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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2022
An estimated 2,200 students from more than 125 schools from across Iowa will be in the Richard O. Jacobson Exhibition Center (Bullseye) and the 4H Building (3D) at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, on March 5-6, to participate in the 16th National Archery in the Schools Program State Tournament. This is the largest youth archery tournament in Iowa.
Iowa student participation in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) has grown each year beginning from scratch in 2006 to now more than 4,500 participants in 2022.
"The National Archery in the Schools Program offers students of all physical and athletic abilities the opportunity to partake and succeed," said Zach Benttine, archery coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "Archery is safe and rewarding, and many lessons learned from archery can be applied to other aspects in life."
Competition begins at 8 a.m. both days for the bullseye and 3D competitions. There will be 50 targets set up for bullseye, which will allow 100 participants to shoot at a time. There will be 30 targets set up for 3D, which will allow 60 participants to shoot at a time.
Admission is $5 for 18 and older, 17 and younger are free. Participants and coaches are allowed free admission to the Iowa Deer Classic at the Iowa Events Center upon showing their official wristband.
Archers Shoot for College Cash & Equipment
Archers participating in the Iowa Archery in the Schools Program can earn money for college.
More than $10,000 will be awarded in college scholarships based on performance at the state tournament. An additional $9,000 will be awarded outside of the state competition to archers participating in the program based on academics, essays, and other established criteria.
In addition to scholarships, teams receiving placement at the state tournament will also be eligible to receive an estimated $5,000 in equipment for their schools.
Scholarships are provided by Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, Whitetails Unlimited, Iowa Bowhunters Association, Safari Club International, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Haney Family Foundation, Chuck Hallier Memorial and the National Archery in the Schools Program.
For more information on the Iowa Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) visit: www.iowadnr.gov/nasp.
Media Contact: Zach Benttine, Archery Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-205-8709 or zachary.benttine@dnr.iowa.gov
Spring is on its way.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) suggests finishing pruning oak trees by the end of the second week in March to prevent the spread of oak wilt.
“The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to not prune any oak tree between the middle of March and the start of November,” says Tivon Feeley, with the Iowa DNR’s forest health program.
Oak wilt, caused by a fungus, has been present in Iowa for many years. Iowa’s red, black, and pin oak are more susceptible to oak wilt, but it can also infect white and bur oak. Black, pin, or red oak usually die within the same summer they are infected. White oak and bur oak can often take a number of years before they succumb to this disease.
Oak wilt can spread from infected trees to healthy trees in two ways: a small beetle that carries spores of the fungus from a diseased tree to a healthy tree with an open wound during the growing season, and through root grafts connecting nearby oaks. For example, if a red oak is infected and there is another red oak within 50 to 100 feet, there is a good chance that the roots of these trees are grafted and the fungus can move from the diseased tree to the healthy tree.
Feeley says symptoms to look for on infected trees usually include leaves turning a bronzed brown along the outer margins of the leaves. These leaves can often still have some green on them as they fall from the tree. The defoliation tends to start at the top of the tree.
The best way to prevent the spread of oak wilt is to prevent any wounding to oak trees during the growing season. If a tree is wounded from storm damage or pruning is required during the growing season, treat the wounds immediately with a wound dressing such as acrylic paint. Do not purchase pruning paints/sealants. Those products slow the tree’s ability to seal over the wound.
Learn more about oak wilt prevention and control at www.iowadnr.gov/OakWilt.
Media Contact: Tivon Feeley, Forest Health Forester, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-669-1402.
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