Whiterock Conservancy

08/24/2026

Camouflage, also called cryptic coloration, is a defense tactic that organisms use to disguise their appearance, usually to blend in with their surroundings to mask their location, identity, and movement.

This Praying Mantis that staff found at the Bur Oak Visitor Center blends in perfectly with our stone! Out of the over 1,500 species of mantids in the world, only around 20 live in the United States and only 2 are found in Iowa!!

Learn more about this incredible insect below!
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/praying-mantis

08/21/2026

Small grains harvest is always an exciting time of year at Whiterock. It's a sure sign that fall is right around the corner; colors changing on the landscape and the work at Whiterock looks a little different than it did through the summer.

We recently finished cleaning our oats and rye seed. This is usually an all-day event with lots of moving and filling wagons. The seed needs to be properly cleaned before we can sell and use the seed as a cover crop. We also send samples to the lab where they test for germination and the presence of other w**d seeds to ensure what we plant and sell is of the best quality.

With all the hard work done, over the next few weeks staff will be busy delivering seed to buyers and making sure our equipment is ready to seed cover crops once harvest season kicks in.

Want to learn more? Reach out to our Land Stewardship Director, Tyler Bruck, to learn more about our successful small grains season at [email protected].

08/20/2026

Your end of week nature break. Enjoy the fading sounds of summer at tranquil Whiterock as the cooler nights and shorter days lead into crisp fall air and colorful landscapes.

08/18/2026

8-18-2026 Trails are open to all activities. Please be cautious and avoid wet areas.

08/15/2026

Thank you Hotel Pattee and Courtyard Cafe for hosting us once again for Rock the Courtyard this week!

Whiterock loves celebrating and collaborating with local businesses and communities to improve outreach and awareness!

Contact us to partner with your local business, group or organization at [email protected]!

08/14/2026

8-14-26 Trails CLOSED to all activities due to heavy rain.

08/13/2026

Whiterock has arrived at the Iowa State Fair on opening day!! Stop by the Travel Iowa booth to say hi and learn more about all the unique places in Iowa!!

08/03/2026

Check out this incredible feature on Whiterock Conservancy from our friends Eddie and Staci Mercado! Their storytelling will keep you laughing and learning through their experiences.

Areas in Iowa that support our native plants and animals.

07/31/2026

DECLARATIONS invites the public to celebrate Markers and Deep Roots with artists Sue and Jim Heemstra at Whiterock Conservancy.

The public is invited to celebrate Markers and Deep Roots, a new permanent ceramic sculpture installation at Whiterock Conservancy, during a special unveiling event on Saturday, August 1, from 1–3 p.m. This free event offers visitors the opportunity to experience the artwork alongside artists Sue and Jim Heemstra, who will be stationed throughout the trail to share the process and inspiration behind the installation.

Markers and Deep Roots features seven monumental ceramic sculptures installed across five locations at Whiterock Conservancy. These pieces rise from the prairie, built from stacked, hand-glazed forms with rich textures and vibrant colors, echoing Iowa's layered geology, cultivated fields and native landscapes.

The August 1 unveiling begins at the Historic Garst Farmhouse, where visitors can tour the historic home before making their way on a self-guided sculpture walk. As guests explore the trail, they'll have opportunities to meet the artists, ask questions about the work and experience each sculpture in its surrounding landscape.

The walk concludes at the hilltop gathering area, where attendees can enjoy fresh watermelon and participate in a special Poems & Polaroids pop-up hosted by Lemonade Studios, creating a keepsake to remember the afternoon.

"Whiterock Conservancy itself is a mark of dedication to the celebration and observance of agricultural and natural history," said artist Sue Heemstra.

Installed throughout July, the sculptures have already begun to settle naturally into the conservancy's trails and prairies, becoming landmarks that reward both first-time visitors and those returning to Whiterock's 45 miles of hiking and biking trails.

The installation is one of several site-specific projects commissioned through DECLARATIONS, a regional exhibition presented in recognition of America's 250th anniversary. Running through September, the exhibition transforms parks, farms, trails and public spaces into places for reflection, dialogue and discovery through art, storytelling and community participation.

Event Details
Markers and Deep Roots Unveiling
Saturday, August 1, 2026
1–3 p.m.

Whiterock Conservancy
1390 Highway 141
C**n Rapids, IA 50058

The event is free and open to the public. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the self-guided sculpture walk.

To learn more about Markers and Deep Roots and the DECLARATIONS exhibition, visit declarations.art/whiterock.

About DECLARATIONS
DECLARATIONS is a regional public art exhibition unfolding across Central and Southwest Iowa through September 2026. Created in recognition of America's 250th anniversary, the exhibition brings artists and communities together through site-specific installations to explore the landscapes, histories and connections that shape us. DECLARATIONS invites the community to encounter art in parks, farms, trails and other unexpected places throughout our state.