Jasper County couple
protects native landscape

---

Al Razor accepted an award on behalf of himself and his wife Mary from the INHF and the Central Iowa Prairie Network. The Razors were awarded for their commitment to the preservation of Iowa's prairie heritage and devoted protection of the Razor Hominyridge Prairie. Pictured with him are Marlene Ehresman, INHF, on the left and Trish Patrick, CIPN, on the right.

This article was written and posted on INHF's website in December 2001. 

A central Iowa couple has ensured the protection of eight acres of virgin prairie through a donation to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

Al and Mary Razor of Jasper County donated a total of 24 acres to INHF. Besides the eight acres of rare virgin prairie, which includes mixed prairie grasses and planted oaks, the remainder of the tract was planted with oak trees by the Razors over 20 years ago and will be restored to oak savanna. The property is set among rolling hills and contains a pond and a creek that runs through the north end.

"Natural prairie can contain over 100 types of plants," Razor said. "It's very hard to get all of them started, so protecting the prairies that still exist is important."

Razor spoke of a time when he destroyed a beaver dam at his neighbor's request because it was backing up a stream that ran between the two properties. Within 24 hours, the beavers rebuilt the dam, and the neighbor rewarded their industry by leaving it alone from then on.

"Animals are geared toward self-preservation as much as possible," Razor said. "I think even humans were at one time. It discourages me, because humans do not seem to have the will or the ability to accept the world as it is and not do damage to the natural world."

Joe McGovern, director of INHF's Land Stewardship Program, said the land will be protected permanently and that the prairie seed will also be used to establish new prairie reconstructions in central Iowa.

"There is less than one tenth of a percent of our native prairie remnants remaining in Iowa," McGovern said. "With every acre we protect, we are saving a piece of our disappearing heritage. That's why this donation is important."


For more information, e-mail Cathy Engstrom, director of communications, or call (515) 288-1846.

Back to the news archive