Volume 104, Issue 4, 2026
May 2026
- Title:
- Volume 104, Issue 4, 2026
- Issue Name:
- May 2026
- Date Issued:
- 2026-05-01
- year:
- 2026
- month:
- May
- Season:
- Spring
- PDF filename:
- NL_104.04_2026_May_Spreads_Entire.pdf
- Cover image:
- NL_104.04_2026_May_Cover.jpg
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 104
- issue:
- 04
- number:
- 104.05
- Decade:
- 2020s
- Type:
- Rights Holder:
- Copyright Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, all rights reserved.
- Subject:
- nebraskaland
- Extracted Text:
-
I N S P I R I N G O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R E S I N C E 1 92 6
M AY 2 02 6
LEARN HOW
TO FISH
LAKE MAC
page 46
INSIDE
Disc Golf Explosion • Camp Critters • Kinkaiders
250 Miles of Fun • Alexandria SRA • Crofton’s Dam Race
Birds From the Big Apple • Calling All Morel Hunters
2
Nebraskaland • May 2026
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
3
Volume 104
24
•
No. 4
•
May 2026
ALEXANDRIA
STATE RECREATION AREA
Story and photos by Eric Fowler
30
OUTDOOR NEBRASKA
What to Do in May
32
38
44
DISC GOLF EXPLOSION
46
56
62
By Jeff Kurrus
By Justin Haag
GRASS FLOWERS
Story and photos by Chris Helzer
THE KINKAIDERS
By David L. Bristow,
Nebraska State Historical Society
HOW TO FISH LAKE MAC
Story and photos by Doug Steinke
CROFTON’S DAM RACE
Story and photos by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
FISHING THERAPY
Story and photos by Gerry Steinauer
Departments
8
14
69
74
76
Your Nebraska
In the Field
Mixed Bag
Portraits from the Past
The Last Stop
On the Web
For more articles and information,
visit NebraskalandMagazine.com
Nebraskaland (VOL. 104 / NO. 5 ISSN 0028-1964) is published monthly, except for the combined
Jan./Feb. and Aug./Sept. issues, by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd
St., Lincoln, NE. Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Nebraska, and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY
FACILITIES: send address corrections to Nebraskaland, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.
4
Nebraskaland • May 2026
Cover: Kory Lewis of Golden, Colorado lands a wiper
on the fly at Lake Mac. See story on page 46.
DOUG STEINKE
This page: A mink (Neovison vison) walks the bank at
Summit Lake State Recreation Area near Tekamah.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
5
magazine
Published by the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission since 1926. The Commission
is dedicated to the conservation and
protection of all the state's natural
resources and the people who use them.
Magazine Staff
Communications Director Christy Firestone
Public Relations Manager Shawna Richter-Ryerson
Editor Jeff Kurrus
Associate Editor Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Regional Editors Eric Fowler, Julie Geiser,
Justin Haag
Contributing Editor Michael Forsberg
Regular Contributors Chris Helzer, Chris Masada,
Todd Mills, Ryan Sparks, Gerry Steinauer
Art Director Ryan Holt
Graphic Designer Mel Severin
Videographer Nick Sauvageau
Photo Librarian Jaclyn Cruikshank Vogt
Administration
Director Tim McCoy
Chair - Donna Kush, Omaha
Vice Chair - Dan Hughes, Venango
Kurt Arganbright, Valentine
Scott Cassels, Omaha
John Hoggatt, Kearney
Kent McNeill, Papillion
Steve Mossman, Lincoln
Lisa Roskens, Omaha
Doug Zingula, Sidney
Commission Offices
Headquarters/Southeast District Office
2200 N. 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503
Phone 402-471-0641
Northeast District Office
2201 N. 13th St. Norfolk, NE 68701
Phone 402-370-3374
Southwest District Office
301 E. State Farm Rd. North Platte, NE 69101
Phone 308-535-8025
Northwest District Office (temporary)
1317 W 3rd St., Alliance, NE 69301
Phone 308-763-2940
Bassett Office
524 Panzer St., Box 508 Bassett, NE 68714
Phone 402-684-2921
South Central District Office
1617 First Ave. Kearney, NE 68847
Phone 308-865-5310
Schramm Education Center
21502 W. Highway 31 Gretna, NE 68028
Phone 402-332-3901
Omaha Office
8495 Frederick Street, Omaha, NE 68124
Phone 402-595-2144
OutdoorNebraska.gov
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission does not discriminate
based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, religion,
disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status,
and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment.
Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in
any program, activity, facility, or service should contact the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, NE 402-471-0641, the Equal
Opportunity Commission, Lincoln, NE 402-471-2024, TTY/TDD 800-6426112; Director, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of the Interior,
1849 C St., NW, Washington, DC 20240.
6
Nebraskaland • May 2026
Magazine Subscriptions
For address changes, magazine and subscription
questions, 800-632-5263 or visit
nebraskalandmagazine.com
Advertising
For advertising information, contact:
Shane G. Gilster, 402-742-0125
shanegilster@solotreemedia.com
The Acmon blue butterfly is found in
Nebraska’s northwestern panhandle.
You might see it flitting over prairie
hills, roadsides and sunny, weedy fields.
Its caterpillars feed on buckwheat,
milkvetch and trefoil plants, munching
their way through the prairie before
transforming into sky-colored
butterflies. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Nebraskaland Magazine Copyright 2026, all rights reserved. Nebraskaland is available in audio from the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book
and Braille Service, Suite 120, 1200 N St., Lincoln, NE 68508. 800-742-7691. Nebraskaland Magazine and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
reserve the right to reject any advertising not in keeping with the agency mission. Rates: $18 for one year; $33 for two years; $44 for three years.
Nebraska recipients must add appropriate sales tax. To subscribe call 1-800-NEBLAND (632-5263), or go online to: NebraskalandMagazine.com.
Conservation Officers
ADMINISTRATION
Jeff Clauson
402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Administrator
Travis Shepler
402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Asst. Administrator
Stacey Lewton
402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Asst. Administrator
Mike Thome
402-471-5531
Lincoln HQ
Asst. Administrator
(Includes counties covered)
NORTHWEST
Sean McKeehan 308-672-1824
Captain
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Jerod Hahn
308-520-5539
Sergeant
Grant Albrecht
531-229-4405
Cheyenne, Deuel, Kimball
Hunter Lee
308-280-4320
Keith, Deuel
Jaden Porter
308-289-2274
Garden, Grant
Tyler Stueck
308-289-6260
Keith, Arthur
Keith Jadlowski 531-310-2869
Keith, Arthur
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Casey Gehrt
402-617-2112
Sergeant
Josh Widhelm
308-279-9133
Scotts Bluff, Banner, Sioux
Brandon Wallace 308-280-4488
Scotts Bluff, Banner, Sioux
Travis Schultz
308-279-1292
Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Box Butte
Vacant:
Dawes, Sheridan, Sioux
Cassidy Harwood 308-562-9099
Box Butte, Sheridan
Justin Gress
308-629-9335
Dawes, Sioux, Sheridan
NORTHEAST
Dale Davis
402-760-0712
Captain
WEST SUB-DISTRICT
Jeff Jones
402-762-5022
Sergeant
Hannah Holtmeier 402-601-7514
Boyd, Holt
Greg Hesse
308-546-7464
Rock, Brown, Keya Paha
Jonathan Andreasen 402-340-3981
Madison, Pierce
Trevor Stahlecker 402-928-9099
Knox, Antelope, Pierce
Mitch Johnson
402-613-8612
Cedar, Knox
EAST SUB-DISTRICT
Cory Krause
402-380-6410
Sergeant
Kyler Prochaska 402-830-8278
Platte, Colfax
Matt Costello
402-317-4014
Dodge, Colfax
Kelbi Abke
402-237-2537
Washington, Burt
Nicholas Fix
402-508-0261
Dixon, Dakota, Thurston
Kyle Hansen
531-739-7392
Dodge
Vacant:
Cuming, Wayne, Stanton
CENTRAL SUB-DISTRICT
Doug Pollard
308-730-7050
Sergeant
Vacant:
Howard, Greeley, Merrick
Matt Brandt
308-202-0819
Sherman, Howard
Klint Gill
402-613-5800
Nance, Wheeler, Boone, Polk
Garrett Zimmer 402-416-5736
Garfield, Loup, Valley
Tim Williams
308-380-7331
Hall, Hamilton
SOUTHWEST
Brian Piernicky 308-330-8780
Captain
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Alex Hasenauer
308-660-4671
Sergeant
402-389-0444
Frank Miller
Cherry, Hooker
Dana Miller
531-229-4404
Cherry, Hooker
Luis Nuñez
531-333-6093
Blaine, Custer, Thomas
Jacob Stoinski
308-395-6001
Lincoln, Perkins
Brandon O’Neal 308-530-3157
Lincoln, McPherson, Logan
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Kelsey Glodowski 308-242-9000
Sergeant
Logan Smith
531-229-4406
Frontier, Furnas, Red Willow
Bryce Streger
308-537-0404
Dawson, Gosper
Logan Sanders
402-601-6302
Frontier, Hayes, Hitchcock, Red Willow
Tyler Adelman
402-314-4783
Dawson, Gosper
Sophia Gobber
308-222-0368
Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock
SOUTHEAST
Matt Seitz
402-806-0915
Captain
WEST SUB-DISTRICT
Matt Taylor
402-200-9597
Sergeant
Vacant:
Adams, Clay, Webster
Vacant:
Thayer, Nuckolls, Fillmore
Vacant:
Harlan, Franklin, Phelps
Vacant:
Buffalo, Kearney
Shane Ad
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(May 2026)
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EAST SUB-DISTRICT
Heath Packett
402-210-0888
Sergeant
Brett Greenfield 531-350-0915
Cass
Russell Mort
402-209-1506
Otoe, Johnson
Rich Berggren
402-619-1355
Douglas
Brian Arp
531-530-9011
Douglas, Sarpy
Mike Luben
402-443-6392
Saunders
Bryan Adams
402-429-1924
Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson
CENTRAL SUB-DISTRICT
Curt Prohaska
402-470-1298
Sergeant
531-229-4407
Easton Albrecht
Lancaster
Benjamin Keller 308-430-5500
Gage, Jefferson
Mark McDonald 402-805-2353
Lancaster
Mark Sullivan
402-741-0636
Lancaster, Seward, Butler
Jarrod Messman 531-739-9760
Lancaster, Saline, York
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
7
Instagram Photos
Your Nebraska
Follow us @nebraskaland and tag us in your
photos to be featured in an upcoming issue.
Chuck Hackenmiller, Lincoln
Evening Kayak at Pawnee State Recreation Area
Steve Krout, Papillion
A Painted and a Snapper
8
Nebraskaland • May 2026
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
9
Your Nebraska
Peyton Weller, Lincoln
White-tailed Doe
Curt Blum, Lincoln
Milkweed Bugs on Milkweed Plants
Send your comments and photos to:
Jeff Kurrus, Editor
Nebraskaland Magazine
P.O. Box 30370
Lincoln, NE 68503
or email Jeff.Kurrus@Nebraska.gov
Please include your postal address
and telephone number. Letters
may be condensed and edited.
Photographs are also welcome.
Connie Allen, Grand Island
Bunny
10
Nebraskaland • May 2026
Amber Tull, Omaha
Harris’s Sparrow
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
11
Your Nebraska
Shane Ad
Whitetail Properties
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“Up to that point of the morning …
we’d all rise and blast away.
Then we’d argue about who shot what.
One member of our group must have
been a very accomplished shooter
because to listen to him, he hit
every goose that fell.”
