I glance out my car window at a never-ending horizon. What I see is the true meaning of beauty. The tallgrass prairie spreads across a vast area without a tree in sight. A light breeze blows the tips of the big bluestem and Indian grass. A meadowlark takes in the landscape from atop a fence post. Suddenly it feels as though all harm has been lifted from the world.

It hasn't been, though. My area of beauty is in danger! The tallgrass prairie is slowly disappearing. This region has been described as having rolling hills, steep bluffs, knolls and valleys, and flood plains. The land supports a diverse flora and fauna. You can find eighty species of mammals, three hundred species of birds and thousands of different kinds of insects and other small creatures. The plant life is also diverse and beautiful. Gayfeather, prairie clover and Maximilian sunflower make this beauty stand out even more. The tallgrass prairie has had a rich tradition of family ranching for decades. Grazing cattle are an important part of this prairie heritage. Ranchers have been good stewards of the land for decades.

Kansas' tallgrass prairie already has the distinction of losing the bison, gray wolf and wapiti. What other species will become extinct? What other threats loom on the horizon for this ecosystem? They include plowing the prairie, urban expansion and overgrazing. It is very important to preserve this habitat and way of life. Too much prairie has already been destroyed. I feel that it is important for us to do our part to save what is left.

Our future is entwined with the tallgrass prarie. For many centuries Native Americans lived in these areas and put this region's resources to good use. Often the game found here has supplied people with many materials needed to survive. The cattle ranching tradition also must be allowed to co-exist with this ecosystem. I still want to look out my car window every day and see this beautiful part of our world.

Every square foot of this land that is preserved is crucial to our future. How can you help? It's easy. Get involved. Join a conservation organization. Support endangered species. Most importantly, express your feelings and emotions to others so that we all can become involved.

The beauty of the tallgrass prairie wasn't meant to be destroyed or taken away from us. It was meant to fill our hearts with exhilaration, beauty, and, most of all, hope for OUR future. One key to our lives, the lives of the wildlife, and our future can be found in the tall- grass prairie. Protect it, not only with your hands and mouth, but also with your heart!