Summer 2007: Volume 28, Number 3 - Missouri Prairie Foundation

Sharron’s stamina is well known in conservation circles. Hercolleague Max Alleger, technical advisor with the Missouri PrairieFoundation (MPF) said, “Sharron’s commitment to greater prairiechickenrecovery and prairie and grassland conservation are evident toeveryone she comes into contact with. Sharron has been a member ofMDC’s Prairie-Chicken Recovery Team since its formation in 2005,and her experience, passion and depth of knowledge regarding prairiechickensand grassland management have been invaluable to thatteam and her participation has helped make initial recovery efforts asuccess.”Max added that some of Sharron’s most notableaccomplishments as prairie-chicken biologist include helping tobring together initial Grasslands Coalition partners, planningand conducting the Lek Trek, and working with MPF and otherGrasslands Coalition partners to dialog with the NRCS to make theGrasslands Reserve program (GRP) a much more meaningful prairieconservation program in Missouri. Sharron also served for severalyears as an MPF technical advisor and in 2002, was the program chairfor the North American Prairie Conference in Kirksville.Administrative changes at MDC resulted in a job change forSharron in 2005; since that time the prairie chicken biologist positionhas been absolved and Sharron has been working as a private landsconservationist in St. Clair and Benton Counties.Sharron currently works with 69 different private landmanagement plans. Her current supervisor Edd Brown said “A 40-hour work week is almost foreign to Sharron, as she works tirelessly toserve both fish, forest, and wildlife resources and Missouri citizens.”Despite her heavy work load, Sharron has more time to herselfnow than during her prairie-chicken days, which has allowed herto spend more time on several personal interests. Sharron enjoysfiction writing, and is a published author with children’s storieshaving appeared over the years in Cricket, Spider, Highlights and otherperiodicals. She also regularly practices yoga and enjoys gardeningwith heirloom vegetables and wild flowers. She and her husbandlike to boat on Stockton Lake (“Jack fishes, I read,” says Sharron),and they are converting 50 of their 100 acres at the home in CedarCounty to native prairie plants.Whatever Sharron does, she does it with gusto. Fortunately forMissourians, prairie conservation has loomed large in her life. EddBrown summed up her professional dedication well when he said“Sharron is the consummate and ultimate conservationist, givingheart, soul, and mind to the conservation of our natural heritage.”Coyne Prairie UpdateDear MPF Members and Friends,In mid-July the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) wasawarded a $25,000 matching grant from the William T. KemperFoundation to complete the acquisition of Coyne Prairie. Todate, MPF has raised $48,000 toward the total $96,000 purchaseprice, thanks to donations from members and other donors. TheKemper award is contingent upon MPF’s ability to raise $25,000from other private sources, which means future donations toCoyne Prairie will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the KemperFoundation up to $25,000. By successfully completing thismatching grant challenge, MPF will avoid any additional debtand will be poised to protect the next prairie gem that becomesavailable. As you know, less than 0.5 percent of original Missouritallgrass prairie remains, so every bit is special.MPF extends sincere thanks to the board and staff of the WilliamT. Kemper Foundation, particularly Commerce Bank PresidentDavid Kemper and Kemper Foundation officer Beth Radtke. MPFalso thanks all members who have contributed to the Coynecampaign thus far. MPF intends to approach other foundationsand corporations to finish the Coyne project, but it is the supportof members like you that makes MPF a special organization.Donations of all sizes are appreciated and used wisely. Accordingto our most recent tax return, 95 percent of all funds donated toMPF are used for prairie protection, management and education,which makes MPF one of the most efficient organizationsanywhere. Please consider supporting our Coyne campaign tohelp us match the Kemper challenge grant.Thank you,Frank oberleCarol Davit, editor39