On November 2, 2024, Holistic Management International (HMI) proudly teamed up with a group of esteemed organizations to host an educational program at Leo Ranch, North Texas. The day offered an engaging overview of prairie restoration practices, bringing together experts and land stewards with a shared goal: to revitalize our grasslands for the benefit of people and the planet. Each speaker presented their unique interpretation and strategy for restoring, preserving, and enabling these vital ecosystems to thrive. 37 people participated in the event from across North Texas. From seed planting, cultivation, fire use, invasive plant eradication to Holistic Planned grazing, the day celebrated the diversity of approaches and underscored the importance of collaboration in sustainable land management.
This event was marked by a spirit of proactive collaboration, where varying viewpoints found common ground in their commitment to positive outcomes for prairie ecosystems. Despite the diverse opinions on the best approaches to prairie restoration, the underlying intent of each contributor was a passion for sustainability, resilience, and ecological balance. Through open dialogue, we can explore how these differing methods can complement each other, building a stronger framework for grassland preservation.
Event Highlights and Speakers
The program started out with Hilary Knight, Vice-President of Operations for the Dixon Water Foundation, sharing the grazing and management practices at the Leo Ranch. Then Brandon Belcher, the North Texas Preserves Manager at the Nature Conservancy, talked about Prairie and Grassland Restoration. Next, Derek Wiley of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture talked about the Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (GRIP).
Later in the morning, Wayne Knight, Executive Director for HMI, shared with the participants the many resources that HMI has to help landowners, including regenerative grazing manuals, charts, and software. His talk was followed by Amber Arseneaux, the Executive Director of Native Prairies Association of Texas, discussing the options for prairie conservation.
In the afternoon, there was a guided Prairie Walk led by Suzanne Tuttle and Kate Morgan of the Leadership at Fort Worth Chapter of Native Prairies Association of Texas.
Diverse Approaches to a Common Goal
The day’s discussions showcased a range of approaches to prairie management, including:
Seed planting and reintroduction of native grasses
Controlled burn management
Strategic grazing practices
Community engagement and educational resources
Each approach has its strengths and challenges, and the open dialogue allowed participants to examine these methods from multiple angles. By embracing each other’s perspectives, we can better understand how these strategies may intersect to maximize their benefits for prairie restoration.
Moving Forward with Shared Intentions
HMI extends a heartfelt thank you to all the collaborators and attendees for their dedication, knowledge, and open-minded approach. Prairie ecosystems are essential to our environment, and it is through cooperative efforts that we can best ensure their future health and vitality. Together, may we continue to build on each other’s insights, finding ways to blend diverse strategies into a cohesive, sustainable approach to land management.
Thank you for supporting prairie restoration through innovation and collaboration!