By Andi Anderson
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach programs Water Rocks! and Iowa Learning Farms have opened the request system for their award‑winning Conservation Station trailers for the 2026 season.
Community groups, event organizers, fair boards and market managers can request a visit by completing the online form before March 20. Conservation Station visits for 2026 will begin on June 1 and continue through Sept. 30.
The Conservation Station trailers are unique educational tools designed to help people understand how land management decisions affect Iowa’s environment. Each trailer offers hands‑on, Iowa‑based demonstrations that explore the relationships between soil, water, wildlife, and both rural and urban land use.
Jacqueline Comito, director of Water Rocks! and Iowa Learning Farms, highlighted the value of these trailers. She said, “The Conservation Stations are a consistent hit at events across the state, drawing thousands of visitors and providing fun and learning opportunities for Iowans of every age. If you’ve never seen a Conservation Station in action, watch our new video to check out what you’ve been missing. Thanks to our generous sponsors, we can offer these visits that provide Iowans with science-based information about water quality, natural resources, conservation and agricultural practices at no cost.”
Each Conservation Station has a specialized theme to help visitors explore different conservation topics. The “Conservation Station On the Edge” trailer demonstrates bioreactors and saturated buffers, while the “Conservation Station Marsh Madness” trailer includes working wetland models that show how water flows through these ecosystems.
Steve Konrady, nonpoint source coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Water Quality Improvement Section, emphasized the program’s importance. He said, “The Conservation Station fleet is a vital part of our conservation outreach and education mission across the state. In recent years, it has been a highlight of the Iowa State Fair DNR Building programming and is in high demand by field staff at many events around the state. Each trailer packs a lot of education into a flexible platform that has the ability to reach curious Iowans of all ages and ability levels, leaving each visitor with some newfound knowledge about Iowa's environment.”
Every visit includes a team of Iowa State University faculty, staff and student interns who guide conversations about conservation, natural resources and Iowa’s environment. These teams engage with event attendees and help simplify science-based concepts for all age groups.
Organizations interested in hosting a Conservation Station should submit their online request by March 20. Notifications about selected events will be sent by April 15.
All visits are free thanks to support from ISU Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and individual supporters.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: Iowa, Rural Lifestyle