opinion

Garst land represents promise of a better future

We are grateful for people who are working to address the pressing concerns about agriculture’s impacts on water quality, children disconnected from nature and climate change.

One such family we can be thankful for are the Garsts of Coon Rapids. Last month, it was announced that Mary Garst left the non-profit Whiterock Conservancy 1,200 acres of natural and farm land valued at $7 million. This land is made up of four unique parcels that each provide specific environmental and agricultural benefits. This gift is the latest in planned gifts of 5,000 acres from the Garst family, one of the largest such gifts in Iowa’s history.

This land gift is much more than a testament to the generosity and foresight of Mary Garst and her family. It is the promise of a future that is brighter for our children and grandchildren. This land and family brings forward the rich Iowa history of stewarding the land and innovating on the farm to help address these pressing concerns.

This newly donated land provides the opportunity for children and adults to experience a large, high quality reconstructed prairie, an important wetland that serves as a migratory bird stopover and excellent examples of savanna.

This donation also provides the opportunity for farm scale sustainable agriculture innovations on corn, soybean, and grazing land to achieve profitability and improved water and soil quality. Demonstration projects will include efforts such as prairie strips, various cover crop rotations and management intensive grazing to increase pasture health.

Whiterock Conservancy was founded ten years ago to preserve, restore and open the Garst family acreage to the public. On this acreage Whiterock Conservancy now operates the third largest recreation area in the state without tax support. It is open to the public year around for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, special events, and also offers modern overnight accommodations in cottages and the historic Garst Farmhouse. Through its work, Whiterock also supports the mission of three Iowa institutions: the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

On behalf of the people of Iowa, we thank the Garst family: Mary and children Liz Garst of Coon Rapids; Sarah Garst of West Des Moines; Kate, Rachel, and Ed Garst of Des Moines; and Jennifer Garst of Ames, for providing this amazing land gift – a gift that will last forever with annual harvests of food, fuel, sustainable farming innovations, wildlife, and the rejuvenation of all who take the time to escape into Whiterock’s wild backcountry for their recreation and renewal.

We are all truly better off because of the Garst family’s generosity, community spirit, and love of the land.

JOE MCGOVERN, Des Moines, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation; FRED KIRSCHENMANN, Ames, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture; TODD COFFELT, Des Moines, Iowa Department of Natural Resources; and TERESSA OPHEIM, Ames, Practical Farmers of Iowa, are members of the Whiterock Conservancy Board of Directors.