I planted a tree in my front yard about two years ago. It received more attention than any other tree I have ever put in the ground.
After I watered and nurtured the tree for two years, the winter of 2022-2023 finally killed it off. The tree had a tube on it to keep the rabbits away. When the snow got taller than the tube, the rabbits started in. Each additional snow allowed them more access to the tender bark. After the last snow, they had eaten all of the bark off the tree – all the way to the top branches 6 feet off the ground!
When I want a tree to grow, it seems like a herculean effort. When I don’t want a tree to grow, it seems like 10,000 of them will show up uninvited after just one rain.
I completed a CRP seeding for a gentleman in Murray County a few years back, and he called the other day to see if I could come out and look at a few trees that were starting to get a foothold. I was glad to help, and when I showed up, what I saw was not believable. One small section of the parcel had a few trees in it last year, and he had them mowed off in order to keep them from getting too big to handle. When I looked across this spot, I saw about 5,000 volunteer cottonwood trees that were all about 6 feet tall.  These trees went from mowed off to 6 feet tall in four months! Nobody watered them or mulched around them. There was no mowing around them to keep the grass from growing up and starving them for moisture. And yet there they were … almost to the size where you would need a chainsaw to deal with them. It would have only taken another year for these trees to become a big issue.
Many folks have a love affair with trees. This is any tree of any variety in any location. I don’t share this affliction. I have a saying that goes like this: The right kind of tree, in the right number, in the proper location are trees I love. Any other trees I hate.
When it comes to habitat management of grasslands, volunteer trees left untended will turn your grassland habitats into a forest in 10 years. The cottonwood tree is the most prolific and generally causes the most problems.
The rate at which cottonwood trees grow and their adaptation to survival makes them a top invasive species. Cottonwood trees have never done one single thing of benefit for any wildlife species.
Cottonwood trees are native to North America but were not present in the plains until man carried them in a wagon over the vast prairies.
The only thing a cottonwood tree has ever done of benefit was to soothe the soul of a human being as he/she sat under one and listened to the wind blowing gently through its leaves. When is the last time any of you have ever done that?
Raccoons, opossums and skunks absolutely love the hollows of a cottonwood tree, just as a bird of prey like a red-tailed hawk or other raptor loves to sit high in the cottonwood so as to ambush the ground nesting bird as it returns to its nest.
Once grassland habitat has 30-percent tree coverage, the density of reptiles and other creatures can be reduced up to 70 percent. 
Fire in the spring is the best way to control the invasion of unwanted trees, but not many folks are comfortable lighting up an 80-acre parcel with 20-foot-high flames. 
The only other reasonable method is chemical. This is also not all that easy as some of the best chemicals need to be handled with a great amount of respect and caution. Some of them are restricted use and cannot be purchased by everyone.
I use a 2-ounces-per-gallon mix of a chemical called crossbow. There are other names for this chemical, but you can spray it on the leaves if the tree is actively growing or spray the tree trunk all the way around about 12-14 inches tall. Almost all of this work is completed after the middle of July so as not to be banging around in the tall grass during the peak of the nesting season.
Managing invasive trees when they are little is much easier than a chain saw later, and in situations of really bad neglect, a skid loader with a hydro-ax on the front can be used for about $300-$400 dollars per treated acre.
Understanding how important grassland habitat management is to the creatures that live there will make you more understanding of why trees of the right species, in the right number, in the right place is a great motto. As for the rest, they simply must go.
Scott Rall, Worthington, is a habitat conservationist, avid hunting and fishing enthusiast and is president of Nobles County Pheasants Forever. He can be reached at scottarall@gmail.com. 

Following are the local race results for the week of June 27-July 3.
 
