INHF Board Spotlight: Gilda Boyer

Posted on March 19, 2024 in Blog

INHF Board Spotlight

This blog series highlights and acknowledges our dedicated board members. Lending their time and talents on a volunteer basis for the protection of Iowa’s land, water and wildlife, INHF’s 33-person board is an incredible show of dedication and expertise. INHF board members come from every region of the state, connecting our work with communities, landowners and organizations that help to make more conservation happen. See a full list of board members here and learn more about Gilda Boyer below!

Gilda Boyer

Gilda hails from the eastern part of the state where she attended Cornell College and built her life with husband Barry Boyer. Together, they’ve worked hard to transform their dream property — adjacent to public land — in Linn County, transitioning the 30 acres back to sand prairie and oak savanna. Its scenery and sunsets make it her favorite place to get outdoors.

Whether it’s restoring her eastern Iowa property, admiring the fall foliage or scaling mountains in Colorado, spending time in and appreciating nature has been a lifelong passion. Gilda was specifically looking for a volunteer opportunity related to conservation when she joined INHF’s board in October 2022.

“I had long admired the work of INHF, and the innovation of its creation to help facilitate the protection and conservation of the wild and unique landscapes of Iowa,” says Gilda.

Board appointments are familiar to Gilda, who has served for a variety of community organizations as well as her alma mater. She’s excited that with INHF, you can see the mission in action every day.

“More than ever, we need wild spaces and places to connect to nature,” Gilda explains. “The Japanese have this concept of forest bathing, getting out into nature to reset oneself. It is so simple and easy to do, just get out and enjoy being surrounded by nature! INHF ensures there are places in Iowa to do just that, accessible to all.”

One of the INHF projects Gilda feels bests captures the heart of our mission is the nearly 1,200-acre Heritage Valley near Decorah.

“It is the quintessential Iowa Driftless property with the bluffs, the rolling ground and the Upper Iowa River cutting through it all. I love the story behind it coming together, and the fact that INHF saw how important it was to preserve that ground for all of Iowa (and the world, for that matter). It is a very special place.”