DES MOINES, Iowa (July 1, 2026) — The Great Outdoors Foundation honored IAWA’s own Rebekah Jones with one of two Creative Conservationist Awards at Athene Watershed26. The recognition is for individuals and organizations that are driving meaningful conservation outcomes through innovative thinking, strong partnerships, and dedicated stewardship.
Rebekah is the Communications Director for the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and the creative force behind the Conservation Compass, a tool that’s helping increase the pace and scale of farmer-led conservation across Iowa. She leads the team project that embodies exactly what we stand for at IAWA: the innovation to drive bold solutions, the leadership to champion Iowa’s farmers, and the stewardship to protect our resources for the long run.
“The Creative Conservationist Awards celebrate leaders who are finding new ways to connect people, resources, and ideas to create lasting conservation impact,” Hannah Inman, Great Outdoors Foundation CEO, said. “This year’s recipients exemplify what is possible when innovation is paired with collaboration and a deep commitment to stewardship.”
Through strong partnerships and a commitment to excellence, Rebekah has also helped strengthen collaboration among farmers, conservation professionals, and partner organizations while maximizing the impact of conservation investments. Since launching in 2020, the team has helped facilitate approximately 400,000 acres of cover crops, support more than 2,000 acres of no-till and strip-till practices, and advance numerous edge-of-field conservation practices, including saturated buffers, bioreactors, wetlands, and streamside buffer strips. Their work has helped improve water quality, strengthen soil health, and expand voluntary conservation adoption across Iowa agricultural landscapes.
The second recipient of the 2026 Creative Conservationist Award is the Conservation Agronomy Department of Heartland Coop.
Beyond project implementation, the Conservation Agronomy Team has built strong partnerships with farmers, lenders, nonprofit organizations, watershed groups, counties, utilities, and conservation agencies to accelerate conservation adoption and deliver practical solutions at scale.