Gasconade County Republican

Joel VanceEnjoy a special evening with acclaimed wildlife photographer Noppadol Paothong and award-winning writer Joel Vance and learn about their new book, “Save the Last Dance.” Ten years in the making, this beautiful book tells the story of North America's grassland grouse, including the greater prairie-chicken.  

Hosted by Prairie Star Restoration Farm near Bland, the schedule for this ticketed event to benefit the prairie conservation work of the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) includes:

4:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Wagon tours of Prairie Star Restoration Farm’s restored woodlands and prairie plantings.

5:30 p.m.: Social, drinks, fine wildlife prints and books for auction. “Save the Last Dance” books available for purchase and signing.

6:30 p.m.: Dinner featuring bacon-wrapped, Missouri-raised bison burgers, potatoes, vegetables, salad and dessert. Drinks included. Vegetarian option available.

After-dinner a presentation is scheduled by Missouri Department of Conservation writer Joel Vance and photographer Noppadol Paothong.

Tickets are $45 per person for MPF members; $55 for nonmembers, drinks included. RSVP by mailing check to Missouri Prairie Foundation, P.O. Box 200, Columbia, Mo., 65205 by Oct. 20.

Prairie Star Restoration Farm is at 117 Osage Country Road 741. From Highway 28, turn north on Route NN. Travel two miles. Turn right on County Road 741. Travel two-tenths of a mile to first gate on left.

Noppadol Paothong has spent the last 20 years viewing and photographing wildlife, and for the past 11 years has worked extensively on grassland grouse and their habitat. On staff with the Missouri Department of Conservation, his images appear in the Missouri Conservationist, and have also appeared in National Wildlife, Audubon, Nature Conservancy, Field & Stream, and many other national publications.

Noppadol PaothongHe has received numerous awards, including Picture of the Year International, National Wildlife Photo Contest, Outdoor Writers Association of America Photo Contest, and Missouri Photojournalist of the Year.

Joel Vance is a veteran of 21 years as a writer with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He has freelanced since the 1960s and has won many writing awards, including the Outdoor Writers Association of America Excellence in Craft and also that of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers. He is a past president of Outdoor Writers, has been honored with all three of its major awards (one of only three members so honored in the 85-year-history of the organization), and has been the group’s historian. He has nine published books.

The mission of the Missouri Prairie Foundation is to protect and restore prairie and other native grassland communities through acquisition, management, education, and research. The Missouri Prairie Foundation owns more than 2,600 acres of prairie and manages an additional 1,500 in partnership with public agencies and private landowners. It is also home to the Grow Native program.

Before European settlement, one-third of Missouri — or 15 million acres — was tallgrass prairie. Today, fewer than 90,000 acres remain. Contributions of Missouri Prairie Foundation members and supporters are vital to conserving Missouri’s prairie landscapes.