Weather permitting, Minot State University will plant red clover as a cover crop on Tuesday as part of the ongoing development of the Plum River Native Prairie at the former site of Erik Ramstad Middle School.

This initiative brings together environmental stewardship, Indigenous knowledge and student-led research.

The red clover was recommended by Ruth De La Cruz of Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, who has been mentoring Patrick Baker, an environmental chemistry major at Minot State, through the CIRCLES Alliance. Red clover holds traditional cultural and medicinal value and offers agricultural benefits such as soil improvement and nitrogen fixation, making it a fitting choice at this stage of the project.

“We’re excited to plant a crop that not only supports the soil but also holds cultural meaning and educational potential,” said Dan Conn, Minot State associate professor and chair of Education and Inclusive Services Department, and CIRCLES Alliance ND Primary Investigator. “The team plans to harvest the red clover and develop a lesson plan for STEM educators, providing teachers with tools to incorporate local environmental science into their classrooms.”

This phase of the project is made possible through support from several partners.

The native prairie planting is scheduled for fall 2025, before the ground freezes.