Inspiring Change To Save Species
Joel Sartore 2025 Nebraskan of the Year
What makes a Nebraskan of the Year? Ask any of the previous honorees, and you’ll get a variety of answers: commitment to community, a sense of hard work, putting duty above self, and any of the other virtues we, as Nebraskans, value. The title has been awarded by Lincoln’s Rotary Club 14 since 1988 and has paid tribute to the contributions of teachers, football coaches, civic leaders, entrepreneurs, and poets from the Panhandle to the Missouri River.
“All species are vitally important to our very survival.”
It’s true that the 2025 Nebraskan of the Year is committed to the community, works hard, and puts duty above self, but he also has a bit of a wild side. That is to say, since 2005, Lincoln-based photographer Joel Sartore has taken photographic portraits of thousands of species of animals, birds, and insects from all over the world, in a project he calls the “Photo Ark.”
A Photographer's Calling
In his work as a photographer for National Geographic®, Joel had a first-hand look at the impact habitat destruction and climate change were having on the wildlife of the world, and when a health diagnosis forced a reevaluation of his career, a mission appeared: to document the nearly 25,000 species of animal life in human care across the globe, and to use those photographs to get people to care about wildlife, and the Earth we share together.
“All species are vitally important to our very survival,” Joel says. “We need bees and even flies to pollinate the fruits and vegetables we eat. We need intact rainforests to regulate the amount of rainfall we get in areas where we grow crops. But beyond what’s in it for us, I believe that each species has a basic right to exist.”
Capturing Life
Joel’s images in the Photo Ark are starkly beautiful. There’s a cleanliness to the compositions—featuring a subject on a white or black background—that allows viewers a chance to peer into the eyes of our animal neighbors and see the intelligence, grace, and emotive power within. To date, the Photo Ark is about halfway to its goal of documenting 25,000 species, with portraits of over 16,625 creatures committed to film.
Explorer, Advocate, Nebraskan
In addition to his photographic work, Joel is a public speaker, an author, a conservationist, the 2018 National Geographic Explorer of the Year, and an Eagle Scout. In addition to his globe-trotting, Joel also maintains a strong anchor in Nebraska. He and his wife of forty years, Kathy, have restored several historic properties in southeast Nebraska, and raised three children together.
Eye-to-Eye with Wildlife
Joel Sartore was nominated by Randy Bretz and Marcia White, who shared the inspiration behind their nomination: “Joel Sartore is a man on a mission. He’s driven to save our planet’s disappearing species by making them feel personal and relatable. He inspires people to care by allowing us to look animals directly in the eye—reminding us of the beauty, grace, and intelligence in the creatures we share this Earth with. His powerful images have reached audiences around the globe, and his travels have taken him far and wide to capture them. Joel’s award-winning work has brought national and international attention to endangered species and critical conservation efforts. Yet no matter how far he travels, he’s always glad to come home to Lincoln, Nebraska.”
This year’s event was proudly sponsored by the Omaha Zoo Foundation, the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, National Geographic, and Eleanor Creative. Highlights included remarks from John Chapo, President Emeritus of the Lincoln Children’s Zoo, and Colby Bishop, Vice President of Wildlife at National Geographic®. Both spoke about Joel’s unwavering dedication to species conservation—while also delivering a few good-natured, roast-style jokes about him.
Governor Jim Pillen praised Joel Sartore for his conservation efforts and his work around the globe.
Rotary Club 14 and its Nebraskan of the Year Committee created a wonderful event for Joel Sartore, bringing music, humor, art, and goodwill to attendees.
Lindsey Oelling of Paper Moon Pastries in Cortland crafted these birds made of cake to honor Martha, the very last passenger pigeon that led Joel to the Photo Ark project, as so many species today are following the passenger pigeon’s path to extinction, and need our attention and protection.
Colby Bishop, VP of Wildlife at National Geographic, brought out a scroll of highlights!