From the unpublished essay “You Shoot First” in Memories
From My Life as a Duck Hunter by E. Joseph Banset, Jr.
12
Nebraskaland • May 2026
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
13
In the Field
It Starts With One Step: Your 250-mile challenge can begin at Agate Fossil
Beds National Monument in Sioux County. See story on page 16.
14
Nebraskaland • May 2026
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
15
In the Field
The 250-Mile Challenge
By Julie Geiser
Kayakers float Logan Creek, also known as “the dredge,” in Thurston County.
As warmer weather approaches, head
outside and participate in the Outdoor
Nebraska 250-Mile Challenge. The
challenge is hosted by the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission to
celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
Enjoy a quiet walk at sunset and
listen to the sounds a park makes as it
settles in for the night or feel the rush of
running, biking or kayaking on a scenic
trail. While you’re at it, watch wildlife,
take photos, relax and create many
lasting memories.
Spending time outside has significant
benefits for both physical and mental
health. This challenge offers individuals,
friends and families the opportunity to
get active, reduce stress and connect
with our state’s beautiful trails and
outdoor spaces. It is an opportunity for
each person to take their own journey of
discovery and wellness.
This free challenge encourages
Nebraskans to complete 250 miles of
outdoor activity this year to promote
physical and mental well-being through
16
Nebraskaland • May 2026
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
outdoor adventures. Miles can be
accumulated from a single activity or a
combination of many.
Jesse Petersen, Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission’s recreational
trails manager, has been a mountain
bike enthusiast since the early 1990s.
For him, the challenge is more than
logging miles.
“For me, the 250-Mile Challenge is
about discovering the recently created
natural surface trails in our state parks
and state recreation areas. Celebrating
America’s 250th birthday from the
saddle also means celebrating the
planning and hard work put into these
bike-optimized dirt trails,” Petersen said.
Those participating can track their
progress using their preferred personal
fitness tracker or app. Once the 250
milestone is completed, a photo and
proof of the miles completed can be
submitted at OutdoorNebraska.gov.
On the website, search for “250-mile
challenge” to access the submission
form. A commemorative sticker
will be sent to participants, and
that person will have their name
entered into a random drawing for
a chance to win prizes, including
an outdoors package donated by
sponsors. The package includes
a two-night stay at a Nebraska state
park cabin, a Nebraskaland Magazine
one-year subscription and a 2027 state
park permit.
More than the chance to win a
prize, the challenge is also “about the
celebration of trail development and
the cooperation with Nebraska Game
and Parks that got us here. These 250
miles will show just how far we’ve come
since the ’90s,” Petersen said. “Happy
Anniversary America — each mile we
ride is a true gift.”
Share your progress and adventures
throughout the year with Game and
Parks by posting photos and tagging
Nebraska Game and Parks in your social
media posts. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov
and search for “trails” to find scenic
areas across the state.
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
17
In the Field
Camping
with Critters
By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist
There’s nothing quite like unzipping your tent in the early
morning, smelling the dew on prairie grass and hearing
the distant call of a western meadowlark. And maybe — if
you’re lucky — there might be a set of deer tracks leading
past your site.
Camping in Nebraska means sharing space with some
truly incredible wild neighbors. Whether you’re pitching a
tent along the Niobrara River, stargazing in the Sandhills
or nestled in a cottonwood pocket along the Missouri, it’s
important to know what critters you might encounter —
and how to be a respectful guest in their home.
Expect Company, Even if
You Don’t See Them
during summer months, especially near water or after
rain, and Nebraska ticks are tenacious little hitchhikers, so
checking yourself and your dog after a hike is necessary.
Horseflies, especially out west or in wet meadows, are
surprisingly bold — and if you’ve met one, you know what
I mean. Long sleeves, bug spray and a good sense of humor
go a long way.
The takeaway? Wildlife is all around you, from the tiniest
tick to the clever raccoon sneaking around your camp at
night. Expect company — and treat them with curiosity
and respect.
Nebraskaland • May 2026
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
RIGHT: A wild turkey walks through Lee and Pat Miltner’s campsite at Indian Cave State Park. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
belongings, but also protects wildlife. When animals learn to
seek food from humans, it can lead to conflict, dependence or
dangerous behavior. Storing your food properly is one of the
simplest ways to show respect for Nebraska’s wild residents.
If you’re camping with your dog, be extra mindful. Dogs
can chase wildlife, trample nests or disturb dens without
meaning to do so. Keeping them leashed helps protect them
and your wild neighbors.
Leave Wildlife Wild
Store Your Food
If there’s one guaranteed way to
attract a curious raccoon, a sneaky
First things first: You’re not
opossum or even a bold skunk, it’s
alone out there. From raccoons
leaving your food out overnight.
and owls to bullsnakes and bats,
Nebraska’s wild animals have
wildlife is active all around you,
incredibly keen senses of smell —
especially once the sun starts to
some can detect food from quite a
dip. Many of Nebraska’s critters
distance. And once they associate
are nocturnal, or crepuscular,
campsites with easy meals, they
meaning they come alive during
tend to return for more.
the hours around dawn and
To avo i d v i s i t o r s r u s t l i n g
dusk. So, while you’re toasting
through your marshmallows and
marshmallows or settling into
granola bars, always store your
your sleeping bag, the forest,
food in tightly sealed containers,
prairie or riverbank around you is
preferably in your vehicle. Coolers
just starting to wake up.
alone aren’t always enough —
You might hear rustling in
raccoons are shockingly clever and
the brush, the deep hoot of a
strong, and they’ve been known to
great horned owl perched in a
undo bungee cords, open lids and
cottonwood, or the distant, higheven unzip tents.
pitched yip of a coyote echoing
Raccoon raiding a picnic basket. NEBRASKALAND
Speaking of tents, never store
across the hills. These sounds can
food inside one. Even empty wrappers, toothpaste or the
be thrilling — or a little unnerving if you’re not used to
faint scent of snacks can invite a late-night rummaging.
them. They’re all part of the Nebraska wild experience. It’s
Also, don’t forget about pet food. If your dog is tagging
like nature’s nighttime soundtrack, reminding you that
along, feed them away from your sleeping area and clean up
even if you can’t see your wild neighbors, they’re definitely
immediately afterward. Dirty bowls, crumbs and half-eaten
out and about.
biscuits are fair game to a hungry critter.
And let’s not forget the smallest — sometimes most
Keeping a clean campsite not only protects you and your
noticeable — creatures: insects. Mosquitoes are a given
18
LEFT: Camping along Long Pine Creek at Long Pine State Recreation Area in Brown County.
Eastern fox squirrel feeding on a discarded camp snack.
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
Don’t Feed the Wildlife
I know, it’s tempting. A fox squirrel scurries up to your
picnic table and gives you those pleading eyes. But feeding
wildlife — intentionally or accidentally — can have serious
consequences. Animals that become habituated to humans
can lose their natural fear, get aggressive or become reliant
on unnatural food sources. In some cases, it can even lead
to relocation or euthanasia of the animal. So, as hard as it
is, keep your snacks to yourself. Watching wildlife act wild
is a much more rewarding experience.
Stay On the Trail and Leave No Trace
It’s not just about avoiding poison ivy. Staying on trails
helps protect fragile habitats and keeps you safe from
stumbling onto a ground-nesting bird’s eggs or surprising a
sunbathing snake. Nebraska is home to all kinds of reptiles
and amphibians, many of which are secretive and easy to
step over without realizing.
Every candy wrapper, piece of fishing line or abandoned
glow stick has the potential to harm wildlife. So, pack out
everything you brought in and leave your site better than
you found it. That includes biodegradable waste — yes,
even orange peels and sunflower seed shells.
As tempting as it may be, resist the urge to take wild
animals home with you. That box turtle crossing the trail?
That frog your kid found near the creek? They’re doing just
fine right where they are. Wild animals belong in the wild, not
in aquariums, backyards or shoeboxes.
Turtles help keep ponds clean. Frogs eat mosquitoes.
Even snakes help control rodent populations. When we
remove these animals from their habitats, we’re disrupting
that balance — and chances are, the animal won’t thrive in
captivity anyway. Most wild reptiles and amphibians have
specific needs that are hard to meet at home, even with the
best of intentions.
It’s also important to know that moving wildlife around —
especially reptiles and amphibians — can spread disease, such
as ranavirus or the fungus that causes snake fungal disease.
And depending on the species, taking certain animals from
the wild may even be illegal.
Instead, take a photo, share a story or just enjoy the moment.
Teaching kids (and adults) to admire wildlife without needing
to collect it helps build respect for the natural world — and
ensures future campers enjoy those same wild encounters.
Soak It All In
Camping in Nebraska offers an opportunity to connect
with nature on a deeper level. Whether it’s watching
fireflies blink over a pond, hearing coyotes echo across
the prairie or discovering tracks in the morning mud, it’s a
chance to slow down and truly see the world around you.
These wild moments are why we camp — and why we must
camp with care.
So, the next time you’re out under the Nebraska sky,
remember: You’re in someone else’s home. Be curious, be
cautious and most of all, be respectful.
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
19
In the Field
Birds from
the Big Apple
At least three Nebraska
bird species have a history with
the East Coast’s largest city.
By Justin Haag
As about 400 species make their
way northward through Nebraska and
the Central Flyway during Migratory
Bird Month, here’s a story about three
birds that moved into the region in a
somewhat different manner.
Three of our most common nonnative bird species have a relationship
to a place more than 1,200 miles east
of here — New York City.
The first is one people likely see in
abundance in whatever town they live
in, in Nebraska and beyond. It’s the
house sparrow (Passer domesticus).
House sparrow
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
It all started in the 1850s when the
sparrows were collected in England
and brought into New York to control
inchworms that were damaging trees
in Central Park. Regardless of how
the inchworm population fared after
that, the house sparrows flourished.
By 1900, the species had done so well
it had spread to the Rocky Mountains.
The house sparrow is now despised
for displacing native bird species, and
are sometimes referred to as “flying
rats” because of the way they take
over bird feeders and make a mess.
Another often despised prolific
species in North America with ties to
Central Park, as well as to history’s
most famous author, is the European
20
Nebraskaland • May 2026
European starling
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
starling (Sturnus vulgaris).
In the 1890s, a group of Shakespeare
enthusiasts released 100 starlings
in Central Park for no other reason
than they wanted every bird species
Shakespeare ever mentioned in his
writings to be present in America.
Shakespeare’s one and only mention
of the bird was in Henry IV, Part I.
These black birds with spotted
plumage surely made themselves at
home. Now it’s estimated that more
than 200 million starlings range
from Alaska to Mexico, sometimes
inspiring more profanity than prose
as they compete with native bird
species.
Third on the list is the house finch
(Haemorhous mexicanus) native
to Mexico and the southwestern
United States.
House finch
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Some of the handsome little birds
were captured and taken to New York
to be sold as “Hollywood finches”
in the early- to mid-20th century,
coinciding with the rising popularity
of movies. The red heads and breasts
of the males made them attractive. In
the 1940s, when pet shops and finch
owners faced possible prosecution
under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
of 1918, they released the birds. The
finches multiplied in the wild and
spread west to the Great Plains within
50 years.
House finches have moved into
Nebraska from both the western
and eastern populations, and have
been more welcomed than the other
two species, surely thanks to those
Hollywood looks and singing abilities.
