Lee Tesdell

Although Lee didn’t grow up in Iowa, his family has been farming outside Slater since the mid-1800s. Since he returned to the family land in the early 80s, Lee has continually experimented with the cutting edge of conservation practices, while maintaining high levels of productivity. Lee’s strong ethic for water quality has specifically led to the installation of 3 saturated buffers and a bioreactor.

Moving beyond mitigation of nutrient pollution and soil degradation, Lee is currently trying different practices which will build organic matter and eliminate the need for chemicals. One interesting prospect that Lee is pioneering is the perennial grain Kernza, which serves dual purposes of a cash crop and cover crop through its distinctive grain and deep roots which remain living in the soil perennially.

Building a Culture of Conservation: 

“We know that what we do to the water and our shared resources have costs, but those costs usually don’t end up in the spreadsheet. We don’t take a total view, but the day is coming when we have to figure in the cost of nutrient pollution.”

Contact Information

Lee Tesdell
300 NW 158th Ave
Slater, IA 50244
515-201-6454
lee.tesdell@gmail.com