partnered with the Izaak Walton League Monday to tackle the project. The students, part of the Go Green club, took a few pointers from local prairie expert Steve Williams and scoured the small section of native plants. It didn’t take long for them to fill their paper sacks. The goal: Collect enough seed to plant a 3,000-square-foot area near the Austin skate park. The new prairie and buffer will also offer future opportunities for the public to do seed collecting and transplanting.

“This is the first time we’ve harvested seed [at Mill Pond],” said Ikes member Jim Stiles.

The Ikes planted the prairie buffer strip along Mill Pond in 2009, along with a separate prairie grass section, for about $15,000.

“What we want to do is use the seed to create another prairie or buffer strip along the Cedar River,” Stiles added.

Schoonover said some of her classes have already been learning by spending time in prairie and buffer strip at Mill Pond.

“When you can take them outside, you should,” she said.

And the Go Green club allows students to go beyond that. Members of the club volunteered at RE-Fest this year and raised $3,500 toward a solar panel project they will install at the high school. The Omans were among them. They feel like going green is an obvious decision.

“I feel like going green is a good thing,” Akeem said. “I feel like more people should. And why not?”

“I thought it would be interesting,” Jukrao added, “We’re just really saving the environment.”

Among other projects, the Go Green club is selling energy-efficient lightbulbs. Austin Utilities donated $500 worth of bulbs to the group to sell to help fund the solar panel project.

Those who would like to purchase bulbs or simply donate to the Go Green group may contact Schoonover at kate.schoonover@austin.k12.mn.us.

SportsPlus

Albert Lea

Freeborn Co. Fair releases 2025 grandstand line-up

News

My Town My Music release 2025 Rochester Thaw Music Festival Lineup

Education

LeRoy’s Izabella Allison named to the Dean’s List at Palmer College of Chiropractic

Blooming Prairie

Education Briefs: Blooming Prairie A Honor Roll

News

History museum teaches appreciation for buildings, design through gingerbread

Mower County

Long awaited renovation/expansion project announced for Paramount Theatre

Mower County

City council puts pause on cannabis ordinance

Mower County

Holiday fun in works for Merry & Bright Night

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

None injured in Thanksgiving night house fire

Mower County

Austin man with history of drug convictions gets 67 months in prison for latest charge

News

Biden’s broken promise on pardoning his son Hunter is raising new questions about his legacy

Mower County

Austin Area Foundation announces community funded grants to a record 22 local nonprofit organizations

Mower County

Photos: Holiday revelers face the cold for Hometown Christmas

Albert Lea

Albert Lea theater to present ‘White Christmas’

Mower County

Nativity display open for another year

Mower County

In Your Community: Duplicate Bridge

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County Senior Center

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Convictions: Nov. 18-25

Mower County

MnDOT hosts public meetings in December to help guide Minnesota State Rail Plan

News

Female racing pioneer ‘Motorcycle Mary’ McGee dies a day before documentary on her is released

Business

Local stores have a lot to offer during the holiday season

News

Dementia research and support to continue in Minnesota after Congress passes legislation

Mower County

Cold snap continues into this weekend

Mower County

County submits first project to FEMA for reimbursement related to June flooding