(uplifting music) (gentle music) - Hello, and welcome to "Prairie Pulse."

Coming up a little bit later in the show, we'll learn about inventor Frederick McKinley Jones.

But first, our guest joining us now is the executive director of River Keepers, Christine Holland.

Christine, thanks for joining us today.

- Thanks for the invite.

- As we get started, tell the folks a little bit about yourself and your background maybe.

- Sure, I grew up in small town North Dakota, Finley-Hope, Northwood, and then came to school at Moorhead State, and it was Moorhead State when I went, and took an internship at River Keepers and haven't left the community since.

- Well, so for those out there that may not know, what is River Keepers?

- Sure, we're a nonprofit organization that advocates for safe and sustainable use of the Red River.

So we provide opportunities for the community to learn about the Red River, help sustain it, and safely enjoy it.

So it's kind of a trifold on those pillars of trying to reach everybody in the community.

- Well, of course, I think I introduced you as executive director, so what is your role and how long have you been involved with the organization?

- Yeah, I started as a marketing intern in 1993, and then as that internship ended, the administrative assistant quit, so I got to do that while I finished college.

And then while I was looking for a full-time job, the project coordinator quit, so then I got moved into that position for 16 years.

And now I've been the executive director since 2014.

- Okay, did you actually give me the mission statement?

What is the organization's mission?

- To advocate for safe and sustainable use of the Red River.

- Okay.

You did say it.

- Okay, what about the funding and staffing with the organization?

- Yeah, so we have two full-time staff.

Our strength is really with our volunteers, and we get about half of our funding from the watershed districts on either side of the river because of our educational outreach to the community.

So the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District, Southeast Cass Water Resource District, and then the rest is memberships, grants, sponsorships, and contracts.

- Yeah, so what drew you to environmental advocacy, I guess, particularly in the Red River?

Do you have a background in environmental sciences or advocacy at all?

- So I have a background in marketing, and when I started, River Keepers was doing Riverfront Days downtown of Dike East, which was a huge, big event where we brought thousands of people, national music acts, and I did a marketing survey for them.

We realized, as we were bringing people there just for events, they weren't coming back 'cause they were still scared of, you know, the water quality, the current.

So that's when we realized we needed to move from just having fun on the banks of the river during events and really helping the community learn about the river and appreciate it.

- Mm-hmm, so how long has it been active in the FM area?

- Since 1990.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- And so, okay, but you know, back in '90, you talked a little bit about it, but here a study found that the Red River was underutilized and underappreciated.

What does that mean?

- For sure, yeah.

So historically, we used it, I mean, people moved here because of the Red River, right?

They used it for drinking, washing clothes.

It was a big steamboat.

You could almost walk across the river from boat to boat.

There was so many boats downtown.

And they'd take goods, furs, wheat all the way up to Winnipeg.

And then the railroad came, right?

So we didn't really need to use the boats on the river anymore.

It was kind of a slow transportation process with all of the meanders.

And then with the dams that got put in the river, there was some undertows, and there was some deaths.

And then since then, all of the dams on the Red River have been retrofitted with a 5% rock slopeway, so they're much safer now.

So we had to teach people about that because they've been told to stay away from the river for years, right?

If you grew up here, you probably were told to stay away from the river, and it can be a safe place if you respect it, just like any other water body.

- So with the things you just mentioned, how did the community mistreat the important resource, the Red River during that time?

- Yeah, we just started to ignore it.

Like, we put roads and parking lots next to the river instead of green space where we could go recreate and gather, and it just didn't look nice down there.

When we first started doing cleanups along the river, there was washing machines, dryers, cars, carpet.

So now mostly what we find are, like, plastic bags and food and beverage containers.

So yeah, just didn't take care of it at all.

- So again, how has River Keepers really worked to change that image of the Red River in its role in the area over the years?

- Yeah, so it's changing people's perceptions.

Takes a long time, a lot longer than I ever imagined.

So teaching them, you know, that the Red River is now safer with those dam retrofits, that it really is our, obviously, our primary drinking water source.

We wanna take care of it for that.

We wanna take care of it for the fish and the wildlife along the river and just to be able to use it for physical activity and mental health.

- Mm-hmm, are there works around the Red River that River Keep Keepers has contributed to in the community that people might utilize even with or without knowing - Yes.

- About it?

- So a lot of the times what we do is we use our strengths and complement a project.

So we work a lot with the cities of Fargo, Moorhead, the park districts.

And so if you see a boat ramp in the river, we are probably a part of that project, you know, helping find the funding or put the right projects partners together.

Reforest the Red is one of our largest volunteer events.

