FAIRMONT — Martin County Pheasants Forever Youth Conservation Day is set to return Aug. 24. The event boasts a variety of activities for families and children, and provides an opportunity for people to learn and potentially develop an interest in conservation.

Martin County Pheasants Forever educational chairwoman Thea Nutt discussed just what people can expect.

“We will be having a BB gun shoot, paintball, tomahawk throw, archery, laser shoot and a Nerf gun shoot,” she said. “Those are just our shooting events. We also have Octane Power Sports that’s going to be out there and we’ll have race cars. We’ll have pony rides, bouncy houses, a dunk tank, arts and crafts, face painting and a honey run.

There also will be a variety of people and public organizations.

“We will also have Mike Taylor, a Master Gardener through the University of Minnesota’s Extension program,” Nutt said. “He’ll have a booth on butterflies, which he raises from eggs up until they’re a full monarch butterfly.”

She noted some organizations that will be at the event, including the Fairmont Trap Club and other county Pheasants Forever committees.

“We’ll also have a bunch of different departments out there,” Nutt said. “We’ll have the Fairmont Police Department; the Welcome, Trimont and Ceylon fire departments; the Martin County Sheriff’s Office; Sherburn Fire and Ambulance; and Gold Cross. Trimont will also be including their dive team, and the Fairmont Police Department will be doing their K9 dog show between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

“Our whole goal is to have families get their kids outdoors and get them active, and we’ll help teach them about pollination and habitat, which is our big focus for the day,” she said.

Martin County Pheasants Forever president Joe Maidl expanded on the goals of the event.

“The idea is that if we make it fun for the kids to come, they’ll take something home with them in regards to conservation,” he said. “We don’t want to have them come and drill them, but if they have fun they’ll want to come every year and they’ll want to learn what they can do to be conservationists and as far as pollination. So we just want to make it fun for them.”

According to Maidl, Martin County Pheasants Forever is grateful for the sponsors and members who help make the event possible.

“Four years ago, we had 18 sponsors,” he said. “This year we ended up with 82 sponsors, and without them we can’t make this happen. The more we do, the more people want to be involved.”

Those interested in learning more about Martin County Pheasants Forever and how they can participate may call Maidl at (507) 399-1660.

Upcoming events for the chapter include a youth hunt and women’s learn to hunt class in October, and a pollinator planting event in November.