These are just a few examples
of unintended consequences when
people move wild animals. If people
get the urge to capture and release
an animal species in Nebraska, they
should know that it’s illegal. The
intruders not only compete with
native species for habitat and food,
but also introduce diseases. Also, it’s
illegal to relocate wild mammals
beyond 100 yards of where they are
found. For reptiles and amphibians,
it’s 50 yards. No live fish can be moved
from one body of water to another.
For more information about the
state’s many avian species and
Nebraska Bird Month activities, visit
OutdoorNebraska.gov. Activities
throughout the state are listed,
i n c l u d i n g t h e f a m i l y- f r i e n d l y
statewide competition known as
the Nebraska Birding Bowl — which,
despite its name, has no connection to
Yankee or MetLife stadiums.
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
21
In the Field
Cold-Pan
Goose with
Red Wine Sauce
By Ryan Sparks
I have been cooking wild goose
since I was 15 years old and have
tried countless recipes and methods.
This David Tanis-inspired recipe is
currently my favorite way to cook
goose breast. The result is on par
with the quality you would expect at
a nice restaurant.
Even if you skip the sauce — which
you probably shouldn’t — learning
this cold-pan method for waterfowl
like ducks and geese is an essential
wild-game-cooking skill. We like to
serve it with mashed potatoes to soak
up the sauce, but bitter greens or wild
rice would also work well.
Servings: 2
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: ~45 minutes
Ingredients
• 1 boneless goose breast, plucked,
skin on
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 shallot, sliced
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 cups goose stock
(chicken stock/broth also works)
• ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons dry
red wine
• 1 tablespoon Cognac or brandy
(optional)
• 2 teaspoons potato starch dissolved
in 2 tablespoons water
22
Nebraskaland • May 2026
1. Remove the tenderloin (the thin strip of meat on the
underside of the breast) and reserve for the sauce. Trim
away any gristle from the undersides of the breast,
reserving it for the sauce. Score the skin in a diamond
pattern, cutting through the fat but not quite reaching
the meat. Lightly sprinkle with salt on both sides.
2. While the goose rests, heat 1 tablespoon butter in
a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot, tenderloin
and any other goose trimmings from the breast.
Brown them well, stirring occasionally, 4 to 6 minutes.
Stir in the tomato paste and the thyme and let them
cook for 1 minute.
3. Add the stock and ¼ cup red wine. Crank the heat and
let the mixture reduce for 15 minutes. Strain the sauce
and return to the heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons
of wine and the Cognac or brandy (if using) and cook for
1 minute more. Stir in the potato starch/water mixture.
Whisk in 1 tablespoon of cold butter. Taste and season
with salt and black pepper. The sauce can be kept warm
over low heat while you cook the goose breast. If it
becomes too thick, thin it out with more stock.
4. Place the goose breast in a cold, cast-iron pan just large
enough to hold it, skin-side down. Put the pan over low
heat. The fat in the goose skin will slowly begin to render
and sizzle. Be patient and allow the skin to become
crispy and golden, checking every few minutes to prevent
burning. To fully crisp the skin, it often takes 10-15
minutes. Once the skin is crisp, turn the breast and cook
on the other sides, keeping the heat low. When a meat
thermometer in the thickest part of the breast reaches
130º, transfer to a warm plate and let rest for 10 minutes.
Slice the breast and serve with the sauce.
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
23
Alexandria
State Recreation Area
Story and photos by Eric Fowler
After visiting the playground, girls ride their
bikes back to their campsite at Alexandria
State Recreation Area.
24
Nebraskaland • May 2026
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
25
T
alk to the people who go to Alexandria State Recreation
Area, and they will tell you how great it is. And why:
because no one’s there.
Indeed, the campgrounds at the quiet, secluded getaway
northwest of Fairbury are rarely full. About the only time
they are is during the annual Camp Spook Halloween
celebration in October. The rest of the year, even on holiday
weekends, you can almost have your pick of the 53 sites in
the park’s two campgrounds.
The main draw at the park, affectionately known to locals
as the Alexandria State Lakes, is the two spring-fed lakes.
The lakes didn’t exist when the Game, Forestation and
Parks Commission purchased the 40 acres in 1930; there
was only a spring-fed marsh with a muck bottom known to
grab ahold of the feet of duck hunters and wayward cattle
and not let go.
ABOVE: A haunted tunnel graces a campsite during the annual
Camp Spook Halloween event at Alexandria State Recreation Area.
RIGHT: The 95-acre park features two lakes covering 43 acres and
two campgrounds.
BELO
The glow of a lakeside campsite is re ected in Lake 2.
Tent camping
sites are located
next to both Lake
1 and Lake 2,
at Alexandria.
26
Nebraskaland • May 2026
ABOVE: Layne and Dalton Wolfe of Tobias play with their remote-control boats on Lake 2.
TO LEFT Brylee Eyer of Jansen holds a largemouth bass she caught while fishing on Lake 2.
TOP CENTER: A white-tailed doe and her fawns stand in the middle of the road between
the park and the adjacent Alexandria Wildlife Managment Area.
Zed Summers of Filley fishes with his grandsons, Cole and Levi,
next to their campsite on Lake 1.
28
Nebraskaland • May 2026
Dikes were built to capture and hold the spring water and create three terraced
lakes. It appears, however, that the Commission decided the north lake, likely shallow
and better at raising mosquitoes than fish, had to go. In what may have been the first
aquatic habitat project in the state, the lakes were drained in 1942, one dike removed
and others raised, and the two remaining lakes deepened and restocked with fish.
The Commission purchased another 55 acres on the west side of the park in 1949
and built a third lake, the largest, increasing the amount of water on the area to 43
acres. In 1996, a portion of the dike separating the two east lakes was removed as
part of another aquatic habitat project, and the park once again had just two lakes.
When the park opened in 1933, it was one of 26 that had been established in
the state by the Commission and its predecessors. Hungry for places to recreate,
the park was a hub of activities, including church picnics, family reunions and an
annual fireworks show on Independence Day.
Alexandria and Alexandria West wildlife management areas, featuring native
tallgrass prairie, oak woodlands and nearly 2 miles of Big Sandy Creek, cover more
than 1,200 acres to the north and west of the park. The areas are popular among
deer, small game and quail hunters, as well as birdwatchers and nature lovers.
The lakes aren’t what they used to be, which might be why the park is so quiet
these days. The aging outlet structures are leaking, which has left the lakes a few
feet lower than they should be, and common carp have muddied the waters. Yet
the area still has a quality channel catfish population, as well as some largemouth
bass and other panfish, that keep anglers busy. And the lakes remain a great place
to paddle a canoe or kayak. Game and Parks hopes to find funding to fix the outlets,
but the repairs will carry a hefty price tag.
While some regulars wish more people would visit the hidden gem, others are
happy that few people know about the park — part of the reason it is so quiet.
Whether more visitors come or not, the park will likely remain a peaceful retreat,
and a great place to park a camper or pitch a tent, sit around the campfire and look
up at the stars. N
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
29
Outdoor
Neb raska
WHAT TO DO IN MAY
By Jeff Kurrus
The most difficult part about May is deciding
what to do. From all parts of the state this month
the outdoors calls in so many directions. Just make
sure you listen.
N
Visit an Invasive Species Event
May | Select Locations
Choose from events during Invasive Species Week May 24-30. On May 27, take
a break from your outdoor activities and compete in the Invasive Species Online
Trivia event 6-8 p.m CDT. Using Zoom and Menti, trivia will be conducted by
Nebraska’s invasive species experts.
On May 28, join the Invasive Species Trivia and Wine Tasting event at Billy’s
restaurant in Lincoln 5:30-7:30 p.m. All ages are welcome with non-alcoholic
options. Tickets are $20 and pre-registration is required.
On May 30, attend Know Your Invasives Day at Schramm Education Center
12-3 p.m. Designed for all ages, this educational event includes a guided nature
hike, zebra mussel scavenger hunt and live filming of Backyard Farmer.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
Get to a
Bluegill Bed
One Last Gobble
Herp Hike
Morels in May
May | Statewide
May | Crete
May | Statewide
May | Statewide
By this point in the turkey season,
birds are wary. They’ve seen every
decoy set-up and heard every call
possible. To counter these educated
birds, try a different tactic by going
decoy-less and hunting midday. Or
bring a friend, split up and simulate a
hen and tom calling back and forth to
each other, emulating an adversary for
a last-minute tom still trying to mate.
The same tactics that worked a
month before may not work now. Be
ready to adapt.
On May 16, 10 a.m. to noon, join
Nebraska outdoor educators for a
guided hike near Crete to search for
reptiles and amphibians. The hikes
will reveal the many herps nearby.
While there will be no collection
of animals, there will be plenty
of opportunities for photography.
Registration is required for this event
at tinyurl.com/herphike. Exact event
location will be emailed to registered
participants. Wear hiking clothes
and be prepared to uncover a stone
or two in search of these always
fascinating animals.
Take to the hills! That’s the cry
of morel mushroom hunters in May.
Hilly, wooded areas above rivers and
their tributaries are often productive
for gathering morel mushrooms now.
A reliable indicator is lilacs nearing
bloom. The key is to slow down and
look carefully for morels in moist,
loamy soil amid vegetation near dead
and dying hardwood trees such as
cottonwood, elm, ash and apple. Focus
on south-facing slopes in early May and
north-facing slopes later in the month.
Search for morels just after a soaking
rain and when daytime temperatures
have been consistently at or above 68
degrees Fahrenheit.
Bluegill beds are prime locations
for catching gillies this month. Big,
colorful males will be guarding eggs
deposited by females and will strike
at a variety of lures and baits — from
popping bugs casted from a fly rod to a
worm and bobber.
Beds can be found in shallow water
and are often visible right beneath the
surface. Catch fish on the outer beds
first before working into shallower
water. Whether fishing from bank or
boat, keep your distance to assure fish
don’t spook.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
BY GREG WAGNER, PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY,
NEBRASKALAND
30
Nebraskaland • May 2026
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
31
In parks throughout Nebraska, and far beyond,
visitors are finding entertainment in slinging
plastic toward metal.
By Justin Haag
I
t’s Monday night, so the summer air will soon be accented
with faint sounds of flying plastic clinking on metal
chains over the Pine Ridge terrain of Chadron State Park.
The group arrives one by one, parking vehicles, grabbing
bags and congregating at a concrete slab without need for
instruction. Soon, they take turns flinging plastic discs across
countless greenspaces, then follow the discs from place to
place with the familiarity of moving around their homes.
This is the weekly scene at the Chadron State Park disc
golf course, which has become special to this group, just as
courses throughout the state, nation and world have become
to others. It got its start when Jake Rodiek was working as
an assistant superintendent at the northwestern Nebraska
attraction. He designed the layout before being promoted
to the head superintendent position at Mahoney State Park.
Zane esting watches his disc y to
the asket at Chadron State ark.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
32
Nebraskaland • May 2026
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
33
Grant Gartner and son Eli play
on the well-manicured course at
Windmill State Recreation Area.
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
ABO E A group tees off toward hole 7, one of the fairways at Chadron State ark
featuring a drop in elevation. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
RIG T A group collects its discs under the pines at Chadron State ark.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Temporary baskets introduce the sport to attendees of the annual
Outdoor Discovery rogram at ildcat ills State Recreation Area.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Rodiek’s interest in the sport came before he was hired by
Chadron State Park when he was a college student.
In high school, the South Dakota native participated in
disc golf tournaments at the world level and also collaborated
with his father, Dusty, to design courses. Their Nebraska work
from those days includes courses at Medicine Creek, Lewis
and Clark, and Fort Kearny state recreation areas, as well as
high-ranking courses at McCook’s Kelley Park and Kearney’s
Cottonmill Park.
