This will be my final post of The Kansas Outback. It's been a great joy to share pictures and stories about the amazing features of our state of which many people are unaware--especially the Red Hills where I've spent most of my life working and enjoying. It's been a little over ten years since I published my first post. I spent about the same period of time as the Red Hills Project Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy. Prior to that I was privileged to spend an incredible career with the state's wildlife agency. This encompasses nearly a half century devoted to wildlife conservation. I don't use the term "privilege" lightly even though I earned the opportunity through interest and education. A little luck didn't hurt as well. I have been rewarded by being able to follow a dream of working with nature as well as an amazing number of highly dedicated colleagues, organizations, agencies and landowners. TNC was gracious to allow me to continue the last few years as a half-time staffer, still able to enjoy working with the people and places I love. I owe much gratitude to all my colleagues, the wonderful landowners who were valued partners in conservation and especially my wife, Lee Ann, and kids and grandkids who have been part of this great adventure. Time moves on and even though I regret changes, I treasure all the memories and adventures of which I've had the pleasure to experience. I'll continue to keep my Facebook page and feature some of the same nature pictures of which frequented The Kansas Outback. But I've not been posting regular enough on the blog to justify its continuation. It doesn't mean I've lost interest in natural Kansas, just going to do more adventuring and less writing.
What a special privilege that the Kansas Natural Resources Conference
honored me with a Conservationist of the Year award and this
beautiful Bob Gress print of a Lesser Prairie-chicken, the species of which
was a major part of my professional interest through much of
the later part of my career.
(Photo by Lee Ann Brunson)
I've had many joys in my careers but few so rewarding
as working on programs to conserve the Lesser Prairie-chicken.
(Photo by Jonathan Lautenbach)
So it's time to move on into a new episode of life to continue to be filled with nature, music, grandkids and friends. Thanks to all who took interest in The Kansas Outback. Signing out...
Ken Brunson
