350 attend Plains Safaris: A Conference on Tourism and Conservation in the Great Plains

Kearney, Neb., and the University of Nebraska at Kearney hosted the joint conference from the Center for Great Plains Studies, the Nebraska Tourism Commission, and the Heartland Scenic Byways on April 18-20. Check out the highlights below.

More than 100 guests went out on 10 optional, pre-conference field trips (above) biking and seeing bison at Crane Trust, learning photo skills with Michael Farrell, visiting agritourism sites (Kinkaider Brewing, Mac’s Creek Vineyard, Thunderhead Brewing), biking the Kearney trail, spotting wildlife at Harlan County Reservoir, hiking Oldfather Prairie, visiting Prairie Plains Resource Institute, and learning about stargazing and green business strategies.

Following a reception at the Museum of Nebraska Art, National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore gave the keynote address, talking about conservation issues, his Photo Ark project, and what makes the Great Plains such a special place. Martha Kauffman (World Wildlife Fund) and author Dan Flores kicked off the first full day of sessions. All in all, more than 60 presenters spoke at Plains Safaris. Thanks to cohosts the Center for Great Plains Studies, the Nebraska Tourism Commission, and Heartland Scenic Byways. Thanks to supporters UNK, IANR, UNL College of Arts & Sciences, and the Rural Futures Institute.

Media coverage:

Kearney Hub, April 21, 2018

NTV, April 22, 2018

Adventures of Empty Nesters (blog)

Postcard Jar (blog)

Thanks to sponsors: