Last prairie seed harvest of the season is Monday at Loess Hills State Forest

Thank you to everyone who has joined our prairie seed harvest events this year!

Our final volunteer event of the season is this coming Monday, October 20, at Loess Hills State Forest.

Details at goldenhillsrcd.org/prairieseed

Save the Dates for the 2026 LoHi Trek: April 8-12

The 2026 LoHi Trek will take place in the northern and central Loess Hills April 8th through 12th.

For this sixth annual event, we're heading back to the area of the first-ever Trek in 2021, including parts of Woodbury and Monona counties.

Registration will open later this year, so stay tuned!

On September 27, Golden Hills hosted the LoHi Scout event in conjunction with the ribbon-cutting at Little Sioux Scout Ranch addition to Loess Hills State Forest.

Learn more in this video by Brian Mann:

SW IA Rural Summit hosted in Oakland

Last Friday, October 10, Golden Hills staff attended the Iowa West Foundation's Southwest Iowa Rural Summit, a day of ideas, connections, and inspiration for rural Southwest Iowa.

The summit included speakers, panels, and a networking lunch.



Golden Hills hosted a Happy Hour at our office, sponsored by Arbor Bank, after the Summit.

photo of Golden Hills staff at the Happy Hour provided by Western Iowa Development Association. From left to right: Shaun Ahern, Project Coordinator; Jackie Johnson, Finance & Revenue Development Manager; Jamie Smidt Fowler, Local Foods Coordinator; Lance Brisbois, Deputy Director; Angie Remington, Executive Director; Jynell Miller, Operations Coordinator; Dawn Harder, Office Assistant; Seth Brooks, Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Program Coordinator

Veterans Hike held at Old Town on October 12

Golden Hills RC&D partnered with local veterans organization Operation 22 Til Freedom to host a Veterans Hike at Old Town Conservation Area near Missouri Valley on October 12.

Operation 22 Til Freedom is a 501c3 nonprofit working to lower the veteran suicide rate to zero.

​Our goal with this partnership is to help create a sense of community, get veterans outdoors in nature, and help veterans improve their mental & physical health.

Details at goldenhillsrcd.org/ottf

Final Land Stewardship Class is November 4

Our land stewardship series, a partnership with Iowa Western, concludes on Tuesday, November 4 with a "Business Basics" class.

Have you ever thought about starting a business related to land stewardship or conservation? This class is for you!

Sign up at goldenhillsrcd.org/iwcc

Cost-share available for regenerative ag practices

Golden Hills has funding available for farmers to implement practices that improve soil health and water quality in southwest Iowa. Find all the details at goldenhillsrcd.org/regenag

Gifts of Grain

Farmers can support Golden Hills' work in the Nishnabotna watershed by donating the value of any amount of grain at their local NEW Co-op elevator. Farmers can receive tax benefits for donating to a 501c3 nonprofit.

Learn more at goldenhillsrcd.org/giftsofgrain

Visit western Iowa's scenic byways for the fall colors!

Fall colors are peaking soon, and now is a great time to explore our three scenic byways: Loess Hills National Scenic Byway, Western Skies Scenic Byway, and Glacial Trail Scenic Byway.

Check out our blog posts to find great places for leaf-peeping:

• Fall Scenic Drives on Glacial Trail and Western Skies Scenic Byways
• Fall Scenic Drives on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway

photo of Whiterock Conservancy by Lance Brisbois