More about the Leopold Center 20th anniversary
 

Practical Farmers of Iowa helped the Leopold Center kick off its 20th anniversary year in style. The group, whose on-farm research has been essential to the Leopold Center’s work, hosted a reception January 12 during its annual conference in Des Moines.

Gary Huber of Practical Farmers of Iowa.

Former Leopold Center director Dennis Keeney.

“The most important mission of the Leopold Center is not even mentioned on their web site or in any of their publications,” said PFI board member and farmer Nina Biensen in her toast to the Center. “The Leopold Center has become a conduit for voices that will not be heard elsewhere.”

Gary Huber, PFI food systems coordinator, said the Leopold Center has “been a blessing for PFI, for sustainable agriculture and for Iowa.” He thanked legislators who sponsored the 1987 Groundwater Protection Act that created the Leopold Center, and thanked each Center director, all of whom offered remarks at the event.

Dennis Keeney, who served as director from 1988 through 1999, said that he felt it was a great privilege to come to the Center “and put my concepts of science and agriculture to work. It turned out these were parallel to the goals of PFI in many ways.”

“I knew when I joined the Leopold Center as a farmer that research doesn’t stand the test of time unless it’s been tested on the farm,” said Fred Kirschenmann, who led the Center for the next five years and is now Leopold Center Distinguished Fellow. “If PFI didn’t exist, we’d have to invent them.”

“PFI has added value and richness to Leopold Center work,” said Jerry DeWitt. “We’ve been with you in the past, we’re with you today and we’ll be with you tomorrow.”

The Leopold Center is working with a number of other partners on related anniversary events throughout the year, and will host a statewide conference July 11 in Ames.