While driving through Kansas Friday night, a little after dark we noticed a red-orange glow on the horizon and soon realized it was range burning. We had never seen this at night so we took a detour. I was a bit giddy inside but also a little nervous driving on the dark gravel roads straight towards nowhere, but still, excited to see the pastures ablaze. The burning fields smelled slightly sweet and after stopping the truck all we could hear out there were crackling grasses and a March wind.
Range burning is an annual rite of spring.
Range burning is an annual rite of spring.
Check out the photography of James Nedresky for scenes of the Kansas prairie.