Q. What are your top priorities for the Leopold Center? What do you see happening in the coming months?

I believe in tradition. Tradition can play a comforting role and provide a platform for recurring dialogue, exploration and progress. One tradition that I think should be considered is reinstituting the Leopold Center’s annual conference.

Early in its history, the Center brought together a diverse group of individuals each year who were filled with both hope and energy. This gathering provided an opportunity for challenges to be aired, problems to be addressed and strong networks of like-minded interest groups to be established.

The Leopold Center has occupied a unique place in Iowa since 1988. As we approach our 20th year of service, leadership and hope, perhaps we should set our sights on renewing this annual gathering to help set a bold course for the Center’s third decade. This could be a tremendous homecoming for people and ideas. Let me know your thoughts on reviving this event.


Q. Are there other traditions you want to rejuvenate?

The Center also has a long tradition of active listening, which has helped us better address the needs and ambitions of Iowans in agriculture. Part of our mission is to offer alternatives for a new future in agriculture.

Although we receive regular input on our programs through informal networks, I want to develop a more formalized process through which to gather people’s ideas and thoughts. This process would help staff and advisory board members anticipate problems and stay ahead of the curve on issues, trends and emerging needs on the rural landscape.

How could we best do this? I’m open to ideas and want to hear from you. Maybe we could schedule town forums or community visits, or some other type of planned event. This constant stream of inputs and challenges is the lifeblood of the Center.

Q. In addition to an annual conference and listening events, what else might be on the horizon?

During the past several months, staff members have been reviewing the Center’s communications efforts. I quickly discovered that the Leopold Center has a variety of research findings and good, practical information that needs to have greater visibility with the people who can best use it. We will try to make this information more readily available on regular radio reports, and work more closely with familiar Iowa farm publications to get this information to you.

Q. What other partnerships are key to meeting your top priorities?

Effective partnerships that are synergistic and on-the-ground make a difference in any organization. No one in Iowa has adequate resources or talents to go it alone on any issue, so we at the Leopold Center are actively pursuing new avenues for partnership with ISU Extension in delivering our messages and good, solid information.

Iowa State University Extension ranks among the very best, if not the best in the nation, in education and outreach and stands ready to work closely with the Center. In the future, we hope to provide ISU Extension staff in 100 county offices with timely and practical information to better serve local farmers, communities and entrepreneurs. My goal is that this partnership will help the Leopold Center fulfill the third part of its mission: to more fully inform Iowans about emerging alternative practices that will build and sustain Iowa agriculture into the 21st century.

As always, I’d like to hear from you. Send me your ideas and comments by email, jdewitt@iastate.edu, or call me at the Center, (515) 294-3711.

Jerry DeWitt