http://whiterockconservancy.org/
Our conservation land is actively managed to improve the condition of the savannas, rolling pastures, native and restored prairies, wetlands, riverside bluffs and fishing ponds. Whiterock is restoring one of the largest areas of savanna left in Iowa. Our diverse habitats are home to hundreds of species of birds, mammals, and other wildlife. To learn more about management practices we employ, see our conservation projects section.
Whiterock Conservancy also strives to continue the Garst legacy of innovative farming by demonstrating sustainable farming practices and providing farmers and non-farmers alike information on the benefits and costs of these practices. In addition to opportunities to see these practices on the ground, you can learn more about them in the agricultural projects section.
In order to provide opportunities for the public to experience and learn from this landscape, Whiterock Conservancy is completing a state of the art 32-mile backcountry soft trail system that will serve the needs of walkers, hikers, runners, mountain bikers, equestrians and those with mobility limitations through the use of low-powered vehicles. Added to our current trails, accommodations and other activities, this will provide incentive for thousands of additional visitors to get up close to nature, view sustainable agriculture practices and explore the history of the area.
As part of our mission to engage the public in learning about sustainable agriculture and the natural landscape we are proud to steward the historic Garst Farm, the cradle of hybrid seed corn and the host for Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev during his historic 1959 visit to the United States.