When we think about the prairie, there are so many things that catch our eye. Sights, sounds, touch — it's an overwhelming sense of wonder to describe just what it's like to finally discover the prairie. And as in life, we all have a favorite. What better way to celebrate the diversity of experiences and favorites than by having a whole episode dedicated to some of our favorite things about prairie?

We're featuring many special guests and people of the prairie to showcase their stories of connection, diversity, and learning as they pass on their experiences. Thinking of prairie as a tradition is at the heart of our conservation efforts. We all work so hard together because prairie isn't just a thing that's out there on the land living, it is a place where we belong and our memories are shared as the moments we spend become legacies we leave. It is a legacy that connects us through the sounds, sights, smells and memories for all who stop and take notice. On this #prairietuesday, we hope you enjoy the voices of people who share our passion and take a moment to laugh, cry and lose yourselves for a little while in the stories of what prairie offers us: mystery, discovery and hope. We hope these prairie stories warm you up and remind you of golden prairie days outside over the winter ahead.

One of the hardest things to quantify is how much things like clean air, drinkable water, flood control, and healthy soils are worth. How do you quantify the benefit of these ecosystem services and what is the cost when we lose the land that provides them? Arguably, even harder to quantify are the intangible benefits like mental health and well-being, spiritual connections, and a sense of peace one can derive from the prairie. From pheasant hunting to an improved quality of life, we've done the math to help you make dollars and ‘sense' out of the prairie.

We're getting our feet wet in Minnesota's shallow lakes. Coming in at depths under 15 feet these permanent and sometimes semi-permanent water bodies are a critical habitat component for Minnesota's wildlife.

Prairie landscapes are renewable energy rich with all the wind and sun our prairies experience, and renewable energy development can have a big footprint in these landscapes. Today we discuss an emerging trend to develop pollinator-friendly solar energy facilities that also support local agriculture through sheep grazing.

Featuring places near and dear to our hearts: Minnesota State Parks and Trails! We are joined by park managers and naturalists to share the special prairie places in the parks they love. Hear insider tips from the people who know the parks best.

We often talk about diversity above-ground in prairie ecosystems, but this week we'll be going underground to uncover the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the success of prairie reconstructions.

With the tallgrass prairie landscape reduced to just under 2% of its historic range in Minnesota and less than 1% of its range in North America, it is the most endangered ecosystem on this continent. Luckily, practitioners, scientists, and landowners are putting their heads together to come up with solutions to help keep our prairies genetically fit and diverse.

Predators sometimes get a bad rap because they, well, eat the critters we admire. But it's important to understand that they play pivotal roles in the prairie ecosystem. Predators are a key ingredient of prairies.

On today's podcast, we're featuring people of the prairie to showcase their real life work in the fight to save a landscape that hangs on with just under 2% left in the state. Their special connections show us the joy and power of prairie.