Happening

In rural Backus, Minnesota, Simon Eddy and Anthony Fair work for REAL Solar, bringing home-grown energy to households and businesses. Eddy as a Sales & Project Management Specialist and Fair as an Install Tech & Site Supervisor. Both enjoy the work and its impact.

Working with local governments is one way we make progress on our most important conservation issues. That’s why we helped organize a meeting of city environment commissions dedicated to how their work can help protect the land, air, and water that is so important to us.

As a pediatrician in St. Cloud, Minnesota for over 25 years, Dr. Kathleen Kulus has seen the state’s changing climate impact her patients and she’s speaking up about it. “I need to be advocating for these children and the impact it's having on them because they don't always have a voice.”

As stewards of our land, Minnesota farmers understand climate impacts and the need to adapt growing practices to weather the changes. Anne Schwagerl and her husband Peter operate Prairie Point Farm in western Minnesota’s Browns Valley where they're experminenting with a new "climate friendly" Kernza® grain.

Linda Larson has been an advocate for rural Minnesota her whole life. Growing up on a family farm near Ruthton in southwestern Minnesota, Larson’s connection to the land runs deep. She now serves as Dakota County President for the Farmers Union. “People who are actively farming don’t have the time to go to the State Capitol or Washington DC or to advocate for the policy that supports them.” Larson does, and she advocates for issues like rural broadband, tax policy, food supply, and yes, climate resiliency.

Dusty Thune from House of Thune is an award-winning Minnesota artist specializing in snow- and sand-sculpting and climate activism. Thune creates large-scale design projects with messages about conservation and the environment. “It’s important to get people drawn in, to at least start the conversation...”

This fall, Conservation Minnesota is proud to launch Conservation Crew, a student leadership program for Minnesota middle schoolers designed to empower youth through conservation projects.

For over 30 years, the Minnesota Lottery has played an important role in preserving our state’s natural resources. Conservation Minnesota continues to watch the portion of state lottery proceeds, as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), move through the legislative process to ensure the money is used as voters intended. 

The Omnibus Commerce & Energy Bill, passed in June and supported by Conservation Minnesota, promises $21 million for as many as 350 K–12 schools and community colleges to install rooftop solar panels.

In Minnesota, we understand how important protecting our Great Outdoors is for future generations. This summer we saw firsthand how climate change is threatening our environment through drought and dangerous air quality. As we enter this new season, it’s time we get serious about elevating leaders who will tackle climate challenges.