Peter Fritz

St. Croix Valley Chapter Representative

Contact at: Info@ThePrairieEnthusiasts.org

Peter recently retired as a scientist and engineer who served over 38 years at 3M Company. He holds multiple patents and has over 30 years of project management experience in a wide variety of products and divisions. His goal for this third chapter of life is to spend as much time with family and nature as possible. His insatiable curiosity and affinity for all things nature began in Northern Minnesota. His respect and care for nature emerged from the crucible of the environmental and ecological movements that started in the early 1970’s. He strongly believes in leaving a space in better condition than he found it; this belief led him to restore prairie, which ultimately led him to The Prairie Enthusiasts! As he begins reclaiming the three-acres that he acquired shortly before retiring, he’s excited to expand his knowledge and provide assistance to the long-term preservation and maintenance of prairie environments. He’s very happy to be a part of The Prairie Enthusiasts. 

Rich Henderson

Empire-Sauk Chapter Representative

Contact at: Info@ThePrairieEnthusiasts.org

Rich was an ecologist with the Wisconsin DNR. He has 33 years of experience in natural area inventory, assessment, and management of prairie, sedge meadow, oak savanna, and oak woodland ecosystems. Rich served four years as past president of The Prairie Enthusiasts and was an originator of the Military Ridge Prairie Heritage Area, which includes more than 50,000 acres of grasslands in Dane and Iowa counties in southwest Wisconsin. He’s lent his skills to serve as the leader and motivator of several land protection projects including Schluckebier and Black Earth Rettenmund.

Katie Hahn

Chippewa Savannas Chapter Representative

Contact at: Info@ThePrairieEnthusiasts.org

Katie brings a range of knowledge from her professional career, which has focused on land protection and restoration in both the public and private sectors. As an advocate for fire-dependent ecosystems, she is excited to support The Prairie Enthusiasts’ initiatives through its mission and programming.

Matt Dettlaff

Prairie Sands Chapter Representative

Contact at: Info@ThePrairieEnthusiasts.org

Matt grew up enjoying outdoors time with his Dad in the Sand Country of Adams County, WI. After a career move took him to North Carolina for 16 years, he and his wife returned home and purchased a hobby farm in the Springville township of Adams County in 2015. Since that time, Matt has developed a keen interest in habitat management and eventually joined The Prairie Enthusiasts in 2021 to exercise and expand his prairie passion. In 2024, Matt took on the role of Chair and Board Representative for the Prairie Sands chapter to continue the group’s promotion and preservation of fire dependent ecosystems in central Wisconsin.

Gary Eldred

Board Member Emeritus

Contact at: Info@ThePrairieEnthusiasts.org

Gary is a founding member of The Prairie Enthusiasts and an avid artist of the natural world. He acted as president of the Southwest Prairie Enthusiasts for 5 years. When that group merged into The Prairie Enthusiasts, Gary continued his leadership as president for an additional 10 years. His dedication to saving fire-dependent ecosystems and thoughtful conversations with landowners resulted in the protection of several properties, including Muralt Bluff Prairie, Hogback Prairie, Iltis Savanna, and more. His artwork has been a staple of The Prairie Enthusiasts and inspires those interested in native-plant ecosystems. For his accomplishments, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame in April 2021.