Prairie Fire: Season 2 - Episode 1 - September 2024

After more than a decade off the air, Prairie Fire made its return to WILL-TV last year. During its first season, the Prairie Fire team produced short documentaries about a diverse roster of Illinoisans, including Paralympian Susannah Scaroni, musician Candy Foster, artist Preston Jackson, and others. They traveled to places like Arcadia, America’s playable arcade museum; Flesor’s Candy Kitchen; and Taylor Studios, which manufactures museum exhibits. They toured the newly remodeled governor’s mansion with Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker, and visited former Underground Railroad locations. A season highlight included three segments featuring a “reanimated” Charles Dickens (portrayed by local actor Alan Parker), who grumpily recounted his trip through Illinois in the mid-1800s.

“We’re hearing a lot of fabulous feedback from people who knew the show from its first run and are really enjoying the reboot,” said Sarah Edwards, senior producer and director at Illinois Public Media and host of Prairie Fire. “We’re glad the careful balance of quality storytelling and creative experimentation seems to be a hit with viewers. We’re proud of the high level of production value we were able to achieve with the first season. Our aim is to bring audiences in-depth stories from all over the state with rich characters and visuals — with a dash of good humor and fun.”

On the Season 2 Premiere, we visit Fresh Press on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, where students and community members make handmade artisanal paper using agricultural byproducts. The Prairie Fire team also will document a 60-mile overnight bike trip around the Champaign County Forest Preserves to showcase the beauty and history of the county’s forested lands and paths.

And the season kicks off with a very special perfromance with singer Leah Marlene in our studio! The Normal, Illinois, native was third runner-up on season 20 of “American Idol,” and she sings the Prairie Fire theme song.  

Fresh Press Paper

Located in Champaign IL, Fresh Press Paper utilizes agricultural waste and transforms it into handmade paper and paper art. Tinisha and the crew learn the process and get a hands on lesson.

Pedal The Preserves

Host Sarah Edwards decides to "Pedal the Preserves", which is a 67-mile bike ride along the Kickapoo Rail Trail, making stops at the Homer Lake Forest Preserve and Middle Fork River Forest Preserve.

Jerry's Hat Museum

We introduce you to Jerry Roth and his very unique hobby, and how he managed to turn that hobby into a museum that anyone can enjoy.

And finally, a very special guest stops by to perform the "Prairie Fire" theme song, live from the WILL-TV studios.

Leah Marlene performs "Prairie Fire" in the WILL-TV Studios