Range Day Article by Kelly O'Connell

2015 Jackson County Youth Range Day

By Kelly J. O’Connell, District Conservationist, NRCS, Jackson County

The 14^th Annual Youth Range Day hosted by the Jackson County Conservation District, was held October 7, 2015, at the Gene, Monica & Trevor Williams ranch near the Badlands National Park.

Seventy-three 7^th grade students (Kadoka Area 31, Philip 28 & Wall 16), attended the Range Day.   Nineteen adults assisted with the educational event. The students were bused to a unique area near the Badlands National Park, where they were divided into 4 groups and rotated through 4 – 45 minute Educational stations (Range, Soils, Wildlife, Paleontology/Geology and Area History), to gain a better understanding and appreciation of this area’s most precious resource…rangeland.  

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Soil Scientist, Katrina Wilke provided instruction at the “Soils” station where students participated in a texture soil exercise, among other things.

Mitch Faulkner, NRCS Range Specialist, Belle Fourche & Rick Peterson, NRCS Range Specialist, Rapid City, provided instruction at the “Range” station where students learned about differences and identification of grasses, forbs and shrubs, including field plant identification exercise.                                                            

Sara Nevison, SDSU Grad Student and Dakota McCoy, Project Assistant in cooperation with the Badlands National Park, provided instruction at the “Wildlife” station, with student interaction on area wildlife, utilizing various animal skulls, pelts, antlers and casted tracks.

Edward Welsch, Badlands Nat’l Park Education Technician at the “Geology and Paleontology” station, provided unique history of the area, and group interaction during his presentation & fossil exhibits and displays.

A noon lunch was sponsored by West River Water Development District and home grown water melon was provided by Wendel Buxcell.

Educational Instructor Group Picture (below L to R)  Mayola Horst - Jackson County District Mgr.,  Edward Welsch – Badlands Nat’l Park, Rick Peterson – Rapid City NRCS, Mitch Faulkner – NRCS Belle Fourche, Katrina Wilke – Rapid City NRCS, Veryl Prokop, West River Development Board member, Sara Nevison SDSU Grad Student In cooperation with Badlands Nat’l Park & Project Assistant, Dakota McCoy, & land owner, Trevor Williams.