Meet the 2022 trophy-winners!
The champion Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation Garlic Mustard Pull-A-Thon Team members proudly displaying their 2022 trophy.
Our Garlic Mustard Pull-A-Thon is an annual fundraiser event, where we encourage folks throughout southeastern Wisconsin to protect the woodlands of their neighborhoods by pulling this invasive plant. Our 2022 goal was to collectively pull 20,000 pounds and raise essential funds for the fight against invasive species. We fell a little short of our goal again this year, but we hope that is due to a reduction of garlic mustard populations in our region as a result of Pull-A-Thon efforts over the past decade!
This season, 327 dedicated residents formed 10 volunteer teams which helped to raise funds and awareness while controlling 12,069 pounds (over 6 tons) of garlic mustard and dame's rocket in our natural areas. Volunteers recruited friends, family and colleagues to sponsor their pulling efforts. This is a fun way to make a real difference in the protection of the wild areas that we love.
$1,475 in pledged contributions was also collectively raised by team members and shared between SEWISC and the event partners. These funds will be used for adult and youth invasive species education, prevention and control in southeastern Wisconsin.
The Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation Team pulled themselves to the top of the 2022 Garlic Mustard Pull-A-Thon competition. Led by Abby Brostrom, the team enlisted 45 volunteers and recruited $475 in donations while pulling 2,535 pounds of our target plants throughout a 30-acre management area.
Jean Weedman, Team Leader of our 2021 Champion Eagle Nature Trail Team, graciously passed the traveling Garlic Mustard Pull-A-Thon trophy to Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation Team Leader, Abby Brostrom, during a ceremony officiated by SEWISC Board President, John Lunz in early August. The trophy will be proudly displayed by Cedar Lakes Conservation Foundation throughout the year.
Many thanks to all of you who got outdoors, pulled garlic mustard and dame’s rocket, told your neighbors about these invasive plants, and reported your progress as part of the 2022 event. And thank you to all who donated to your favorite 2022 Team! Remember, it's never to early to start planning for next year's Pull-A-Thon competition - JOIN US!
Abby Brostrom proudly accepts the traveling Garlic Mustard Pull-A-Thon trophy from Jean Weedman on August 2, 2022.