Resource Enhancement and Protection
Our Quarterly Newsletter now On-line
Naturally Speaking is now available in PDF. Click here for Spring 2013 Edition - may take a while to load.
Past issues are also available:
Winter 2013 Edition
Autumn 2012 Edition
Summer 2012 Edition
(A PDF file requires Adobe Reader - click on the logo to download it). 
Spring Into Summer Dutch Oven Cook Off
Competing: Whether you're a newcomer or have been Dutch oven cooking for most of your life, we hope you'll join us for our 6th Annual Dutch Oven Cook-Off on Saturday, June 8th at Jefferson County Park! The goal of this event is to have fun, demonstrate Dutch oven cooking skills, and to amaze the public with the great food that comes out of cast iron.
This year we are having both novice and "well seasoned" divisions. Novices (those individuals or teams that have been competing for two years or less) will be judged separately and will compete for 1st and 2nd place prize money ($75 and $50 respectively) in two categories: dessert and main dish. "Well-seasoned" cooks will compete for 1st through 3rd place ($100, $75 and $50) in four categories: dessert, side dish, main dish and bread.
Click here for Dutch Oven rules and regulations. To register e-mail therese@jeffersoncountyconservation.com or call her at 472-4421. Registration deadline is May 31st.
Eating: The public is invited to come watch and visit with the cooks. Individuals can pay a small fee ($5.00 for 13 year olds to adult; $2.00 for 7 to 12 year olds; $1 for kids under 6) that will allow them to sample the food after the initial judging is done. Visitors to the event last year had the chance to taste test over 45 dishes including Almond-Amaretto Bread Pudding, Rolled Flank Steak, and Spicy Brown Sugar Corn Beef Brisket! Proceeds from the taste testing will benefit the Cedar Creek Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
Judging Times Taste testing takes place after the initial judging is done. If you want to taste test as many dishes as possible you'll want to be aware of the judging times. Desserts are judged at 11:15 a.m. (well-seasoned) and 11:45 a.m. (novice); Side dishes will be judged at 12:15 p.m. Main dishes are judged at 12:45 p.m. (well-seasoned) and 1:15 p.m. (novice). Breads will be judged at 1:45 p.m.
Jefferson County Conservation Board would like to thank KMCD/Classic96, the Fairfield Ledger, Yummy's Gourmet Cakes and the following sponsors of this year's Spring Into Summer Dutch Oven Cook Off:
Upcoming Programs
Dutch Oven Cook Off
Saturday, June 8th.
You won't want to miss this year's Dutch Oven Cook Off. Just check out the lovely dessert table from last year! For more information please see the information at the top of the page.
Outdoor Women's Adventure: Kayaking
Saturday, June 29th. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This kayaking workshop is for women 16 years and older who are new to kayaking. The program will meet at Pleasant Lake located north east of Fairfield off Pleasant Plain Road (W21). We will cover kayaking basics - from entering and exiting the kayak to basics paddle strokes. We'll also demonstrate loading and unloading your kayak from your car and how to strap it down; how to properly fit your life jacket and we'll show you some of the extra equipment you might want to have. If the water temperature allows we will also demonstrate how to get back in a kayak if you have a spill. Space is limited. To register contact Therese at 472-4421.
Need more info? Call Therese at 472-4421, or e-mail to therese@jeffersoncountyconservation.com
From the Director's Desk...by Dennis Lewiston
Access Energy Donation - Round Prairie Park
The next time you camp at Round Prairie Park you will find that the camp area has all new electric service that offers 50, 30 and 20 amp service. Two camping pads have been added so a total of 14 camping pads are available. Access Energy out of Mount Pleasant did all the updating of the electric service at no cost to the JCCB. The conservation board would like to thank Access Energy for this generous donation. It will serve the campers of this area for years to come.
Park Management News... by Shawn Morrissey
Whitham Woods. The pond renovation project has begun at Whitham Woods on the west edge of Fairfield. All vegetation has been cleared from around the pond, the dam was breached and the pond drained. In the process, approximately 200 fish were collected and moved to ponds within Jefferson County Park. The pond will need to dry completely before the silt can be removed and work can continue. This renovation may take several months to complete and it is the type of project where a big mess must be made in order to end up with a nice finished project.
Parks and Trails Update... by Bob Leazer
Swinging Bridge Update.
The original swinging bridge was installed in 1986 over a shallow ravine on a hilly trail linking the campground with the picnic area. Deemed unsafe, it was removed this summer and fundraising was begun to help cover the cost of the bridge replacement. We are hoping to start work on the new bridge later this fall or early next spring.
Board member Kathy Tollenaere is spear-heading our fundraiser entitled "Join the Jefferson County Park 'Swingers'!" to help cover the cost of the bridge replacement (approximately $10,000). Anyone making a $25 donation will be eligible to receive a t-shirt. All donations will be completely tax-deductible. T-shirts and contribution forms, containing t-shirt size and color preferences, are on display in the Jefferson County Courthouse lobby, the Jefferson County Health Center, and at the Jeff. Co. Park nature center. Or click here for a form available in PDF that you can print out.
Any interested club or organization desiring more information could request a "program" given by a JCCB representative. Please call Kathy at 472-9479 or Dennis at 472-4421 with your request.
Park Host News... by Ron Meyers
If you want to take a hike with your children please consider the Girl Scout Story Hike around the prairie trail in Jefferson County Park. This 0.60 mile section of trail is to the north and west of the picnic shelters and ball field area. The trail is mostly flat and in the open so you'll find it an easy walk. The girls of Girl Scout Junior Troop 9297, under the leadership of Lori Fritz, chose to create this Story Hike to earn their Bronze Leadership Award.
They did a great job creating this story hike. They set 8 posts around the trail and mounted a presentation board on each one. Each station has two pages of a continuing story. The current story deals with prairies, wildlife and weather. The post are marked one through eight beginning west of the sand volleyball court and north of shelter #3. Come on out and take a walk and read the story. It is suitable to all ages.
"Have an out-of-car experience. Walk, jog, bike and ski, feel the wind, meet friends, see wildlife and be part of nature. Support trails."
An article, "Trails and Railroads", is here.
Nature Talk... by Therese Cummiskey
Attention Young Birders!
Birds are AWESOME! And the great thing about them is that you can see them everyday and everywhere! If you love birds -even if you don't know very much about them- and are 8 to 18 years of age then consider becoming a member of the Jefferson County Young Birders Club.
You'll learn about birds, make new friends and enjoy birding field trips and events. For more information or to sign up, call Therese at 641-472-4421 or e-mail her at therese@jeffersoncountyconservation.com. Also, watch this webpage for upcoming birding events for youth.
Young Birders Newsletter - January is now available in PDF. Click here for January 2013 Edition
Young Birders Newsletter - February is now available in PDF. Click here for February 2013 Edition
Need more info? Call Therese at 472-4421, or e-mail to therese@jeffersoncountyconservation.com
See some articles from our newsletter, Naturally Speaking.
Need more info? Call Therese at 472-4421, or e-mail to therese@jeffersoncountyconservation.com