Whiterock Conservancy broke ground on its backcountry trail project just a couple of days ago, and for Executive Director Conrad Kramer, it began a process that has been five years in the making.

Still though, while the 35-mile trail being built for mountain biking aficionados is the main part of their construction project, Kramer says Whiterock is more than just that.

“You know we’re a non-profit and we were founded to accept this huge land gift from the Garst family–this 5,000-acre landscape.  We think it was the largest land gift in the history of Iowa.  We were founded to accept it, steward it, restore it and open it to the public.  And so certainly this trail system is all about opening (Whiterock) to the public, but we are also the largest private restoration effort in the state, restoring our forests, savannas, prairies and our wetlands.”

Kramer says educating people about sustainable agriculture and the value of our natural resources are another couple points of emphasis for his organization.

To hear Kramer recap Tuesday’s groundbreaking event and discuss Whiterock Conservancy in full detail, tune-in to today’s Let’s Talk Guthrie County on K107 during the 9am, noon and 5pm hours.