Museum receives grant and plants trees

Contact: Mike Knutson
Phone: (605) 772-5153
Email: knutsonm@alliancecom.net

The Campbell Straw Bale Built Museum received an Urban Community Forestry Challenge Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to plant trees at the museum and at Centennial Park.

The project started with discussions at a Project Pride Committee meeting about grant opportunities for community groups. Sally Madison and Barb Hurne then led the charge to develop the project and secure the funding.

They identified several sites where trees would have helped beautify the community. Aaron Kiesz, Community Urban Forester, and Dr. John Ball from South Dakota State University, then visited the sites and recommended placing trees at the museum and in Centennial Park.

The grant paid for $2000 worth of trees and supplies and required matching funds and donations. The project received a boost when Greg Protsch donated two burr oak trees that have been placed in front of the museum building and one burr oak in Centennial Park. “We really appreciate Greg’s donation and the volunteer labor given to plant the trees.” said Sally Madison. “We were able to accomplish so much more because of them.”

The Urban Community Forestry Challenge Grant requires that trees receive proper maintenance. Over the course of the next several years, representatives from the Department of Agriculture will inspect the site to ensure that the trees are being properly taken care of.