On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Jesse Deubel, Executive Director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. Jesse has been intricately involved with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and recently worked with BHA in Washington, DC to fight for the permanent re-authorization and full funding of the Land and Water Conserv…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon chats with Bill Cooksey, Senior Sportsman Outreach Coordinator and Acting Director of Conservation Partnerships for Vanishing Paradise. Vanishing Paradise is a program of the National Wildlife Federation that unites sportsmen to advocate for restoration of the Mississippi River Delta, the Gulf Co…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon chats with Missouri State Representative Tim Taylor. Taylor represents parts of Chariton, Cooper, Howard, and Randolph counties (District 48) in the Missouri House of Representatives. Taylor also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Conservation and Natural Resources Committee for the House of Repr…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Rudi Roeslein, Founder of Roeslein Alternative Energy, at Rudi's farm in North Missouri. Rudi's vision for digesting native prairie plants into renewable energy focuses on returning ecological services and wildlife benefits to our landscape. Rudi invited leaders from the Nature Con…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon chats with Kyle Carroll, Presiding Commissioner of Dekalb County, Missouri. Kyle spent 27 years as an agent for the Department of Conservation and seven years for the highway patrol. During that time, Kyle was able to work closely with county governments where he currently serves. Brandon and Kyl…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon recaps a fieldtrip with Shane Staten a Senior Restoration Manager & Senior Professional Wetland Scientist for SWALLOWTAIL. Shane has been a primary or contributing designer for 21 approved and 5 proposed wetland and stream mitigation banks across Missouri and eastern Kansas encompassing almost 3,…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon meets with Ashlea Neill at the Women in Agriculture Meeting in Kirksville, MO. Ashlea is a Private Land Conservationist for the Missouri Department of Conservation serving Adair and Sullivan Counties in Missouri. Ashlea has many specialties including prescribed fire planning. To qualify for the F…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon meets with Joshua Marshall at the Women in Agriculture Meeting in Kirksville, MO. Joshua is a Senior Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist for Pheasants Forever, Inc. and Quail Forever where he helps build better habitat for pheasants and quail through land planning and progressive agricultural practices …

