East Pottawattamie SWCD

08/18/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Women Land Owner Meeting!

We held our annual WLO meeting last Wednesday (8/12/25) at Long Walk Farm. Our evening started out with a tour of the farm lead by Long Walk Farm Ag Director, Kristen Peterson and Co-Owner Matt Johnson. They provided amazing insight on produce production, orchard crops, cut-flower growing, and raising livestock with low global populations - like LaMancha Goats and Kunekune Pigs. Our night continued with a fascinating talk given by Cait Caughey, Mullein Hill Farm - Native Plant Grower. She discussed her background, how to grow and collect seeds from native plants, what a remnant prairie is, and a bounty of resources with information about growing and restoring prairie. A wonderful dinner was prepared by on-site chef, Seth Jonas, using ingredients that were grown right next to where we ate! We rounded off our night with a presentation from NRCS District Conservationist Laura Ferguson, starting with a group discussion on things we are proud of on our land, continuing with water quality testing opportunities, understanding your conservation plan, and how the NRCS and local SWCD's can help you achieve your conservation goals. Ending with a visit to the on-site farm store, full of produce and flowers from the farm along with items like honey, hand-made bags, meat, and pottery, all from local vendors.

Thank you again to everyone who attended this year's WLO meeting, those who presented on the day of, and to Long Walk Farm for hosting us!

08/05/2026

Upcoming Learning Opportunity!

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Nishnabotna Watershed Project, will host a “Conservation On Tap” event on Thursday, Sep. 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Judge Richard Distillery in Carson. The event, which is available at no cost, will provide local farmers, landowners and urban residents with a chance to discuss and ask questions as well as enjoy complimentary food and samples from the Judge Richard Distillery for attendees 21 or older with RSVP. There will be an opportunity for networking following the event.

“Our intent with this event is to help build community through encouraging farmers, landowners and urban residents to talk about topics important within the community — what keeps them up at night, what challenges they see with conservation practices and what they want to learn more about,” said Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. “There will be no formal presentations, just a chance to talk, ask questions, listen and learn. We are looking forward to learning alongside everyone else who attends.”

This event will be an excellent opportunity to learn more about edge-of-field practices that help transform nitrate to a harmless gas, leading to cleaner water for all Iowans. Make plans to join the discussion to learn more about which conservation practices may work best on land in your area and what opportunities exist for technical and financial support.

Event hosts include Ripley, as well as Matt Helmers, Iowa Nutrient Research Center Director. Terry Richardson, Judge Richard Distillery Owner will begin the discussion by providing history of the distillery and highlighting the importance of water quality in the distilling process.

To ensure adequate space and food, please RSVP by Aug. 27 by calling 515-294-5429 or contacting [email protected].

To learn more about planned field days, virtual field days, webinars, and other conservation events, please visit the Iowa Learning Farms Events webpage.

08/03/2026

RSVP Reminder!

Our Women Land Owner (WLO) Meeting is coming up next week, on August 12th from 5pm to 8pm at Long Walk Farm!

If you haven't already, and would like to attend, please RSVP via the QR code on any of our WLO flyers, or contact us at (712) 482-7059/ [email protected]. Supper will be provided by the on-site chef, so RSVP is required to attend, please RSVP by August 7th, 2026.

We hope you will join us!

07/17/2026

Thank you to everyone that stopped by our booth at the Pottawattamie County Fair yesterday! Come visit with us again during the Farm Bureau Member Appreciation Picnic tomorrow (7/18/25), to learn more about how you can incorporate conservation on your farm!

07/13/2026

Join us for our 2026 Women Land Owner Meeting!

This year's Women Land Owner (WLO) meeting will be held on August 12th, 2026, from 5pm-8pm, at Long Walk Farm.

Get a first hand look at a local, small-scale, regenerative operation focused on building a healthy and sustainable future. Everything will be held on farm grounds, and likely all outside, so please make sure to dress for the weather. On the farm tour you will meet farm owners Tiffiny Clifton and Matt Johnson, see native plants, pigs, goats, ducks, organic produce production, high tunnels, and orchard crops. Before dinner, which will be made by on-site chef Seth Jonas, native seed farmer Cait Caughey will discuss her native plant operation. During dinner NRCS District Conservationist, Laura Ferguson, will discuss conservation updates in the county, understanding your conservation plan, and up and coming water quality conservation efforts. At the end of the meeting our WLO's will have full access to the on-site Farm Store to shop the produce we just saw growing!

For more information about the tour, please see the attached flyer. If you have any additional questions, would like to rsvp, or need directions to the farm, contact our County Education Coordinator Laura Monson at [email protected] or via phone at (702)482-7059.

We hope you will join us!

07/06/2026

Save the Date for our 2026 Women Land Owner Meeting!

This year's Women Land Owner (WLO) Meeting will be held on August 12th, 2026 from 5pm-8pm at Long Walk Farm in Council Bluffs. Attendees may begin arriving at 4:30pm and the meeting will start at 5:00pm. Dinner will be provided by the on-site chef, Seth Jonas, so RSVP is required to attend. To RSVP use the QR code on the attached flyer to submit a google form, call East (712-482-7059) or West (712-328-2489) Pottawattamie SWCD, or you can email us at [email protected].

More information on speakers and tour highlights coming soon!

05/27/2026

Congratulations to our East Pottawattamie SWCD, CDI Poster Contest Winners!

