Moving to Onalaska in 1996, I was part of that “Yuppie” culture of the time: following my husband’s career, trying to remake my own, and raising a young family without close relatives nearby.  My original “why?” drew me to volunteering. I decided to apply my career knowledge to the public space: the environment. Thirty years ago, I chose to let my innate “environmentalist” rise to the surface in ways I could not have predicted.  

Looking back, the theme was consistent. Through design, environment, and community building, friendships and a “family” of like-minded souls living their own “Why?” came together and flourished.

I recently reached out to one of those “partners in crime” souls. We had worked together to “birth” a project I’m proud to say still exists 15 years after I bowed out: Clearwater Farm. In the meantime, others with their own “why?” came forward, returned, and changed how they volunteered as their own lives changed. They kept at it and created a unique anchor in the Driftless Region. That is the process of making change–vision, ground breaking, and the work of continuity.

Because of their commitment, Clearwater Farm has had a ripple effect in their lives, in the community, the region, and as an organization. As they developed the full potential of the project’s original vision, each person made their own impact along the way.

This issue digs deeper into the idea of “WHY?” in articles by longtime cohorts in the cause of making our world a better place:

  • Jason Gilman, whose immeasurable value as a city and private planner has been at the center of transformative value to our region.  He writes here about the arts through time and their impact on cultural opinion and policy–and environmentalism and the impact of youthful introductions to our world.
  • Sustainable Driftless, Inc,  launches another project to support and illustrate the beauty of this region through the art of photography, showcasing artists with a range of perspectives: The coffee table book filled with images and essays:   “Driftless In Time: Capturing the Moment” …check out more on this inspiring projecct at the Sustainable-Driftless.org website (Projects: Photobook)
  • Formerly at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve as Director, and as a new author about the project, Marcy West shares her “why?” these days as she works with  the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin,  and the much needed “why?” of the NRF of Wisconsin organization.
  • Chris Hardie, 7 Rivers Alliance CEO, talks about wine, rural development, and how we can all make our communities a “place to proudly raise our families”.  Funny how our paths evolve over time…!
  • Gary Kurtz‘s perspective on predators and pollinators brings the often controversial mix of hunting, sustainability, wildlife, and people together in a fascinating view of the much needed work of predators–not just human hunters.

As we go forward into the celebration of Earth Day / Week, (and for some, it’s a year around endeavor) Sustainable Driftless will be hosting the First Annual “Drifty” Awards”, a region wide celebration of all the people, organizations, and educators who work towards the end goal of a more sustainable regional future.  The breadth of nominees and winners across the region was inspiring–doing the work that is needed to guide positive change and sustainability. Plan to join us in 2027 for the “Drifties” next year!

The 2026 Winners list included:

  • Outstanding Land Management: Thoren Farms (Stockton, Illinois)
  • Outstanding Business: Farmers Land Investment Cooperative (Decorah, Iowa)
  • Outstanding Nonprofit or Community:  City of La Crescent (Minnesota)
  • George Howe Legacy Award for Outstanding Educator: Longfellow Middle School (La Crosse, WI)

As for a fascinating look back 56 years ago about our nationwide celebration of the Earth, here is a bit of reminiscing from Charlotte, one of my “family of environmental advocates” …

“In 1970, after I had been writing for the USDA Soil Conservation Service less than a year, I walked into Earth Day’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. I wanted to offer what I knew in support of increased awareness of careful resource management. As a volunteer, I spent more time stuffing envelopes and answering phones than sharing what I knew about minimum tillage and sediment control, but it was exciting to be part of that mission. Within a few days, my boss called me into his office. He warned me to be careful of what I said when I was in the ED office since some agencies were secretly keeping an eye on what was being planned. He didn’t say I had to stay away, but I got the message: Keep your head down and your mouth shut. 

On April 22, 1970, the great day dawned and thousands gathered in DC and cities across the country to celebrate our environment and learn more about risks to its continued good health. Meanwhile, in my day job, I experienced and wrote about the “new towns” of Columbia, MD, and Reston, VA. I also visited conservation districts in several states and prepared slide shows. 

Less than a year later, I arrived in La Crosse, newly married and ready for the next chapter of my life. One of my first car rides in the Coulee Region (which I am pleased and proud to have called home ever since) was to have my husband, Roger, photograph me beside a roadside information sign just outside Coon Valley, site of the first watershed project managed by SCS. I wanted former co-workers to know I was in an ideal place to live and raise a family. And I could tell by Coon Valley’s terrain why SCS chose that location to demonstrate wise land use. Those steep slopes and highly erodible soils had been saved by best practices in resource management.”

As we enter the spring of 2026, I hope you, too, will find your “why?” and your passion for this fragile, beautiful, and protection-worthy world we share. Together, we can and must encourage policies and grow smartly to make our world sustainable for generations to come. (And if you have some time to share–reach out–we have SDI Ambassador positions to fill throughout the region!) 

Lastly, Happy Spring to you and yours–and don’t forget to plant something–it may take a while, but what a legacy you will have!