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Prescribed burn associations are built on a concept of neighbors helping neighbors conduct prescribed burns though shared resources, energy, and time within local or regional geographic areas. The Great Plains has experienced great interest in these associations and we share some challenges associated with forming and sustaining them while relishing in their successes. We look at the four main challenges we have identified when starting a prescribed burn association; (1) people,(2) training, (3) equipment, and (4) laws and regulations. The first thing we look at is the willingness of local landowners and stakeholders to support these associations. Lacking support from the community is most often the reason for PBA failing to get off the ground. �We then will look at access to training; classroom and live experience. During the early stages of PBA�s forming there is a great need for not only information in the classroom but more importantly live fire experience. The third major challenge is access to equipment. While many farmers and ranchers have access to some equipment used on the fire line, specialized equipment is often needed and can be expensive. The final challenge are laws and regulations which are often the most difficult to overcome, but I argue that with the support of the community these can also be overcome. Despite these challenges, prescribed burn associations across the Great Plains have continued to form and prosper with great success. While we often measure success in terms of the acres we burn because it is tangible, I argue that the greatest measure of success cannot be immediately measured as it is the change in the culture and attitude of prescribed fire on local, state, and regional level over time that should be our measure of success. Examples of successful prescribed burn associations and programs will be highlighted.