The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve protects over 10,000 acres of tallgrass prairie in the Flint Hills of Kansas. It aims to educate visitors about the importance of preserving this ecosystem and its hundreds of plant and animal species. Park ranger Heather Brown has worked at the preserve for 14 years and enjoys sharing her passion for the prairie landscape with people from around the world. The preserve offers hiking trails, historical tours and programs to spark children's interest in nature while keeping the prairie protected for future generations.

1. Take a walk in the Flint Hills, and the rolling pastures seem to stretch forever. Life
thrives on the open prairie. From the smallest plant to the mammoth bison that
roam the countryside, nature is alive and well.
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve intends to keep it that way. The preserve,
just north of Strong City, has hosted two Symphony in the Flint Hills, including this
year’s. Thousands of curious nature lovers from around the globe have crossed its
threshold.
The preserve opened its doors in 1996 and protects more than 10,000 acres of
grasslands.
At its peak, the tallgrass prairie covered 400,000 square miles of North America.
Today, approximately 4 percent remains relatively unchanged or unplowed. 3/4 of
what remains is located in the Flint Hills.
The importance of the grassland to the ecosystem is a message the preserve tries to
convey to patrons. The preserve’s Visitors Center boasts it is home to more than 400
species of plants, 150 kinds of birds, 39 types of reptiles and amphibians, and 31
species of mammals.
Park ranger Heather Brown, a native Kansan, has worked at the preserve for nearly
14 years. She enjoys speaking with people about the Flint Hills and seeing them
experience all the preserve has to offer.
“The quiet solitude — it’s just nice and peaceful,” Brown said. “They’re looking for a
place where they can just dial it down and have just a calm peaceful feeling. People need
that.”
Even after all this time, Brown is still amazed at the passports the preserve has seen.
“It’s interesting. You’ll see someone from Germany or China and you wonder, ‘How did
you hear about us?’” Brown said, “It’s amazing, a world away, coming to our little
postage stamp here in the Flint Hills.”
Over the years the prairie has been home to a diverse collection of peoples. The
Kaw, Osage, Wichita and Pawnee tribes called the Flint Hills home for centuries
before the settlers sought to establish their presence in the early 19th century.
The buildings at the preserve — the limestone barn, outbuildings and ranch house
— were built in the late 1870s when Stephen F. Jones purchased the land to build
his farm and stock ranch. The land changed ownership over the years eventually
becoming the Z Bar Ranch. The effort to establish a safe haven for the prairie gained
momentum, however slowly, over the years.

2. The push for some type of prairie national park can be traced back to the 1920s.
Conflict concerning what land to use, how much land and who should safeguard it
was inevitable. Ranchers in the early 20th century claimed they were the best
stewards of the land and wanted as little government involvement as possible.
Momentum for a national park ebbed and flowed over the next half decade. It was
legislation introduced to Congress by United States Senators Bob Dole and Nancy
Kassebaum, both from Kansas, which finally brought the dream of a national prairie
preserve into a reality.
To appease local ranchers, primary control of the grasslands remains in private
hands. The Nature Conservancy — an organization dedicated to conserving the lands
and waters on which all life depends, according to its mission statement — controls most
of the land on the preserve. The National Park Service only owns 33 acres, and
legislation caps its ownership at 180 acres.
On the day it was dedicated in 1997, Kassebaum said she was a proud Kansan.
“This is the most beautiful land in the world,” Kassebaum said during her dedication
speech.
The senator returned this year to the preserve for Symphony in the Flint Hills and
helped kick off the evening’s festivities.
“The hills are alive with the sound of wind, and the sound of music,” Kassebaum
said.
Kassebaum is not alone in her love for the Flint Hills. Many of the preserve’s staff
members said they feel a duty to ensure the grasslands are around for future
generations to enjoy.
The preserve is constantly working to create new programs and events. Bus tours of
the grounds and a tour of the recently renovated 1881 farmhouse are options for
visitors. They also can enjoy the five hiking trails or learn more about the area in
one of the living history programs.
Brown and the staff recognize that sparking children’s interest in the tallgrass
prairie is paramount to the survival of the area. The preserve also offers child-
friendly programs such as farm animal day.
Additionally, Brown said she understands the role the Symphony in the Flint Hills
plays in providing exposure to the preserve. She said she hopes people are
encouraged to return after enjoying the symphony.
“It gives people a chance to say, ‘I wanna come back and do this on my own,’” Brown
said.

3. She also appreciates the hard work of Symphony in the Flint Hills employees and
volunteers, she said. Especially when it comes to protecting the land where the
symphony takes place.
“We had some damage, but it’s not nearly as bad as what it could have been,” Brown
said. “The symphony did a good job working with us to minimize the damage as much as
possible.”
Brown has worked all over the country, but it’s getting the chance to come home and
work at the Tallgrass Preserve that means the most to her, she said.
“I volunteered here early on when it was just getting started and loved it,” Brown said, “I
think someone had another vision for me here.”
Brown looked out across the pasture and smiled, her passion and love for the grasslands
apparent. Softly, she spoke.
“This is where I’m supposed to be.”
- Marcus Petty