The Persistence of Prairie and People: The Emergence of the Native Seed Industry in the Upper Midwest

Session One — 2026 Restoration and Management Seminar Series 

This talk explores the emergence of the native seed industry from the Dust Bowl until present day. A wide array of individuals - including growers, scientists, and government officials - have persistently utilized and advocated for the use of native vegetation in a political and cultural landscape often hostile to the idea. Only in the face of environmental and financial crises have farmers, private-industry, and government turned towards prairie as a solution. 

Andy Olson has a B.A. in public history and a M.A. in history, specializing in cultural resource management from Colorado State University. Previously, he worked as a Green Iowa AmeriCorps service member for the Tallgrass Prairie Center and later the Prairie on Farms Program Manager. He is currently serving as a Stewardship Specialist for the Native Prairies Association of Texas.