Leopold Center - Q&A with the Director - Celebration -- Spring 2007 newsletter

Q. Why is it important to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act?

The Leopold Center has chosen to celebrate this significant event (that among other things, established the Center) to remind Iowans that the job is not done. What we began in 1987 – to focus on improving Iowa’s water quality – remains a critical item on the state’s agenda. This is a task that needs everyone – farmers, researchers, educators, consumers and many partners – to share in the work.

One does not need to look far to find a problem or situation that challenges the long-term sustainability of Iowa’s precious natural resources, its soil and water. As these challenges arise, ultimately our landscapes, communities and people will experience the impacts.

This connection between land and people is real. The desire at the Leopold Center is to create more visibility and focus attention on those challenges and opportunities that we face on a daily basis even after 20 years. We believe that our role is to bring forth these issues, debate workable alternatives, find common ground, and provide reasonable approaches for practices and strategies that offer hope and the prospect of success for Iowans.

More about the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act

Q. How is the Leopold Center celebrating this milestone?

A two-day event in July is only one part of our 20th anniversary celebration in 2007. An active group of Iowans, led by former Leopold Center director Dennis Keeney and former advisory board chair and Villisca farmer David Williams, has helped the Leopold Center become part of various partner activities throughout the year. Thanks to the work of this group, the Leopold Center has been involved in a special event every month in 2007. To date, the Leopold Center was honored by Practical Farmers of Iowa in January and the Iowa Network for Community Agriculture in February. We also hosted a breakfast reception for members of the Iowa General Assembly in March, and in April we will welcome Wendell Berry to Ames.

Watch for announcements of other monthly events such as dinners, seminars and field days on our anniversary web page. On-line registration for our July event will be available in May at this web page.

Q. What is being planned for July?

Mark July 10-11 on your calendar! July 11 will be our 20th anniversary celebration, what we’re calling our “signature” event, at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus. We expect a big crowd, thoughtful dialogue and challenging presentations from partners and friends.

The anniversary conference on Wednesday, July 11 will do more than look back over the past 20 years. We’re also using this event as a prime opportunity to look ahead to the still unmet challenges that impact our water, land and rural communities across Iowa. Yes, we will take note of some of our past accomplishments and be reminded of groundwork laid by early investments of the Leopold Center. However, we want to focus more on what remains on the near horizon, those challenges and opportunities, and how we can move to achieve additional measurable impacts. Conference participants will be asked to look toward the future and help frame approaches for our next 20 years and beyond.

The conference will be preceded by a day of field tours on July 10. These tours are optional, offering a unique experience for those who want to spend additional time in the field and with Iowans. Buses will carry us to several locations where we can interact and also touch, feel and maybe taste the work that has been accomplished by the Leopold Center and its partners.

But the real excitement will take place July 11. There we will delve into the tasks at hand during sessions scheduled according to four interest tracks: natural resources, people on the land, the emerging bioeconomy, and food and health.

Don’t expect typical presentations, the standard “talking heads” or the usual conference fare. We are looking at a variety of approaches to better engage everyone. The Leopold Center’s work over the past 20 years has been anything but business-as-usual; likewise with the celebration.