Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

'Ames Reads Leopold' event set for March 6

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February 17, 2010

AMES, Iowa -- “The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land.” These words, written by Iowa native Aldo Leopold over 60 years ago, lay the groundwork for today's land stewardship and conservation. The land ethic was among the many ideas that Leopold discussed in his book of essays, A Sand County Almanac.

Excerpts from the book will be read aloud on Saturday, March 6 as part of the third annual "Ames Reads Leopold" event. The public readings from A Sand County Almanac are scheduled between 1 and 5 p.m. in the Farwell Brown Auditorium of the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Avenue in Ames.

"We will honor the conservation legacy of Aldo Leopold and his land ethic," said Erv Klaas, retired Iowa State professor who is organizing the event. "A diverse group of civic leaders, university faculty and students, and retirees will read passages from Leopold's writings, complimented with photos from the Leopold family archives, and images of nature and the land that Leopold loved."

Refreshments will be served and copies of A Sand County Almanac will be given to members of the audience in a drawing.

The Ames event joins similar celebrations in other communities during the first weekend in March when people gather to hear Leopold's writings read aloud and demonstrate their commitment to his vision. Sponsors for the Ames event are the Aldo Leopold Foundation, Leopold's Iowa namesake, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, and the Ames Public Library Other sponsors include ISU Department of Natural Resource Ecology Management, ISU Fisheries, Forestry and Wildlife Extension Programs, Big Bluestem chapter of the National Audubon Society, and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames.

To learn more about Aldo Leopold Weekends, contact the Aldo Leopold Foundation, (608) 355-0279, or on the Web at: www.aldoleopold.org. 

For more info contact:

Erv Klaas, event organizer, (515) 233-3327, eklaas@iastate.edu

Jeri Neal, Leopold Center Ecological Systems Research Initiative leader, (515) 294-5610, wink@iastate.edu

Laura Miller, Leopold Center communications, (515) 294-5272, lwmiller@iastate.edu 

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