MINOT – It is a chance to be entertained, learn, participate -- all for free at the North Dakota State Fair.
“There’s fishing, archery, hunter education, a pellet gun range, Fur Takers exhibit, visit with a Game and Fish biologist. A lot of great things to do,” said Greg Gullickson, North Dakota Game and Fish outreach biologist. “We’re here every day of the fair, from one o’clock to seven o’clock.”
Gullickson oversees the NDGF staff and volunteers at the Conservation and Skills Park located on the north side of the fairgrounds, east of the All-Seasons Arena. When the gate swings open each afternoon people are eager to enter the grounds, walking through displays, trying their luck on the fishing pier, engaging in a myriad of other activities, or simply enjoying a respite from the summer sun.
“Everything inside here is free,” said Gullickson. “One of our highlights is the shade, green grass, and picnic tables.”
Among the displays inside the Conservation and Skills Park is a pollinator plot, a collection of native North Dakota plants that provide excellent habitat for pollinating insects vital to prairie life.
“Our pollinator plot is a great example of some of our native species that really thrive with little or no attention paid to them,” explained Gullickson. “They are designed for North Dakota weather.”
The staff at the Conservation and Skills Park are a mixture of NDGF personnel and volunteers. Gullickson encourages anyone interested in lending a helping hand to visit with someone from Game and Fish.
“If you want to give back to the outdoors, consider becoming a volunteer for the Game and Fish Department,” said Gullickson.