Rapid Speedway 
6/30/2023 Rock Rapids, IA
Rain Out
 
Murray County Speedway
6/30/2023 Slayton, MN
Sport Compact
DNF - #24J Joshua Uhl, Luverne
 
Hobby Stock
3rd - #16B Zachary Bierman, Adrian
DNF - #17 Evan Schettler, Adrian
DNF - #15B Isaac Bullerman, Adrian
 
Stock Car
DNF - #117L Chad Lonneman, Adrian
 
Hartford Speedway
6/30/2023 Hartford, SD
Rain Out
 
Worthington Speedway
No Races
 
Huset’s Speedway
No Races

When I started my job at the Star Herald, I was asked to do a sports column from time to time.
Having been here for just over seven months and feeling more confident about my position, I decided it’s time.
The first thing I had to do was to come up with a name for my sports-related column. After a few suggestions that went afoul, such as “Sports Shorts” (a nod to my short stature), I decided to call it “Timeout.”
The Timeout column will reflect a brief break in the action of reporting sports to cover related topics or experiences I may have encountered or to share a favorite photo or photos.
There are many times I have wanted to expound on an athlete or a team’s performance in a sports story or educate people on inside lingo that hockey players use.
For example, if you didn’t wear a bucket and someone goes top shelf, your chicklets may get knocked out. But that’s no reason for a celly.
Or have you ever wondered what Salto or Kip means in gymnastics? 
These are just a few things my Timeout column may cover. … Information or experiences to enrich the sports experience I cover on a day-to-day basis.
So, when you see my column on the page or online, take a “Timeout” in your week and give it a read. 
If you have an idea for something sports related you would like to see covered in the Timeout column, let me know at sportseditor@star-herald.com.

The Luverne Sr. Legion Post 123 baseball team traveled to Marshall Thursday, June 29, beating the hosts 3-2 in a low-scoring game.
In the top of the first inning, Will Serie singled to left field, scoring pinch runner Trevor DeBates from second base.
With one out in the third, Serie doubled, driving in Jacob Stroh.
In the fifth inning Serie hit a grounder and reached first on an error while Conner Connell scored from third.
Both Serie and Kaden Anderson posted two hits each in the game.
Elliot Domagala, Stroh and Connell each had one hit in the game.
Connell took the mound for Luverne, pitching three innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, striking out seven batters.
Stroh came in to relieve Connell in the fourth inning. He allowed two runs on three hits and struck out four batters in four innings.
 
BOX Score
LUV    1 0 1 0 1 0 0
MRSH 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
 
BATTING
Luverne         AB R H   RBI
Sneller               4   0   0   0
Connell             3   1   1   0
DeBates             0   1   0   0
Stroh                 3   1   1   0
Serie                  3   0   2   2
Schlosser           3   0   0   0
Domagala          3   0   1   0
Ripka                 3   0   0   0
Anderson           3   0   2   0
Ahrendt             3   0   0   0
2B: Serie, Connell
Total Bases: Serie 3, Anderson 2, Connell 2, Stroh, Domagala
 
PITCHING
Luverne       IP   H    R   ER   SO
Connell        3    3   0   0   7
Stroh           4    3   2   2   4
Pitches-Strikes: Connell 54-37, Stroh 76-39
Batters Faced: Connell 13, Stroh 20

By Greg Hoogeveen
The Luverne Jr. Legion baseball team lost 14-12 to Marshall on the road Thursday, June 29.
In the high-scoring game Marshall struck first, driving in eight runs in the first and six runs in the second inning.
Luverne was able to keep Marshall from scoring in the last four innings.
The Cardinals scored twice  in the first inning with Blake Sauer and Elliot Domagala crossing home plate.
In the second inning Luverne added four more runs with Trevor DeBates, Maddox Domagala, Sauer and Elliot Domagala scoring.
In the third inning Landon Ahrendt and DeBates added two more runs.
That cut the lead to Marshall 14, Luverne 8.
The Cardinals got three more runs in the fifth inning.
Maddox Domagala, Sauer and Elliot Domagala scored to make the game 14 to 11.
Luverne was not able to overcome the deficit, only scoring one more run by Alex Schlosser in the seventh inning.
 