In the 2nd-3rd grade category we have our 1st Place winner, Evelyn Hart, 2nd place went to Faye Larison, and our 3rd place winner is Brooklyn Boraff.

In the 4th-6th grade category our 1st place winner is Bentley Madden, 2nd place was awarded to Aliyah Olmstead, and 3rd place to Everly Martin.

Congratulations to all of our poster contest winners, and all those that participated in our poster contest this year! Each student did such a wonderful job, and we wish our winners the best of luck in the upcoming competition!
For more information on the CDI Poster Contest visit https://cdiowa.org/get-involved/poster-contest/

05/20/2026

Join SWISH for their Summer Of Soil Health Tour!

SWISH will be hosting a series of soil health focused field days throughout Southwest Iowa this June. These field days are farmer focused and will be promoting different regenerative practices the host farmers are currently incorporating in their operations.

We hope you'll be able to join us! See attached flyer for more information.

04/06/2026

Join Women, Land and Legacy of Southwest Iowa for a Garden Party in Paradise!

🌱 Garden Party in Paradise 🌱
Join Women, Land & Legacy of Southwest Iowa for an evening of learning, great company, and fresh local flavor!

Hear the story of how Shad Swanson built and grew Garden of Paradise, enjoy a guided tour of the gardens, savor a delicious meal, and explore a variety of local goods available for purchase. Please bring your own lawn chair.

🌷Tuesday, May 5 | 6:00–7:30 PM
🌷Garden of Paradise | 1524 150 St, Essex, IA
🌷Cost: $5 to attend (Event sponsored by Mills County SWCD)
🌷Those interested are also welcome to register and/or request special accommodations by calling one of the local Iowa State University Extension & Outreach offices or register online (the link is in the comments).
• Page County - 712-542-5171
• Fremont County - 712-374-2351
• Mills County - 712-624-8616
• Montgomery County - 712-623-2592

We hope you’ll join us for this engaging and enjoyable evening.

This event is a partnership between local Farm Service Agencies, Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and the Women, Land & Legacy Committee. WLL is dedicated to offering educational opportunities for rural women in business, agriculture, and land stewardship.

02/17/2026

Register Now for the Women Gaining Ground Conference

Women, Land & Legacy of Southwest Iowa is planning its 11th annual conference! This one-day event is designed to be fun, educational, and empowering for women celebrating rural lifestyles. The conference is scheduled for Saturday, March 7 , 2026, at the Lakin Community Center in Malvern, Iowa. Complimentary breakfast will be available starting at 8:30 AM.

The program will feature sessions on farm succession planning, soil health, and innovative ways producers are diversifying their operations. Tim Christensen, Farm Management Specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will open the event with a session on succession planning. Christensen will share practical strategies to help farm families prepare for long term stability, protect their legacy, and reduce stress for the next generation. Representatives from LIFE 5b (Local Iowa Food Empowerment 5b), a nonprofit working to strengthen food security across Fremont, Page, and Pottawattamie counties, will discuss their efforts to connect local producers with consumers through fresh produce distribution, a mobile pantry, and community education. Soil health will take center stage as Casey Gathje, NRCS State Outreach Coordinator, and Laura Ferguson, District Conservationist for West Pottawattamie NRCS, lead a hands on session demonstrating conservation practices that support productive and sustainable farming.

The event will also feature a panel on developing second income streams. Panelists include Kathleen Jones of A 1 Nursery, who will share her family’s success with wholesale peony production; Shad Swanson of LIFE 5b; Todd and Lu Peverill of Hillsdale Lily Garden, a multigenerational daylily farm near Glenwood; and Jessa Bears of Sycamore Ridge Farm in Farragut, known for its you pick flowers, fresh produce, and on farm experiences. This event offers producers and community members a chance to learn, connect, and explore new opportunities that strengthen both farm operations and the broader local economy.

Besides outstanding speakers and engaging breakout sessions, participants will enjoy a delicious yogurt bar and donut holes for breakfast, as well as a fabulous lunch catered by Classic Café of Malvern. There will also be swag bags for each participant, a variety of local vendors on hand for shopping and educational resources, exciting door prizes, and the opportunity to connect with 100+ women who share a passion for rural lifestyles.

To keep the registration fee affordable for attendees, financial support from sponsors is sought each year. If your company celebrates the ag industry, and the culture that goes with it, Women, Land & Legacy of Southwest Iowa would love to partner with you!

Vendor applications are currently being accepted. Interested parties are encouraged to email Sadie Lindgren at [email protected].

To register for this exciting event, visit https://go.iastate.edu/CWKGSJ. The fee is $35 per person and includes breakfast, lunch, and a day filled with educational opportunities. Registration will close at midnight on Friday, February 20.

For more information, please contact Fremont County ISU Extension at (712) 374-2351, Mills County ISU Extension at (712) 624-8616, Montgomery County ISU Extension at (712) 623-2592, or Page County ISU Extension at (712) 542-5171. For updates and current information, visit the group’s page by searching Women, Land and Legacy of SW Iowa.

Women, Land & Legacy (WLL) is an education and outreach program designed to educate and empower women. Three to four programs are presented each year to bring relevant information and resources to local women to help them affect positive changes in their communities. WLL of Southwest Iowa serves the counties of Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, and Page. The programs are available to all.