In this episode of It’s in Our Nature, host Adam McLane, State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Missouri, sits down at a Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) with three guests who are helping shape the future of fire in the state:

• Ryan Gauger, Fire & Stewardship Manager, The Nature Conservancy in Missouri
• Brad Graevs, Private Lands Conservationist, Missouri Department of Conservation
• Michelle Faherty, TREX participant, Wildland Fire Service

Together, they explore:

• What TREX really is and why it matters
• How partnerships multiply burn capacity in Missouri
• The role of mentorship and training in growing the fire workforce
• Why southern Missouri’s landscapes depend on good fire
• What a “perfect burn day” looks like, and how TREX makes the most of it
• The hope and determination behind this work, even when the weather won’t cooperate

If you’re a fire practitioner, conservation partner, or simply curious about how prescribed fire shapes the land, this episode offers an inside look at the people, skills, and collaboration behind Missouri’s growing fire community.