Water Rocks!, an award-winning, statewide water education program, and Iowa Learning Farms, a hands-on education and outreach program for Iowa’s farmers, is striving to build a “Culture of Conservation.”

That message was delivered to an international gathering this week by Jacqueline Comito, director of both programs. She was chosen to deliver the Pritchard Lecture at the 73rd annual conference of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

Taking place July 29 through Aug. 1, this year’s meeting is in New Mexico. It is the premier gathering of conservation experts and advocates of building a better planet for the benefit of society.

Reaching out to everyone
Comito delivered her keynote address, titled “Building a Culture of Conservation,” on July 30. Drawing on examples from ILF’s outreach program, she highlighted ways to build “an inclusive culture of conservation that inspires actions to preserve natural resources in our lives.”

She also discussed the application of youth educational programming, which “can lead to more sensitive stewardship of our history and natural environment, thereby empowering another generation to embrace the fundamental value of using simple resource conservation techniques which are open to everyone.”

Building a culture of conservation means that “the preservation of our natural resources becomes the defining characteristic of our actions,” Comito says. “In order to do this, our messages must go beyond the science to engaging curiosity, creativity and compassion, or we won’t succeed. We also need to be reaching out to everyone from youth to farmers, ranchers and landowners. I’m honored to be selected to deliver the Prichard Lecture, and share some of our successes and challenges in promoting soil and water conservation in Iowa.”

Programs provide educational outreach
The Iowa Learning Farms programs provide educational outreach to farmers and participants in the ag industry through field days, webinars, podcasts and seminars held throughout Iowa each year. Water Rocks delivers youth conservation education through its classroom and school assembly programs.

Both organizations use a fleet of Conservation Station trailers to engage and promote conversations about conservation technology advancements, demonstrations of effective water and nutrient runoff management and mitigation structures, and best management practices that range from simple to complex.

Source: Iowa Learning Farms