by Geitner Simmons, IANR Media
The UNL Wildlife Club has saluted Kristal Stoner, executive director of Audubon Great Plains and a vice president of the National Audubon Society, with the 2026 Howard L. Wiegers Nebraska Outstanding Wildlife Conservation Award. The club presented her with the honor during the School of Natural Resources annual banquet on April 11.
In her role with Audubon Great Plains, Stoner oversees conservation strategies in Nebraska and the Dakotas, spanning the states’ prairies, rivers, working lands and bird-friendly communities. Audubon Great Plains works to restore and enhance more than 1 million acres of prairie habitat through partnerships with private landowners, producers, agencies and conservation organizations. Their shared efforts include restoring grasslands, advancing bird-friendly ranching practices and conserving rivers and wetlands that sustain migratory birds.
Audubon Great Plains manages two Nebraska nature centers focusing on education, bird conservation and habitat enhancement: Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, a 1,160-acre sanctuary in southeast Nebraska, and Iain Nicholson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary, encompassing 3,000 acres and five miles along the Platte River in Buffalo County.
“What stands out to me, especially here in Nebraska, is a culture of partnership that is grounded in purpose,” said Stoner, who holds a master’s degree in ecology, evolution and behavior from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Nebraska Wesleyan University. “We align around the goal, not the spotlight. We bring what we can, we seek resources together, we trust one another and we move forward together.”
Before Audubon, Stoner served as the wildlife diversity program manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, where she implemented Nebraska’s State Wildlife Action Plan to conserve at-risk species by developing and coordinating initiatives across multiple divisions and with partners. She also managed the Nebraska Natural Legacy Partnership Team, which provides guidance for Nebraska’s Wildlife Action Plan implementation, and initiated and led the Nebraska Conservation Roundtable, which serves to educate Nebraska state senators about the most pressing threats to the state’s wildlife.
The Howard L. Wiegers Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the understanding, management or conservation of Nebraska’s wildlife resources. Past recipients include conservation biologists, educators and nature photographers Michael Forsberg and Joel Sartore.
“Kristal has made deep contributions to conservation of our landscapes and wild species at the state, regional and national levels,” said Larkin Powell, professor of conservation biology/animal ecology and director of the School of Natural Resources. “She has a knack for finding ways to strategically use partnerships and limited funds to support conservation of priority species and landscapes.”
It’s important for students and early-career professionals to understand the importance of “saying yes,” even in the face of complications and challenges, Stoner said. “Never underestimate the power of small actions,” she said. “Sharing your passion for birds, insects, plants or climate with someone else can spark change far beyond what you can see.”
Famed primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall, she said, offered counsel of enduring value: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you — choose wisely.”