Jake Rodiek plays a round with his children at Mahoney State ark.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
Now, as an assistant administrator for engineering for
Game and Parks, Rodiek carries even more influence on the
34
Nebraskaland • May 2026
development of courses throughout Nebraska. “The agency
has shown initiative to continue to add courses across the
state,” Rodiek said. “It’s a growing sport. In the past 10 years,
we’ve probably added 10 courses.”
Disc golf courses are attractive to park managers for many
reasons. Rodiek said courses at the state parks cost only
about $6,000 to install. Materials consist mostly of baskets,
concrete and signage. Beyond the initial investment, there’s
not much extra maintenance required and people bring their
own equipment to play.
Rodiek considers the Chadron course and a newer one he
helped design at Windmill State Recreation Area near Gibbon
jewels in the state park system.
The latter was completed in August 2024 with thoughtful
design considerations and regulation tees and baskets among
the park’s six lakes and namesake windmills. “The course is
well-manicured and everything is built to specs,” he said.
Rodiek said the Pine Ridge scenery makes Chadron,
Nebraska’s first state park, a top offering as well — especially
hole 12 that features a dramatic drop of elevation with buttes
in the background.
“Chadron has a lot of elevation shots,” he said. “There’s a lot
of different varieties of golf as you play that course. It’s in a
unique location.”
A SPORT FOR ALL
Much of the sport’s popularity is attributed to its
accessibility.
“It’s an easy outdoor activity that anybody can go out
and do. It’s a good excuse to go for a walk and meet up with
people,” Rodiek said.
Baskets have sprung up in city parks across the world,
and the equipment to play is inexpensive. A set of six discs,
including driver, putter and mid-range options, can be had
for under $25.
“It can be really affordable, but like any hobby you can
make it more costly and buy hundreds of discs,” said Rodiek,
who carries 12-15 discs when playing in tournaments. “You
don’t have to do that. You can pick up just one and go out
and play.”
When finding places to play, disc golfers refer to UDisc.com
with its interactive map, detailed descriptions and player
reviews about courses throughout the world — including
information regarding a top-notch experience in Lincoln.
AN ELITE COURSE
For what could be called an elite experience for the sport,
players flock to the Beal Slough Disc Golf Course in Lincoln,
a rarity with its green fees.
The $5 helps maintain the course, solely dedicated to disc
golf capitalizing on the woody, hilly terrain of the 47-acre
Beal Slough Greenway, an important part of the city’s
drainage system.
Development of the course was spearheaded by James
Fleege and fellow members of the Lincoln Flying Disc Club,
a non-profit organization that helps manage all of the
courses in the capital city.
UDisc rankings have put it at the top of the state’s
offerings, and as high as 70th in the world. Fleege said
about 50,000 rounds are played at the course each year with
people from almost every state.
“We regularly get visitors traveling in for the weekend,”
he said. “Trips from Kansas City, Des Moines, Colorado,
stuff like that, just specifically to play this course, which
is very cool.”
High praise from those who play the game is appreciated,
but a lofty ranking on UDisc isn’t the primary goal when
constructing disc golf courses in places such as state park
and recreation areas, Rodiek said.
“When putting them in state parks, you have to avoid the
fishermen, campers, cabins, trail rides, and all sorts of things,”
he said. “We’re installing them for a family-friendly park
activity that people can do when they’re staying at the park.”
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
35
li artner makes a throw near a pond at
indmill State ecreation rea. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
Frank
LEFT Discs are tailored to throw various shots and distances.
ighfill throws a ackhand
at Chadron State ark.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
ABO E James Fleege of Lincoln plays the Beal Slough Disc Golf Course in Lincoln,
one of the top rated courses in the United States. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
DISC GOLF PRIMER
There’s a lingo to it, and, of course, special discs tailored
to different shots. Drivers are aerodynamic for distance
while others are built more for control.
Sidearms, forehands and backhands get the disc down
the fairway. Butterflies and flappers are for putting.
“Each type of disc is designed to do something a little
bit different. It depends on how you throw it for which
direction it’s going to go,” Rodiek said. “If you throw a disc
backhand, it will go left; forehand makes it go right.”
Sometimes, improvisation is necessary.
“There are a lot of get-outta-trouble shots like thumbers
and tomahawks,” Rodiek said. “Sometimes you feel like
you’re doing yoga when playing disc golf.”
The average tee-to-basket is about 270 feet with a par 3.
Championship level courses have fairways of 400-500 feet
— a distance that proficient players can accomplish with a
good drive.
BIG DREAMS AND HUMBLE
BEGINNINGS
Had disc golf been born earlier than the sport with clubs
and the dimpled ball, would it just be called “golf’ and the
other “ball golf”? The popularity of the disc game has picked
36
Nebraskaland • May 2026
up steam since emanating from the West Coast. The number
of disc courses is nearing the number of “regular” golf
courses throughout the United States, even though ball golf
got a big head start.
It’s impossible to know who first made a game of throwing
a flying disc, or perhaps a pie pan, at stationary targets.
However, the late “Steady” Ed Headrick is given credit for
being the “Father of Disc Golf,” a title he earned dating back
to his work as a key figure at Wham-O. It’s the company
that invented the Frisbee. His obsession with the disc golf
concept began in the early 1970s as he and others informally
walked around challenging each other to hit objects such as
trees and trash cans with their flying discs.
Wham-O didn’t share Headrick’s dream of building the sport
of disc golf. When Headrick walked away from his lucrative job
at the company in 1975, he put his passion to work developing
and promoting disc golf and established Oak Grove, the nation’s
first public course for the sport at Pasadena, California. It first
featured poles as targets but then installed the “disc pole hole”
that Headrick and his son patented. It’s the same basic design
of today’s baskets with chains that are found across the nation.
It would be a while before the craze reached Nebraska.
Roper East at Interstate Park in Lincoln, which was built in
1992, has the distinction of being Nebraska’s first course.
That summer, a newspaper story about the new attraction
boasted that courses were being built “everywhere,” with more
than 300 across the United States. Now, the number of courses
in Nebraska alone is approaching that figure and there are about
16,000 courses in the world — two-thirds of which are in the U.S.
“There are pros making six figures playing disc golf now,”
Rodiek said.
SPINNING AHEAD
The public’s interest in disc golf remains strong, and,
similar to many outdoor activities, it saw a big boost of
participants during the COVID pandemic. In 2024, 1.26
million players used UDisc.
Clubs and groups can be found in most places the sport is
played, the flagship organization being the Professional Disc
Golf Association.
While Rodiek has had a lot of great memories playing the
game and developing places to play the sport, a highlight
was watching his father, the course designer, be inducted to
the Nebraska Disc Golf Hall of Fame during a ceremony at
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.
For a growing segment of the population, the development
of courses is a legacy that will long be noticed for park
visitors far and wide. N
UDISC.COM LISTING OF
NEBRASKA STATE PARKS AND
STATE RECREATION AREAS
DISC GOLF COURSES
Branched Oak SRA: 9 holes, 1.2 miles, “Flat”
Chadron SP: 18 holes, 2.3 miles, “Extremely Hilly”
Fort Kearny SRA, 9 holes, .8 miles, “Flat”
Fremont Lakes (State Lakes Disc Golf
Course): 9 holes, 1.3 miles, “Flat”
Indian Cave SP: 9 holes, 1.1 miles, “Very Hilly”
Lake Maloney SRA (Jaycee Park Disc Golf
Course): 9 holes, .7 miles, “Flat”
Lewis and Clark SRA (Weigand Disc Golf
Course): 9 holes, 1.2 miles, “Flat”
Medicine Creek SRA: 9 holes, .6 miles, “Flat”
Mahoney SP: 18 holes, 2.5 miles, “Hilly”
Pawnee SRA: 9 holes, 1 mile, “Flat”
Willow Creek SRA: 9 holes, 1 mile, “Flat”
Windmill SRA: 18 holes, 1.8 miles, “Flat”
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
7
Jnconspicuous
Beauty
Did you know grasses have flowers?
ig luestem owers covered
in morning dew.
38
Nebraskaland • May 2026
Story and photos by Chris Helzer
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
39
ed anthers dangle from
ig luestem owers.
w
Indian grass
Plains oval sedge
Buffalo grass
40
hat comes to mind when you think of a flower? If you’re like most, you
probably picture something that looks like a daisy or sunflower, with
multiple colorful petals radiating out from a center disk. While many do
look like that, flowers come in a dizzying array of designs, all of which are
intricate and beautiful, even if they might not look immediately familiar.
Many people are surprised to learn that grasses have flowers. They must, of course,
since grasses make seeds, and seeds come from flowers. Grass flowers are tiny, and
don’t have big, showy petals or attractive scents. For all that, they’re still beautiful,
even if you have to look closely to appreciate them.
The primary function of a flower is to produce seeds for reproduction. Seed
production usually requires an exchange of pollen, so flowers have to both produce
pollen and capture pollen from other flowers. Usually both those functions happen
on the same flower, but some plants produce separate male flowers — which make
pollen — and female flowers, which receive it and create seeds.
To move pollen from one flower to another, most plants use one of two methods;
they either induce animals to move the pollen for them, or they rely on the wind to
do it. Flowers that rely on animals have to work for that help. Many make themselves
big and colorful and/or produce strong odors to attract visitors. Visiting animals are
rewarded with food — either pollen, nectar or both. In return, those visitors carry
some pollen away with them that hopefully gets rubbed off on another flower and
stimulates seed production.
It takes a lot of energy for plants to produce big, attractive petals, essential oils and
sweet nectar. Because of that energy expenditure, lots of plants choose the cheaper
option of throwing their pollen to the wind. Instead of investing in all those extras,
wind-pollinated plants stick to the basics. They have anthers that produce pollen and
stigmas that capture it. Simple, elegant and inexpensive.
Grasses — along with sedges and rushes — are wind-pollinated, including grass
species we use as row crops such as corn, wheat, rice and oats. They’re joined by
many tree species, including pines, junipers, oaks, walnuts and others. Ragweed is
probably the most infamous of the wind-pollinated plants because of the number of
people who suffer from hay fever, but other broadleaf plants like plantain, nettles and
hops are at least mostly wind-pollinated.
Look closely at grass flowers and two structures stand out. The first is the anther,
which contains the pollen the flower is releasing into the wind. Anthers are usually
long and slender, often nearly cylindrical in shape. A single anther can contain
thousands of pollen grains. The second structure is the feathery stigma, which
catches wind-borne pollen. The stigma is connected to the ovary, where seeds will
be produced, if everything goes well.
Nebraskaland • May 2026
unegrass in
full loom has
inconspicuous
owers, ut a
su tle eauty.
Sun sedge is common throughout
Nebraska but rarely recognized
because of its short stature and
non-showy owers.
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
41
tree cricket feeds on a ig luestem anther.
Leaf beetles eating big bluestem pollen anthers.
hover y feeds on pollen
from a ig luestem anther.
42
Nebraskaland • May 2026
Grasses don’t need animals to move their pollen around, but some animals visit
grass flowers anyway. Pollen grains contain lots of protein, carbohydrates and other
nutrients, so they make an excellent food source. Some bee species feed on grass
pollen, but flies are much more common visitors. In particular, hover flies — aka
syrphid flies — are commonly seen on grass flowers, often holding anthers like big
ice cream cones and licking the pollen from them.
