"Why Prairie Matters to our Members"

The Missouri Prairie Foundation was founded in 1966 by a small group of conservation professionals and volunteers who were concerned about the rapid decline of greater prairie-chickens and the degradation and loss of grassland habitat throughout the state. Since that time, MPF has grown and developed with several goals in mind, including the permanent protection of prairie habitat and the need for greater understanding of the role of native grasslands in wildlife conservation, energy security and carbon storage. What began as an all-volunteer advocacy group has grown into an organization that both owns and/or manages nearly 4,000 acres of land, produces one of North American's only magazines on native grasslands and has more than 1,500+ members---and continues to advocate for state-wide prairie protection. Our work would not be possible without the many hours of service from our dedicated board members, our generous members and other supporters, our loyal volunteers and our committed, two part-time staff members.

 

Member of

Our People

MPF is led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Our current officers and board members are as follows:

Officers

  • President Stanley M. Parrish, Walnut Grove, MO
    Immediate Past President Paul Cox, Kansas City, MO
    Vice President Doris Sherrick, Peculiar, MO
    Secretary Bruce Schuette, Troy, MO
    Treasurer Laura Church, Kansas City, MO
  • Board Members
      • Glenn Chambers, Columbia, MO
        Page Hereford, St. Louis, MO
        Warren B. Lammert, Jr., St. Louis, MO
        Wayne Morton, M.D., Osceola, MO
        Steve Mowry, Trimble, MO
        Rudi Roeslein, St. Louis, MO
        Jan Sassman, Bland, MO
        Thomas Taylor, St. Louis, MO
        Bonnie Teel, Rich Hill, MO
        W. Randall Washburn, Versailles, MO
        Jon Wingo, Florrisant, MO

        Presidential Appointees
        Galen Hasler, M.D., Madision, WI
        Mike Skinner, Republic, MO
        Van Wiskur, Pleasant Hill, MO

        Emeritus Board Members
        Bill Crawford, Columbia, MO
        Bill Davit, Washington, MO
        Dr. Clair Kucera, Columbia, MO
        Lowell Pugh, Golden City, MO
        Dr. Owen Sexton, St. Louis, MO

        Staff
        Richard Datema, Springfield, Prairie Operations Manager
        Carol Davit, Jefferson City, director of communications and development and  
        • Prairie Journal Editor*
  •       
    Regular Volunteers
    MPF board members and technical advisors devote many volunteer hours to the operation of the organization. In addition, many other volunteers regularly donate their time. Among them are:

  • Lori Burkhardt, St. Louis, Web site content manager and Facebook page manager
  • Rebecca Mowry Egli, Missouri Prairie Journal indexing
  • Lee Phillion, St. Charles, writing and outreach
  • Kevin Carpenter, St. Louis, technical support and northeastern Missouri outreach
    Susan Parrish, Walnut Grove, southwest Missouri outreach
    Ric and Jean Mayer, Greenfield, southwest Missouri outreach
  • Nadia Navarrete-Tindall, Columbia, outreach and mail delivery
    Randy Tindall, Columbia, mail delivery

  • Kent Parrish, Greenfield, prairie management
  • Rex, Amy and Elizabeth Hamilton, Elk Creek, prairie management
    Buck Keagy, Springfield, prairie management
    Brian Edmond, Springfield, prairie management
    Bob and Barbara Kipfer, Springfield, prairie management
  • Bob Elworth, Willard, prairie management
  • Forrest and Anna Martin, prairie management
  • Don Kollmeyer, prairie management

  • Glenn and Ilayna Pickett, Columbia, prairie work days
    Bill Fessler, Kansas City, prairie work days
    Linda Lehrbaum, Kansas City, prairie work days
    Josh Rathert, Auxvasse, prairie work days
  • Bob Sherrick, Peculiar, prairie work days, technical support
  • Allen Woodliffe, Ontario, Canada, photography
  • Pat Whalen, Kansas City, photography
  • Henry Domke, New Bloomfield, photography
  • Casey Galvin, St. Louis, photography
  • Frank Oberle, Novinger, photography, outreach
  • Dan Zarlenga, St. Peters, photography, astronomy education
  • Gary House, Kansas City, photography, prairie work days
  • Don Kurz, Jefferson City, photography, writing
  • Jim and Nancy Martin, California, Mo  

  • Many, many thanks to all those who volunteer statewide to remove brush and invasive species and conduct prairie burns on MPF properties.

    *Long-time contractor; not a staff member.