AMES, Iowa – Twenty-four natural resource professionals from across Iowa were part of the Land Stewardship Leadership Academy graduation ceremony held May 22 at the Iowa State University Alumni Center.
The graduates included a cohort of professionals from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, state and federal conservation organizations, nonprofits and conservation consultants.
The goal of the program, now in its third year, is to help early and mid-career professionals build stronger relationships with farmers and landowners, while advancing conservation practices that balance environmental stewardship with profitability and resiliency.
Since the start of the program in January, the group logged six days of in-field and classroom experience, eight hours of online learning, and 14 hours of virtual discussion, with instruction from 30 different instructors, including farmers and educators from Iowa State and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
The program is led by Adam Janke, associate professor in natural resources ecology and management and extension wildlife specialist at Iowa State; Catherine DeLong, water quality program manager with ISU Extension and Outreach; and Julia Baker, natural resource program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach.
DeLong shared how the program benefits both natural resources professionals and their communities.
“These natural resources professionals live in the communities they serve and work hand-in-hand with landowners to create spaces where wildlife can thrive and local streams and drinking water sources are protected,” she said. “The LSLA is a unique opportunity for them to learn from each other and build their professional network.”
“After completing this program, our graduates are better connected, more knowledgeable and inspired to continue their important work.”
Meet the graduates
The 2025 graduates were Cole Anderson, senior farm bill biologist with Pheasants Forever; Riley Bass, watershed coordinator with Polk Soil and Water Conservation District; Clari Bruns, farm bill wildlife biologist with Pheasants Forever; Alex Buseman, conservation services manager with the Iowa Soybean Association; Marissa Cartwright, soil health coordinator with Linn County; Keith Marie Felancio-Cortes, assistan
t ASTC-FO with Natural Resources Conservation Services; Ali Graham, easement specialist with Conservation Districts of Iowa; Gabby Hackley, soil conservationist with NRCS; Dawn Henderson, district conservationist with NRCS; Erik Henry, land and water conservationist with Conservation Districts of Iowa; Bryan Hogue, farm bill wildlife biologist with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever; Jess Kline, soil conservationist with NRCS; Will Kopp, Charles City watershed coordinator with Floyd Soil and Water Conservation District; Ellen Loechner, fish and wildlife biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Malu Menon, agriculture project manager and conservation agronomist with The Nature Conservancy; Lauren Netz, soil conservationist with NRCS; Vanya North, habitat education coordinator with Practical Farmers of Iowa; Lincoln Oliver, biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Annie Pohlen, private lands biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Emalyn Polz, environmental specialist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship; Joel Schwichtenberg, CLEAR project coordinator with the City of Clear Lake; Jerren Sears, private lands biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Heather Vetter, private lands technician with Iowa Department of Natural Resources; and Jodi Williamson, soil conservationist with Natural Resources Conservation Service.
LSLA is funded with support from ISU Extension and Outreach, the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and registration fees, travel, and staff time of the participating organizations. Extension is funded by the State of Iowa, Iowa State University, and through appropriations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Smith-Lever Act.