Post Author's Photographer By Kristin Eggen April 18, 2025

Four adults interact with an energy efficiency demonstration, featuring light bulbs and a power meter, at an indoor event.

NEWS FROM: Winneshiek County Conservation Board

FOR RELEASE: Immediately

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Hanna Meyer, (563) 534-7145,education@winneshiekwild.com

DATE: April 29th, 2025

Northeast Iowa Celebrates the Earth Day Festival

Over 600 people attended the 2025 Earth Day Festival on April 26th at the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds! The annual Earth Day Festival is a free open-house event organized by Winneshiek County Conservation, Winneshiek Energy District, Winneshiek County ISU Extension & Outreach, the Oneota Food Co-op, and Luther College Environmental Studies, with support from the Winneshiek County Sanitary Landfill and Winneshiek County Recycling.

In case you missed any of the exciting activities on Saturday, here is a recap of the event:

  • 800 cookies and other free snacks served by the Oneota Food Co-op
  • 320 free tree sapling given away by the Decorah Tree Board
  • 22 gallons of free coffee donated by Winneshiek Energy District, Impact Coffee, and Euphoria Coffee
  • Seven electric vehicles showings with local EV owners
  • Seven old/used bicycles collected to donate and recycle through Upper Explorerland’s Safe Routes to School Program
  • Free door prize drawings with prizes provided by Winneshiek County Conservation
  • Free face painting with Upper Explorerland’s Safe Routes to School Program
  • Free daffodil giveaways from Decorah Parks and Recreation
  • Free seeds from Seed Savers Exchange and other organizations
  • Live raptor presentations with the Raptor Resources Project attended by over 80 people
  • Solar 101 presentations with Winneshiek Energy District
  • Home composter training with Winneshiek County Recycling
  • Touch tables of native furs, tracks, skull replicas, egg replicas, and knot-tying from Winneshiek County Conservation
  • Hands-on activities with Winneshiek ISU Extension & Outreach, Master Gardeners, Winneshiek Energy District, Oneota Food Co-op, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, The Getup, and Winneshiek Soil and Water Conservation District
  • Environmental education projects from Luther College students
  • Native aquarium of stream life and information from Decorah High School Envirothon students
  • Flower crown making with Red Oak Outdoor School
  • Play area full of toys from Toys Go Round Lending Library
  • A legislative letter writing table hosted by Northeast Iowa Citizens’ Climate Lobby
  • Informational tables hosted by Winneshiek County Conservation, Winneshiek County Recycling, the Decorah Community Food Pantry, Decorah Public Library, Farmers Land Investment Cooperative, the Decorah Farmers Market, Northeast Iowa Synod Care for Creation Network, Trout Unlimited Driftless Chapter, Friends Committee for National Legislation, Driftless Water Defenders, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, ISU 4-H Extension Specialist, Upper Iowa Audubon, and several solar & HVAC contractors
  • Over 30 volunteers from the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, Decorah HS Envirothon, and Master Gardeners

The goal of the Earth Day Festival is to bring together our community to find sustainable ways to care for our natural resources, reduce pressure on our landfill, and contribute to the health of Winneshiek County. Learn more about event hosts: Winneshiek County Conservation at www.winneshiekwild.comand Winneshiek County Waste Reduction at www.winneshiekwaste.com.

Person with short hair and glasses smiles in front of a sign that reads “INNESHEK ENERGY PROJECT” with a building silhouette and sunburst in the background.

Kristin Eggen

Kristin Eggen first came to the Winneshiek Energy District as a Green Iowa AmeriCorps member in 2015. Eight years later, she is thrilled to lead the grassroots clean energy movement in Winneshiek County. Kristin deeply appreciates rural communities, Northeast Iowa, community sustainability, and nonprofit management. She uses The Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter methodology and graphic recording services to drive strategic conversations around community sustainability, justice, fundraising, and nonprofit health.

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