Local Youth’s Project Wins “Heroes For A Day”
Volunteers helped to put in new fences and place fresh gravel at the shooting range, at the Hull Area, West of Oskaloosa.
Oskaloosa, Iowa- Oskaloosa High School student Brooks Vanderbeek is very active in Pheasants Forever. He’s currently President of the High School Pheasants Forever Chapter, Youth Chair of the Adult Chapter and Vice Chair of the National Youth Leadership Council.
Of course Brooks like to pheasant hunt, and the opportunity to help create habitat for his favorite species to hunt gives him something to look forward to. The challenge to pheasant hunting he most enjoys is, “We hunt with dogs, and I like to watch the dog work and then the dog goes on point. You walk up and you don’t know which way the birds gonna go.” Brooks also of course loves to fish, as well as working on projects like this.
Brooks Vanderbeek had his project selected for the "Hero For A Day" event sponsored by Field & Stream (photo C.Allsup)
In March of 2010, Vanderbeek was named a “Heroes of Conservation” by Field & Stream. An honor for any person that is concerned about conservation and helping to preserve the outdoors for future generations. A description from Field & Steam about those who are selected for this award are : “A Field & Stream Hero of Conservation is someone who spends his or her own time working to create, improve, or restore fish and wildlife or habitat. A Hero is dedicated to the spirit of conservation volunteerism and stands out among other volunteers.”
Last fall, Field & Stream sent out applications asking for those who would have a project for the “Hero For A Day”. Brooks submitted his project. His project was then chosen as a winner along with 6 other projects nation wide; beating 7 dozen other projects that were submitted.
The 568 acres of upland, located 4 miles West of Oskaloosa, known as the Hull Wildlife Area hosted over 100 volunteers. They used a no till drill to plant native prairie species, 1200 tree plugs or saplings that were 6 inches in height. They also worked at brush removal and the removal of species that were undesirable. Beans will be planted this year to help replace nitrogen in the soil before next year, when they will plant native prairie plants.
The group also cleaned up the shooting range that is a part of the area. With many left behind milk jugs, containers and spent casings, the area was more of a trash pit than shooting range. The group hopes that by cleaning it up, future visitors will want to help keep it nice and not leave behind their garbage.
The team put in new fences and also put down some fresh gravel to help with the renovation.
Included in the 100 volunteers were representatives from: Mahaska County Pheasants Forever, Oskaloosa Pioneering Ringnecks, Iowa DNR, Mahaska County IRVM, Mahaska County Conservation Board, plus the many that just came to be part of this special day, even in the rain.
High School age persons interested in joining Pheasants Forever are encouraged to attend their meetings. Adult meetings are the 2nd Sunday of every month at the County Shop in Oskaloosa. For further questions you can contact Jeff Vanderbeek at 641.660.2671
