This past May, the Rice Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) brought the joy of planting prairie to around 800 third-grade students across Rice County as part of its expanding Pocket of Prairie Program. Originally launched in 2023, the program is a hands-on conservation education effort designed to teach children the importance of native prairies and pollinator habitat in urban and schoolyard landscapes.
The idea for the program was inspired by the children’s book Plant a Pocket of Prairie and introduced by Dr. Richard Huston, a former Rice SWCD Supervisor and member of the Faribault Rotary Club. Dr. Huston spearheaded the project and brought together a team of community partners, including the Faribault Rotary Club and the Tri-Lakes Sportsmen’s Club, to support and fund the initiative.
During classroom visits this spring, Rice SWCD staff read the book to students, showed images of local native gardens, and shared videos of pollinators in action. Each student received a native prairie plant to take home, donated by the Tri-Lakes Sportsmen’s Club. In Faribault, Northfield, Nerstrand, Lonsdale, Waterville, and other communities, students learned firsthand how even small pockets of native plants can help pollinators and enhance local biodiversity.
The program expanded again this year. Third-grade classrooms from Tri-City United in Lonsdale, Holy Cross in Webster, and W-E-M (Waterville-Elysian-Morristown) joined in, thanks to support from Le Sueur SWCD and book donations provided by the Faribault Rotary Club. Each participating school received classroom and library copies of Plant a Pocket of Prairie.
With the help of the Wild Ones Southeast Minnesota Prairie Partners, third grade students in Northfield again participated in the program. Organized by Barb Bolan, volunteers from the group made presentations to students at Greenvale Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary, Bridgewater Elementary, St. Dominics Catholic School, and Prairie Creek Community School.
Two of the schools who participated in the Pocket of Prairie program opted to plant the native prairie plants on school grounds. Jefferson Elementary school third graders planted native prairie in front of their school entrance along a sidewalk that leads into the school. Historically, the school had a prairie in this area, but it was removed during a parking lot reconstruction to allow for safer pickup and drop off of students. The school hopes to restore some of the prairie back to this area over time.
Students from Divine Mercy Catholic School also planted their native prairie plants at the site of their newly constructed school, which opened its doors for the first time last September. The project also included a collaboration with Langston Richter, a junior at Bethlehem Academy this past year, who is completing an independent conservation study/service project.
Richter received a grant through the Future Farmers of America to purchase grow lights and other greenhouse equipment. He grew several different native prairie species seedlings totaling around 140 plants, that were planted in addition to a flat of native plants donated through the Pocket of Prairie Program. Richter and staff from the Rice SWCD provided the site prep for the prairie planting. He also assisted with the Pocket of Prairie classroom presentation and planting of the prairie plants with the students. Finally, he will assist with watering and weed maintenance over the summer.
“We’re so excited to have reached so many students through the Pocket of Prairie Program this year,” said Teresa DeMars with the Rice Soil and Water Conservation District. “Their enthusiasm for pollinators and gardening is contagious. This program has been a great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of pollinator habitat here in Rice County.”
The Pocket of Prairie Program continues to grow roots across Rice County, thanks to strong community partnerships and the passion of local educators and volunteers. By engaging students in hands-on conservation, the program is planting more than flowers—it’s cultivating the next generation of conservation stewards.
