ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa — The Lobe Rangers, a nonpartisan group of three Iowa farmers, will open one of their farms to the public on Saturday, July 25th, for a free field day built on a simple idea: show what already works with conservation farming and water quality.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2195 250th St., Rockwell City. This event, which will be held at the farm of James Hepp, is open to the public at no cost.
“Meaningful change in our water can’t involve just a few of us doing the right things,” Hepp said. “It needs to be commonplace on most of the fields you drive past. That means cover crops growing every winter, less tillage, and nitrogen being applied when the crop can actually use it. We’re a long way from that. Pretending we’re not hasn’t gotten Iowa anywhere.”
Iowa’s water quality challenges remain at the center of public debate. The state’s own science calls for these practices on at least 60 percent of the landscape before Iowans should expect measurable improvement in water quality; on the Des Moines Lobe, combined adoption of the bundled practices is estimated below 10 percent.
The Lobe Rangers have used cover crops, strip-tillage and in-season nitrogen on their Des Moines Lobe operations for more than a decade. They’re inviting researchers, Des Moines Water Works, the public, and every Iowa officeholder and 2026 candidates to see the distance between the state’s official water-quality plan and the results it has actually produced.
• The field day opens with a keynote from Dr. Matt Helmers about the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy — the state’s official plan for cutting the nitrogen and phosphorus that move off Iowa farmland into its rivers and drinking water. Helmers is the director of Iowa State University’s Iowa Nutrient Research Center, Dean’s Professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and chair of the state’s nitrogen science team for the strategy.
• Q&A between the Lobe Rangers and Des Moines Water Works.
• Live equipment and rainfall-simulator demonstrations.
• Lunch provided at Noon.
• Panel discussion taking questions directly from the crowd. Panelists include the Lobe Rangers, Des Moines Water Works, Matt Helmers and retired Iowa State University researcher Jerry Hatfield, with additional voices expected.
Those farming practices that will be showcased at the field day are the same ones the state’s own strategy identifies as necessary to improve water quality. The Lobe Rangers have used these management practices for more than decade while staying competitive on yield.
“We’ve farmed this way for fifteen years, with yields right alongside everybody else’s,” said Zack Smith, a member of The Lobe Rangers who farms near Buffalo Center, Iowa. “We’re not asking anyone to take a risk we haven’t already taken ourselves…we’re asking folks to join us and help create a better Iowa.”
In keeping with the Lobe Rangers’ nonpartisan mission, identical invitations to the July 25 have been extended to all current state and federal officeholders representing Iowa and to all candidates for office in 2026.
RSVPs are requested for an accurate headcount at www.theloberangers.com. Lunch will be provided.