Beetles, grasshoppers and crickets are a few other examples of insects that take
advantage of the nutritional value of grass pollen. Most grasses probably don’t get
much benefit from these insect visitors. While the insects can move pollen from one
flower to another, they often damage or consume the operational parts of flowers
while they’re at it. For the most part, the wind does a sufficient job for grasses, and
the overwhelming number of pollen grains flying through the air means there’s a
good chance some will be caught by the right stigma on the right flower.
Grass flowers don’t have to show off. If they went to parties, they wouldn’t be the
attendees wearing big flashy hats or dresses with plunging necklines. They’d show
up in faded jeans and whichever shirt from the laundry pile smelled least bad.
Daisies and sunflowers are gorgeous, but it costs them a lot to look that good.
Grasses prefer to spend their energy elsewhere. They’ve been dominating prairies for
a very long time, so it must be working for them. N
May 2026 •
Tree cricket on
prairie cordgrass.
A hover y larva
feeds on big
bluestem.
Nebraskaland
43
Nebraska Congressman Moses
Kinkaid introduced the 1904
legislation for enlarged land
claims. NSHS RG2411-0-2943-b
The Kinkaiders
OPPOSITE: Alliance Times-Herald,
June 28, 1904.
By David L. Bristow, Nebraska State Historical Society
I
n some places, 160 acres was not enough. The
Homestead Act of 1862 promised a free quarter-section
to claimants who “proved up” on the land by building a
home and farming for five years. That was considered
a good-sized farm, plenty of land to support a large family.
But as the land filled up, settlers proceeded westward into a
progressively drier climate.
For a few decades a popular notion held that “rainfall
follows the plow”— in other words, that farming the prairie
increased its evaporation, leading to greater rainfall. The
severe droughts of the 1890s brought that idea to a painful
end. By the early 1900s, it was clear that a farmer needed
more than a quarter section to make a living on the High
Plains of western Nebraska.
In, 1904 Nebraska congressman Moses P. Kinkaid authored
a new law that allowed 640-acre homestead claims — a
square mile — in non-irrigable lands in the Nebraska
Sandhills and Panhandle.
extra cars for the boomers toiled into Alliance, Valentine,
North Platte and Broken Bow. The more serious, the more
intelligent homeseekers got information at the land office and
vanished into the sandhills. Many turned back at the first soft
yellow chophills pockmarked by blowouts and warted with
soapweeds, yuccas, their elegant spikes of waxy greenishwhite blossoms standing tall.” Others found better land, but
even on opening day, settlers often found that somehow the
best parcels had already been claimed by local cattlemen.
A railroad promotional brochure for Kinkaid lands
included a thank-you letter from J. W. Crouse of Read (Arthur
County), who said his Kinkaider farm “has released us from
the thralldom of city life and put upon us the highway to
independence and prosperity.”
Church at DeWitty, built by members of the congregation, circa
1910. NSHS RG2301-1-3
Detail of a map from a 1912 brochure, free government lands
in Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota
along the Burlington Route. Red areas show regions eligible for
the Kinkaid Act (640 acres) and the Enlarged Homestead Act (320
acres). NSHS M78 1912 B961h
The new law led to a land boom as “Kinkaiders” came to
western Nebraska to claim farmland. Mari Sandoz — whose
father, “Old Jules” Sandoz, helped locate the new settlers —
described it in her book “Love Song to the Plains.”
“Two weeks before the opening, covered wagons,
horsebackers, men afoot and finally railroad trains long with
That was the dream the railroads and land offices were
selling — a final chance at a fading frontier. In 1907, a
group of black Kinkaiders founded the town of DeWitty in
Cherry County. The town had 100 families by 1917, making
it Nebraska’s largest black settlement. But similar to most
other Kinkaid settlements, it declined after World War I and
was gone by the mid-1930s.
The Sandhills proved to be poor country for farming.
Plowing opened the sandy ground to wind erosion, with dunes
forming along fence lines. Most of this land soon reverted to
rangeland, but even 640 acres was not enough for a viable
ranch. Most Kinkaiders either failed to prove up on their claims
or eventually sold out to large ranchers. Few physical traces
remain of Nebraska’s final homesteading era, but thanks to
photographers, descendants and writers such as Mari Sandoz,
the story remains part of western Nebraska lore. N
Learn more at the NSHS’s website at history.nebraska.gov
44
Nebraskaland
• May 2026
ABOVE: Kinkaider-era postcard by
photographer John Nelson
of Ericson, Nebraska.
NSHS RG3542-132-15
RIGHT: Another John Nelson
postcard shows Kinkaider humor.
NSHS RG3542-PH132-12
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
45
Story and photos by Doug Steinke
he author cele rates his first
pike on the y as his son, lake,
lands the fish.
46
Nebraskaland • May 2026
In the late 1970s when I was 8-12 years old,
my dad was working for Central Public Power
and Irrigation District as a civil engineer.
During the summer, he would take me to
his office on the top of the dam at Lake
McConaughy. As soon as I got out of the car,
I’d scurry down to the face of the dam and
the rocks next to the spillway and boat dock.
I would spend the entire day fishing and
combing the shores for lost lures.
I once found a fluorescent orange Rapala wedged
underneath a pizza box-sized flat rock. As I flipped it over,
three crawdads took off. One of them went directly toward
the deeper water of the lake. Instantly, a huge smallmouth
snatched it as it fell to the depths. The light bulb went off.
I then spent my days flipping rocks and trying to catch
those 2- to 3-inch crawdads. I found a method of putting
them on a single hook with no weight and casting them
into the dark shadows that were in between the boulders on
the shore. As a kid, I imagined the crawdads yelling, “Help
me, help me” as they disappeared into the darkness below.
Within seconds, my line would thunk, and I would try to
wrestle in one of these spectacular fish. More times than not,
they would snap my line before I could get them onto shore.
This was how my Lake McConaughy fishing education
began, and it hasn’t stopped since.
Dad and I were diehard walleye tournament anglers in
the 1990s and 2000s, even placing in the top 10 several
times. He also guided on the lake for 10 years. For me, I was
a walleye-all-the-time type of fisherman. But as my boys
grew up they wanted to catch other fish, and we found
ways to do just that.
Some days we’d try to catch a bass slam — wiper, white
bass, smallmouth and a largemouth. On other days we’d
target channel catfish on the dam throwing Rat-L-Traps or
pull out the fly rods and cast for smallmouths with poppers,
wipers on scroungers or carp on white rabbit fur - also known
as “puke” — flies. Variety became the name of the game.
Despite having more than 50 years of experience fishing
Lake Mac, I’m well aware that many of you may have
limited knowledge at this lake or might be fishing it for the
first time. These words are for you.
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
47
GETTING STARTED
To begin, I follow a few rules of thumb I have
figured out over the years. One, Mac is a wind-driven
fishing lake. Most times, when the wind is blowing,
the fishing is good. When it is not, it can be quite
difficult.
Two, every day, five separate fish species eat a
bug, a leech, a shad, an alewife or a crawdad at five
different places on the lake. Rare is the day when
nothing is biting somewhere on the lake.
Three, often whatever’s working on the north side
of the lake is also working on the south side of the
lake. So, say there is a live bait dragging bite going on
at Admiral’s Cove in 5 to 15 feet of water. Chances are
you can go directly across the lake to Vans Lakeview
and drag bait in 5 to 15 feet of water and duplicate it.
And four, probably my “golden rule” is fish your
own fish. If there are a hundred boats dragging bait in
5 to 15 feet of water, chances are you can go find your
own spot and fish all by yourself doing the exact same
thing on the lake.
MY SETUP
When I am fishing McConaughy, I
have six rods rigged up and ready to go
at all times. These rods include:
1. A 10-foot, 7-weight fly rod with an
alewife imitation clouser.
2. A medium-weight 7-foot spinning
rod with a quarter-ounce lipped jig.
3. A heavy-weight casting rod with
a 1-ounce white-and-chartreuse
spinnerbait with a gold blade.
4. A 7-foot medium-weight spinning
rod with a quarter-ounce jig rigged
with a 4-inch chartreuse flash
Keitech or 3-inch silver grub.
5. An 8-foot, 6-inch medium-heavy
rod with a low ratio bait casting reel
and a bone-colored Whopper Plopper.
6. An 8-foot, 6-inch medium-heavy rod
with a low ratio bait casting reel and a
5-inch silver flutter spoon.
ig ac s weather can change
uickly, sometimes going from glass calm
to foot waves in minutes. f you see
storm clouds, it s est to get o the water.
lake Steinke of rand sland casts
to a school of alewife.
Algae blooms can act as a
mudline, activating a shallow ite.
SHALLOW WATER
FISH ARE RIGHT HERE
This family came down for a swim where
minutes before the author was catching
walleyes even shallower than they are wading.
The author targets jagged mudlines
intersecting the bank as opposed to solid,
larger mudlines.
48
Nebraskaland • May 2026
One of the most overlooked fishing opportunities at McConaughy is the
ultra-shallow bite that occurs May through as long as July some years. Over
the past 10 years, I almost exclusively fish with a fly rod from March through
most of June. One of the indirect results of fly-fishing is that I am always on
the shorelines seeking out shallow active fish.
This method has allowed me to understand why fish hold on certain shorelines
and not on others. Often at McConaughy, the wave action has created a trough
or drop directly off the shore that enables predator fish to push and ambush bait
fish feet off the bank. Many times, I have walked the shores and casted my fly
rod 5 feet off the bank and watched a 28-inch wiper tail walk like a tarpon after
I’ve hooked it in the ultra-shallow water.
In May and June, I never enter the water without throwing a long cast or land
the fly right along the shore’s edge. If there are fish in that area the strike will
be near instantaneous. After probing the area without any fish, I will then wade
into deeper water, gradually working the shallows until I’m waist deep.
While working these shores, especially in a windy environment, you will get
a mudline that creates an ambush point as well. Often when people say they are
fishing the mudline they are out deeper on a more expansive mudline blowing
off of a shore.
I am most interested in the 10- to 30-foot-wide mudlines with jagged shapes
or a variation within the mudline. Wherever one of these mudlines intersects
the shore directly, that is the ambush point I’m looking for. Knowing other
structures on the shore, like a small cup or a steep 1- to 3-foot drop to deeper
water, is the magic point where you will find almost any species of fish in
May and June.
Scott McGuire of Grant
hauls in a wiper right
efore a storm hits.
Tate Florell from Holdrege learns
when the water level of the lake
rises in the late spring, ooded
vegetation is the place to fish.
Jared Hawn of
Silverthorne,
Colorado,
releases a wiper
that was tricked
y his hand tied
streamer.
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
49
NOW, FOR
A SPECIES-BYSPECIES LOOK.
Slowly reeling or rolling a heavy
spinnerbait on the bottom is a preferred
method for catching walleyes at ig ac.
50
Nebraskaland • May 2026
Jerry Steinke of Ogallala and Kevin Jenny of Gretna hold
a pair of big walleyes.
The smallmouth bass fishery seems to get better each year.
WALLEYE
SMALLMOUTH
Walleye is by far the most chased species on the lake. And
people are targeting them immediately after ice out from
Admirals Cove all the way to the dam on the north side of the
lake throwing jigs or slab spoons. These fish will be located
in this area in a pre-spawn condition.
One of the biggest fishing spectacles of the year is the
actual walleye spawn. Spawning usually takes place on
the face of the dam, but do not overlook the southern rocky
points and also the rocky area from Admirals to North shore.
The end of walleye spawning coincides with alewife
spawning in the lake. At this point, a majority of the
walleyes are in the shallows, where a lot of wind-driven
bites occur. Throwing jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits, and
trolling or dragging live bait can be done all over the lake in
1 to 15 feet of water. It is not uncommon to have strikes in
1 to 2 feet of water right off of the banks. Often I see people
wade out waist deep from the bank to throw jigs out deeper
to catch walleyes. On many occasions, they are probably
behind you if the water is murky.
