FAIRMONT- Martin County Youth Conservation Day–hosted by Martin County Pheasants Forever–will be held at the fairgrounds on Saturday, Aug. 27.

The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and feature both educational and recreational activities for children of different ages. Thea Nutt is the Educational Chairman for Martin County Pheasants Forever. One of her primary areas of focus is pollinators.

“Our Martin County Youth Conservation Day, that is a great way to get kids out and active and having fun, while also educating them about pollinators at the same time,” said Nutt. Pheasants Forever is also partnering with other organizations including the Martin County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Fairmont Lakes Foundation, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Activities at the event include bouncy houses, a dunk tank, pony rides, tractor trailer rides, as well as targets for archery, BB guns, and tomahawk throwing. One new activity is Pheasants Forever’s new laser shoot trailer which simulates pheasant hunting in a virtual environment.

Free food will be provided by Martin County Pork Producers while supplies last. The meal includes their signature pork chop on a stick complemented by chips and water.

The event will also have educational arts and crafts, presentations from a beekeeper, and information about the importance of pollinators. Visitors can also bring home seed-packets containing a collection of native plant species which can benefit pollinating insects in their area.

Nutt said the organization draws its volunteers from a wide range of community members passionate about conservation.

“Members are a diverse group of hunters, farmers, ranchers, landowners, conservationists, and the common thread is we all want to make a difference for our wildlife by conserving and creating habitat,” said Nutt.

Nutt also emphasized youth education is a critical component of ensuring a healthy environment in the future.

“Our youth, they’re our future, and without them knowing the importance of (our pollinators), the land and our habitat it’s going to continue to decline,” said Nutt.

Pheasants Forever’s next major youth event will be its youth hunt held on Oct. 8. The event will partner youths with a mentor who will take them on a hunt while teaching them about safe hunting and pheasant biology.

More information about the Martin County chapter of Pheasants Forever and their programming can be found on their Facebook page.