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Prairie Postings
MPF’s 2013 Awards
By Lee Phillion
At the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s (MPF’s) annual
meeting held October 12, 2013, at Dr. Wayne Morton’s
prairie just outside of Cole Camp, MPF honored the
following individuals for their contributions to prairie
conservation efforts. Framed plaques were presented
to the awardees. MPF would like to thank the
photographers who contributed their photographs for
the plaques, and MPF board member Jan Sassmann
for generously framing them.
Stan Parrish
Donald M. Christisen Prairie Volunteer of the Year Award
The Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) can thank switchgrass for
turning Stan Parrish into a prairie enthusiast. In the 1980s, Parrish’s
Soil Conservation Service agent told him to plant it in his waterways
to control erosion. “I didn’t know what it was, so I started learning
about it,” said Parrish. “That led to finding out about the larger ecosystem
switchgrass is part of, and I was captivated,” said Parrish.
That interest led Parrish and his wife Susan to membership in
MPF in 1985. In 1990, their involvement in MPF prairies intensified
when they helped enable MPF’s purchase of the Crook Meadow
(renamed Schwartz Prairie) by buying the less desirable 80 acres of the
tract.
“Stan has been generous with his time, talents, and equipment,”
said MPF President Jon Wingo. “He has served as president of MPF
and spent many hours on our prairies fighting invasives, from which
I must conclude he is tougher than a two-dollar steak. My thanks and
admiration for his dedication to MPF.”
Parrish was invited to join the MPF board in 1993, and served as
its president from 2009 to 2012. One of the highlights of Parrish’s
able leadership was purchasing and restoring the 80-acre Welsh Tract
as a buffer to protect MPF’s adjacent high quality Coyne Prairie in
Dade County. The tree canopy structure of the savanna has been
restored, and a 47-acre portion formerly in row crops was seeded in
2013 with locally harvested seed.
Parrish combines a deep regard for prairie with an understanding
of the challenges and methods of protecting them. “It’s heartbreaking
to see remnant prairie go down to the plow,” said Parrish. “What
we need is to seek out and protect more remnant prairies and more
resources to buffer the high quality prairies we already protect.”
Doug Ladd
Bill T. Crawford Prairie Professional of the Year Award
Most nature enthusiasts are familiar with Doug Ladd, who has served
as director of conservation science for The Nature Conservancy
From left, awardees Stan Parrish and Dr. Curtis Long; MPF President Jon
Wingo, who presented the awards; and awardee Doug Ladd.
in Missouri since 1985. Ladd has been involved in conservation
planning, natural-area assessment, management, restoration and
research—with emphasis on vegetation, restoration, and fire ecology—for
more than 30 years.
Well known for his riveting talks about a wide range of nature topics,
from Ozark lichens and prairie-chickens to native forbs and fire
ecology, Ladd can spellbind an audience on just about any topic. His
incredible depth and breadth of knowledge is the product of countless
hours of fieldwork, lab research, and study. His knowledge and engaging
manner have helped shape the conservation practices and perspectives
across the Midwest, and the careers of many mentees.
“Doug is one of those legendary yet humble and accessible botanists
and ecologists who have influenced so many Midwestern natural
area managers, field botanists, ecologists, and natural community
enthusiasts, including myself,” said Mike Leahy, natural areas coordinator
for the Missouri Department of Conservation. “Doug is equally
at home carrying a drip torch, keying out obscure sedges, deciphering
cryptic lichens or presenting to a large auditorium audience. His range
of field ecology and botanical talents and command of the English
language are a constant source of education to those who work with
him.”
Leahy remarked that Doug’s passion about the tallgrass prairie
and his commitment to conservation science have left and continue
to leave an indelible mark on the conservation of Midwestern natural
communities.
Ladd is a research associate at the Missouri Botanical Garden as
well as the Conservation Research Institute and Morton Arboretum
in Chicago, and his lichen work in the Ozarks has led to collaboration
with the New York Botanical Garden. Ladd is the author of
two plant field guides, North Woods Wildflowers and Tallgrass Prairie
Wildflowers, and coauthored the book Discover Natural Missouri: a
guide to exploring The Nature Conservancy Preserves.
Carol Davit
28 Missouri Prairie Journal Vol. 35 No. 1