So we've planted, with volunteers, thousands and thousands of trees along the river, trying to make that green space where houses used to be along the river and they probably cut down the trees so they could see the river better.

And we're trying to build that back up into a healthy riparian area again.

So a lot of the younger trees you see along the river were planted for Reforest the Red by volunteers.

- Can you talk a little bit about why that's important to the river?

- Yeah, so trees are, you know, people think about trees for air quality, but there's so many other benefits.

It slows down water, so it makes the river's water quality better.

It's green space.

So if you're outside and, like, you would rather be by trees than in the middle of a street, right, because it just draws you.

Less crime 'cause people are out there together enjoying it.

It's good for fish and wildlife habitat.

So even if a tree falls into the river, it's a great catfish habitat, right?

If it's standing up, it's giving you shade.

So there's so many benefits of trees along the river that really makes the road river a healthy place to be.

- Mm-hmm, you mentioned boat ramps.

You know, how does implementing infrastructure like boat ramps or aquatic invasive species signs help with sustaining the ecosystem of the Red River?

- Yeah, so we need those systems in order to use it, and we wanna be able to use it 'cause that makes you take care of it if you're enjoying it.

So when we first started, there was not a map of the river.

People used to call me and say, "Oh, yeah, I want a canoe to Grand Forks tomorrow."

"Well, I mean, it's 100 miles up there by river.

You're not making it tomorrow."

So we worked with Minnesota DNR and partners up and down the river and got it designated as a Minnesota State Water Trail.

And so because of that, then we created a master plan and are trying to get boat ramps and accesses every 10 miles to make it easier for people to get on and off campgrounds.

And just, like I said, if people can use it easily, they'll get out there and enjoy it.

And if you're enjoying something, you just instinctively wanna take better care of it, - You know, what's the primary demographics that River Keepers aims to reach regarding the education issues, I guess?

- Yeah, so as a marketing person, we like target markets, right?

And with River Keepers, the whole community is our target market, which makes it a little bit hard, but we wanna reach people where their interests lie.

So if you are interested in kayaking and you're out there going down the river and you see people planting trees or enjoying the trees, then maybe next time you'll come out to one of our Reforest the Red projects.

Or if you're out there planting trees and you see somebody kayaking, then maybe you'll understand that it's safer and you can go out and use it and enjoy it for recreational purposes.

- You mentioned earlier a couple of things, but what are ways River Keepers stays engaged with the community?

- Yeah, so we do a lot of community outreach at different community events like Red River Market.

This weekend, or during Earth Week, we'll be at Red River Zoo for Party for the Planet.

Because of our outreach ambassador program, we're able to go out to about 20 of those events every year.

And then we have our own events as well, Race the Red Canoe kayak races.

I've been talking a lot about trees because it's Earth Week.

Cleanup events, so we have about 500 volunteers that help with those events and activities every year, and just trying to get out... We have fishing, youth fishing clinics, all sorts of things for people to get involved with.

- You mentioned volunteers.

On average, how many volunteers are part of River Keepers in a given year, and what's their role there?

- Yeah, volunteers are really the heart of our organization.

We work with over 1,500 every year that are amazing.

So they help plant trees.

They pick up garbage along the river.

They make t-shirt totes.

So we're trying to promote people using cloth bags instead of plastic bags.

They help teach at our Red River Water Festival, which hosts about 80 fourth grade classes every year.

So the youth fishing clinics.

We have paddling and canoe excursions, so they're leading those and teaching people about the river while they're paddling and enjoying it.

Plus board members.

We have board members, right?

So a board of 15.

And so there's always some way that people can get involved, even simple as going out water quality monitoring with us.

So we go grab samples so that we can tell you that the rivers really just looks muddy because of the clay soil we have and we have signs to back that up.

We're not just telling you that.

- Yeah, well, if someone's interested in being a volunteer, I guess I'd ask, you know, well, how can they apply?

I assume it's just show interest, but ages, how old you have to be?

- We work with people from 2 to 92, so anybody.

So even if you're two years old and you wanna come out with your family and plant trees and you're out there with a tiny little sandbox shovel, you're still, you know, digging in the dirt and you're getting the experience and feeling connected.

So we embrace and everybody who wants to help, and we have an application form just to get your interests and see what fits you the most.

So for instance, when we do the storm drain marking program, and if you live in Fargo, we're probably not gonna make you go do streets in Moorhead.

We wanna do something that fits your interests and lifestyle so that you'll wanna come back.

- Well, back up, you mentioned programs, activities a little bit, but can you talk about more in depth about some of the programs and activities that you do and when you do 'em?

