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On Thursday, May 23, Golden Hills hosted an educational field day about prairie strips as part of the West Nishnabotna Water Quality & Infrastructure Partnership.  This field day at Maple Edge Farm highlighted the innovative in-field conservation practice of prairie strips. Shortly after Golden Hills RC&D Project Coordinator Shaun Ahern made some opening announcements, attendees took a wagon ride across the nearby field to the prairie strip site.  On the way there, a brief stop was made overlooking the prairie strip site downslope. Host farmer Jon Bakehouse shared his experience in witnessing the erosion in the adjacent field and his desire to install a conservation practice such as prairie strips to minimize such erosion. Jon explained the process of working with Golden Hills RC&D through the Iowa Watershed Approach to install the prairie strips.  example of a prairie strip in a cornfield Once in the field at the strips site, Tim Youngquist with Iowa State University spoke about the ISU STRIPS program, prairie strips as a practice, and their multitude of benefits. Benefits not only include the reduction of soil erosion and nutrient runoff, but increased biodiversity and health benefits. In fact, Jon stated how he visits the prairie strips when he’s having a bad day. He also spoke about seeding and management recommendations, such as prescribed fire and mowing. After speaking, Tim took a number of questions, including the difference between buffer and prairie strips, explaining how they are a long-term practice, and giving suggestions for resources to help someone with planning establishment and management of their prairie.  example of prairie strips in a rowcrop field After that, Andrew Olson from the Tallgrass Prairie Center (TPC) started off by showing a banner of a prairie plant highlighting how deep their roots are. He then gave some background of the TPC and explained that research has shown that prairie plants don’t clog tile lines. He also fielded a few audience questions after speaking. Since time allowed, attendees got the chance to walk the prairie strip if they wanted. During that time Tim pointed out a prairie plant there affected by herbicide drift, emphasizing that it shouldn’t be of concern if it isn’t a direct application given how tough prairie species are. Attendees then headed back on a wagon ride and a few closing announcements were made before the event concluded.   photo from KMTV The strips field day was also covered by KMTV. You can read their story here.
Golden Hills would like to thank everyone who attended the event, and special thanks to the Bakehouses for hosting, and to Tim Youngquist and Andy Olson for presenting! If you are interested in learning more about implementing prairie strips on your farm, reach out to us!
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 Photo by Lance Brisbois Brent's Trail is dedicated in loving memory to Brent Olson, the area forester for the Loess Hills State Forest. Brent had a vision of a long-distance hiking trail in Harrison County—he wanted people to experience the beauty of the Loess Hills in a unique way, and the trail named in his honor delivers in every aspect. Since its opening in 2019, Brent's Trail has gained national attention as one of the best (and most difficult!) hikes in the state of Iowa. It's a partnership between Harrison County Conservation Board and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Other partners and supporters include Friends of Loess Hills State Forest and Preparation Canyon State Park, Loess Hills Missouri River Region, Golden Hills RC&D, and Loess Hills Alliance. Brent's Trail is an 8-mile hiking trail connecting Harrison County Conservation’s Murray Hill Scenic Overlook and Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area via the Loess Hills State Forest. The trail is the start of a proposed trail that will eventually connect the northern and southern ends of the State Forest. A three-mile southern extension was added in 2021, giving hikers the choice of an 11-mile arduous trek through the state forest. Primitive, dispersed camping is allowed within Loess Hills State Forest. Potable water and restrooms are not available along the trail. Where should you start Brent's Trail?
Unfortunately, there are no shuttle services to return you from one trailhead to another. While not eco-friendly, the simplest solution is to drive two cars and leave one at your finishing point, whether that is one of the three trailheads or another point along Brent's Trail. Our preferred route is to begin at Murray Hill Scenic Overlook, as the views are better hiking south. Photo by Lance Brisbois What if you only have one car?
