Whiterock Conservancy planted over 100 acres of winter rye cover crop on conservancy-stewarded row crop land.  The cover crops will help protect the soil from erosion and build the soil's organic matter over time.  Whiterock planted the cover crop by air plane to give the winter rye a chance to maximize growth prior to winter.  

Whiterock Conservancy was given the Garden Club of America Zone XI Aldo Leopold Award in September.  The award, which recognizes an organization's commitment to conservation and education, was presented to Whiterock at the Zone XI annual meeting in Milwaukee.  Whiterock was nominated by the Des Moines Founders Garden Club and the award included a copy of Aldo Leopold's Sand County Almanac.