Prairie Prophets Podcast

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 Conservation Fund. Brandon and Jesse meet up in Delaware...

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 Coast and the Everglades.  Brandon and Bill meet up...

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 Representatives.  Brandon and Tim meet up in Delaware,...

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 Conservancy, Quail & Pheasants Forever,...

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 Kyle talk about the economic development of agricultu...

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 3,500 acres (more than 5 square miles) of restor...

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 Federal and State cost share programs - a burn pla...

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 like prescribed burns. Brandon and Joshua talk ab...

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 simulator display to help educate the public on soil...

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 the extreme importance of protecting biodiversity a...

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 the Horizon II grant - contracting with...

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 we are actively working on. Brandon and Sean talk a...

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 of restoring grasslands across Missouri. The MDC ha...

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 17,000 acres improving the water quality...

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 about the importance of restoring, protecting, and e...

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 strategy behind the growth of the biogas industry and th...

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 ongoing work Steve does with his land including T...

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 beneficial plant species as well as invasive and n...

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 active members of numerous conservation organizations...

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 renewable energy industry. Tom talks ab...

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 and Wendy discuss the life cycle, habitat, and th...

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 prairie restoration. Trevor and his te...

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 work closely with conservati...

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 weather had on the dust bowl.   With their unique persp...

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? More information about Larry O'Dell can...