Howtons honored for forest restoration along Cedar River
Mower SWCD gives wildlife conservationist award to Rose Creek couple, who permanently restored forest in Lyle Township
In 2007, Jay Howton recently had returned from serving in the Iraq War, where he was significantly injured from experiencing enemy explosions three times.
With disability money from the government for his injuries, Howton and his wife Linda chose to invest part of the funds into buying about 39 acres between Minnesota Highway 105 and the Cedar River in Lyle Township. The landowner had enrolled nearly 27 acres into a state-federal CREP easement but work had not started to restore the flood-prone cropland into a permanently forested area.
That’s where the Howtons and family took over, working with Mower Soil & Water Conservation District to plan the restoration and buy 8,400 trees over two years through Mower SWCD’s annual tree program.
Mower SWCD is recognizing the Howtons as its 2025 Outstanding Wildlife Conservationists for their dedication over nearly two decades to plant thousands of trees and commit to the extensive maintenance involved with caring for their land. The Howtons were honored Aug. 8 during the Mower County Fair’s “Pride of Mower” event.
The Howtons always have been pleased with their decision to invest in the land.
“It’s gratifying to look up and see how enormous some of these bareroot seedling trees have grown over the past 17 years,” Linda said. “If they can survive and thrive through the hands Mother Nature has dealt them, it’s a lesson in perseverance that we don’t take for granted.”
In 2008, the Howtons planted 4,200 trees purchased through Mower SWCD to start the CREP restoration. Unfortunately, some trees didn’t survive when one of the Austin area’s worst-known floods put 1 to 3 feet of water on the land weeks later.
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But the Howtons came back in spring 2009 to plant another 4,200 trees all in one day — the Arbor Day tree-planting holiday. From there, the Howtons have worked hard to maintain and support the trees, including extensive watering and weeding early on.
Today, the site along the Cedar River State Water Trail boasts thousands of beautiful trees and is considered a “sanctuary” for the Howtons, who live in Rose Creek but enjoy walking and hunting property as well as camping outside the CREP boundary.
Linda’s late father, Richard Pedersen, provided his tractor and soil-saver tillage equipment to prep the property for planting trees. He supported the couple in every aspect of the land’s early years, including planting and tree care.
Shortly before he died in July, Linda took her father for what was his last drive around the site to see the trees and wildlife.
“He told me that Jay and I should be proud of what we’ve accomplished there, and we really are,” Linda said.
Permanent forest restorations are uncommon in Mower County, where most permanent easements restore former cropland into native prairie and/or wetlands, said Tim Ruzek, Mower SWCD’s water plan and outreach coordinator.
“Jay and Linda have created an incredible natural legacy with their land along the river, and it’s something that many people enjoy while driving or paddling by the site,” Ruzek said.
The Howtons also have worked with Cedar River Watershed District on other projects, including in 2011 when they joined the Mullenbach family in removing about 120 tires and tons of junk from the Cedar River State Water Trail near their property through CRWD’s “Adopt-A-River” program launched that year. They also have been helpful with the future Orchard Creek public access led by CRWD on the Cedar River, just north of their property.
Jay and Linda both grew up with a love for the outdoors and have instilled that respect for the outdoors in their adult children, Emily and Jacob. Their restored property is a nice escape for the family.
“We both have found peace and tranquility spending time at ‘the property,’” Linda said. “Sometimes it’s a simple drive around to check on things. Other times, it’s mowing; hunting for deer, turkey or coyotes; or checking the four apple trees we planted to see if it’s a good year for apples.”
