Digging Into Wisconsin’s Sandy Past with Historian Jean Mansavage

About this episode

Melissa Kaye and Jean Mansavage discuss Wisconsin's sandy history and ecological significance.

Join Melissa Kaye and Jean Mansavage as they unravel Wisconsin’s sandy secrets and Aldo Leopold’s conservation vision. Jean, a retired federal historian and Wisconsin master naturalist, shares how the Central Sand Plains formed from ancient seas and glacial lakes, creating unique soils that shape local life and agriculture today. They explore the ecological tension zone where northern pines meet southern oaks, revealing how climate influences flora. Discover Leopold’s ‘A Sand County Almanac’ and its enduring impact on environmental ethics, urging us to cherish land as a community. Unearth history and ecology in a lively chat that reconnects us with nature. Guest: Melissa Kaye

People in this episode

Host: Melissa Kaye

Guest: Jean Mansavage

Topics covered

• Wisconsin history
• ecology
• conservation
• Aldo Leopold
• sandy soils
• climate influence

Keywords

• Wisconsin
• sandy soils
• Aldo Leopold
• ecology
• conservation
• history
• climate

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: A Sand County Almanac

Places: Wisconsin, Central Sand Plains

More episodes of WFHR and WIRI News

• WFHR Friday News Roundup · June 12, 2026 · 4 min
• WFHR Thursday News Roundup · June 11, 2026 · 6 min
• WFHR Wednesday News Roundup · June 10, 2026 · 6 min
• WFHR Tuesday News Roundup · June 9, 2026 · 6 min
• Rep. Scott Krug – June update · June 9, 2026 · 23 min
• WFHR Monday News Roundup · June 8, 2026 · 4 min