BOX Score
LUV 2 4 2 0 3 0 1
LHS 8 6 0 0 0 0 0
 
BATTING
Luverne         AB R H  RBI
Sauer                5   3   3   2
Schlosser          5   1   2   1
E. Domagala     5   3   4   3
J. Lais                5   0   3   4
Miller                4   0   3   2
L.Lais                4   0   0   0
Ahrendt            4   1   1   0
DeBates             4   2   2   0
M. Domagala     4   2   3   0

The Big South Conference released its 2023 all-conference baseball, softball and tennis teams.
The Luverne baseball team had four all-conference players and two honorable mention players.
Senior Zach DeBoer, juniors Conner Connell and Elliot Domagala and sophomore Carter Sehr were named all-conference honorees.
Juniors Will Serie and Jacob Stroh received honorable mention.
 The Luverne softball team had five players named to the Big South All-Conference team.
They are senior Carly Olson, juniors Belle Smidt and Gracie Nath and sophomores Payton Behr and Ella Reisdorfer.
Luverne had one tennis player, senior Ethan Nath, named to the all-conference team.

The Luverne Country Club hosted the 24th Annual Ladies Invitational Tuesday, June 27.
Eighteen teams participated in the 18-hole, four-person scrambler this year.
Members and guests were invited to play.
Teams were placed into two flights with champions honored in each.
Taking first place in the first flight was the team of Kaye Johnson, Karla Nieman, Brooke Pierson and Paula Lammert with a score of 64.
The second flight first place went to the team of Colleen Nath, Barb Elbers, Sharla Reisch and Shawn Elbers with a score of 76.
Upcoming tournaments at the Luverne Country Club are Member-Guest July 7-8, the Senior Club Tournament Aug. 12-13, Men’s Club Tournament Aug. 19-20, and the Ryder Cup on Sept. 16.

The Redbirds fell for the first time this year 6-1 to Fairmont at home Friday, June 30.
Earlier in the week Luverne won two games, beating Brookings 11-1 at home June 27 and topping Lakefield 10-0 on the road June 28.
The Redbirds are now 13-1 for the season with five regular season games in July.
Luverne is scheduled to travel to Worthington Wednesday, July 5, and host the Fox Lake at noon Sunday, July 9. 
 
Redbirds 11, Brookings 1
The Redbirds put the Brookings Cubs to bed, winning 11-1 at home Tuesday, June 27.
The Cubs took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning and then were not able to score again.
In the bottom of the second inning Luverne put together four runs.
Declan Beers walked in for the first score, and Derek Lungren crossed home on a Skyler Wenninger single in the following play.
The Redbirds added two more runs when Ben Serie singled to left field to score Cade Wenninger and Carter Sehr.
In the third inning Luverne knocked in five more runs to extend the lead to 9-1.
Cade Wenninger scored for a single to right by his brother Skyler Wenninger.
Serie singled again to left scoring Sehr.
Nick Smith singled to left scoring Skyler Wenninger.
Newt Johnson double on a long ball to the fence sending Serie and Smith home.
In the fourth inning the Redbirds added two more runs for the 11-1 win.
Sehr grounded into a fielder’s choice to the shortstop and reached first on an error. Lundgren scored from third, and Cade Wenninger was out advancing to second.
Skyler Wenninger singled to left field, scoring Sehr.
Skyler Wenninger and Serie led Luverne with three RBIs each.
Sehr scored three runs on one hit, courtesy of Skyler Wenninger and Serie.
Cade Wenninger took the mound pitching three innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out six batters.
Sehr relieved Wenninger for three innings, not allowing a run on three hits and striking out four batters.
Serie finished the last inning with zero runs, zero hits and striking out one batter.
 
BOX Score
BRKN  1 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x
RBirds 0 4 5 2 0 0 x x x
 
BATTING
Luverne         AB R H  RBI
S. Wenninger     3   1   3   3
Serie                  4   1   2   3
Smith                4   1   2   1
Johnson             3   0   2   2
Paquette            4   0   0   0
Beers                 3   1   1   0
Lundgren           4   2   1   0
C. Wenninger     3   2   1   0
Sehr                   3   3   1   1
2B: Johnson 2, S. Wenninger
Total Bases: S. Wenninger 4, Johnson 4, Smith 2, Serie 2, C. Wenninger, Lundgren, Sehr, Beers
 
