Montana's American Prairie

More than 1 million acres of the Great Plains are giving way to cornfields as farmers transform the wild expanse that once served as the backdrop for American pioneers.

"It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said George E. Matelich, the chairman of the conservation group, American Prairie Reserve, and a managing director of a New York private equity firm. "It’s a project for America."

I hope you will have the opportunity to find out what stories the prairie can tell you this year.

See how the Reserve’s sure and steady growth is a powerful example of how a mission driven, non-governmental effort can result in one of the most ambitious conservation projects ever undertaken in American history.

Thanks to your contributions, we acquired our largest property to date, grew the bison herd by more than 110 animals, installed our first interpretive signs, and connected the public to the prairie through exciting educational programs and volunteer opportunities.

"Prairie restoration is not for wimps!"

Even after a year of planning, the day of the fire was more solemn and serious than celebratory.

I have become increasingly convinced that APR’s vision is necessary. If we want to understand the behavior and ecology of grassland species, we need to think big.

Thanks to your support, American Prairie Reserve is growing faster than ever before.

In August, we more than doubled the size of the Reserve.

"I felt like last year, after hearing the speakers, I really understood what’s happening in the world in a whole different way. The big picture was even more clear. And it really helped us see where we needed to go in making some decisions with our lives."