The Sandhills of Nebraska are a unique ecosystem, containing 19,300 square miles of rolling grassy sand dunes in the heart of the state. The region has a fascinating and complex tapestry of culture, climate, geology, water, economics, and more — all of which are examined in The Nebraska Sandhills, a new book from the University of Nebraska Press.
Contributors to the book will speak about the past, present, and future of this iconic Great Plains landscape on Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Center for Great Plains Studies. Panelists include Kim Hachiya, Sarah Sortum, Ted LaGrange, and Sheri Fritz along with moderator Michael Boehm. This event is free and open to the public.
Kim Hachiya was an associate editor for The Nebraska Sandhills. She is a retired communications specialist for UNL. She is the author of Dear Old Nebraska U (Nebraska Press 2019). She volunteers with Platte Basin Timelapse and is affiliated with the UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association. She is a 1977 graduate of UNL.
Sarah Sortum lives and works with her family on the Switzer Ranch in Loup County, Neb., where they have a diversified operation including custom grazing, backgrounding and short term cow/calf programs. The ranch is also home to their family run tourism entity, Calamus Outfitters. She and her husband, Mark, have two boys currently in high school with goals of returning to the ranch after college.
Ted LaGrange has worked as the Wetland Program Manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for 31 years. As Wetland Program Manager he works on a wide variety of wetland issues throughout Nebraska including partnerships, private land restoration programs, public lands management, research, regulations, and outreach. Prior to moving to Nebraska, he worked for 8 years as a Waterfowl Research Technician for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and received B.S. and M.S. degrees in wildlife biology from Iowa State University.
Sheri Fritz is a George Holmes Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Biological Sciences at UNL. She specializes in paleoecology and aquatic ecology.
Moderator Michael Boehm is the Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska system.