PITCHING
Luverne         IP  H   R  ER  SO
C. Wenninger   3   3   1   1    6
Sehr                 3   3    0   0   4
Serie                1   0    0   0   1
Pitches-Strikes: C. Wenninger 47-31, Sehr 54-35, Serie 13-8
Batters Faced: C. Wenninger 12, Sehr 12, Serie 4
 
Redbirds 10, Lakefield 0
The Redbirds leaped over the Lakefield Frogs 10-0 on the road Wednesday, June 28.
The Frogs were unable to get off the pad, connecting only three hits and not scoring a run.
The Redbirds took an early 3-0 lead after three innings.
In the first inning, Johnson grounded out, knocking in Beers, and then Sehr singled to drive in Serie.
In the third, Lundgren was out on a fly ball to right field as Sehr tagged up and scored from third base.
In the top of the sixth inning, Luverne let loose with the hitting machine, scoring seven runs.
Beers singled to center, scoring Lundgren from third.
Braydon Ripka singled to center, driving in Beyer and Beers.
With two outs, Johnson doubled to score Ripka.
Sehr then singled, scoring Johnson.
Lundgren drove in Sehr, and Beyer doubled, scoring Cade Wenninger.
Sehr led Luverne at the plate with three hits, scoring two runs and two RBIs.
Ripka, Johnson and Sehr all contributed two RBIs in the game.
Lundgren started the game, pitching three innings, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out three batters.
Beyer came in to relieve Lundgren, going four innings with no runs on two hits and struck out four batters.
 
BOX Score
RBirds 2 0 1 0 0 7 0 x x
LKFL   0 0 0 0 0 0 x x x
 
BATTING
Luverne         AB  R  H  RBI
Beers               2   2   1   1
Reisch             1   0   0   0
S. Wenninger   1   0   0   0
Ripka               3   1   2   2
Serie                4   1   1   0
Overgaard        1   0   0   0
Johnson           4   1   1   2
Sehr                 4   2   3   2
C. Wenninger   3   1   1   0
Lundgren         3   1   1   2
Beyer               1   1   1   1
Nath                3   0   0   0
2B: Beyer, Johnson, Sehr
Total Bases: Sehr 4, Beyer 2, Ripka 2, Johnson 2, C. Wenninger, Serie, Lundgren, Beers
 
PITCHING
Luverne          IP  H  R  ER  SO
Lundgren         3   1  0    0    3
Beyer               4   2  0    0    4
Pitches-Strikes: Lundgren 60-32, Beyer 55-40
Batters Faced: Lundgren 14, Beyer 15
 
Fairmont 6, Redbirds 1
The Redbirds fell for the first time this season 6-1 to Fairmont Friday, June 30, at home.
Luverne took the early lead in the second inning with Beyer sacrificing to the pitcher, getting thrown out advancing to first, and Sehr scoring from third.
That would be the Cardinals’ only score in the game. Fairmont took it from there, scoring six runs of their own.
Fairmont had 12 hits in the game; Luverne managed 6, with one team error.
Serie took the mound for Luverne, pitching five innings, allowing five runs on ten hits, and striking out four batters.
Zeutenhorst and Cade Wenninger both pitched two innings, allowing one run on two total hits.
 
BOX Score
FRMN 0 0 1 2 2 0 1 0 0
RBirds 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 
BATTING
Luverne         AB R   H  RBI
S. Wenninger     4   0   0   0
Serie                  4   0   1   0
Smith                4   0   2   0
Paquette            2   0   1   0
Ripka                 2   0   0   0
Beers                 4   0   0   0
Sehr                   4   1   2   0
C. Wenninger     3   0   0   0
Lundgren           2   0   0   0
Beyer                 2   0   0   1
Total Bases: Smith 2, Sehr 2, Paquette, Serie
 
PITCHING
Luverne        IP H  R  ER SO
Serie               5 10  5   4 4
Zeutenhorst   2 2   1   0 1
C. Wenninger  2 0   0   0 8
Pitches-Strikes: Serie 87-57, Zeutenhorst 35-21, C. Wenninger 29-18
Batters Faced: Serie 29, Zeutenhorst 10, C. Wenninger 7