Fairburn agates are South Dakota?s state gemstone. They are only found in the grasslands and badlands of southwestern South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska. Fairburns are highly coveted for their sharp, multicolored banding and their elusiveness. One spot that these agates are sometimes found is prairie dog towns, as these busy creatures are always kicking new rocks out of their burrows!

Prairie Wildlife Research was established in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to research and conserve wildlife species of the prairie and their associated habitats. PWR works throughout the Great Plains with federal and state agencies, universities, private landowners, and other non-governmental organizations to conduct timely, economical, and quality studies and projects that contribute to sound management decisions. Projects include population surveys, reintroductions of native species, habitat restoration projects, and working with others to resolve wildlife-related issues.