Leopold Center 20th Anniversary Celebration Conference -- Home

Leopold Center 20th Anniversary Celebration Event!

Our 20th anniversary conference and tours exceeded our expectations – from the gorgeous weather, passionate speakers, insightful presentations and stimulating discussions to the wonderful opportunity to visit with friends and colleagues. We had 87 people attend the tours and more than 350 people register for the conference. We're working with conference evaluations and compiling suggestions from each session to use as we chart our next 20 years. And we'd still like to hear from you!

Review speaker presentations and handouts

Read our reports from selected breakout sessions

If you attended the conference, don't forget to check your conference CD! In addition to some of the speaker presentations and handouts, you'll find many of the Leopold Center's most often-requested papers and other research. If you did not attend the conference but would like a conference CD, send us an e-mail (leocenter@iastate.edu)

What we heard ...
	From Keynote Speaker Mark Ritchie
Mark Ritchie	"The work you have been doing over the past 20 years has made the world a better place. The work you will do in the next 20 years might just decide the future of the planet..." Keynote presentation, "Sustaining Agriculture, Sustaining Democracy"
	From Senator Tom Harkin (via video)
A view of the exhibit area at the conference.	"The Leopold Center has changed the landscape of Iowa over the past 20 years .. and has accomplished everything we had hoped it would and more. We now know that there is no conflict between profitable farming and conservation. They can, and should, go hand in hand, just as Aldo Leopold taught us."
	From Conference Evaluations
Tractors and other large equipment were parked in the Scheman courtyard.	Finding a vision for Iowa agriculture will require small, intensive, one-on-one discussions as well as large-group meetings. The LC will need to foster both, then develop action plans. This has been an invigorating and stimulating conference. I can’t wait to get home and get to work. Happy Birthday! The Center needs to develop the capacity and infrastructure for diverse, small and mid-scale farms. Do not fall into the trap of trading attitudes like organic vs. local – it all matters as part of [creating] two better food systems.
	In the News
Gene Mealhow, who owns K&K Popcorn of Shellsburg, shares his story with onlookers and reporters.	A Passionate Call to Action, JoAnn Alumbaugh, Farms.Com Center called to create a vision for ag future, Heidi Marttila-Losure, Ames Tribune Leopold Celebration Brings a Minnesotan Home to Iowa, Dien Judge, Iowa Independent Agriculture research center celebrates 20 years, Henry C. Jackson, Associated Press Old issues remain fresh for Paul Johnson, Jean Caspers-Simmet, AgriNews Johnson recalls crafting plans for Leopold Center, Jean Caspers-Simmet, AgriNews Farm diversity called important to survival, Jean Caspers-Simmet, AgriNews Organic beef gives farmer new start, Hannah Fletcher, Iowa Farmer Today Naturally speaking, Ames Tribune column by Story County Conservation Director Steve Lekwa Local food networks reflect progress and potential, Darcy Maulsby, The New Farm newsletter, www.newfarm.org

	Commentary from Guest Columnists
	The way it was, 1987-1999: Early Leopold Center challenges, Dennis Keeney, First Leopold Center Director, Spring 2007 Sustainable biofuels: A new challenge for the Leopold Center, Dennis Keeney, First Leopold Center Director, Spring 2007 Twenty years of promoting idea, ideals of sustainable agriculture, Neil Hamilton, Drake Agricultural Law Center and original Leopold Center Advisory Board member, Summer 2007 Reflections on crafting the Leopold Center, its history and future work, David Osterberg, University of Iowa College of Public Health and sponsoring author, 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act, Fall 2007 A farmer's view from the inside: Leopold Center leads 'quest for sustainability,' Jennifer Steffen, Van Buren County farmer and member, Leopold Center Advisory Board, Winter 2007