For the sixth year in a row, conservation partners from the
Iowa Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS), Iowa Department
of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-Division of Soil Conservation (IDALS-DSC),
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Iowa's local Soil and Water
Conservation Districts (SWCD) gathered to form the Iowa Conservation Team
Tent along the RAGBRAI route. RAGBRAI is (The Des Moines) Register's Annual
Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa; it ran July 20-26. The conservation partners
handed out free bananas, water and conservation-themed postcards, and displayed
conservation education, Sunday through Friday.
Throughout the week, the Iowa Conservation Team handed out
approximately 9,600 bananas (or 3,200 pounds) of bananas, and a team record
5,000 conservation-themed postcards were mailed worldwide.
This year's theme was urban conservation. Each day a
different urban conservation practice was highlighted, including permeable
paving, porous asphalt, rain gardens and a rainfall simulator.
|
|
|
|
Team Banana
RAGBRAI riders dressed as bananas enjoy a free banana at the Iowa Conservation Team Tent Friday, July 25, near Solon. |
|
|
|
Posing Bananas
The Banana Team poses with fellow cyclists at the Iowa Conservation Team tent Friday, July 25. The group visited the tent each day. |
|
|
|
Riders Approaching
A stream of riders approach the Iowa Conservation Team Tent east of Ogden Tuesday, July 22. |
|
|
|
Team Banner
The Iowa Conservation Team banner at the site near State Center. |
|
|
|
Rainfall Simulator
The Rainfall Simulator was on display Wednesday, July 23, near State Center. |
|
|
|
|
|
Time for a Stop
A couple RAGBRAI cyclists get ready to stop at the Iowa Conservation Team Tent east of Ogden. |
|
|
|
Postage Necessary
CDI Executive Director Deb Ryun places postage on a conservation-themed postcard with Rob Lawson on Tuesday, July 22. |
|
|
|
Deb Ryun
CDI Executive Director Deb Ryun gets back on the road after a break at the Iowa Conservation Team Tent on Tuesday, July 22. |
|
|
|
Free Bananas
A RAGBRAI rider dressed as a banana cheers on the Iowa Conservation team efforts Tuesday, July 22 east of Ogden. |
|
|
|
Keepin' It Cool
NRCS Forester/Resource Conservationist Tom O'Connor (left) and Soil Conservationist Rob Lawson (right) keep water coolers filled and iced Tuesday, July 22. |
|
|
|
|
|
Zimprich Helpers
Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations Jeff Zimprich, along with his wife and twin daughters, helped keep water coolers filled on Sunday, July 20, near Underwood. |
|
|
|
Fresh Bananas
A RAGBRAI rider enjoys a banana, compliments of the Iowa Conservation Team. |
|
|
|
Stack of Bananas
A young rider takes a break for a banana. |
|
|
|
CDI Executive Director Deb Ryun
Deb Ryun, executive director of the Conservation Districts of Iowa, takes a break from her week-long trek across Iowa to pose with a man dressed as a banana. |
|
|
|
Paving Displays
Riders check out a couple displays about porous asphalt and permeable paving Monday, July 21, at the Iowa Conservation Team Tent near Exira. |
|
|
|
|
|
Rider Approach
A stream of riders approach the Iowa Conservation Team Tent near Exira on Monday, July 21. |
|
|
|
Welcome Shade
The Iowa Conservation Team Tent location east of Exira provided much needed shade for riders on RAGBRAI's longest 2008 day. |
|
|
|
Lawson and Hart
Robert Lawson (left), soil conservationist in Elkader, and Jason Hart, soil conservationist in Guthrie Center, keep the banana table full on Monday, July 21. |
|
|
|
Russ Kurth
Harrison County District Conservationist Russ Kurth displays local soils for RAGBRAI riders near Underwood on Sunday, July 20. |
|
|
|
Happy Banana Eaters
A couple RAGBRAI riders enjoy bananas at the Iowa Conservation Team Tent. |
|
|
|
|
|
Porous Asphalt
A rider from Maryville, Mo., views the porous asphalt display on Monday, July 21. Urban conservation will be highlighted through the week. |
|
|
|
Free Postcards
A rider takes a break to send a conservation-themed postcard on Sunday, July 20. |
|
|
|
Get'em While They Last
A RAGBRAI rider grabs a free banana from the Iowa Conservation Team Tent Monday, July 21. |
|
|
|
Underwood
Roadside signs let riders know when to stop for free postcards, bananas and water at the Iowa Conservation Team Tent. |
|
|
|
Tank of Water
CDI Executive Director Deb Ryun (left) and Cass/Audubon County District Conservationist Dave York near the water stand. |
|
|
|
|
|
Paving Display
A rider takes a look at the porous asphalt display on Monday, July 21. |
|
|
|
Signs
Signs tell riders when to stop for a break at the Iowa Conservation Team tent. |
|
|
|
I Miss You!
A rider sends a conservation-themed postcard compliments of the Iowa Conservation Team. |
|
|
|
Banana Break
A RAGBRAI cyclist is happy to have a free banana. |
|
|
|
Underwood Location
On the first day of RAGBRAI, the Iowa Conservation Team Tent was out of bananas by 8:45 a.m. |
|
|
|
|
|
Packed Tent
A couple large trees near the Iowa Conservation Team Tent attracted many visitors near Underwood on Sunday, July 20. |
|
|
|
Water Cooler Mania
Riders appreciate free cold water. |
|
|
|
Postcards are Great!
A Team Flamingo rider fills out a postcard at the Iowa Conservation Team Tent. |
|
|
|
More Water Please!
Harrison County Soil Conservationist Weston Dittmer (left) and Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations Jeff Zimprich keep the water coolers full on the first day of RAGBRAI. |
|
|
|
Free Water
A cyclist keeps her water bottle full. |
|
|
|
|
|
Going Bananas
Boone County District Conservationist Jared Finley (left) works with Clayton County Soil Conservationist Rob Lawson to keep the banana table full on Tuesday, July 22. |
|
|
|
Bananas for the Road
A cyclist takes a few bananas with him on the road. |
|
|
|
Closing Down
Soil Conservationists Courtney Myers and Ryan Gerlich put away a display on Tuesday, July 22. |
|
|
|
Checking Donations
Stacy Schlader, soil conservationist in Albia, checks for donations at the banana table Friday, July 25. |
|
|
|
Free Postcards
Riders fill out postcards at the Iowa Conservation Team Tent to be sent worldwide. |
|
|
|
|
|
Full of Bananas
The table full of bananas on Wednesday, July 23, near State Center. |
|
|
|
Free Bananas
Iowa NRCS State Public Affairs Specialist keeps the banana table full, along with a cyclist, Wednesday, July 23. |
|
|
|
Postcard Record
More conservation-themed postcards were mailed this year than any of the past five years. |
|
|
|
Rainfall Simulation
A rainfall simulator was on display Wednesday, July 23, at the Iowa Conservation Team tent. |
|
|
|
Conservation Tattoo
Kate Giannini applies a conservation-themed tattoo to a RAGBRAI rider. |
|
|
About Us
Back to Top