Once the alewife spawn wanes, the bait moves deeper and,
from late June through October, most of the walleyes are
in 10 to 40 feet of water. This is when trolling spinnerbaits,
worm spinner rigs and crankbaits shines.
If you do get a super windy day, fish you caught in 20 feet
of water the previous day will move into a churned-up bank
in 5 feet of water. They also turn back up on the dam at
nights during the summer.
When the fall sets in August to ice up, the primary
method is slabbing spoons off of points and humps all
around the lake.
When you arrive at Lake McConaughy and seek
smallmouth, you will obviously see the dam and southern
rock features of the lake. These are the primary areas
for smallmouth fishing. Almost everything you use
with smallmouth in other lakes will work here as well,
including Ned rigs, creature baits, topwaters and black jigs.
But in May and June, do not overlook the sand points
on the north side of the lake extending all the way out to
Sandpoint. With the alewife spawning, you can often find
nice smallmouth in these areas chasing bait as well.
For fly-fishing, top waters, brown woolly bugger and
the ever trusty micro black leech are my go-tos when I’m
fly-fishing.
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
51
Blake smiles with a big northern pike.
Blake hooked this big channel catfish along Kingsley Dam.
Flutter spoons are great for white bass (right).
NORTHERN PIKE
CHANNEL CATFISH
There can be at times a good population of northern pike
in the lake. Solid population numbers usually coincide with
a large jump of inflow from the river — for example a 6- to
20-foot rise May through July. When such an influx occurs,
pretty much every bay and vegetative bank on the north
side of the lake will have these toothy critters.
The primary baits to attract Northern pike are
spinnerbaits, topwaters and creature jigs. northern pike
also can be excellent fodder with the fly rod when you have
found them. But that’s not to say they cannot be found all
the way around the lake. It just can be hard to target and
catch them while you are shaking off wipers and walleyes.
Trolling through the top
of ooded trees can e an
e ective method for catching
pike and most species found
in Lake cConaughy.
52
Nebraskaland • May 2026
One of the most overlooked species that roam Lake
McConaughy is the channel catfish. It is one of the more
dependable fish that can be caught on a daily basis, from
ice out all the way to ice up.
In the spring, they can be caught on cut-up baits,
chicken livers or other bottom-dwelling recipes with fairly
common regularity.
Once June arrives, and their spawning occurs, a lot of
these male catfish will be protecting beds in shallow water
from 1 to 8 feet. Any type of vegetative structure could hold
eggs and the males watching those eggs. Anything from
spinnerbaits, crankbaits and jigs will catch fish, and slip
bobbers with leeches and crawlers is a preferred method.
As the summer goes on, catfish will suspend with
alewife schools right along with the walleyes and wipers.
Trolling crankbaits 10 to 20 feet below the surface in 40 to
100 feet of water is the preferred method here. Watching a
planer board being taken down by a 5-pound catfish is like
watching a bobber go down in the shallows.
Once you find a pod of feeding catfish, they pretty much
bite the entire day. This is a great time to take a kid out
on the boat and tire them in an hour reeling in catfish with
200 feet of line out. Occasionally, they will stack up on
the face of the dam during the late summer and throwing
Rat-L-Traps or any other types of crankbaits or
spinnerbaits is an excellent way to catch them.
As fall settles in, channel cats follow the wipers and
walleyes, and slabbing spoons are the preferred method.
The west end and
vegetated ays are
home to the amazing
northern pike.
WHITE BASS
White bass are making a strong comeback in the lake after
a die-off a couple years ago. Again, like with most predator
species, they can be caught in the shallows on windy days.
With the onset of June, white bass tend to suspend out
in 10 to 30 feet of water off the sand banks and points. You
can fish for them at night over lanterns, but this technique
doesn’t seem to be quite as effective at Mac like it is at
other lakes.
In the summer, fish will get deeper following the baitfish.
Trolling crankbaits is the preferred method to go after white
bass. This is also the time that I like to throw flutter spoons
over the top of them in deeper water.
Casting lipped jigs like the Luck-E-Strike
Scrounger tipped with a plastic uke is an
effective way to find fish.
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
53
f the author had to choose
one color of spinnerbait to
throw at Lake ac, this is it.
Mitch Rother of Grand Island catches wipers on the y.
Blake lands a common carp with a y rod.
WIPERS
COMMON CARP
I have broken down wipers in their own category outside
of white bass. White bass and wipers tend to run with one
another up until about the 15- to 18-inch length in their
lifespan. Once wipers exceed this length, they operate on
their own program.
Similar to most predator species in the lake, they are welltuned to alewife locations at all times. In the spring, they
can be found searching the shallows in schools I call wolf
packs. You will often see these packs of 24- to 30-inch fish
as they search the shallows for food. They will even push
water like redfish in the coastal shallows.
In March and April, my favorite way to target wipers is
with a fly rod. They seem to favor a very light streamer
that acts almost like a jerkbait. Common colors are white,
white and purple, and white and chartreuse. These flies
are anywhere from 3 to 7 inches in length. On a warm
and windy spring day in the shallows, there can be quite
a good bite.
When the alewife start to spawn, I switch over to
more bass-like techniques of casting spinnerbaits,
jerkbaits and topwaters. I like to chase them during the
midday throwing flutter spoons off rocky points and
deeper sand points as they retreat to deeper depth with
the bait fish.
Another great technique in targeting wipers is to fish for
them at night. During May, June and July, the alewife will
seek the shallows and the wipers will be right with them.
There are times you can camp on the beach and throw for
wipers feet from your camper.
As late summer and fall appear, the wipers really start to
disperse throughout the lake and can be found trolling or
throwing slabs spoons over fish that you mark in 20 to 60
feet of water.
54
Nebraskaland • May 2026
Another species that seems to be getting more and more
attention each year at McConaughy is the common carp.
You will see several people targeting them with fly rods in
the spring and summer months. I like to fish for them in the
shallows throwing small crayfish and micro leech patterns
as June and July roll around. I like to throw imitation cotton
seeds or puke flies (white rabbit fur) on top of flat glass
water. It is a sight-fishing exercise that is a lot harder than
it sounds, but at times carp have chased these surface
cotton imitations 20 feet, the takes are just like watching
trout sip a hopper.
Jack emhoff and Blake Steinke wait on the photographer to
head out fishing.
As you can see, McConaughy gives you many options to get
a bite on your trip. Even after fishing this lake for 50 years,
almost on every trip, something new surprises me. It could
be a new spot, a new technique or even seeing something
new for the first time. Ultimately, I’m still chasing my
boyhood feeling of “the thunk” and what is on the other
side of the line. It’s the catalyst that invokes the same
emotions I had when I was 10 years old and the pure joy of
just fishing. N
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
55
A RAcE
fOr
EVeRyOnE
Crofton’s Dam Race at
Lewis and Clark Lake
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
xplorers Credit nion hosts a water station in Lewis and Clark
State Recreation Area every year. Volunteers host about 12
water stations along the route. Racers vote on their favorite,
and the winning water station gets a prize.
L
56
,
S
L
Nebraskaland • May 2026
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
57
Julie Moeller of Crofton
participates in the full triathlon:
kayaking 1.5 miles, running 5k
and biking 12 miles. COOPER DAVIS
IF
region. The event consists
of a 1.5-mile kayak on the
lake, then a 5k run through
the state recreation area,
followed by a 12-mile bike
ride into the town of Crofton.
The event is unique in that
racers have a multitude of
options on how they want
to participate — organizers
are continually thinking
of ways to encourage and
accommodate racers of
different abilities.
“You can do the whole
thing yourself — do every
leg of the race. Or like a lot of
people new to racing, they’ll jump in with a team,” Marsh
explained. “You can just do the kayak portion, or you can just
do the running portion, or just the bike portion with a team.
And often, those teams are made up of family members or
coworkers or people you just want to have fun with.”
For example, Marsh’s cousin Kyle is a teacher in
Hartington with cerebral palsy. For his 40th birthday, Kyle
entered the race with Marsh’s husband, Craig. Kyle was able
to race the kayak portion while Craig did the running and
biking portions. The 2025 event was the team’s third year of
competing together.
Marsh’s daughter, Claire, also raced for the first time
when she was 14 years old, training with her dad all
summer, and she almost beat him.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Northeast Region
Park Superintendent Tyler Wulf’s brother-in-law also did
the race after having quadruple bypass surgery. “He set a
goal to be able to do the race after surgery, and he did a
great job. And he finished,” Marsh said.
Additionally, two more events were added in 2025.
you’ve ever dreamed about participating in a
triathlon, but don’t want or can’t do the whole
thing — Crofton’s Dam Race is the answer. The
three-sport event combines kayaking, running
and bicycling and kicks off at Lewis and Clark State
Recreation Area and ends on Main Street in Crofton, where
an after-party and “the best dam bloody Mary” awaits
competitors and visitors.
The race was started in 2018 by a small group of
community members looking to encourage more tourism
to their town by the scenic Lewis and Clark Lake. The
July event grew from 58 racers in its first year to over 350
racers from 12 states in 2025 — some came as far away as
California, Maryland and Florida.
The race is not about competition, said Heidi Marsh,
a Crofton volunteer who has been part of the event’s
planning committee since the beginning.
“We have elite racers come, and we love them and they’re
welcome, but that’s not our target,” Marsh said. “People
come because they want a unique racing opportunity and
to have a really good time.”
Stacy and Terry Thoene of Eagle racing with their 7-year-old son, Oliver,
Organizers have made the race as
who is battling CLN2 Batten’s Disease. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
accessible and inclusive as possible,
with participants ranging from 14 years
old to their 70s. A true grassroots effort,
Crofton’s Dam Race is about community
spirit, hospitality and getting people
outside and moving.
A RAcE FoR EvErYoNe
During its inception, committee
members wanted to offer a triathlon that
would embrace the Lewis and Clark Lake
58
Nebraskaland • May 2026
he 1 mile ike ride from Lewis and Clark Lake into downtown Crofton
can be completed as part of the triathlon or as a standalone race.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
Participants have the option to bypass the triathlon.
Instead, they can run the half marathon that starts at the
state recreation area and ends in Crofton or, they can make
the trek by bike — e-bikes are allowed.
The race is also popular among half marathoners
looking to run in every state. Marsh remembers a couple of
septuagenarians who flew into Nebraska to race several years
ago. They wore capes with the map of United States sewn on,
with states highlighted where they had run half marathons.
Crofton locals Jeff and Jolene Steffen showing their handcrafted
kayak to curious children.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
Some participants, such as Crofton husband-andwife team Jeff and Jolene Steffen have gone so far as
handcrafting their own wooden kayak for the occasion.
The Steffens have been participating since 2018; their
daughter won the female individual triathlon in 2024.
Even younger children are encouraged to join the fun.
Crofton Physical Therapy offers a kids race the Friday night
prior. Kids ages 8-13 can sign up for a short run, short bike
ride and a swim in the Crofton public pool. It’s been a nice
add-on for racers who are also bringing their children into
town, Marsh said.
“It’s $10 a kid, and they get a goodie bag. The race is untimed,
even though my son claims he won last year,” she said.
Crofton Dam Race
Registration
Thanks to sponsors, including Blue Cross
Blue Shield of Nebraska, Crofton Community
Club and Explorers Credit Unit, organizers
have been able to keep registration fees
low (fees will increase after July 10):
• Individual triathlon: $70
• Team triathlon: $105
• Youth team triathlon (ages 14-18): $80
• Half marathon only: $70
• Bike race only: $40
Participants may borrow a kayak from the
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at
no cost. However, they must bring their
own life jacket, bike and helmet.
