Marsh Madness takes flight this weekend

The event will coincide with the annual Sandhill Crane and water fowl migration now under way.

"Marsh Madness is about so much more than just Goose Pond. The waterfowl and Sandhill Crane migration at GPFWA may be the hook that brings people into the community, but the event itself is really about the community and what the community of Greene County has to offer," Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area Property Manager Brad Feaster said. "The members of the planning committee all share a vision for Marsh Madness. That vision is of a multi-day, countywide festival that celebrates Greene County's abundant natural resources. This year's inaugural event is the first step toward realizing that vision."

The event will kick off at 5 p.m. Friday with a chili dinner that features keynote speaker Indiana Wildlife Federation Executive Director John Goss at the Roy Clark Community Building located in Humphreys Park in Linton.

Goss, who formerly headed the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, helped to engineer the deal for the DNR to purchase the more than 8,000 acre Goose Pond/Beehunter Marsh area from Florida developer/farmer Maurice Wilder in 2004.

MARSH MADNESS: In an effort to showcase the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area to local residents and people who live throughout the Midwest, the first-ever Marsh Madness Bird Festival will take flight this weekend. (Greene County Daily World/Nick Schneider) [Order this photo]

Former Indiana Speaker of the House John Gregg, from nearby Sandborn, will be the master of ceremonies for the opening night program.

Saturday's activities will run from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A continental breakfast will be served at the Roy Clark Building from 6:30 -- 10 a.m.

During the day on Saturday there will be self-guided tours of the surrounding area starting at 6:30 a.m., where festival participants can see the annual bird migration.

Bus tours will also be available.

In addition to the tours, festival-goers can attend workshops on such topics as nature photography, painting and backyard wildlife habitat among others at various venues in the park and in Linton, Feaster said.

Hardy Lake Bird Rehab Center will be giving presentations and have several birds of prey on display.

A craft and vendor fair will also be conducted during the day Saturday.

Children's activities will include some art and coloring contests as well as bird house and bird feeder construction, Feaster noted.

The festival will be based out of Humphreys Park, but some workshops and seminars will take place at other venues in Linton, such as Carnegie Heritage and Arts Center of Greene County as well as at the Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area.

Feaster said there has been a lot of behind-the-scenes planning going on for month to make Marsh Madness a success. He's also encouraged by the community support for this weekend's event.

"We are certainly encouraged by and thankful for the support we have received from local businesses and community leaders. Without this community-wide support, Marsh Madness simply could not happen," Feaster said.

Sponsors of the event include: Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC, Peabody Energy Group, Linton Family Pharmacy, Triple H Gun Club & Grill on the Hill, Regions Bank, Bloomfield State Bank, MainSource Bank, Shields Hardware, Camp Refuge, Bender Lumber Company, Mercury Cleaners and Worthington Antiques.

"In addition to financial support, it takes an army of volunteers and other contributors to make Marsh Madness happen," Feaster added.

Other contributors include: City of Linton, Linton Civitan, Linton Rotary, Friends of Goose Pond, Carnegie Heritage and Arts Center of Greene County, Sassafras Audubon Society, Linton Public Library, Greene County Daily World/The Shopper, Linton First Christian Church and Indiana Division of Fish & Wildlife.

For more information about Marsh Madness, go to www.marshmadness.info.

Marsh Madness

Schedule of Events

Friday

Venue: Roy Clark Community Building in Humphreys Park

5 -- 6 p.m. -- Chili Dinner (John Gregg, Master of Ceremonies)

6 -- 6:30 p.m. -- Keynote Speaker John Goss, Executive Director of Indiana Wildlife Federation

Saturday

Venue: Roy Clark Community Building in Humphreys Park

6:30 -- 10 a.m. -- Continental Breakfast

6:30 a.m. -- 7 p.m. -- Self-guided driving tours

8 a.m.-- 6 p.m. -- Vendor booths/trade show

10 a.m. -- 6 p.m. -- Live birds of prey display

10 - 11 a.m. -- Hardy Lake Bird Program

3 -- 4 p.m. -- Hardy Lake Bird Program

Venue: Girl Scout Cabin in Humphreys Park

11:15 a.m. -- noon -- "How to" at Goose Pond, Brad Feaster, Property Manager

1 -- 1:45 p.m. -- Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Travis Stoelting Indiana Wildlife Federation

2 -- 2:45 p.m. -- Birds of Goose Pond, Lee Sterrenburg Sassafras Audubon & Friends of Goose Pond

Venue: East Cabin in Humphreys Park

7 a.m. -- 7 p.m. -- Bus Tours of Area, Linton First Christian Church. Tours will run every two hours with a break from 11 a.m. -- 1 p.m.

Venue: West Cabin in Humphreys Park

8 -- 10 a.m. -- Kids' Activities, Bird Feeder & Bird House Construction, Coloring Contest

Noon -- 3 p.m. -- Kids' Activities, Bird Feeder & Bird House Construction, Coloring Contest Open to kids 12 years and under. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Venue: Carnegie Heritage and Arts Center of Greene County

Pre-registration required. Call 847-0165 to register. Attendees need to supply their own material -- paint, canvas, camera etc. Workshop sizes are limited to 10 people. Workshops plan on having an outdoors component so dress accordingly.

1 -- 3 p.m. -- Painting Workshop, Wyatt LeGrand

A second painting workshop may be held in the morning if there are adequate registrants. Call 847-0165 for details.

10 a.m. -- noon -- Nature Photography, Intermediate/Advanced, Cheryl Helms

3 -- 6 p.m. -- Nature Photography, Beginner, Terry Smith and Shad Cox