Snyder Heritage Farm

photo by Cathy Engstrom/INHF

Alfred and Gladys Snyder wanted to ensure that their Polk County farm would continue to support wildlife, not urban sprawl.

They had begun arrangements to bequeath their 154-acre farm to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. However, after Alfred’s unexpected death, Gladys decided to give INHF the land as an outright donation.

At the time of the gift, the farm was approximately half cropland and half wooded pasture. Using income from the cropland, INHF has since restored or reconstructed much of Snyder Heritage Farm to prairie, oak savanna and wetlands.

These ongoing restoration efforts provide diverse wildlife habitat and a working conservation model for college interns, neighbors, visiting classes and other conservation professionals.