The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place July 30, at noon CDT will feature Derek Franklin, Ph.D., postdoctoral research associate, Iowa State University. As a social scientist, Franklin talks with farmers to better understand their real-world perspectives and incorporates what he learns into research and policy conversations, making sure proposed changes reflect the needs and realities of the people on the ground. He was born and raised on a small cow/calf farm in Southeast Missouri and has been around agriculture his entire life.

In the webinar, “More Than a Practice: Sense of Place and Stewardship Among Prairie Strip Adopters,” Franklin will share the outcomes and conclusions drawn from interviews conducted with farmers and landowners who have maintained prairie strips on their farms for at least three years. He will discuss motivations cited for initially adopting as well as maintaining the practice. Franklin will also provide insights into the continuum of motivation and connection with the land as benefits beyond the initial conservation benefits are manifested in the perceptions and lives of these farmers and landowners.

“While strong land stewardship values often initially motivated prairie strip adoption, participants’ experiences maintaining the strips and their encounters with the beauty, wildlife, and community enthusiasm surrounding them appeared to deepen their stewardship identity and reinforce emotional and moral connections to the land,” said Franklin. “The findings from the study suggest that prairie strips not only support ecological and conservation goals but also cultivate multidimensional, reciprocal relationships between landowners and their landscapes. Conservation practices that cultivate a deeper sense of place such prairie strips may support long-term maintenance and reduce disadoption risk.”

Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.