Jack Norland at the Ekre Grassland Preserve.

The Ekre Grassland Preserve, managed by the NDSU School of Natural Resource Sciences and NDSU Development Foundation, has been awarded the Friend of the Trail Award by the North Country Trail Association.

The preserve was recognized for its contribution to the North Country Trail by hosting many miles of trail and allowing the Dakota Prairie Chapter of the North Trail Association to use the preserve as a staging area for many trail activities.

Jack Norland, under the guidance of Kevin Sedivec, preserve manager, was recognized for his support of the trail and making the North Country Trail activities a success at the preserve and in the region.

The North Country Trail is a national trail administered by the National Park Service. It runs from Lake Sakakawea State Park in North Dakota to Vermont and is 3,129 miles long.

The Ekre Grassland Preserve was donated by Albert Ekre so the land could be used for research into livestock and range management, and provide outdoor learning activities for the state’s youth. Ekre also wanted much of the naturalness of the land preserved.

Having the trail run through the preserve helps showcase the activities of the preserve and allows for the public to enjoy the preserve and the history of the area. Two log cabins were part of the donation. The Dakota Prairie Chapter of the North Country Trail Association uses one of the cabins for meetings and training, along with a place to store trail materials.

As a student-focused, land-grant, research institution, we serve our citizens.