None The Nature Conservancy in Kansas Press Releases Search All Press Releases Shelby Stacy sstacy@tnc.org 785.233.4400

Konza Prairie Featured in Washington, DC Exhibit

Show will feature images from native Kansan Judd Patterson

TOPEKA, KANSAS — June 23, 2008 — A native Kansan will have an opportunity to exhibit images from The Nature Conservancy’s Konza Prairie at the U.S. Department of Interior Museum in Washington, DC starting July 18th through September 12th. 

Konza is an 8,600-acre tallgrass prairie located deep in the Flint Hills. Though owned by the Conservancy, the preserve is operated as a biological field station by the Kansas State University Division of Biology. The Flint Hills are one of the last great expressions of tallgrass prairie. This unique ecosystem has steadily declined over the years due in part to urban development and tillage. Today, less than 4 percent of original tallgrass prairie in North America still exists with the majority found in the Flint Hills.

The Flint Hills have survived relatively intact, due in large part to the underlying flint spread throughout the region. The thin soil makes it nearly impossible to convert into farm land. However, it’s known for being one of the best grazing lands in the country. Thanks to cycles of grazing and fire, the Flint Hills continue to shelter the tallgrass prairie ecosystem.
 

Professional photographer Judd Patterson began shooting Konza images when he was a student at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. He graduated in 2007 from K-State with a Master’s degree in Geography. He currently resides in Florida where he works for the National Park Service.

Patterson’s path crossed with The Nature Conservancy when his photographs were featured at the biennial Konza Prairie Visitors Day four years ago.

“I knew The Nature Conservancy was an important organization dedicated to saving unique places around the world. However, I didn’t realize they were working so hard to save our state’s treasures,” said Patterson.Patterson’s photos have been cover shots for four Plainskeeper issues, featured in numerous marketing materials and used as banners on the Kansas Chapter website. The bright, youthful perspective he brings to his photos illustrates his respect and love for the natural world. 

 The Department of the Interior exhibit entitled, A Sea of Tallgrass: Konza Prairie, will feature 20-30 photographs from Patterson that will show the beauty and importance of the tallgrass ecosystem. The exhibit will also contain information about the plants, animals and history of Konza. 

If you would like to view Judd’s photographs locally, the K-State Student Union will run an exhibit of his photos in their Picture Gallery, August 5 – 29, 2008.  

To learn more about the U.S. Department of the Interior Museum visit: www.doi.gov/interiormuseum/

To learn more about Konza Prairie please visit: www.k-state.edu/konza/keep/

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.