Tamarac’s annual volunteer picnic

Every August the staff at Tamarac Nat’l Wildlife Refuge put on a picnic to recognize and say thanks to all of the volunteers that willingly give of their time to support the refuge.  Each year, it has a different theme to it, and this year’s theme was ‘Safari’.

Small awards for hours served are given out, and the dinner is catered.  It’s a nice gathering and social time.  The hours worked by volunteers here this past year amounted to five full time positions.  That’s nothing to sneeze about.

I certainly enjoyed it, but find one aspect of it disappointing to me.  For the past two years the menu has been Bar-B-Q’ed ribs and chicken with beans and coleslaw.  So, what’s the matter with that?  I’ll tell you.  If this were happening down south, in say, Texas, I’d expect BBQ ribs and chicken or brisket.  However, this is Minnesota!  When I think of Minnesota cuisine, my mind doesn’t summon up visions of ribs and chicken covered with BBQ sauce.  How about some walleye and hot dishes?  Of course I’m not a big fan of BBQ anyway.  I guess I should just be happy it isn’t Lutefisk!   

                                   Turk’s-cap Lily   Native Americans once gathered its bulb for food.

Other than some mowing, I’ve spent the last two days restocking the kiosks and looking for more purple loosestrife.

Purple loosestrife is an invasive that is just starting to get a foot hold in this area, so that’s why we’re out looking for it.  I did find one plant today so it will be removed.

                                                         Purple coneflower

For those of you that have been asking about the fate of the bison on the refuge, I can tell you the following.  24 animals in all came on the refuge.  Of those, some left willingly and some did not.  Two of those that did not leave came to an end in a collision with a van one night on county road 143.  Several more were killed by the owner and transported to a locker plant to be processed for food.  There may be one individual bison left on the refuge, but we haven’t had a sighting by anyone since Monday.

Tomorrow and Saturday, I work the VC.  I hope something interesting happens.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

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