Across the Fence

by Bill Rinehart

Frederick Drummond Interview

"The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is the jewel in The Nature Conservancy's Crown," said Frederick Drummond during a recent interview at his office in Pawhuska. He recently stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Oklahoma Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, a position he held for the past two years.

Frederick Drummond

Drummond became involved with the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve project even before The Nature Conservancy purchased the property from the Barnard Trust in 1989. Prior to that time Drummond was President of the Osage County Cattlemen's Association when the National Park Service was looking for a place in Osage County to make into a prairie park. When it became clear the federal government wouldn't be establishing a prairie park in Osage County, The Nature Conservancy board, which included him, decided to take on the project of purchasing property for a Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Lead by the resourcefulness of Joe Williams of Tulsa and Frank McPherson of Oklahoma City, enough money was raised to acquire the desired property from the Barnard Trust. (Note: Following the death of Mr. James A. Chapman in 1966, the Chapman-Barnard Ranch was divided along the Midland Valley Railroad right-of-way ä Chapman property to the west and Barnard property to the east.)

Working with people who are involved with the Tallgrass Prairie who recognize the importance of preserving the Last Great Places is what Drummond enjoys most about The Nature Conservancy. He feels there are a lot of beautiful places in the United States that in many instances private industry and individuals are able to manage better and accomplish objectives faster than the government can. He said the Tallgrass Prairie represents the first major landscape the Conservancy had acquired and that it provided an example for them to see what could be done with unique tracts of land. As a result, the Conservancy has expanded into international aspects of preserving the Last Great Places. Drummond said a good part of the direction the Conservancy is following internationally today resulted from the foothold they acquired in Oklahoma with the Tallgrass Prairie.

One of the most important things the Conservancy has done, says Drummond, is to try to make people aware of what our state has to offer. Oklahoma is a very diverse state and its Conservancy members have become better acquainted with the diversity of the flora and fauna in Oklahoma. He said there are a lot of people who volunteer their time and energies to the Conservancy because they are aware of the beauty of our state and of what we have here.

Drummond likes the non-confrontational attitude the Conservancy displays when conducting its business. He feels that the organization appeals to a lot of conscientious, good-hearted individuals throughout the state who realize that the Conservancy's goals can demonstrate that private industry in some instances can do a better job than others in protecting the land.

During his time as Chairman of the Oklahoma Chapter, the gift the J.T. Nickel Family gave to The Nature Conservancy of some 15,000 acres of land in the heart of the Oklahoma Ozarks stands out as an outstanding gift. That marvelous gesture gave Drummond his biggest thrill during his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Drummond feels the uniqueness of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve makes it truly one of the world's Last Great Places. He said that when you consider the nation's original tallgrass prairie extended from the Canadian border down into Texas and there's so little of it left today, the uniqueness of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve really stands out. James A. Chapman and Horace G. Barnard, owners and operators for many years of the Chapman-Barnard Ranch, were marvelous stewards of the land. Because of their care for the property, the preserve is not much different today than what was years ago when the original herds of bison roamed the prairie.

Drummond says the preserve is still today as pristine as it was long ago and that there's no place like it in the U.S. if not the world. He said Dick Whetsell (deceased) was a very knowledgeable grass scientist who felt some of the bluestem plants that inhabit the preserve could be 1,000 to 2,000 years old. Drummond said, "The crown heads on those bluestems just keep regenerating."

Drummond feels the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is one of the best things that have ever happened to Pawhuska from the standpoint of aiding the community's business climate. The Chamber of Commerce has been very supportive of the project. The Chamber put up signs directing visitors to the preserve and shows a video to visitors giving them an idea of what they will see when they go up to the prairie. The road to preserve headquarters is paved part way and perhaps one day will be paved all the way. Drummond feels the Osage Indian Tribe realizes the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is a good thing for them not only because of the sacredness of the buffalo to them, but also because the project has not interfered with the oil business. He feels local business establishments have prospered as a result of the preserve. He cites the number of new eating establishments alone in Pawhuska as examples of an improving business climate for the community. Drummond says he can get a better meal in Pawuska than he can in New York City.

Regarding New York City, when a contingent of Oklahomans recently went to NYC for the opening of the Broadway production of "Oklahoma", the Oklahoma Chapter of TNC benefitted by some $85,000. The Oklahoma Chapter worked with the New York Chapter on that affair and shared half the profit from the dinner and from ticket sales for the show. Drummond said that money will provide a major part of the funding for the new visitor's center at the J.T.Nickel Family Nature & Wildlife Preserve near Tahlequah.

Drummond said that if you look at a current Rand McNally road map, the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is on it in a significant place. He says the preserve is clearly differentiated and represents recognition nationwide that there is a unique piece of property in Osage County, Oklahoma that's special. He said that with the number of U.S. and foreign visitors and the bus loads of school children who visit the place regularly, the reputation of the TGP is widely shared. Drummond's dream is that with the proposed new research facility that's going to be built on the property, the number of research projects taking place there, and with the commitment of its dedicated group of docents and staff personnel, the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve will become a functioning tallgrass prairie ecosystem.

Drummond concluded, "The preserve is a classic case of a uniquely, well taken care of facility and is truly a jewel in the Conservancy's crown."