Another option is to turn around at the parking area at 1715 138th Trail and return in the opposite direction. This parking area in the state forest is approximately the halfway point of the original 8-mile Brent's Trail, which makes it an ideal place to turn around whether you begin at Murray Hill or Gleason-Hubel. There is plenty of shade in this parking area, so you can rest before resuming your journey.
What are the top scenic spots along Brent's Trail? Sections of Brent's Trail follows classic Loess Hills road cuts. Photo by Lance Brisbois. Murray Hill - Murray Hill Scenic Overlook offers a panoramic view of the Missouri River Valley. Yucca plants and native flowers dominate the Loess Hill prairie landscape. Interpretive signs are located at the overlook that explain the significance and history of the Loess Hills. Make the steep climb on the trail and you will be rewarded with one of the most picturesque locations in the Loess Hills.
View of the Missouri and Little Sioux - Overlooking 138th Trail near the junction of Brent's Trail and state forest trail LS-2 (refer to the trail map), this spot was Brent Olson's favorite view in the Loess Hills State Forest. Both the Missouri and Little Sioux Rivers are visible from this point, as well as Nebraska further to the west. Fulton Ave - The trail once again follows a section of a classic road cut in the Loess Hills. Fulton Ave is one of the most scenic and impressive Level B roads in the Loess Hills. Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area - Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area has 165 acres that is predominately woodland, along with ridge top native prairie stands and a network of trails of almost 3 miles. It is an excellent bird watching location for migrating woodland species and morel mushroom hunting. Little Sioux Scenic Overlook - If you hike the southern extension, there is a bench atop a ridge overlooking the Missouri River floodplain. The hike to the overlook is steep, but the expansive views and solitude are worth the effort.  Scenic overlook on the southern extension. Photo by Lance Brisbois. What do you need to hike Brent's Trail? A hiker wearing the essentials for Brent's Trail. Photo by Lance Brisbois.
 A hiker begins the steep ascent up the southern face of Murray Hill. Photo by Lance Brisbois. Can you camp along Brent's Trail?There are no campsites along Brent's Trail, however, dispersed camping is permitted throughout the Loess Hills State Forest. There is no potable water along the trail, so if you plan to camp you will either have to carry all your water or cache water somewhere along the trail. The parking areas (blue address signs on the trail map) are logical places to safely store extra water and supplies.  View of 138th Trail from Brent's Trail. Photo by Lance Brisbois. 
Our mission at Golden Hills RC&D is to collaboratively develop and lead community, conservation, and cultural initiatives to improve our quality of life in rural western Iowa. Our "official" territory from our original organizational bylaws is an eight-county region in the southwestern portion of Iowa (Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby). In 2023, we added four more counties (Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, and Monona). Several projects extend beyond these 12 counties into more than 20 counties (learn more about where we work).
Our goals are to develop industries in local communities that utilize local resources; ensure healthy natural resources that meet the needs of agriculture, industry, private use, and recreational facilities; promote and enhance art, culture and historic resources in rural communities; collaborate with local governments and organizations on projects that benefit the environment; and work on projects that fill gaps in community services to benefit people of southwest Iowa.
We accomplish these goals by focusing our work in five program areas: outdoor recreation and tourism, land stewardship, water resources, local foods, and arts and culture. Today's Mission Monday focus is Local Foods. 
The Local Food Guide is a part of our Local Foods program area. The guide lists local producers in southwest Iowa, including farmers markets, farms, stores, restaurants, and other local food businesses. The guide is also available in Spanish.
Click here or on the map image above to see the guide in an interactive map, or scroll down to see a list of farmers markets, farms, stores, restaurants, and other local food businesses. This guide includes Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, and Shelby counties in southwestern Iowa. If you are a local producer and not currently included in the local food guide, please fill out this form. Please note the Local Food Guide is regularly updated and we rely on farmers, market managers, and others to provide the most updated information. It is best to call ahead to confirm business and market hours before visiting. If you see anything that needs updated, please email [email protected]. |
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