A Culture of Conservation: The Tools We Need To Grow

Improving Iowa's soil and water quality is essential. We can all become better at conveying this message. This forum is geared for farmers, educators, agency personnel and others who want to do a better job of telling the story about conservation from the heart.

January 13, 2010

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Gateway Conference Center ~ Ames, Iowa

There is no cost to attend this forum, but registrations must be received by January 7 to guarantee a meal ticket and to be entered in a drawing for a photography by Jerry DeWitt.

Register online at: www.leopold.iastate.edu/registration_form.htm

Hosted by the Iowa Learning Farm
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
and the Iowa Water Center

CONFERENCE AGENDA

8:00-9:00      Registration & Coffee
                             Sharing Stories of the Land—Roundtable discussions
What have you experienced on Iowa’s landscape that has stayed with you—positively or negatively? Your story is important as we work to build a Culture of Conservation. Share your story of water or land with one another.

9:00               Welcome – Jackie Comito
                            Our Commitment to Conservation: Telling the Story from the Heart

9:15-10:30     It’s What We Say AND How We Say It

• Chuck Gipp, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)
                     Soil Conservation Director
• Pat Boddy, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director (DNR)
• Kendall Lamkey, ISU Agronomy Department Chair
• Mark Licht, ISU Extension Field Agronomist

10:30-10:45   Break

10:45-noon     It’s How You Look At It

• Lynn Betts and Jerry DeWitt, photography
• Visual aids and field days
• Jackie Comito, video

Noon               LUNCH

12:45-1:30      Keynote speaker
                               George DeVault, Seed Savers Exchange

1:30-2:15        Jerry DeWitt: Both Sides of the Lens

• Rick Cruse, Iowa Water Center
• Wendy Wintersteen, ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean
• Jerry Miller, ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Associate Dean
• Linda Kleinschmit, North Central Sustainable Ag Research and Education (SARE)

2:15-3:00        “Boldness of Conservation”  Jerry DeWitt

3:00        Equip Your Toolkit
                 Fill your communication "toolkit" with take-home ideas from today's speakers