40 Under 40: Sara Turner, Department of Conservation naturalist

Sara Turner

AGE: 32

FAMILY: Married, currently pregnant with first child

EMPLOYER: Missouri Department of Conservation

POSITION: Naturalist

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT:

Girl Scouts, Optimist Club, Jackson Community Outreach and many more.

HER TYPICAL DAY:

I check my e-mail and then I prepare programs for schools, the public and civic groups. I also give programs, sometimes many a day. The amount depends on the time of the year. I answer questions about animals and perform animal care and cleaning for program animals such as snakes, snapping turtles and frogs, to name a few.

MOST SATISFYING PART OF HER JOB:

Seeing people understand what I've just taught. They may think they don't like snakes, for example, but they end up touching a snake. It's also fun to take people on hikes, camp fishing and caving.

THE WORST HAIRSTYLE SHE'S EVER HAD:

When I was in the seventh grade I had a hair cut like a mullet. It was short in front and long in the back.

HER FAVORITE SONG FROM THE '80s:

"Girls Just Want to have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper.

HER BIGGEST FIRST-DAY BLOOPER:

I expected my co-workers to perform on my time schedule. I expected too much of my co-workers.

HER MOST EMBARASSING WORK MOMENT:

I got stung by a dead bee and my hand swelled up. I tried to pick the bee up.