The Prairie Enthusiasts

For thousands of years, the Upper Midwest was abundant with prairies and oak savannas that evolved to depend on fires ignited by lightning strikes and Indigenous Peoples. With the arrival of Europeans, this once vast landscape was almost entirely lost to the plow, development pressures and ongoing neglect. Today, only a tiny fraction remains.

For every $1,200 raised, The Prairie Enthusiasts can remove invasive brush from 8 acres of grasslands and continue all the activities that support our mission. Thanks to a generous match from Jay and Libby Rutherford, all new and increased gifts through the end of the year will be matched, up to $5,000.

Threats to biodiversity globally have made these imperiled places, with the rare plants and wildlife they sustain, even more vital for our future. Yet few prairie remnants have been protected, and more continue to slip away.

The Prairie Enthusiasts seek out, protect and restore fire-dependent ecosystems across the Upper Midwest. We celebrate their beauty and complexity and actively steward them by returning fire to the land. Our regional chapters are reconstructing the prairie and contributing to landscape-scale conservation by working with landowners and collaborating with partners. We are a grassroots community of learners, sharing insights, practices, and inspiration.