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Lucas Brass, Area Soil Health Specialist for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Lucas and the Soil Health Specialist team of four primarily focus on education and outreach for all of Missouri. They utilize a rainfall sim…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon chats with Adam McLane, Missouri State Director of The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Adam McLane heads a statewide team of scientists, conservation experts and support staff whose work protects Missouri’s natural resources and some of our state’s most iconic landscapes. Brandon and Adam talk about th…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Will Higgins, Development Manager for Roeslein Alternative Energy and Manager of the "Horizon II" Climate Smart Commodities Grant. Will was instrumental in the negotiation phase for getting the grant signed and green-lighted. Brandon and Will dive in on the specific components of t…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon meets with Sean McMahon, Executive Director of the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA). Sean works with key partners to champion farmer engagement and adoption of conservation practices that improve water quality. Sean played a key role securing the Horizon II Climate Smart Commodities Grant w…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Jason Sumners, Deputy Director of Resource Management for the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Jason supervises the Fisheries, Forestry, Private Land Services, Protection, Resource Science, and Wildlife divisions. Brandon and Jason talk about the importance and benefits o…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon chats with Hunter Slifka, Project Coordinator for the Turkey River Headwaters & Chihak Creek in NE Iowa. Hunter has focused his efforts on the Turkey River & Chihak Creek Watershed Project which began in 2015. Since the projects' inception, Hunter has expanded cover crops from 1,500 acres to 17,0…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Chris McLeland, Director of Agriculture Programs for Ducks Unlimited. Ducks Unlimited has partnered with the USDA, National Pork Board, Nestle and others for a Climate-Smart Commodities grant that will impact 240,000 acres in Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota. Brandon and Chris talk ab…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon talks with Executive Director of the American Biogas Council, Patrick Serfass. Patrick helped create the American Biogas Council in 2010 which now represents 400 organizations dedicated to maximizing carbon reduction and economic growth using biogas systems. Brandon and Patrick discuss the strate…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon chats with Steve Mowry, Kansas City Attorney and avid conservationist. Steve's work with the Missouri Prairie Foundation played a significant role in the early stages of Roeslein Alternative Energy and he continues to serve as a prairie and wildlife advocate. Brandon and Steve talk about the ongo…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon talks with Zack Vucurevich, Owner and Certified Wildlife Biologist of Whetstone Habitat. Through Whetstone Habitat, Zack helps clients become better stewards of their land - maximizing the ecological potential. Brandon and Zack talk about the importance of a landowner's ability to identify benefi…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon chats with Missouri State Representative Bruce Sassmann and his wife, Jan. Sassmann serves as the Chair of the Conservation and Natural Resources Committee for the House of Representatives. Jan is a retired teacher and former board member for the Missouri Prairie Foundation. The Sassmanns are act…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon chats with Tom Richard, a retired Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Penn State University. Tom is one of the foremost authorities on biomass conversion. Brandon and Tom discuss the process of anaerobic digestion as well as the work he's done and the growth he's seen in the…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon visits with Wendy Caldwell, Executive Director of Monarch Joint Venture. Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) is a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses and academic programs working together to protect the monarch migration across the United States. Brandon…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon heads home to Indiana for a visit with the Nature Conservancy's Kankakee Sands Site Manager & Restoration Ecologist, Trevor Edmonson. The two talk habitat and ecology in the Kankakee Preserve, improving the public's perception of prairie, and the profound affect buffalo have on the process of pra…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with the Executive Director & Educator of Newton County, Indiana's Soil & Water Conservation District, Bri Styck. The two discuss the importance of cover crops and conservative farming practices. Bri's current role for the Newton County Soil & Water Conservation District allows her to w…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon continues to dive deeper on the topic of the Dust Bowl. He meets up with Dr. Curtis Bensch, Associate Professor of Agronomy at Oklahoma Panhandle State University and his brother Randall Bensch, Farmer and Meteorologist by training to get a better understanding of the impact agriculture and weath…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Larry O'Dell. Larry is a State Historian for the Oklahoma Historical Society. Larry is a wealth of knowledge as it pertains to the history of Oklahoma, so Brandon picks his brain on the largest man-made ecological disaster - the Dust Bowl. How did it shape modern day agriculture? M…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with John Burk. John is a District Biologist at the National Wild Turkey Federation for Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois. John talks about a recent decline in the turkey poult survival rate and the research biologists are doing to get answers. John provides some excellent tips for building …

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Jane Haslag. Jane is a Presidential Appointee serving on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Prairie Foundation. Jane completed the Master Pollinator Steward program through the University of Missouri Extension Center in 2021. Jane and her husband have restored 3.5 acres of lan…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with the Executive Director of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, Carol Davit. The two chat the history and culture of native prairie land and how it has shaped modern agriculture. Executive Director Carol Davit works with the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) board of directors and commi…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with the Godfather of Prairie, Frank Oberle. The two discuss Frank's journey towards being one of the most prominent and influential prairie advocates of our time. Frank's love of photography, prairie, and wildlife have put him at the forefront of movements to save endangered species an…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Executive Director of the Iowa Wildlife Federation, Ryan Smith. The two discuss prairie as an alternative to maintaining a home lawn, the Iowa Wildlife Federation, Iowa's Water & Land Legacy, and their common love for the outdoors. This is an episode you won't want to miss! More in…

On this episode of Prairie Prophets Podcast, Brandon sits down with Missouri Soybean Director of Market Development, Matt Amick. Matt Amick also serves as the Executive Director of the Biodiesel Coalition of Missouri and continues farming with his family in his free time. The two discuss why the soybean is considered the most versatile agricultural…