Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Workshop Series to be held in February and March

Iowa Learning Farms will host a series of monarch and pollinator habitat workshops in February and March. We welcome farmers, landowners and urban residents to attend these free workshops and join us for a complimentary meal.

Pollinators, like farmers, help ensure the world eats. It is estimated that about 75% of the world’s flowering plants and about 35% of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators. Monarchs are ecologically important as pollinators and are symbolic wildlife used by biodiversity conservation initiatives as exemplary flagship species. The iconic species migrates across U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico, as well as across dozens of U.S. states, especially the Midwestern Corn Belt and Iowa in search of milkweed for both nectar resources and laying their eggs. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn more about monarchs and integrating pollinator habitat into Iowa’s landscape.

The workshops will be hosted by Katherine Kral-O'Brien, Iowa State University Assistant Professor in Natural Resource Ecology and Management and co-leader of the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, and Dr. Jon Dahlem, Iowa State University postdoctoral research associate.

February 6, 2025 | 12:00-2:00pm
Ames Moose Lodge 520
644 W 190th St, Ames, IA 50010

February 11, 2025 | 12:00-2:00pm
Chautauqua Park Shelter House
401 Chautauqua Park Dr, Storm Lake, IA 50588

March 11, 2025 | 12:00-2:00pm
Fairfield Arts and Convention Center
200 North Main St, Fairfield, IA52566

March 18, 2025 | 12:00-2:00pm
Coralville Public Library E. Jean Schwab Auditorium
1401 5th Street, Coralville, IA 52241

The events are free and open to farmers, landowners, and urban residents though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. Attendees will enjoy a complimentary meal and be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-2473 or ilf@iastate.edu.  Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.