Volunteers help to keep Iowa prairie alive

Some Iowans get a chance to play the modern day version of “Johnny Appleseed” today. The Polk County Conservation Board is hosting its annual prairie grass and wildflower seed harvest. Spokesperson Kami Rankin says they’ll collect the seeds at the Sand Hill Prairie northeast of Des Moines and then spread them to other areas.She says they’ll have experts there to help identify the seeds from the weeds.Rankin says it’s important to spread the seed as Iowa’s native prairie remnants will disappear without help.The seed collecting begins at 10 am and the event is open to anyone who’s interested.