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The festival will be based out of Humphreys Park, but guests may take guided or self-guided tours through Goose Pond to view the peak migration season for Sandhill Cranes and ducks.
"There may be anywhere between seven and 10,000 cranes and 25,000 to 30,000 ducks," explained Brad Feaster, who is property manager of G.P. "The cranes are showy birds that make a lot of noise and do a mating dance.
"The idea behind the event is that we are trying to target -- not necessarily birdies -- but people who have a curiosity about G.P. We are starting from scratch much like Linton's Music Festival began."
Feaster added that he would love to have a full house at the Roy Clark Community Building, but would be happy if a 1,000 visitors attended.
In addition to tours, there are other events for the whole family including a live bird display at Humphreys Park and workshops at the park and at Carnegie Heritage and Art Center. There will also be educational speakers and a chili supper and continental breakfast.
Tom Fisher, who is on the festival committee, said Marsh Madness is a mission statement to educate people about G.P.
A chili supper will kick off the event at 5 p.m., March 5 at the Roy Clark Community Building in Humphreys Park. The chili will be made from the recipe that has won top honors for the past three years at Linton's chili contest.
John Gregg, the longest serving Democrat Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, will be master of ceremonies for the evening.
Following supper, John Goss, executive director of Indiana Wildlife Federation, will speak between 6 and 6:30 p.m.
Saturday begins with a continental breakfast at the Roy Clark Building between 6:30 and 10 a.m. The trade show with vendors will open booths at 8 a.m. Live birds of prey will be on display including a bald eagle from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and the Hardy Lake Bird Program will be at 10 a.m. and again in the afternoon at 3 p.m.
On Saturday at the Girl Scout Cabin in Humphreys Park, Feaster will speak on "How To" at Goose Pond.
Following Feaster, Travis Stoelting from Indiana Wildlife Federation will give a talk on backyard wildlife habitat at 1 p.m., and at 2 p.m., Lee Sterrenburg of Sassafras Audubon will speak on birds of G.P.
All day from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., bus tours of G.P. -- with a bus donated by Linton First Christian Church -- will leave from the East Cabin in Humphreys Park. For those who want to take a self-guided tour, maps will be provided.
At the West Cabin in the park on Saturday morning between 8 and 10 a.m., kids can attend activities consisting of bird feeder and bird house construction and a coloring contest. The same activities will resume at noon until 3 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Carnegie Heritage and Arts Center (CHAC) will be bustling with activity with a painting workshop at 1 p.m. taught by Wyatt LeGrand. The workshop is limited to 10 people, and attendees need to supply their own material, paint, canvas, camera, etc. The workshop may have an outside component so guests are advised to dress warmly.
A second painting workshop may be held in the morning if there are adequate registrants. Those attending must register by calling (812) 847-0165.
There will also be nature photography workshops at Carnegie. Cheryl Helms will conduct an intermediate/advanced workshop between 10 a.m. and noon. Terry Smith and Shad Cox will have a beginner photography workshop between 3 and 6 p.m.
Donna Kluesner, president of CHAC, said she is also trying to organize an art exhibit for Saturday at Carnegie.
"The festival will be a great way for the community to come together and promote G.P.," noted Kluesner.
Tickets for the festival, including Friday's chili supper, are $7 if purchased before Feb. 19. After Feb. 19, tickets are $10. To attend Saturday only, tickets are $5 and will include bus tours.
Tickets are available at Goose Pond, Carnegie Heritage and Arts Center, and Pro Bass. For more ticket information, call 659-9901 or e-mail at www.marshmadness.
Marsh Madness is presented by Friends of Goose Pond, Linton Civitan, Linton Rotary, Carnegie Heritage and Arts Center of Greene County, Linton Public Library, and city of Linton.
Financial support for the event was provided by Utilities District of Western Indiana (REMC), Peabody Energy Group, Linton Family Pharmacy, Bloomfield State Bank, and Mainsource Bank.
Other contributors are Mercury Cleaners, Worthington Antiques, Shields Hardware, and Jim Wood Construction.
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Wee Haa!
So let me get this straight... they are wanting people to pay to see the G.P. when you can see it for free any other time??
You should be happy if a 100 visitors attend.
I think Marsh Madness is a great idea. Obviously Goose Pond was a very controversial project and those who were opposed, very opposed, it seems to the point of never getting over it. I've only lived in the area for a few years, and was not here when the debate raged. I don't know what Goose Pond was before it became what it is today, but I can say as a newcomer it's a really beatiful area. For all the nasty comments I've read, it must have been spectacular before. Regardless of how you feel, it's what we have here, it's very attractive to a lot of people, and if handled properly can be a huge tourist draw, something the area can really capitalize on. I look at the Marsh Madness project and see an event that has been organized to focus on our incredible natural resources and local artists and crafters, and an event that's been designed to include the entire family. Any event that gets our kids outdoors and away from the TV & computer is a huge win to me.
wss422, the Goosepond was a marsh originally -- and naturally. In the early 1900's, it was drained to become farmland and have "acres and acres of waving cereal grains."
Wilder, Inc. owned it at the end, and sold the easement to the State of Indiana, then it sold the actual ground to the State of Indiana after it threatened to auction off the ground with the easement.
Area farmers will go on and on about the property taxes lost, but the fact is that Wilder, Inc. didn't pay their property taxes until the 11th hour when they were up for property tax sale, so I'm not sure how plausible that is given their corporate citizenship was -- well -- lacking. It was up for tax sale at least once let's say.
In their defense, however, the State said the max they would pay for an easement was $1,000 per acre. Before the ink was dry, the State moved their 'policy' amount upward. So, in that vein, I don't blame Wilder for, as some accuse, 'selling it twice'.
However, Wilder has done this a few times across the USA -- selling wildlife easements -- so it wasn't like he'd not been around the block before either.