By Andi Anderson
Iowa Learning Farms, a conservation program with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special event on July 10.
The event hosted state, local, and regional conservation professionals, along with farmer partners, to commemorate two decades of promoting and implementing conservation and water quality efforts across Iowa.
The award-winning programs of Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) were highlighted by distinguished guests including Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Jason Henderson (Vice President for Extension and Outreach at Iowa State University), Scott Cagle (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service), Gabrella Elliott (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), Steve Konrady (Iowa Department of Natural Resources), and Matt Russell (USDA Farm Service Agency).
Jacqueline Comito, Iowa Learning Farms director, opened the event by acknowledging the strong partnerships that have made the program successful.
She emphasized the crucial role of farmers in providing feedback and participating in field days, demonstrations, and educational activities.
Secretary Naig reflected on his introduction to ILF in 2013 and his ongoing relationship with the program. “When I was first asked to approve funding for ILF, we went through a deep dive to ensure the program was delivering results,” he said. “ILF has been without a doubt one of our better investments, because we continue to see impacts on conservation uptake. The things that I love about what happens here are the information, the data, the surveys, the questionnaires and the insights that we are learning.”
The 2023 Annual Evaluation Report from ILF highlighted numerous impacts and activities throughout the state. The organization hosted 23 in-person field days, seven Conservation On Tap events, three virtual field days, and 51 webinars, reaching a total of 11,147 participants.
ILF engaged with 6,178 people through 68 Conservation Station trailer appearances at county fairs, farmers markets, festivals, and other community events.
The report also documented a correlation between attending field days and the adoption of conservation practices like cover crops, as seen in the Field Day Success Loop.
Secretary Naig concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude for ILF’s contributions. “I want to thank Iowa Learning Farms for the incredible work that they do through the Conservation Stations, the field days and partnerships and their tremendous work with youth. We are proud of being a direct funder of this organization, but there is always more to do. Here’s your charge for the next 20 years: How do we continue to challenge and advance, who else needs to be in this conversation, what more can we do to accelerate conservation adoption and how do we encourage farmers to adopt more conservation practices while understanding the realities on their farms that drive their decisions.”
Iowa Learning Farms continues to be a vital force in conservation education and outreach, fostering a culture of sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship in Iowa.
Photo Credit: iowa-state-university
Categories: Iowa, General