RANDY VOGEL and the BIRTH OF THE WILD BUNCH
Randy Vogel, leader of The Wild Bunch, is a retired ecologist with more than 45 years of experience conducting scientific studies and leading ecological restoration projects across the nation. His career included restoring wetlands, streams, forests, and prairies on thousands of acres of land.
In the summer of 2021, Randy moved to Tellico Village with his wife, Beth, and mother-in-law, Karen Lukow. Drawn to the Village by its beautiful setting and extensive greenspace, he quickly began exploring the surrounding forests. What he discovered, however, was surprising—there were very few native wildflowers. As an ecologist, he recognized the cause: decades of livestock grazing in the 20th century had left a lasting ecological impact. Randy began thinking about how greenspace restoration and management could be implemented.
A chance meeting during one of his walks would provide the opportunity. While on the trails, Randy met Simon Bradbury, head of the Parks and Recreation Department. Simon was seeking expertise to guide the management of Village greenspace. Shortly afterward, he invited Randy to apply for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Randy was appointed by the POA Board, and the Greenspace Initiative was launched. Its mission: to preserve, protect, manage, and restore one of Tellico Village’s most valuable amenities.
Thanks to the earlier efforts of The Chain Gang, led by Gary Mulliner, the Village already had a strong system of trails providing access to these natural areas. Randy and his team could now focus on ecological restoration.
In the fall of 2021, 1,200 native wildflower plugs were ordered from a native plant nursery for spring planting. When they arrived, Randy worked tirelessly, often alone, pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with water, tools, and plants down the trails to get them in the ground. Realizing the need for more hands, he created The Wild Bunch—a volunteer group dedicated to restoring and maintaining greenspace.
Since then, the group has grown to about 80 members, with 10–20 volunteers regularly showing up for scheduled workdays. Together, they have planted between 1,200 and 1,500 wildflower plugs each year since 2023. In fall 2024, their work expanded to include invasive species control, cutting and treating aggressive shrubs in the forests.
In spring 2025, the Greenspace Initiative expanded to include native meadow restoration. The goal is to convert areas dominated by non-native pasture grasses into thriving native meadows filled with wildflowers and grasses. These meadows will reduce mowing costs, enhance natural beauty, and provide critical habitat for pollinators, wildlife, and grassland birds.
Why is restoration needed? Human activity—farming, grazing, development, and road building—has altered the natural balance of our forests and meadows. Many historic ecological processes no longer function, while invasive species continue to spread. Like other Village amenities, our greenspace requires active care to remain healthy, diverse, and sustainable.
Financial support for this work comes from the Parks and Recreation Department, the Timeless Tellico Foundation, and generous individual donations. But the heart of the effort is The Wild Bunch—a volunteer team dedicated to restoring, protecting, and managing Village greenspace. Volunteers plant thousands of native wildflowers each spring and conduct invasive species control each fall.
New members are always welcome! Physical requirements include the ability to hike over uneven terrain carrying flats of plant plugs and the ability to stoop or squat. In the spring we generally work for about 2 hours per day 2-3 days /week for approximately 3-4 weeks. Volunteers should enjoy teamwork, being outdoors, and helping preserve Tellico Village’s natural legacy for generations to come.
For more information and to join, contact Randy Vogel at mailto:Rlvogel54@gmail.com.
And if you see the Wild Bunch on the trails, take a moment to say thank you!