The work of three Greene County women who are landowners is included in a community photo exhibit, “River Stories: Views from an Iowa Watershed”. The exhibit will be open to the public Sunday, June 12, at the Town/Craft Center at 1122 Willis Ave, Perry.
The exhibit was created this spring by six women landowners – Chris Henning, Patti Edwardson and Colleen Radebaugh of Greene County, along with Courtney Tournis, Jan Kaiser and Danielle Wirth. They took part in a project documenting their experiences in the watershed through photographs and short narratives, or “photostories.” They will share their photostories at the event.
A short presentation is slated for 5:15 pm, with the exhibit open from 5 to 6:30 pm.
“One of the side benefits of the project, beyond spreading the word about issues affecting the watershed, is the opportunity to meet some like-minded women who are willing to roll up their sleeves and make a difference,” Kaiser said. “As a fifth-generation female farm owner, I was surprised to learn how many Iowa farms are owned by women, with the numbers predicted to grow even higher in the next twenty years. Working with these women has inspired me to spend time learning more about the importance of crop rotation, cover crops, and protecting our water sources.”
The event is free, and persons may come and go between 5 pm and 6:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served.
The event follows a reading of Jen Wilson’s Water at the Perry Public Library at 3 pm.
It is co-sponsored by Women, Food and Agriculture Network and the Raccoon River Watershed Association. The project is possible thanks to funding from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University.
