Four Winneshiek County residents to be honored by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation

12 landowners who worked with Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation--including four from Winneshiek County-- will be recognized April 1st at the Iowa State Capitol for their gifts of land or land value to conservation in 2012

The Neste family—Ingrid Neste, Mary Neste, and Joseph and Michele Stefanick—donated a portion of the value of their family farm near Decorah through a bargain sale to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

The property includes Dry Run Creek, woodlands, hay fields and tree plantings. A mile of abandoned railroad corridor bisects the woodland.

The Winneshiek County Conservation Board plans to develop a trail on the former rail corridor to connect Prairie Farmer Trail and Trout Run Trail. This property will be one of the most scenic segments along the proposed trail.