We’re proud to present Gary Eldred, Mr. Prairie Enthusiast. He will share stories of his life and healing, along with excerpts from his new book. There will be books available for sale and signing.
In person or via Zoom
Healing Wounds: Giving Back to Nature
By Gary Eldred with Mark K. Leach
Eldred’s memoirs enthrall as he tells how he learned to heal himself and nature with the help of loving, caring people.
Gary Eldred
“Mr. Prairie Enthusiast” was an unlikely leader, with little formal training but with an intense determination to give back to nature. In 1987, he founded the Southwest Wisconsin Prairie Enthusiasts. At the time, the idea of local people organizing themselves to purchase, restore, and educate about native fire-adapted ecosystems was a novelty. Building on success, the organization expanded and rebranded as The Prairie Enthusiasts, which has enabled thousands of activists to work together to heal nature’s wounds.
Mark Leach
For decades, Dr. Leach has volunteered and worked professionally as a conservation researcher, land manager, author, and educator. Now retired, he continues to volunteer as Senior Scientist for the Chippewa Savannas Chapter of the Prairie Enthusiasts. In 2025, he started Leaky Canoe Books to publish Healing Wounds. He’s been friends with Gary Eldred since 1988.
