Gift to Iowa's Future Day 2025

Posted on March 21, 2025 in Blog

In 2024, INHF was fortunate enough to work with 16 individuals, families and organizations who chose to permanently protect the land they cherish by donating land, land value or conservation easements. Through their generosity, 1,987 acres across 13 counties will forever remain natural spaces, offering respite to Iowa’s wildlife and plants and providing places for Iowans to connect with nature. 

They were recognized at a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol on March 13. Learn more about the landowners that donated to INHF over the last year below:

Daniel and Angela DeCook
Monroe County

Daniel and Angela DeCook donated a portion of the value of an agricultural land easement to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on 93 acres in Monroe County. The property is predominantly grassland with a small oak woodland, and its protection will benefit wildlife habitat, soil health and water quality in the North Cedar Creek watershed and preserve the site for sustainable grazing.

Mike DeCook
Monroe County

Mike DeCook donated a portion of the value of an agricultural land easement to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on 319 acres in Monroe County. Protection of the expansive grasslands, mixed woodland and small creek will help conserve soil, benefit water quality and preserve wildlife habitat for many species.

The DeCook family, including Dan and Mike’s parents Mark and Kay, have protected more than 3,000 acres in Lucas, Marion and Monroe counties through 7 conservation easements since 2011. The family’s vision is to re-wild the landscape, protect natural, diverse and agricultural systems, and preserve open space.

Duane Rempe
Marion County

Duane Rempe donated a conservation easement to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on 197 acres of agricultural land, grassland and mature timber south of Pella in Marion County. The easement prevents further development and preserves open space and perennial habitat, providing water quality benefits for a tributary of the Des Moines River.

David Stamps
Appanoose County

David Stamps donated a conservation easement to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on 204 acres of perennial grasses, woodlands and small streams near Seymour in Appanoose County. The easement protects natural features and limits subdivision, development and other threats to open space while preserving agricultural land uses like haying and grazing.

Michael and Teresa Jackson
Clarke County

Michael and Teresa Jackson donated a conservation easement to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on their 110-acre farm west of Murray in Clarke County. The property consists of unplowed pasture with remnant prairie species, riparian woodland and wagon wheel tracks from the historic Mormon Trail. The easement preserves the cultural resources of the site while protecting wildlife habitat, soil health and water quality of the Sevenmile Creek – Thompson River watershed.

Bob and Liz Petersen Family
Bremer County

The Bob and Liz Petersen family donated a conservation easement to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on 38 acres of woodland and prairie adjacent to the Shell Rock River in Bremer County. The property was part of a former girl scout camp that operated until the 1990s in an area that is now seeing increasing development pressure. The easement protects open space, builds on a complex of protected public wildlife areas and benefits water quality in the Shell Rock River.

Jim and Marcy Gray
Ida County

Jim and Marcy Gray donated 72 acres of remnant prairie and savanna in Ida County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property sits on a ridge above the Little Sioux River, and the Grays have helped to restore the remnant prairie through prescribed burns and removal of invasive species. The long-term protection of the land ensures that it will continue to provide wildlife habitat, water quality and soil integrity benefits.

Peter V. Etringer & Sons
Clayton County

Peter V. Etringer & Sons donated a portion of the value of 157 acres of mixed habitat near Volga in Clayton County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property is bordered by Hewett Creek and features woodland, reconstructed prairie and several small springs. It is now known as the Klingman Etringer Wildlife Area and is owned and managed by the Iowa DNR for all to enjoy.

Ron and Barbara Eckoff
Warren County

Ron and Barbara Eckoff donated 80 acres of remnant and restored prairie, oak savanna and woodland near St. Charles in Warren County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. After years of restoration work by the Eckoffs, the property features notable plant species like Indian pipe, purple milkweed and Michigan lily. Eckoff Nature Preserve is now owned and managed by Warren County Conservation and will offer outdoor recreation and education opportunities while benefiting pollinators, wildlife and water quality.

Jim and Katie Miller
Linn County

Jim and Katie Miller bequeathed 103 acres on the border of Ely in Linn County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property is a mix of agricultural land, woodland and grassland in a quickly developing area. The bequest ensures that the open space, agricultural heritage and wildlife habitat of the property will be maintained while benefiting water quality in the Lake Macbride watershed.

Beverly Evans, Greg Evans, Faith O’Malley and Ryan O’Malley
Franklin County

The Evans Family donated 64 acres of restored prairie and wetlands near the Iowa River in Franklin County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property is adjacent to Whitetail Flats WMA and provides crucial wildlife habitat, soil health and water quality benefits while offering opportunities for outdoor recreation. 

Richard Metcalf and Robert Metcalf
Hamilton County

Richard Metcalf and Robert Metcalf donated 89 acres along the Boone River in Hamilton County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. There are 1.3 miles of the popular river flowing through the Long-Metcalf Conservation Area, which includes a mixture of restored prairie and woodland habitat that benefits water quality and soil health.

Dorothy and Blaine Hoien Family
Dickinson County

The Dorothy and Blaine Hoien family donated three acres near West Okoboji Lake in Dickinson County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The high rocky knob is in an area of high development pressure, and the family donated the land to preserve native prairie, wildlife habitat, water quality and open space.

Gail Ewin
Pocahontas County

Gail Ewin donated 11 acres in Pocahontas County to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. The property recently transferred to Pocahontas County Conservation to be opened as a public recreation area along with a neighboring 10-acre tract donated by John Pascal early this year. The site will provide crucial wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities. 

See the full list of donors recognized at Gift to Iowa's Future Day here.