- Yeah, so I'll just, to make it easy, to go down our learn, sustain, and enjoy.

So learn, we have our upcoming resilient yard workshop series, which is a make-your-own compost tumbler workshop, make-your-own rain barrel workshop, and a make-and-paint rain barrel workshop.

And we do that because, I mean, we could just make a rain barrel and give it to you.

But if you come to our workshop and put some sweat equity into it, you'll probably actually connect it, and you'll learn how to take care of it and maintain it and why it's important.

Like I said, we also have the Red River Water Festival for 1,400 fourth graders every year.

Our enjoy activities are canoe/kayak rentals with river paddling excursions, youth fishing clinics, interpretive walks and snowshoe walks along the river.

And then our sustain activities, Reforest the Red, cleanups, the t-shirt to tote project.

And those are all things that you can do, just, easy.

You don't have to have any experience to do them or participate in them.

- Mm-hm, okay, what does it mean to be a good steward to the land or, in this case, the river?

- Yeah, so it feels like more and more we are hearing from people who just go out when they're walking along the river and pick up garbage, but we do have our cleanup program.

and one thing that's nice if you work through our program is that, you know, we provide the gloves, the bags, the pickers to make it safe.

And then also, we get to know how much you're actually picking up.

So we don't send a volunteer group out there three days after somebody else has already been out there.

So that's one way, is just making sure that garbage is picked up along the river and helping plant the trees and using cloth bags instead of plastic bags.

It's all really easy things that can be done.

- You know, how can someone be more responsible when interacting, I guess, with the ecosystems like the Red River or being more environmentally responsible?

- Sure, I think a lot of those things that I just mentioned, and also just sharing stories with family and friends and even places that you work.

So when we have business groups come volunteer, they love it because it's getting their employees outdoors, they're working together, they're building a culture and being a part of the community.

And so it's making the whole community stronger, right?

Getting out there, planting trees, and picking up the garbage, working together.

- Well, you've mentioned partnerships with businesses or other organizations.

Do you work with other cities like Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, Wahpeton?

- Yeah, so our primary focus is Fargo-Moorhead, but we realize that the Red River is 550 miles long in the United States and that we live in a watershed.

So the cities Wahpeton, city of Grand Forks, particular their Greenway, Drayton, Pembina, all the way up and down the river.

Especially in 2000, we did a canoe trip all the way from Breckenridge all the way up to Selkirk in Canada.

And that is what proved to the Minnesota Water, or Minnesota legislature that the Red River is important to everybody and all the communities along the river, not just to staff of River Keepers.

So you know, the communities up and down the river are integral to that water trail.

And we learn from each other about what we're doing in our communities.

- And you mentioned Canada there.

Do you communicate with them much at all, or?

- There is other international water organizations that work with them more closely, but we go to conferences and connect with them.

Some of our volunteers are up in Winnipeg, but.

- Mm-hmm.

Yeah, so why should people recognize Earth Day?

- Yeah, so we like to think that it's not just a day, but, like, something that you should always do.

But Earth Day is a great time for people to think about their actions and how it affects not just the river, but the whole earth, right?

So it's a good time to get people thinking about it and acting on it, - Mm-hmm, as you said, probably shouldn't be just a day.

What's the impact that River Keepers has had on the Red River, its ecosystem?

You talked about picking up things.

Any idea on how much waste the group picks up every year or so?

- Yeah, so with our volunteers, they pick up a couple thousand pounds every year of garbage.

One year, we picked out 80 tires out of the river.

We thought there was maybe six, and the river was low that year, and we found 80.

One year, I was sitting along the river thinking, "Am I really making a difference?"

And I went down to the river, and there was somebody fishing, somebody kayaking, family having a picnic, somebody rollerblading and running.

And I was like, yeah, this wouldn't have happened without River Keepers kind of helping promote that the river is a safe place to recreate if you respect it.

- Mm-hmm, are there any plans for River Keepers in the near or distant future for that matter?

Any goals you can talk about?

- Yeah, so just always trying to interact more with the community, so looking for more partnerships and more outreach opportunities.

Just trying to get people to actually use and appreciate the river more than they used to.

- Yeah, have you or River Keepers been recognized for the work y'all do in the FM area?

- We have, the North Dakota Forest Service has given us a couple awards for the Reforest the Red.

Last year, I was nominated in the arts and culture for the YWCA's Women of the Year and won in that category, so that was fun.

- [John] Congratulations.

- And yeah, the Red River Basin Commission has given us some in Fargo Park District.

One year, we received the MoorHeart Award from the city of Moorhead for our partnerships with them, so.

