Veterans Turn Mission to Conservation, Restore Land

By Justine Anderson | OCC Public Information Manager

In Pawnee, Oklahoma, one landowner needed a plan and some help to turn his 400 acres, with three ponds and acres packed with Eastern redcedars, into usable land for cattle and wildlife.

Brian Heishman is a retired, disabled Marine Corps veteran. After five years in the infantry, 16 years in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and 10 years contracting for the U.S. government in Iraq, Brian wanted a way to stay active and a greater purpose. Managing the land with his wife, Melinda (Mindy), and bringing it back to its original state gave him both.

“Finding a greater purpose that is satisfying is a struggle for many who leave the brotherhood, but I’ve found mine in managing this land,” Brian said.

Brian and Mindy are in their fifth year of owning the land, and it has changed quickly from a cedar-filled landscape into an ecosystem full of native grasses with more water. Brian first met with Duel Brown, Pawnee County conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and a U.S. Air Force veteran, who gave him clear advice on managing the land.

Brian wasn’t sure he could clear the cedars himself. He had never done that kind of work. After he cleared an initial 500 feet to create a fire break for a prescribed burn, he felt confident enough to sign a contract with NRCS, with help from Cole Fagen at the American Bird Conservancy. He hasn’t looked back. Since signing his first NRCS contract in 2022, Brian has found a new purpose clearing Eastern redcedars and restoring native grasses.

Under additional NRCS EQIP contracts, Brian installed cross fencing and put grazing management practices in place, with help from two other former Marines who work for NRCS, Blake Crispin and Shaun Hull. He bought equipment with a loan from the Farm Service Agency, which sped up the cedar clearing. With help from other partners, he restored the dam on the property’s largest pond, giving the cattle that graze the area a source of fresh water. Kyle Johnson of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation helped Brian stock his ponds with a variety of fish to improve their ecological health. Brian credits the Pawnee County Prescribed Burn Association with teaching him the details of prescribed burning and advising him on best practices.

“Working with NRCS has been very easy and beneficial. My advice to others would be to get good equipment and keep at it. Conservation is possible if you just keep going. Once you see progress, it becomes addicting and you want to keep making progress!” Brian said.

A wildfire that swept through the land in 2025 sped up Brian’s cedar clearing. The fire also burned other trees, including oaks and black walnuts, but it cleared most of the cedars on the east side of the property. Brian is now clearing the burned skeletons, and he is seeing grass grow back. His ponds are filling faster, and new streams have appeared as water levels rise without the cedars pulling moisture from the ground.

“The differences between how the land looked in 2022 and now are very clear. Seeing the native grasses repopulating the land is very promising and sends a clear message that Brian’s hard work is paying off,” said Duel Brown of NRCS. “I’m grateful for Brian and Mindy and their dedication to preserving the land.”

As Brian keeps clearing cedars, his goal is simple: maintain the work he has done so the trees can’t take over again. Eventually, he and Mindy plan to build a home and enjoy what their work has produced. Brian hopes his story will encourage others to try a conservation practice and lean on the partners available to help. From brothers in arms to brothers in conservation, Brian and NRCS have shown what people can do for the land when they work together.