It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone.  It seems like just yesterday our crews were getting geared up for the spring burn season.   And now winter is here - at least according to the calendar - and the holiday season is in full swing.

From an environmental standpoint, 2015 could easily be considered "The Year of the Pollinator."   It seemed that every day there was a story in the media about pollinators, their drastic decline in numbers and what can be done to help.  Couple this with the monarch butterfly crisis and, in my 18 years at PRI, I have never seen such an overwhelming and positive response to a single environmental cause.  Countless businesses, organizations and individuals have stepped up and established native pollinator habitat on their own properties. People are feeling empowered with the knowledge that their efforts can truly make a difference, even if it means planting just a small corner of their backyard.

It's this type of effort and passion that will need to continue if we are to make significant headway.  There is lots left to do and with everyone pitching in, we can make a meaningful difference.

Looking forward to a great 2016!

Mike Evenocheck
Director of Sales and Marketing

Joe Sanderson started working for Prairie Restorations in 2013 as a Land Management Specialist and works out of the Prairie Creek office in Northfield. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from St. Cloud State University, he decided to follow his passion for the outdoors instead, and found employment in the natural resources field.

Joe is responsible for all aspects of prairie and woodland management ranging from chemical application, mowing, woodland invasive cutting, and prescribed burning. He also is responsible for managing the summer seasonal crews in the field. Joe enjoys prescribed burning and has been attending additional training to increase his knowledge and skills. He likes the strategy of planning and completing a successful burn. Joe enjoys the diversity of his work at PRI, where every day brings new challenges.

Joe lives in Rosemount and was recently hired on by the Rosemount Fire Department. Like many of us at PRI, he enjoys a variety of outdoor sports such as fishing and the like. Joe is also an avid long distance runner and recently completed his fourth marathon. When not at work, Joe enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife Kate and their month-old baby girl, Isabel.