by Mari Radtke
The annual fundraising event for Little Sioux Valley Conservation Association (LSVCA) drew a big crowd once again. People came from all around the 4-county area for a taste of a locally grown main dish and tons of interesting things to do.
About 400 people came out on a drizzly evening to enjoy a lawn picnic featuring bison burgers prepared on O’Brien County Cattlemen’s grill. The free will donation dinner provided energy for supporters to enjoy several activities and tours of the grounds. There was not a “name the baby buffalo” contest this year. No babies were born. Drawings were held and could be entered in line for dinner, which moved quickly.
Music, provided by Larry Heschke from the Palmer, Iowa area, accompanied dinner eaten under the tents or at the picnic tables scattered around the center’s front. Inside tours were given and outlined upcoming goals for the center’s remodeling and updating efforts. It was also a great opportunity to share with the Conservation Board of Directors your hopes and wishes for O’Brien County Conservation. Surveys were offered to guests to complete and submit. If you missed that chance, there is still time. A survey can be accessed on at prairieheritagecenter.org. Surveys can be submitted several ways. Visit the Prairie Heritage Center at 4931 Yellow Avenue just off Highway 10. The visit is worth the trip. Or go online and complete and submit the survey online. Or access the survey online, print it, complete it and mail it. Surveys must be received no later than Tuesday September 3 to be included as part of developing the strategic plan.

Bison Long Lines Great Crowd

Bison Cooking Burgers

Bison

Bison PHC Bison Burger

Bison Along The River

Bison From The Trail

Bison Volunteer Servers

Bison River Front Ride

Bison 0034

O’Brien County Naturalist Lindsay Kleinhesselink provided oversight and instruction in throwing atlatls, a common tool of the earliest settlers in the Little Sioux Valley. The field used was located near the buffalo sculpture. There is a lookout tower and a trailhead right there also for anyone wanting to walk into the area and explore and enjoy the various displays scattered along that trail.
Dave and Denise Steffen provided 3 golf carts for tours through part of the Hannibal Waterman Prairie. Dorothy Wegner, LSVCA volunteer also drove tourists through the area. The area is particularly special as virgin prairie. The 80 acres is a hunters dream during hunting season. It also is the site of O’Brien County’s first settlers, Hannibal Waterman. A Pioneer Cemetery is located there, overlooking the Little Sioux River. The trail continues on toward a manmade lake that is great for fishing. The tour followed more of the trail along the river to the boat dock at “Burned Bridge” and then back to its starting point.
The other side of the grounds at the bottom of the hill could also be toured by horse-drawn buggy. Claude Struve brought Charlie, his 4-year-old Rocky Mountain (mother) and registered Tennessee Walker (father) to take on the chore. Trips around the approximately 1-mile circle at the bottom of the hill from PHC are estimated at 16-20 between 5:00pm and 7:45pm. Struve and Stan Krogman each drove Charlie for about half of the trips. Struve said, “Charlie was very tired. He will be fine.”
Dozens of volunteers helped pull off the event. Each year, supporters join forces through LSVCA to hold its best fundraiser of the year. The organization supports projects of O’Brien County Conservation toward its mission of conservation, education and recreation.