prairie pines partners
PARTNERS IN PRESERVATION
Leadership & care for the land & community
Prairie Pines Partners, 501C3 non-profit, was founded by Walt Bagley to fulfill his and Virginia’s vision of preserving their land as a sanctuary for education, research, recreation, and conservation.
The mission of Prairie Pines Partners is to provide leadership to develop Prairie Pines as a site of natural resource conservation for education, research, and recreation for all. The organization helps make this possible through:
- Nature-based programming and events
- Public access to trails and green spaces
- Stewardship and habitat maintenance
- Collaboration with educational and conservation partners
This work is powered by two part-time staff members, dedicated volunteers, and a committed Board of Directors.
Current Board Members
Jill Aurand
Kent Miller
Nancy Scott
Naomi Kohles
Ned Stringham
Sue Kohles
Mike Remmenga
We are proud to help continue the legacy of the Bagleys and to ensure that Prairie Pines Nature Preserve remains a protected wildlife habitat that is vibrant, natural space for community access and contact with nature.
Board of Directors
The people leading the way
Jill Aurand
Jill Aurand holds a Master of Accountancy from Kansas State University and currently serves as an Administrator for the Office of Data Management and Application Development at the Nebraska Department of Education. Raised in Kansas, Jill has called Lincoln, Nebraska home for nearly 30 years. She joined the board of Prairie Pines in 2024 and is passionate about promoting environmental stewardship and enhancing community engagement with nature. In addition to her professional responsibilities, Jill volunteers with a local group that creates and donates hand-made items to those in need. An avid knitter, she finds joy in crafting while also spending time outdoors with her dog, Josie. While Jill enjoys walking in nature, she humorously admits that gardening isn’t her strong suit. As a board member, Jill looks forward to contributing to the mission of Prairie Pines and fostering a greater appreciation for the natural world in her community.
Kent Miller
When Kent Miller’s wife Gail started volunteering at Prairie Pines, he began tagging along to enjoy some extra time with her and return to the place where they had happy memories of cutting Christmas trees with their daughter. Kent became a member of the Board of Directors in the fall of 2023. Kent grew up in rural SE Minnesota at the end of a dead end road in the midst of rolling woodlands, pastures and streams. He has traveled and held various jobs (ski lift operator, nurseryman, EMT). Kent graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from UNL and now works as a Civil Engineer at the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) in the Bridge Division, having worked on bridge design, management of the 3500 state highway system bridges, and bridge engineering data management and analysis. Kent’s hobbies include playing hockey, bicycling, gardening, cooking, listening to music and audiobooks and gathering with friends. He and Gail live in Lincoln, where they relentlesly spoil their adorable and aging cat and dog.
Nancy Scott
Nancy Scott was raised in a woods in Southern Indiana by parents who were avid naturalists. She has been a member of the Prairie Pines Partners Board since 2009. She met Walt Bagley while taking Forestry courses when he was a professor at UNL and illustrated his co-authored tree identification book, Woody Plants for the Central and Northern Prairies. Nancy is currently a Master Gardener with Iowa Extension, a Nebraska Certified Nursery and Landscape Professional, and serves on two Bellevue, Nebraska boards: the Bellevue Tree Board and Green Bellevue. She is on the Advisory Board of Pollinator Alliance of the Heartland (PATH), and a volunteer with both PATH and Milkweed Matters, helping build habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators, mainly in Iowa and Nebraska. Nancy co-authored a bilingual (Spanish and English) children's book, Saving the Monarchs, and wrote a gardening book, Gardening Through the Seasons. With a wealth of experience as a horticulturist, recreation leader, and instructor, Nancy has worked with diverse populations of all ages and abilities. She loves sharing her knowledge of nature, gardening, and pollinators with others.
Naomi Kohles
Naomi Kohles grew up outside of Lincoln, Nebraska, in a small town. Climbing trees, camping in the mountains and Sandhills canoe trips are among her favorite childhood memories. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources (Fisheries and Wildlife Management, Biology and English), her love of travel and the outdoors took her to the mountains of Colorado. There, she worked for Keystone Ski Resort and Vail Resorts in operations management, event planning and sales and marketing. Following a brief stint at the Denver Art Museum, Naomi’s desire to be closer to family brought her back to Nebraska. In 2017, she began volunteering at Prairie Pines and joined the Board in 2023. Naomi currently works for the Nebraska Department of Education in areas of data management and technical support. She enjoys both international and stateside travel, as well as attending live music events. Naomi lives in the country outside Palmyra on a small acreage with her dog Newton, cat Larry, and a menagerie of other farm animals.
Ned Stringham
Ned Stringham, a native of upstate New York, is a retired Lincoln psychologist who joined the Board of Directors in 2023. He and his wife, Linda, are the parents of two adult sons and the grandparents of four grandchildren. Ned earned both his masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. An avid volunteer, he has supported Lincoln Public Schools, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the People's City Mission and the Food Bank of Lincoln, along with two area Christian organizations. At 17, Ned’s love for the outdoors was cultivated when he completed five weeks of high altitude mountaineer training with the National Outdoor Leadership School of Lander, Wyoming. Ned fulfilled a lifelong dream when he became a Nebraska Master Naturalist in 2019. Ned views Prairie Pines as a vital outpost of tranquility and natural beauty against the backdrop of the creeping sprawl of urban development. In keeping with the vision of Prairie Pines’ founder Walter Bagley, he sees Prairie Pines as part of an interconnected network of natural areas that will provide a “green necklace” surrounding the city of Lincoln, assuring continued opportunities for exposure to natural landscapes and the preservation of air quality for future generations.
Sue Kohles
Sue Kohles was born on a farm in Northeast Nebraska and grew up roaming its woods and fields as her playground. Her first career was as a nurse, where she worked in multiple fields of health care. She then graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, Horticulture and Landscape Design. Sue attended the Denver Horticulture Therapy Institute to become a Horticultural Therapist, is a Nebraska Arborist Association Nebraska Certified Arborist, a Nebraska Nursery and Landscape Association Certified Nursery Professional, a Nebraska Master Naturalist and the past Curator of three arboretums including Prairie Pines Nature Preserve. In working alongside Prairie Pines creator Walt Bagley for many years, she supported he and wife, Virginia’s lifelong quest to preserve Prairie Pines for future generations. Sue is a lifelong social services, conservation and environmental volunteer. Sue lives in the country on 60 acres of never tilled tallgrass prairie and bur oak woodland, which she and her husband manage and conserve for plant and wildlife habitat and biodiversity. Her hobbies include spending time in nature with children and family, running/hiking, gardening and propagating plants.