Register at croftonsdamrace.com.
COOPER DAVIS
May 2026 •
Nebraskaland
59
State park employee Daryl
Ausdemore helps a kayaker.
Fundraising for a
Hike-Bike Trail
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
volunteers are extra special,”
Marsh said. “Our community loves
this event, and we see the value
in it. We love introducing our
families to new racers from across
the country, and so we welcome
them. People just find lots of joy
out on the road.”
RAcE AfTeR-PaRtY
UNbEaTaBlE HoSpItAlItY
Organizers do their best to make racers feel safe and
welcome, and the sense of hospitality is palpable on race
day. Over 150 volunteers make Crofton’s Dam Race possible,
and that number includes Crofton’s entire fire department,
Yankton County Search and Rescue, an EMT ambulance
squad and the support of state and local law enforcement.
Because a large portion of the race is on the highway, safety
is a top concern.
Also, race announcers, cooks and local families running
water stations are integral to the event’s success and charm.
The water stations are set at every intersection throughout
the race, and volunteers dress up in fun, silly costumes,
carry uplifting signs and enthusiastically cheer on every
racer to help keep up their morale.
“Time and time again, we hear that people just really
appreciate the hospitality of Crofton and that our
On race day, the Knox County
town of 800 swells to a lively
crowd of 1,300. Racer or not,
everyone can partake at Crofton’s
Dam Race famed after-party at
the finish line. Set on Main Street, racers, family, friends,
locals and volunteers gather to celebrate with cold drinks,
food, a live band and an awards ceremony. The after-party
started after the 2018 race, when organizers realized
something was missing.
“My husband was really excited to have that camaraderie
of racing. But he felt getting a pat on the back and a tavern
sandwich afterward wasn’t enough,” Marsh explained.
“And it was at that moment we realized we needed to make
this a celebration. If we’re going to invite people to our
community, let’s really show them something special.”
Marsh credits locals Doug and Juliet de Shazer, owners of
Crofton Haymarket, and Lewis & Clark Pulley Museum for
preparing the amazing food that participants get to enjoy
at the end of their race — delicious chicken sandwiches,
salads, homemade cookies and Crofton’s “best dam
bloody Mary.”
Racers and spectators enjoy the comraderie, live music and the “best dam bloody Mary” at the finish line celebration.
60
Nebraskaland • May 2026
COOPER DAVIS
Neal Neuhalfen, right, names Cheryl Frederik of Springfield the
winner of the 2025 “Spirit of the Jorts” award. COOPER DAVIS
In 2025, Hard Patch Brewery in Hartington also created a
special edition beer for the event.
SPiRiT Of tHe “JOrTs” AwArD
Although competition isn’t the event’s main goal, trophies
crafted by Crofton High School’s technical education class are
awarded to first place individual triathlon male and female.
Winning teams in different age groups also are recognized.
Additionally, “every half marathoner gets a medal, because
if you’re going to run 13.1 miles, that’s pretty impressive,”
Marsh said, “especially through our river region, which is
bluffs and hills. It’s not an easy run.”
The most coveted recognition, however, is the Spirit
of the Jorts Award, which was inspired by Crofton local
Neal Neuhalfen. Neuhalfen’s son, a cross-country runner,
convinced his father to enter in 2018. Although he agreed,
Neuhalfen had no interest in buying or wearing new exercise
clothing, so he did the entire race wearing cut-off jean shorts
— also known as “jorts.”
“I don’t know if you’ve ever ridden a bike in jorts, but it’s really
hard,” Marsh said. “Neil is a beloved character of the race. He
did it for several years in jorts, and we’ve kind of started to
identify him as the spirit of Crofton’s Dam Race. So, several
years back, we created the Neal Neuhalfen Spirit of the Jorts
Award, and we give that award out every year to somebody
who embraces the Neal Neuhalfen spirit of the race.”
The award can be given to someone who might’ve had a
challenge during the race but they persevered and finished.
Or it could be awarded to a person who stopped to help a
fellow racer on the road. Neuhalfen’s original jorts were
mounted on a large plaque and each new winner’s name is
added to it.
“It’s the most popular award. It’s the last award we give out,
and people get into it. They’re excited about it,” Marsh said.
Crofton’s Dam Race 2026 will take place July 25 at
Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area. To register, visit
croftonsdamrace.com. Then read about the schedule, route
and get your gear in order before the race.
“We’ll bring the fun and the good times otherwise”
Marsh said. N
Registration fees and sponsor donations
help raise seed money for the construction
of a new walking-biking trail at Lewis and
Clark state recreation area. Crofton’s Dam
Race committee has pledged $50,000 to
the project thus far, said Lewis and Clark
State Recreation Area Superintendent
Leslie Donner.
The new trail would wind through the
Wiegand and Burbach areas and connect
the marina, campgrounds, cabins and
other park attractions. It would also allow
for additional 5k and 3k race options
within the SRA. Nebraska Game and Parks
recently hired an engineering firm, and
permitting, budgeting and a construction
timeline are in the works.
“Crofton’s Dam Race brings new visitors into
the park and creates a deeper connection
to the outdoors,” Donner said. “It’s incredibly
exciting to see not only the committee, but
also the many dedicated volunteers come
together in support of this trail project. This
event will be remembered for more than just
race day — it will leave a lasting impact on
our park and community for years to come.”
JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND
May 2026 •
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61
Before anyone makes a cast, a 25-pound
channel catfish named Brutus must be
fed. He’s been hanging around the dock
for five or six years, and the Wednesday
Night Fishing Therapy group considers
him part of the ritual.
Story and photos by Gerry Steinauer, Botanist
“We know it’s him because his whiskers are all rubbed off,” Mark Dietz said.
Some evenings a couple smaller buddies drift in behind him, but Brutus is the
regular. When Mark tosses a few handfuls of cat food onto the water, the big fish
surfaces and gulps it down, unfazed by the commotion just feet away. Only after
Brutus has eaten does the real therapy begin.
The group of Sarpy and Douglas County friends fish together nearly every
week, May through mid-September, at Mark’s pond on the outskirts of Bellevue.
They crowd onto a pontoon boat, christened The Barge, and circle the pond,
casting until dark. The banter, joking and laughter are nearly nonstop. A poor
cast or lost fish draws a barrage of good-natured jabs that only close friends can
deliver. With this group, if you can’t take the heat — and dish it out — you’d best
not come aboard.
The Therapy Group
Mark, a Papillion native, is the heart of the group. In 1993, he started a
Wednesday night fishing event at Lake Olivo, a Platte River sandpit where
members had a cabin. In 2015, however, the group faced a crossroads: They
were “booted from the cabin” when a campground was planned for the site.
Undeterred, they began fishing a 6-acre flood-control pond adjoining 12 acres
of grass and woods owned by Mark and his wife, Beth. They had purchased the
land in 2002 from her grandparents, Glen and Mary Jane Miller, whose family had
homesteaded there. The name Wednesday Night Fishing Therapy soon followed
when, on a lark, Mark made it the title of a group text to see who would be fishing
that week.
Today, longtime members include Dietz, Ron Koenig, Marty Giff, Todd Dubay
and Steve Finley, along with a few newer faces. Each week, Mark texts seven or
eight people to see who’s in, and four or five usually show up. A few guys come
only once or twice a year. “They always have to mow the lawn, walk the dog or
something,” he said.
The tight-knit group also takes part in other Dietz-organized events. These
include the River Bottom Boys’ annual deer camp at his Platte River cabin,
where “we sometimes shoot deer, but mostly we eat really well and watch a lot
of football.” There’s also his 35-year-running annual triathlon, when more than
30 friends and family gather for a grueling day of golf, horseshoes and lawn darts.
Lastly, they occasionally get together to sample Mark’s home-brewed beer and
wine — some batches better than others.
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front,” he replied.
up
ad
le
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tt
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“ Yeah, it’s
ty chimed in.
“Just like you,” Mar
An Evening of Fishing
Last year, Mark — whom I’ve been friends with for more
than 35 years — invited me for an evening of therapy. In
early July 2025, I met Mark, Ron, Marty and Gene Braun,
a newer member, at the pond at 5 p.m., their standard
starting time. While loading the boat with fishing gear,
folding chairs and coolers, I asked Marty if he had gone to
school with Mark. “No,” he said. “Dietz didn’t go to high
school — he’s still trying to get his GED.” The tone was set.
Before setting off, Mark was unanimously — and without
his consent — voted captain for the evening, responsible
for running the trolling motor. As I later learned, the
designation made him the target of sarcasm whenever his
steering failed to meet the approval of his mischievous
passengers. We were soon underway, slowly trolling across
the pond’s quiet waters, quail whistling from nearby hills.
In the heat of summer, the group starts each evening
fishing for bluegill and crappie in the cooler, deeper water
in the pond’s center, using ultralight rods and casting 1/32ounce jigs, mostly road runners. It took Mark years to talk
the others into using 4-pound-test line and light jigs for
panfish. “They couldn’t keep up with me,” he said. “I told
them, ‘You gotta go light, baby.’”
They finally listened, and according to Mark, “now they
catch fish.” In the pond’s clear water, heavier line is more
visible, and fish avoid the jig. With an ultralight rod and
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4-pound line, they can feel even the slightest bite, and
casting light jigs is easier than with 6-pound line. On a good
night, the group catches 30 to 40 panfish.
Before long, the guys landed three crappies. When Marty
reeled one in, he gave an unexpected kudo to the captain
for “steering him onto one,” then slipped the fish back into
the water. “You know it’s going to be a good night if I catch
a fish,” he added.
Soon, small bass and bluegill were hitting. During
summer, the group practices catch-and-release, mainly
because, as Mark put it, “nobody wants to clean fish late at
night.” When ice fishing — when the fish are best eating —
they keep moderate-sized bluegill and crappie and release
the larger ones.
The pond holds mostly 10- to 11-inch crappie and 8- to
9-inch bluegill. After four decades of fishing it, Mark has
noticed that panfish size tends to run in cycles — large for
a few years, then smaller. He isn’t sure what causes the
swings but believes water clarity plays a role. In wet years,
runoff clouds the water, limiting sunlight and reducing
aquatic vegetation. With fewer plants come fewer insects,
and with less food the fish don’t grow as quickly.
As the evening wore on, the bantering and storytelling
never let up. One frequent target was Steve — fortunately
not in the boat that night — who has a reputation for being
high-minded when it comes to fishing, spurning panfish
and casting only for big bass. “He uses $75 lures that look
like a muskrat swimming around the pond,” Ron joked.
Mark then told a now-fabled Steve story. “One night, Steve
had a big bass strike that yanked his $800 rod-and-reel
combo right out of his hands. He didn’t hesitate — he dove
into the water after it, phone in his pocket and all. He got
the rod, and the phone survived, but he lost his $100 Oakley
sunglasses. We laughed our butts off.”
Switching to Bass
As the sun neared the horizon and bullfrogs began croaking
from the shallows, the anglers switched to larger rods and
heavier line for bass. From about 10 yards out, they cast rubber
frogs and worms and crankbaits near — and on top of — the
dense mat of American lotus pads ringing the shoreline.
A big bass swirled deep among the pads, prompting Mark to
pitch his frog to the spot. The fish struck in a flash, but missed.
