TRUSTEE SPOTLIGHT
Instilling Conservation Values Passing conservation values to the next generation is a foundation of the Risdal family. “Michele and I have always protecting what makes our history and the environment unique and special.” Jon and his wife established a family
been close,” said Jon Risdal, trustee of The Nature Conservancy in Missouri. His daughter, Michele Risdal-Barnes, agrees. “Looking back, I cannot pinpoint one specific moment with my dad that led to my interest and engagement with conservation. Honestly, it was lots of little things over a lifetime that cumulatively made an impact.” Michele is also a trustee of TNC—the first father/daughter combo in Missouri. “I have degrees in landscape architecture, and she has degrees in architecture and historic preservation,” said Jon. “So, we have similar interests in protecting and improving the planet for everybody on it.” Shared outdoor experiences also helped bring and keep Jon and Michele close. “I do think her early childhood experiences with us hiking, camping and traveling instilled a desire to explore the world, and in the process, make it a better and safer place to live,” said Jon. “Growing up, spending time in nature was always a priority,” said Michele. “Some of my earliest summer memories are of camping throughout Colorado. As I got older, our trips reached farther afield from the rugged terrain of the Badlands to the majesty of Mount Rushmore to the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe and the geysers of Yellowstone. These camping trips allowed us to connect with nature and each other, and were then juxtaposed with trips to Europe, which fostered an appreciation of history and a sense of place. These early experiences allowed me to realize the significance of
foundation and involved Michele closely in decision-making. “What excites me the most is the fact that we do this together. While we differ in a lot of areas, we both agree that it is important to pay it forward,” said Jon. “After I’m gone, I feel really good knowing what we have started with our foundation will continue to grow long into the future.” While Jon is quick to downplay his role in shaping Michele’s outlook on the world, Michele disagrees. “A love of history and the outdoors is an amazing legacy to instill in one’s children,” she said. “However, my dad also taught me the value of community service. I feel it is the combination of these two things which has allowed me not only to be interested in conservation but know the importance of engagement. It takes both to make an impact.”
THIS PAGE TOP Jon and Michele hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park, August 1975; BOTTOM Jon and Michele near Springfield, Missouri © Courtesy of Michele Risdal-Barnes
12 MISSOURI: ACTION AND IMPACT
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