Category Archives: Local Events

Award-winning MDC photographer Noppadol Paothong will speak at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood Friday, Aug. 22 from 7 – 8 p.m.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) presents an evening with award-winning MDC photographer Noppadol Paothong at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood Friday, Aug. 22 from 7 – 8 p.m.

Paothong’s photography has been featured in the Missouri Conservationist and Xplor magazines, and many other publications including National Audubon, Ranger Rick, BBC, and the Nature Conservancy.

Paothong is a nature/conservation photographer and an associate fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). The iLCP is an elite group of the world’s top wildlife, nature, and culture photographers around the globe.  Paothong is also the featured artist in Powder Valley’s display gallery for August, where his photography can be seen until the end of the month.

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By Don Corrigan

Magnificent Missouri’s annual “Sweet Corn Sunday” will once again be rocking in the Missouri River Valley near Treloar. Festivities are slated for 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., August 10, and will be located along the trail at Treloar, Peers and Marthasville.

Each family that attends will receive a free copy of the illustrated “The Katy Trail Country Store Corridor.” Tram rides on the trail will be available, but hikers and bikers also are encouraged to take advantage of various transit activities.

All three locations of the festivities — Treloar, Peers and Marthasville — will have something to offer including storytelling, music and munchies.

The Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) Annual Dinner is a celebration of prairies. This year’s event will be held Saturday, August 16, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri at Stoney Creek Hotel, 2601 S. Providence Road.

“We are extremely pleased that Dr. Jesse Nippert—University Distinguished Professor of Biology at Kansas State University—will be our special guest speaker for this event,” said MPF Executive Director Carol Davit. In addition to Dr. Nippert’s presentation on the dynamics of tree/grass resource competition—“Managing for Healthy Tallgrass Prairies in an Era of Woody Plant Encroachment”—guests at the dinner event will enjoy a social hour, drinks, and silent auction featuring outdoor gear, artwork, outdoor experiences, and more, with proceeds benefiting MPF’s conservation work. MPF and Grow Native! program awards will also be presented during the evening.

MPF is grateful to event in-kind sponsors: Modern Litho and Bass Pro Shops®.

To purchase individual tickets and tables of six, and to find more details about the event, visit moprairie.org/annualdinner. Registration is required to attend; the registration deadline is August 7, 2025. If you have questions, please email info@moprairie.org.

The Missouri Prairie Foundation is a 59-year-old, nationally accredited land trust that protects and restores prairie and other native grasslands through acquisition, management, education, and prairie research. The organization owns 35 properties totaling more than 5,000 acres of prairie across the state, and, with partners, inspires the conservation of thousands more. The Missouri Prairie Foundation is also home to the 25-year-old Grow Native! native plant education and marketing program and administers the Missouri Invasive Plant Council.

by Don Corrigan

Residents and officials with Gerald, Owensville, and Belle, Mo., hosted separate ribbon cuttings to mark progress on the Rock Island Trail on May 31. They were joined by Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park.

There was a packed schedule of events on May 31 that required a bit of travel to cover the trail route. The entire trail will cross much of Missouri. Among the different celebratory events:

•  At 9 a.m, May 31, there was a ribbon cutting in Gerald that hailed the opening of one mile of trail at the Gerald Trailhead. An impressive 100-foot mural commemorating the Rock Island Railway was visible. It is supported by local firefighters.

• At 11 a.m. – An Owensville ribbon cutting marked the grand opening of 2.5 miles of trail in Owensville. Bikers and hikers on the Rock Island Trail through Owensville can enjoy local dining options and learn more about the biggest horseshoe known to man.

• At 1 p.m. – The Belle groundbreaking ceremony for a remarkable stretch of trail commenced. The trail extension in Belle is highlighted by views of the Largest Cow Bell on Earth, a caboose, and classic feed mill.

A reception followed at the Zumwalt Feed Mill. Activities included book signings by Dan Burkhardt of Magnificent Missouri and Brett Dufer of Pebble Publishing.

“Thanks to the strong trail community partnerships, support from regional economic organizations and dedicated advocacy by a legion of trail supports, we’re turning vision into reality,” noted a spokesperson for Friends of Rock Island Trail State Park. “We are building a legacy for generations to enjoy.”

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MDC is hosting a Tree ID and Guided Hike Tuesday, May 13 from 10 a.m. – noon at Caldwell Memorial Wildlife Area in Franklin County. The hike will be guided by MDC Forester, Cody Baily.

A forest full of trees can seem almost impossible to sort out.  Yet, by learning to look for and identify some key characteristics, the forest and its trees can become a familiar place.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is hosting a Tree ID and Guided Hike Tuesday, May 13 from 10 a.m. – noon at Caldwell Memorial Wildlife Area in Franklin County.  The hike will be guided by MDC Forester Cody Baily.  This is a free event and open to anyone 15 years of age and up.

Participants can improve tree identification skills while enjoying a short hike at Caldwell Memorial Wildlife Area.  Baily will explore the unique identifying characteristics of more than 20 of Missouri’s most common tree species.

“This program is perfect for families, hikers, and nature lovers who want to connect with the forest in a whole new way,” said MDC Conservation Educator Kayla Rosen.

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