The performance repeated on the next two casts, then the fish
gave up the game. Seeing the action, Ron was prompted to
switch lures and asked Mark if his frog was weighted. “Yeah,
it’s got a little lead up front,” he replied. “Just like you,” Marty
chimed in.
Gene, the least raucous onboard, gave me a smile and said,
“Just like a bunch of kids. I’m nice to Mark because I’m new and
want to be asked back.”
The bass hit consistently, though most were small; the
largest weighed about two pounds. Mark said bass fishing
in the pond isn’t what it used to be. They once caught
many 3- to 4-pounders, but not anymore. He believes the
decline may be part of a natural cycle, especially since
they release all bass. But he also blames the American
lotus along the shoreline. In spring, big bass hold in
shallow bedding areas, but the lure-snagging lotus makes
casting nearshore difficult. “Lotus are good for fish, but
not fishing,” he said.
When the sun slipped below the horizon, the group
decided to call it a night. Mark turned the boat toward the
dock and hit the throttle, allowing Ron one final jab at the
captain. “I just got my last cast into the lily pads and now
we’re going 60 miles an hour,” he said.
“Being captain stinks,” Mark replied. “I’ve been harassed
all night.”
With the boat secured and gear loaded into trucks, the
fishermen — keeping with tradition — sat in lawn chairs
or leaned against tailgates and enjoyed a cold drink as
they relived the evening. They agreed the fishing had been
good, then headed home one by one until only Mark and
I remained. As we said our goodbyes, I thanked him for the
evening, and he invited me back.
“Sure thing,” I said. A bit more therapy couldn’t hurt. N
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Mixed Bag
Rattler: Herpetologist Dennis Ferraro is always ready to engage anyone and everyone about frogs, turtles and snakes
— especially rattlesnakes, his favorite. See story on page 72. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
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Mixed Bag
Thistles:
The Good,
the Bad and
the Pretty
By Justin Haag
It was a busy scene even though I
was the only person around for miles.
Far from the city streets were
countless bees and other pollinators
buzzing around the various white
flowers dotting the surrounding green
Sandhills grassland of the Crescent
Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
The species attracting so much
attention with its yellowish-white
flowers that spring evening was Platte
thistle (Cirsium canescens). I took
pleasure in walking from thistle to
thistle to focus my macro lens on the
bumble bees and other insects.
Does a poky thistle deserve so much
love? Seems this one does.
Nebraska has 10 thistle species, half
of which are native. Members of the
sunflower family, some are perennials
and some biennials with a two-year
life cycle.
As non-native thistles have caused
land managers headaches, the natives
are considered proper species for our
prairies. Sure, cattle do not like to eat
their thorny leaves and stems, but if
pastures are managed correctly, they
don’t grow in large enough numbers to
cause problems. Still, they have often
become collateral damage to methods
of control for the bad actors as some
have taken a “any thistle is a bad
thistle” approach.
As evidenced by the show I saw
that evening, the good thistles can
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be important species for pollinators.
Not only does Platte thistle have
a name that should resonate well
with Nebraskans, it is known to be
a “butterfly plant” with nectar-rich
flowers. Later in its life cycle, seeds
provide food for birds.
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon
virsecens) and Honey Bee (Apis)
O t h e r n a t ive t h i s t l e s i n t h e
state, generally not considered
to be problematic in pastures, are
tall (Cirsium altissimum), Flodman
(Cirsium flodmanii), yellowspine
(Cirsium ochrocentrum) and wavyleaf
(Cirsium undulatum).
The thistles considered to be
aggressive weeds in Nebraska — all
non-native — are Canada (Cirsium
arvense), musk (Carduus nutans),
plumeless (Carduus acanthoides),
Scotch (Onopordum acanthium) and
bull (Cirsium vulgare).
The problematic thistles were
introduced to North America via
Euro-American settlers, maybe in
contaminated seed and feed, or
perhaps on purpose for their looks.
Brown-Belted Bumble Bee
(Bombus griseocollis) on Platte
Thistle (Cirsium canescens)
Without the natural enemies of their
original lands overseas, the thistles
thrived and displaced valuable grazing
forage for livestock, native prairie
plants and cropland.
They took root in our regions at
different paces. Canada thistle, a
native of Europe and Asia that some
say was named by Americans blaming
French traders for bringing it south
from “the Land of Maple,” has been
considered a noxious weed since the
1800s. Musk didn’t make the list until
the mid-20th century.
How does one discern the good
thistles from the bad?
Many resources exist, such as the
Nebraska Weed Control Association and
Nebraska Department of Agriculture’s
collaboration, “Thistles of Nebraska.”
I have it in print, but it is easily
found with an internet search. The
guide has a helpful flowchart to help
people distinguish the natives from
non-natives. One tell-tale feature, for
instance, is whether the thistle has hair
on its leaves. If it has no hair, or only
sparse hair, on its upper side, it’s a musk
or plumeless thistle — the bad ones.
Landowners use a variety of
methods to control the problematic
species. With a little knowledge, they
can get rid of the out-of-place thistles
and leave the others for the birds and
the bees, or whatever other pollinators
find them attractive.
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Mixed Bag
Nebraska’s
Herpetologist —
Dennis Ferraro
By Julie Thomas
Dennis Ferraro is always ready to
engage anyone and everyone about
frogs, turtles and snakes — especially
rattlesnakes, his favorite. A muchrevered professor of wildlife biology
at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
his enthusiasm and passion for the
conservation of North American
amphibians and reptiles
has inspired generations
of students, whom he goes
to great lengths to engage.
Ferraro is known for pulling
snakes from his pockets
during lectures and inviting
students to join him on latenight excursions to look for
injured herpetofauna that
might need veterinary help.
The professor’s infectious
love for amphibians and
reptiles started when he was a child.
By age 9, Ferraro knew he wanted
to become a herpetologist. His family
home in Connecticut backed up
to a wooded wetland, and Ferraro
wandered around that wetland most
days. Although this practice is highly
discouraged and often illegal today,
he began bringing home specimens
and keeping them in a dresser drawer
for observation. So, when Ferraro’s
mother began finding snakes and frogs
throughout the house, she prompted
his father to buy aquariums and set up
a room in the basement — Ferraro’s first
real laboratory.
By age 13, the budding scientist
was keeping an observation journal
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and making notes about frog calls and
snake hiding places. Certainly, young
Ferraro was a determined, curious
learner, but it was his parents’ support
of outdoor exploration, his science
teachers’ mentoring, and the Boy
Scouts of America that guided him to
the perfect career.
Today, Ferraro calls himself a
conservation biologist, one who
focuses on balanced-functioning
ecosystems and their interdependent
relationships. Ferraro’s concern for
snakes has defined his efforts as a
teacher. Lectures and field courses for
students weren’t enough — he also
needed to broaden public awareness:
Reptiles, especially snakes like the
eastern racer shown above, are
largely misunderstood by the public,
and often needlessly killed. To raise
awareness, the herpetologist began
collecting amphibians and reptiles for
research and educational purposes.
Fe r r a r o a n d h i s s p e c i m e n s ,
along with student mentees, have
supported education programs across
Nebraska, including presentations
a t Ne b r a s k a G a m e a n d Pa r k s
Commission outdoor expos. He also
has appeared on Nebraska Public
Media’s Backyard Farmer program
where he helps viewers resolve
conflicts with wildlife and damage
control on their property.
As a scientist, Ferraro
continues to travel
Nebraska to update his
3 5 -ye a r d a ta b a se o n
herpetofauna populations
— the rattlesnake birthing
season being the most
anticipated part of the year.
He travels to protected
areas, such as Nature
Conservancy properties,
where rattlesnakes fulfill
an important part in that grassland
ecosystem alongside prairie dogs
and bison. While there, he counts,
tags, weighs, measures and monitors
baby rattlers. Ferraro finds the work
immensely fulfilling.
In a way, we have the rattlesnakes
to thank for keeping this talented
scientist in Nebraska.
Julie Thomas is a University of
Nebraska-Lincoln professor emerita
and a Nebraska Master Naturalist. To
celebrate our history of conservation
storytelling, Nebraskaland will feature
experts who have made a difference
for Nebraska’s wildlife and wild places.
For without their work, Nebraskaland
writers would have fewer stories to tell.
May 2026 •
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Portraits from the Past
Mule deer hunting near Cozad, 1965
My uncle Alan Anderson (left) and his neighbor Keith Vogt
admiring Alan’s mule deer. Keeping an eye on the situation
is farm dog, Snowball. This photo was taken on my
grandparents Ralph and Opal Anderson’s farm in Roten Valley
in Custer County.
– Doyle Shea, Ankeny, Iowa
Loup City pheasant hunt, ca. 1927
My great-great-uncle Will Stricker, left, poses with four other hunters, unknown, in the
Frederick Hotel in Loup City after a pheasant hunt. I believe this is one of the first years
pheasants could be hunted in Nebraska. The first pheasant hunt was a three-day season in
1927 in Wheeler County and certain parts of Sherman County, which is where Loup City is
located. The bag limit at that time was five birds, and the five men shot 25 birds. If anyone
knows the identity of the other hunters, please reach out.
– Larry Jones, Lincoln
Raising pheasants, ca. 1957
My sisters and I raised ring-necked pheasants for 5 years near
Cedar Bluffs. Photographed is me with a Mongolian pheasant.
– Leonard Bouc, Mead
Coon hunting, 1977
That fall, my dad, C. Walter Korte
(left), and I hunted coons with his
white German shepherd and purebred
Norwegian elkhound. The coons were
sold to Smeal’s Hide and Fur Co. in
Scribner for $24 each.
– Wendall Korte, Columbus
Send contributions to: Portraits from the Past, Nebraskaland Magazine, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370. Or e-mail to Jenny.Wheatley@Nebraska.gov.
Photos should show people enjoying Nebraska outdoor activities, such as camping, boating, hunting or fishing, and must have been taken before 2000. We will
give priority to unusual photos or activities. When possible, please include a story about the photograph and identify the people, places and approximate date it
was taken. Text may be edited and photos adjusted for reproduction. All photos will be returned. Please send ORIGINALS if possible for best reproduction.
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The Last Stop
Tree Skull
By Eric Fowler
Things live in the forest and die in the forest. That’s just
the way nature works.
Those things include white-tailed deer and trees.
Sometimes they live and die together in very interesting ways.
I spent a lot of time in the woods at Indian Cave State
Park between 2017 and 2019 setting and checking camera
traps that six times successfully captured photographs
of a mountain lion that had decided to call the park and
surrounding land along the Missouri River home.
One day, while looking for a new place to put a camera trap,
I stumbled on life and death interacting: A pawpaw sapling
had grown up through the eye socket of a white-tailed deer
skull, lifting it 4 feet off the ground. I revisited the tree skull
the next spring and captured the image you see here.
I had intended to return from time to time and see how
high the skull would be lifted from the floor. But there are
only so many hours in the day, and after moving my camera
trap to a different part of the park, I didn’t take the time to
revisit the spot until recently.
On that visit, there were a few pawpaws growing in the
draw that were 3 to 4 inches in diameter. At least one more
had been crushed by a fallen tree. The skull was nowhere
to be found. I’m not sure when, but I’m guessing after a few
years, the diameter of the tree exceeded the size of the eye
socket and broke the bone, which would’ve been very brittle
after years of exposure to the elements.
I would’ve rather seen the bark grow around the bones, and
the skull now 10 feet above the forest floor. But on the floor
is surely where it ended up. There, it might have fed mice or
other small mammals, which might have fed larger ones. Or
it simply melted back into the soil, providing nutrients for
the pawpaw and other plants.
Either way, the circle of life in the forest continues.
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