In October of 2000, a small group of friends gathered on the rolling ground of what is now Holland Sand Prairie State Natural Area—bending low to collect native prairie seeds under a bright autumn sky. Among them were Mike and Kathy Giese, Craig and Mary Thompson, and Gretchen and Dave Skoloda, along with Peg Zappen, and Bobbie and Pat Wilson. What brought them there that day was a shared urgency: the belief that this rare, unplowed sand prairie was about to be lost to development.
(Top photo: Friends gathered to collect seeds in October of 2000 to try to save them as fears of development became more real. (Contributed photo)
The dunes and hollows on the Holland Prairie are the only undisturbed Aeolian (wind-formed) landforms in the entire area, creating a unique ecosystem critical to the survival of so many species. In the background of those photos, the brush was already creeping in, hinting at how fragile the prairie’s balance had become. Ironically, this land might have been quickly developed if not for a school project. Neighbor George Varnum was helping his daughter collect plants for a science project when they realized how many uncommon plants lived on the property and the need for its protection became clear.
A prairie enthusiast, he took a handful of glossy 4x6 photos to the La Crosse DNR office and met with Craig Thompson. “I remember being literally blown away by photos revealing large patches of pasqueflower and prairie smoke, along with stands of rough blazing star and showy goldenrod,” Thompson recalled. The following day, Craig called Randy Hoffman (now retired), the State Natural Areas Ecologist, and asked him to evaluate the site. “Randy's subsequent visit confirmed that Holland Sand Prairie was an exceedingly rare, high quality sand prairie, worthy of protection,” he added.
With the threat of an impending purchase, people began to take action and discussed what could be done to save the prairie from being turned into a subdivision. Around that same time, George Howe (the conservation director at the Conservancy at the time) and Craig Thompson made a pitch to the Town of Holland Board, asking for protection of the prairie. That night, in a packed town hall and buoyed by an outpouring of public support, the town board voted to raise local property taxes to help save the land.
It was a powerful moment, and a vivid reminder of how deeply nature can move us. When the future of the land was uncertain, Jim Fowler, a Conservancy board member at the time, did something truly extraordinary. He put his own retirement savings on the line to buy the property himself, simply so it wouldn’t be lost before the Conservancy could find a way to protect it. It was an act of faith, courage, and love for the land. In time, the funding came together, and the property officially became Holland Sand Prairie State Natural Area. Inspired by Jim’s example, the Friends of the Holland Sand Prairie formed to continue caring for this remarkable place, now protected from development forever.
Thanks to the dedication of those early conservationists and countless supporters since, Holland Sand Prairie remains a haven for rare plants, wildlife, and the people who continue to care for it and enjoy hiking there. Twenty-five years later, more than 118 species have been identified on this property including many uncommon plants, threatened birds and birds of special concern. Ongoing burns and restoration work have kept Holland Sand Prairie a vital refuge for wildlife, even as development has spread all around it. Each year, many groups use this unique nature preserve for educational hikes and scientific research, while others enjoy the solitude of a hike in the middle of an urban area.
What began as a grassroots act of love for the land twenty-five years ago became a lasting legacy of stewardship—one that still inspires the work of Mississippi Valley Conservancy today. With the ongoing support of donors and volunteers like you, this work will continue far into the future, ensuring that wildlife will always have a home at this unique property. Thank you, Town of Holland Board, for choosing to protect this land so long ago, and thank you to the earliest group of determined individuals, many not included in these images or text, who worked tirelessly to protect the prairie. Much gratitude also to the partners who have worked with Mississippi Valley Conservancy in protecting and preserving this land: WI-DNR, The Prairie Enthusiasts and the Friends of the Holland Sand Prairie. We truly are better together.
If you are one of the original supporters of Holland Sand Prairie and you have stories to tell or photos to share, we would love to talk with you! Please email Communications Director Karen Solverson at [email protected] to set up a time to talk.