In 2025 the Expo marked its tenth year with a significant expansion of opportunities for visitors to be inspired to connect with nature and take steps to preserve and enhance our area’s lands and waters. Held on the morning of Saturday, May 3, at Tulibee Tavern in Wahkon, Minnesota, the event featured seven speakers and more than 20 tabletop presenters representing agencies and businesses.
2025 EXPO ACTIVITIES
1. Presentations by area experts (See list below)
2. Opportunities to mix, mingle, and exchange ideas with representatives from more than 20 local agencies, programs, organizations, and businesses.
3. “Get the Lead Out” Tackle Exchange
4. Numerous Giveaways
5. Display of a mobile “Clean, Drain, Dry, Dispose” boat-cleaning unit
2025 SPEAKERS
Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Group with Margaret Vos
Welcome and opening remarks.
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe DNR with Perry Bunting
A summary of annual Mille Lacs Lake water quality data.
Keep It Clean Coalition with Ann Brucciani Lyon
Campaign and legislative update, Clean Up the Lake scuba diver findings, and what’s next.
National Loon Center Foundation with Maddi Nistler
All about loons — fun facts about this amazing species, including its nesting habits, chicks, diet, threats to habitat, and things you can do to make your environment more loon-friendly.
Norseman Guide Service with Mark Olson
Hear about healthy smallmouth bass habitat and the impact of smallmouth bass fishing on Mille Lacs Lake tourism.
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates with Lily Carr
How land closest to the water has the greatest impact on our lakes and how you can positively affect water quality, wildlife, and our lake heritage.
Mille Lacs Compass Shoreline Stewardship Program with Lynn Gallice
A free program that connects you with a shoreline expert who will walk your property with you to identify your goals, the good things you’re already doing, and what more you can do to help protect the lake.
2025 EXHIBITORS
- Aitkin County Lakes and Rivers Association
- Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
- Great Roots Shoreline Restoration
- Isle Airport
- Isle Public Schools
- Keep It Clean Campaign
- Mille Lacs Area Community Foundation
- Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe DNR
- MLLWG’s Mille Lacs Compass Shoreland Stewardship Program
- Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Group
- Mille Lacs Scenic Byway Committee
- Mille Lacs Soil and Water Conservation District
- Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- MNL (F.K.A. Minnesota Native Landscapes)
- Milkweed Renaissance Monarch Butterflies
- “Get the Lead Out” Tackle Exchange Program
- National Loon Center Foundation
- Norseman Guide Service
- Northern Waters Land Trust
- Rum River Watershed Partnership
- Tree-care Expert Peter Willis
WE THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 2025 EXPO
- Eller Farm
- Isle Airport/Willie Monteiro
- Lake Country Journal Magazine
- Martz Mobile Welding
- Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures
- MNL
- Norseman Guide Service
- Tulibee Tavern
Healthy Land, Healthy Lake 2025 is made possible in part by a grant from Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures.
PREVIOUS EXPOS
Healthy Land, Healthy Lake Expo 2024
Our 2024 event was held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 7 at McQuoid’s Inn north of Isle. Outdoors, visitors could explore the portable CD3 boat-cleaning unit which is used at public landings around the lake to aid boaters in cleaning their watercraft to reduce the transfer of aquatic invasive species. An aquatic invasive species inspector was present to further tell the story of the impact of aquatic invasives. Also outside were a number of plants on display, some of them native and some of them not-so-friendly. Inside, visitors found tables set up for the Keep It Clean and Get the Lead Out campaigns. Visitors also learned about the Watershed group’s Compass stewardship program for landowners and the Northern Waters Land Trust. A free lunch from Isle’s Smokin’ Mortars was served at noon was accompanied by a presentation about forest health. The 2024 Healthy Land, Healthy Lake Expo was funded by Aitkin County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force and the Rum River Watershed Partnership.
