Speakers and Presenters

View the full schedule.

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Donald Mitchell – Speaker, Bander, Master Gardener

Donald Mitchell obtained a M S. degree in Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota and has conducted field studies of hummingbirds and the plants they pollinate in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado and California. He is a federally-permitted hummingbird bander and former Vice President of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union. A Goodhue County Master Gardener, Donald attracts hundreds of hummingbirds annually to his garden near the Mississippi River in Red Wing.

Mr. Mitchell’s hummingbird banding demonstrations are always one of the more popular events at the Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah. He will also have a presentation after lunch on attracting hummingbirds to your garden and provide insights regarding hummingbird biology that will help you understand why some ideas for attracting hummingbirds work while others fail.

Al Batt – Speaker, Writer, Storyteller, Humorist

Al writes humor and does regular radio shows about nature. He writes a number of popular cartoon strips that are syndicated nationally and is author of the book, “A Life Gone to the Birds.” He is a columnist for “Bird Watcher’s Digest” and writes for a number of magazines and books.


David Rice – Gardener/Instructor

For the past fourteen years, David has been an advisor at the (MNCS) Minnesota New Country School in Henderson, Minnesota. While David’s teaching license is in English and Speech Communications, his true passions often lead to green projects. He can often be found working in the school’s greenhouse, apple orchard, gardens and beehives helping students learn by developing their own projects. When his hands are not dirty David has coached Mock Trial, Policy Debate and lead YES (Youth Energy Summit) programs for students.

He originally hails from South Dakota where he did not abide by the notion to head west to seek his fortune. From a young age he was an avid gardener who yearned to head east to the fertile valleys of Minnesota.

David has been working with students at MNCS for the past seven years to help develop both the Henderson hummingbird gardens and the gardens surrounding the school. Students have tilled, planted, painted, and built benches and pergolas. The garden has been a wonderful way for students to learn and give back to the community.

David presently resides in Henderson with his wife Carrie and they have a daughter living in Montana and a son attending the University of Minnesota,Duluth.