For many Wisconsinites, the state’s landscape might seem like an endless patchwork of farmland and cornfields. But beyond the dairy farms, Wisconsin’s natural beauty is far more diverse — from the dense, flat woodlands of the Northwoods to the rugged, rolling hills of the Driftless Area in the southwest. It was this unique, untouched terrain that captivated conservationist and newly published author Marcy West. “Growing up in Green Bay, where you think the whole world is flat, the hills and valleys of the Driftless Area really knocked our socks off,” West said.
She first discovered the beauty of southwest Wisconsin after moving to Madison with her husband upon graduating from UW–Stevens Point with a degree in natural resource management and a minor in public relations. It was here that West heard about a job opportunity with the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, meaning a chance to move deeper into the Driftless Area and work in an environment that inspired her passion for conservation. “We had fallen in love with the area from our time in Baraboo,” West said, detailing her first experience with the Kickapoo Valley. “Some friends introduced us to the Kickapoo River, and we went canoeing and camped at Wildcat Mountain State Park.”
The position was executive director of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, meaning West would be leading the organization and handling any issues that might present themselves. “I did not comprehend the challenge that it would be, and I had no clear understanding of what was in front of me,” West said, explaining that in the late 1960s to early 1970s, the federal government bought 149 farms in the Kickapoo Valley area to make way for a dam and reservoir. However, after many delays, the project was ultimately halted in 1975, and the people of the area were outraged after sacrificing their land for no benefit.
Despite the tension, West interviewed for and accepted the directorship in 1996, noting that it was the determination of the community that called her to join in their efforts of creating a thriving environment. Her welcome to the organization began with managing an ownership transfer of 1,200 acres of land from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, entrusted to the Ho-Chunk Nation, and 7,369 acres of land to the State of Wisconsin.
“It was really challenging, but really exciting,” West said. “It was very bipartisan — Republicans and Democrats working together to get the federal legislation approved, to get the federal funding, to pull together the creation of the board, and to develop a budget so we could hire staff.”
Ultimately, all the work was worth it as the area is now 8,600 acres of unique micro habitats and plant communities. “It’s one of those places that deserves protection, and it’s wonderful to see that it is in permanent protection and taken care of,” West said.
In 2012, Nelson Institute Dean Paul Robbins visited the Kickapoo Valley Reserve with a group of Nelson students for a field trip. After taking in the scenery and learning about the history of the area, Robbins encouraged West to write a book about it. West admits she was hesitant at first. “I thought the visitor center exhibits told the story well, but Paul insisted that it was Wisconsin history and needed to be written down,” West said. “So, I have Paul to blame … or thank depending on the day or what was happening with the book.”
The book, Protecting Paradise in the Driftless: How the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Came to Be, which was published earlier this year, details the history of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, the politics and grassroots efforts that created the reserve, and West’s own anecdotes from her years as executive director. She hopes readers will come away with an understanding of how to tackle difficult issues as well as to always be looking out for local protected places. “You need to pay attention to how things are being managed, how politics impact the land, and how people are affecting the resource. We have to keep these environmentally significant places well-cared for, and make sure the next generation understands how important it is as well,” West said.
West resigned from the Kickapoo Valley Reserve in 2021 to serve as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Rural Prosperity director. West is now officially “semi-retired” as she continues to do rural and environmental advocacy work. “Just not 60 hours a week anymore,” West chuckled.