Healthy Land, Healthy Lake Expo 2023
Our 2023 event was held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 23 at McQuoid’s Inn north of Isle. This year’s event included the year’s third Lunch & Learn event. In the morning Expo visitors had the opportunity to explore the Keep It Clean wheelhouse which provided information about how to be “nice to the ice” during winter recreation. The CD3 boat cleaning unit was also on hand with its message about reducing the transfer of aquatic invasive species among lakes. An extensive collection of locally collected wild plants helped folks distinguish between friendly and not-so-friendly species. Visitors also learned about the Mille Lacs Compass program. A free lunch from Isle’s Smokin’ Mortars was served at noon. The lunch was accompanied by a presentation about invasive species by AIS Detector Tom Hubbard. The afternoon concluded with an informal meeting of the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Group. The Healthy Land, Healthy Lake Expo was funded by Aitkin County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force.
Healthy Land, Healthy Lake Expo 2022
Our 2022 event was held 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 18. McQuoid’s Inn north of Isle was our venue once again. At this year’s event attendees received a progress report on the Rum River Watershed Comprehensive Plan; learned to identify native plants; brought in lead tackle for safe disposal and replacement with non-toxic alternatives; learned about the spread of aquatic invasive species; and signed up to win giveaways. The morning wrapped up with a roundtable discussion of the challenges and rewards of land stewardship along with a sharing of experiences and expert advice on specific issues.
2022 Community of Stewards Picnic
Our Community of Stewards Picnic was held in Father Hennepin State Park by Isle, Minnesota, on Saturday, July 9. In addition to a lunch of local foods from Dan’s catering, attendees heard from speaker Brad Harrington, Nazhike-Awaasanang; had the chance to win prizes including a set of sandy-soil loving plants from MNL. Other activities included a lead tackle exchange, a plant identification session featuring real specimens, and opportunities to learn about actions landowners can take that preserve water quality while enhancing their landscapes.
Healthy Land, Healthy Lake Expo 2021
Our 2021 event was held 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, September 18 at McQuoid’s Inn north of Isle. Attendees were able to purchase native plants from MNL’s plant truck; exchange old lead tackle for new products made of non-toxic materials; learn about invasive species; sign up to win an invasive species I.D. book; see a new Clean-Drain-Dry-Dispose boat-cleaning unit; and share experiences with participants in the Mille Lacs COMPASS Program.
Healthy Land, Healthy Lake Virtual Conference 2020
Recordings of the four Healthy Land, Healthy Lake virtual sessions held August 24 – 27, 2020 are available below.
1. Managing Aquatic Invasive Species
PLAY VIDEO
Guests Steve Hughes, Aitkin Co. SWCD District Manager, and Penny Stiles, University of Minnesota Extension AIS Detector, discussed how aquatic invasive species are being managed by local agencies and what individuals can do to help control their spread.
Online resources:
DNR local AIS aid and link to county coordinators list
Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center
AIS Detector Program
AIS Detector Core Course
AIS Management 101
Plant identification workshop
Participate in Starry Trek
Webinars on AIS research
Purchase an AIS Identification Guide
MAISRC Research Videos
AIS in Minnesota
EDDMaps
2. Reducing Salt in the Environment
PLAY VIDEO
Guest Brooke Asleson, MPCA Chloride Coordinator, described the growing risks of chloride in the environment, its many sources, and what we can do to keep it out of our ground and surface waters.
Online resources:
MPCA Statewide Chloride Resources
3. Adopting Lead-Free Tackle
PLAY VIDEO
Guests John Gilkeson and Kevin McDonald from the MPCA’s “Get the Lead Out” project shared information about the impact of the BP oil spill on Minnesota loon populations, the dangers of lead tackle, and efforts to encourage adoption of alternatives.
Online Resources:
MPCA’s Get the Lead Out program
MPCA list of non-lead tackle manufacturers
NOAA gulf spill restoration area projects
4. Making Water-Friendly Property Improvements
PLAY VIDEO
The COMPASS program is helping Wahkon, Minn., property owner Donna Schindele manage storm water runoff. Mille Lacs SWCD shoreland technician Lynn Gallice described the project, from concept through implementation.
Learn more about the COMPASS program