- Well, we do thank you for what you do.

If anyone's interested in learning more or wanting to get involved, where can they go?

Who can they contact?

- Yeah, so our Facebook page is very active, and then our website is riverkeepers.org, and we also have Instagram.

- Well, thank you so much for joining us today.

- Thank you.

It was fun.

- Stay tuned for more.

(gentle music) Frederick McKinley Jones was a self-taught engineer who got his start in Hallock, Minnesota.

He is one of the state's most prolific inventors.

He is also one of its least known.

Being the brilliant mind behind the modern refrigerated truck, his impact can still be seen today from the frozen food aisle to the front lines.

(lively jazz music) - A lot of the community in Hallock, they thought of Fred McKinley Jones, as they called him, Casey.

If they had a problem, if they needed something fixed, they would go and ask him.

As long as he was in a shop with tools and machines, he was creating.

As early as five years old, he had an interest in tearing apart items and trying to figure out how they work.

Frederick McKinley Jones was a self-taught inventor and engineer.

He was born in Covington, Kentucky, in 1893, and his father was American Irish, and his mother was African American.

His father worked for the railroad, and he felt that he needed to have a better life for Fred.

And he brought him to this church, and that's where he was raised.

And he never saw his father again.

When he was 16, he ran away and started working on his own.

He ended up in Effingham, Illinois, and then he met a guy who was talking about a farm up in Hallock, Minnesota.

And it was a big farm that belonged to Walter Hill, James J. Hill's son.

And he heard about all these machines that he needed to work on up there.

So he thought this would be a perfect opportunity.

And on Christmas day in 1912, he arrived in Hallock.

And in the spring, he started working for the Hill Farm.

(groovy jazz music) He became, like, their head engineer for their steam engines, their tractors.

He was fascinated with motors and how to fix things.

If there wasn't a tool to fix something, he'd make the tool to fix the item.

So he was so innovative and creative.

He felt really welcomed here.

He mentions how they never really looked at his color.

People just accepted him for who he was, but he was always working on items for people.

(groovy jazz music continues) He built a radio transmission system.

He built a portable x-ray machine for the local hospital.

And one of the big ones that really got his start, he put sound to the silent movies in the local feeder in Hallock.

(groovy jazz music continues) That caught wind of Joseph Numero, who had the cinema company down in Minneapolis.

They were having a lot of problems switching over the sounds on their machines.

And he heard through the grapevine from other theaters about this Fred McKinley Jones in Hallock, Minnesota, who had put this sound to this machine.

So he contacted him and asked him to come and work for him.

Well, that was the beginning of where the inventions started to get patented.

(upbeat jazz music) He had, like, over 60 patents.

And the major invention while he was with Numero was the refrigerated car.

Well, once the refrigeration thing came into place, it turned it into Thermo King industries.

Fred McKinley Jones was the main engineer there.

Jones developed a unit to go inside the trailer of a semi and keep it refrigerated.

And from then on, we got fresh eggs, chickens, ice cream.

When you think about it, we get our frozen items from all over the United States.

- [Narrator] From the time food is prepared for use or picked on farm and orchard, refrigeration protects it and keeps it fresh and safe.

Food is refrigerated on trains, in trucks, and then in the retail store where you buy it and take it into your home.

- The whole world actually benefits from what he invented.

During World War II, he was also hired by the Department of Defense to work in the industry to help keep the hospitals cool, to keep the blood and plasma cool.

So he worked on things like that too.

I don't think he really got financially credited for all the work he did.

I think he was maybe taken advantage of because of his color too.

We never learned about him.

There was nothing in our history books about him.

And I think it's really important for our youth now to learn about him.

(bright violin music) We have a small exhibit here of him.

Hallock has a mural that they put up of him.

He contributed a lot to our society, and I just want to carry it on forward that he is continued to be recognized.

(gentle music) He came from nothing, and he just had a drive that made him move forward.

I think Fred McKinley Jones opened the path for other Black inventors.

I think that they were able to see that anyone can do anything if you put your mind to it.

- [Narrator] But while we've had many spectacular inventions in our time, it's doubtful of any of these has added as much to your comfort and convenience as modern refrigeration.

- [Cindy] What is cool to this day is if you're sitting watching the train go by, if you look, pay attention to the cars, you can see some cars that still say Thermo King on the front.

Or you meet a semi going down the road, Thermo King is across the top.

These are all from Fred McKinley Jones.

(gentle music) - Well, that's all we have on "Prairie Pulse" this week.

And as always, thanks for watching.

(upbeat music) - [Narrator] Funded by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4th, 2008, and by the members of Prairie Public.