A dedication for a prairie the Missouri Prairie Foundation purchased near Sarcoxie is set for Saturday, July 24. The 68-acre unplowed prairie is named for the late Rae Letsinger. Although not trained as an entomologist, he was a moth expert who accumulated one of the largest insect collections in Missouri. His sister, Joan Letsinger, purchased naming rights to honor her brother.
The prairie supports many prairie-dependent plants, including blue hearts, fringed poppy mallow and Barbara’s buttons, according to MPF.
The organization purchased the prairie from the Pauline Gillett Trust with Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration funding awarded to MPF in 2013.
The dedication will start at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 24, at the Rae Letsinger Prairie, located at the northeast corner of Terrier Rd. and Aspen Rd. southwest of Sarcoxie.
