The Prairie Enthusiasts

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The Prairie Enthusiasts

Protecting prairies and oak savannas in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois.

08/31/2026

📣Calling all college students interested in biology, ecology and environmental science!

The Prairie Enthusiasts' annual virtual conference "Old Growth Ecosystems: Hidden Knowledge and Ancient Stories" taking place on February 17-19, 2027 has multiple opportunities for students to attend and learn about prairies, or present their own research to an audience of over 500 Prairie Enthusiasts.

We have multiple concurrent student session slots on Thursday, February 18 from 11:30 a.m. to Noon, and Noon to 12:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to add to your resume or cover letter, peruse our job discussion board and connect with notable figures in your field.

Student sessions include 20-minute abstract presentations aligned with our conference theme followed by a 10-minute Q&A session. These sessions are offered on a first come, first serve basis.

Any students who present at our conference get to attend the conference for FREE!

Our 2027 conference "Old Growth Ecosystems: Hidden Knowledge and Ancient Stories" will focus on topics like:
▪️The unique qualities of old growth habitats
▪️An introduction to types of prairies
▪️Soil microbiology
▪️Stewardship practices and lessons learned in stewardship
▪️Comeback stories of different species and what lies ahead
▪️The importance of taking action now
▪️Setting up the next generation for success

If you've contributed to research in any of these topic areas, please consider participating in our annual conference!

Any students interested in participating as speakers for the student sessions can email Mission Advancement Assistant Cassidy Coulson at [email protected] to gather more information.

Photo of Empire-Sauk Chapter summer interns by Rob Baller

08/28/2026

Pack your bag with your camera, binoculars, water bottle and other prairie essentials and get ready to enjoy the last weekend of August!

Check out the work parties and field trips happening near you this weekend on our Events Calendar to connect with other nature lovers: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/tpe-events/events-calendar/

Or you can choose your own adventure and visit one of our sites on your own! Find a list of our sites here: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/visit-our-sites/

To be the first to hear about events happening near you, subscribe to a Chapter eNewsletter or our Organizational eNewsletter to stay up to date: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/email-updates/

Photo of monarch on blazing star in a field of blazing star, goldenrod and dotted horsemint by Lisa Reid

08/27/2026

Aster appreciation post!

We're always delighted to see asters on the prairie, and pollinators are delighted, too!

What asters have you seen this year?

Photo 1: Aromatic aster by Eric Preston
Photo 2: Arrowleaf aster by Jason Talbot
Photo 3: Short's aster by Pat Trochlell
Photo 4: Monarch on New England aster by Stephanie Rivery
Photo 5: Sweat bee on aster by Jim Schultz
Photo 6: White New England aster by Brooke Lewis

08/26/2026

On July 25, Ron and Darla Giordano were honored with Gathering Waters' Land Legacy Award at Giordano Oak Barrens and Sand Prairie with members from The Prairie Enthusiasts, Gathering Waters and Groundswell Conservancy in attendance, as well as family and friends.

The Giordanos made the extraordinary decision to donate their property permanently to The Prairie Enthusiasts in May 2023, ensuring its protection in perpetuity. Groundswell Conservancy led negotiations, made arrangements for the closing, and helped cover closing costs. Recognizing that meaningful restoration requires real investment, the Giordanos went a step further with a generous cash donation to support the site's initial management. The property is now named Giordano Oak Barrens and Sand Prairie, and sits near an existing 12-acre nature preserve, offering the potential to create a larger ecosystem of sandy habitat.

In late July, Ron and Darla were toasted and celebrated for their generosity and commitment to land conservation.

You can learn more here: https://gatheringwaters.org/ron-and-darla-giordano-2026-land-legacy-award/?fbclid=IwY2xjawT1WA1wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXRyOTZlRHJ2OE9QQ3g4MlVzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEefejpZVrIverIL7Neb7TLMFO8LNePKOFCR5fRPcvEZ9Bw9tnqA-3E-6ZdOmo_aem_rT02Tm1V5WUdOpKHP8h0ag

Photos by Dan and Sarah Barron

08/25/2026

Back to school time is here, and the end of summer naturally brings your mind to periods of learning and growing, regardless of how old you are.

If you ask a Prairie Enthusiast how they caught the prairie bug, chances are they credit a mentor with introducing them to the prairie. Where would we be without our mentors?

In 2023, Scott Weber reflected on his prairie mentor and the influence his mentor has had on Scott's prairie restoration and reconstruction work in the Upper Midwest. You can read Scott's reflections in his piece "We All Have Mentors" here: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/we-all-have-mentors/

We'd love to hear from you: who is one of your prairie mentors? How have they shaped you and inspired you?

Photo of Konrad Liegel, Scott Weber's mentor, collecting seed for the International Crane W Foundation at Muralt Bluff Prairie in fall of 1980 by Scott Weber.

08/24/2026

Can you believe August is almost over?!

We're trying to soak up as many summer colors, sights and sounds as we can before we transition into fall, taking time to smell the roses (or wild bergamot and mint if you're on the prairie).

Schedule some time to visit a prairie before fall gets too busy! You can find a list of our sites here: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/visit-our-sites/

Photo of Joe-pye w**d and cardinal flower at Angel Acres Prairie by Mary Wilson

08/21/2026

The work week is nearly over, which means it's time to get outside and away from your screen!

Check out the work parties and field trips happening near you this weekend on our Events Calendar to connect with other nature lovers: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/tpe-events/events-calendar/

Or you can choose your own adventure and visit one of our sites on your own! Find a list of our sites here: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/visit-our-sites/

To be the first to hear about events happening near you, subscribe to a Chapter eNewsletter or our Organizational eNewsletter to stay up to date: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/email-updates/

Photo of prairie trekkers by Bob Jankowski

08/19/2026

How's your Wisconsin sunflower identification?

Learn about some common Wisconsin sunflowers most likely to be associated with Wisconsin prairie and savanna in Rob Baller's recent Blue Sky Botany -- Sunflowers blog: https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/blue-sky-botany-sunflowers/

Pictured is a quick overview of featured sunflowers (left to right): ox-eye (Heliopsis helianthoides), woodland (Helianthus strumosus), showy (Helianthus pauciflorus), western (Helianthus occidentalis) and sawtooth (Helianthus grosserratus). Photos by Rob Baller.

What sunflowers have you spotted so far this year?

08/18/2026

What does it mean for The Prairie Enthusiasts to be an accredited land trust?

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission grants land conservation organizations an accreditation seal when they have met national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. It is a rigorous process to pursue accreditation and be evaluated, and achieving accreditation means that land trusts have the policies and programs in place to honor their promise to protect land for the public good.

We proudly display our accreditation seal on our materials and website and are grateful to be in community with other accredited land trusts working toward the same mission.

Learn more about why accreditation matters here: https://landtrustaccreditation.org/

Photo of hikers at Marowski Bluff Prairie by Sarah Barron

08/17/2026

Appreciation post for rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium)!

This unique prairie plant stands out among its more brightly colored prairie plant friends.

Have you spotted rattlesnake master this summer? Share your sightings if you captured any photos!

Photo 1: Bumblebee on rattlesnake master by RC Wieboldt
Photo 2: Rattlesnake master at Smith-Reiner Prairie by Joshua Mayer
Photo 3: Rattlesnake master and blazingstar at Dower Prairie by Steve Hubner

Address

P. O. Box 824
Viroqua, WI
54665

Website

https://theprairieenthusiasts.org/

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