Luke Westerman is a Supervisory District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Kansas. He provides consulting, technical assistance and leadership for farmers, ranchers and landowners wishing to best manage the natural resources on their land. In our conversation, we touch on the formation of the Flint Hills, the woody invasion of the plains and the many functions of this unique ecosystem in Kansas. We are fortunate to have folks like Luke who look at their government "job" as much more than just a paycheck. Luke is deeply invested in the Flint Hills region and all of its flora and fauna. He and his wife, Mindy, are our friends and fellow leaders in our community.  Mindy is our kids' 4H club leader and Luke now serves as our Eureka City Fire Chief (didn't even get time to talk about that on this episode), as well as various other volunteer positions.So enjoy this discussion about the Flint Hills, how they have persisted through the centuries, and what lessons they can teach us as we go forth.Home | NRCS (usda.gov)