What do grasshoppers, prescribed fire, and peer pressure have in common? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jason Harmon, the new head of Oklahoma State University's Natural Resource Ecology and Management department, to find out.

From his early days counting insects in Wisconsin to leading research on pollinators and rangelands in North Dakota, Dr. Harmon brings a wide-lens perspective to land management - one that blends ecology, culture, and community.

Hosts John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner chat with Dr. Harmon about everything from cattle grazing and monarch migration to how landowners manage for appearances rather than outcomes. They also explore how Oklahoma's ecological diversity - and its people - are shaping the future of conservation. Whether you're passionate about prescribed fire, curious about critters, or just love hearing smart folks talk about working landscapes, this one's for you. Takeaways

1. Dr. Jason Harmon's background blends insect ecology with rangeland research.
2. Cultural perceptions influence landowners' willingness to adopt ecologically diverse pastures.
3. Fire remains an unmatched tool for managing range health and reducing woody encroachment.
4. Oklahoma and North Dakota face different stages of similar land challenges.
5. Pollinators are not just bees-grasslands can host hundreds of native insect species.
6. Milkweed interactions with cattle are species-specific and under-researched.
7. Oklahoma's ecological range-from alligators to bighorn sheep-mirrors the diversity of its management needs.
8. Interdisciplinary collaboration enhances natural resource problem-solving.
9. Prescribed burning is a proactive solution that prevents larger wildfire disasters.
10. OSU's natural resource programs offer versatile career pathways through specialized tracks.

Timestamps

00:02:05 – Meet Dr. Jason Harmon and his journey to OSU |00:04:01 – Insect ecology and critter-counting origins 00:06:06 – Cultural peer pressure in land aesthetics 00:13:25 – Comparing North Dakota and Oklahoma land management 00:14:59 – Prescribed fire vs. grazing for ecosystem management 00:22:00 – Calf decomposition and surprising pollinator behavior 00:27:12 – Regal fritillaries and pollinator diversity 00:29:44 – Cattle interaction with milkweed species 00:33:39 – Adjusting to Oklahoma and its colorful town names 00:36:25 – Oklahoma's ecological diversity and wild inhabitants 00:42:29 – Dr. Harmon's vision for the department 00:49:00 – Promoting collaboration and public understanding 00:52:53 – Overview of OSU's undergraduate options in natural resources

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