A 43-acre native grass prairie, owned by the Clarence and Ruth Fertig family, was dedicated July 1, 2001 as the Fertig Tallgrass Prairie. The Wachiska Audubon Society of Lincoln holds a conservation easement on the land guaranteeing it will be preserved for future generations.

At left:  Front row, from left. Kenneth Barker, Justin Hocutt, Jeremy Holcutt, Heather Hocutt and Janet Hocutt, all Fertig family members. Back row, from left. Dan Schmidt, whose family rented the ground for many years. Andy Schmidt, Schuyler FFA member who helped with the project.  Sue Barker, Linda Fertig and Ruth Fertig, all Fertig family members. Ernie Rousek and Tim Knott, members of the Audubon conservation committee, and Jesse Schaal and Katie Schmidt, Schuyler FFA members who helped with the project.
The Fertig Family Tallgrass Prairie is a natural preserve for plants and animals in the Platte River Valley of Nebraska.  This 43 acre prairie, which has never been plowed, contains an incredible amount of plant species diversity.  In cooperation with the Fertig Family and the Wachiska Audubon Society, the Schuyler FFA and Central Community College in Columbus are using the prairie for research and as a teaching tool.   Thanks to their efforts, the prairie will be preserved as a historical site for future generations to enjoy.

 

The prairie site is open to the public with permission from
Tom Wheeldon ( twheeld@esu7.org ), Ag instructor at Schuyler Central High School
or
Dan Schmidt (ds23603@alltel.net)
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"Each grass-covered hillside is a page on which is written the history of the past, conditions of the present, and predictions of the future.  ...let us look closely and understandingly and act wisely.

Dr. J. E. Weaver, North American Prairie (1954)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spiderwort or snakeflower
Tradescantia ohiensis