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Who We Are
Johnson County Board of Supervisors
In 2017, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors adopted a 10-year master plan to guide the development of the Historic Poor Farm property.​
Onsite Partners
Johnson County is fortunate to have a vibrant network of local organizations that seek to improve the lives of residents. We have partnered with several of these local organizations to co-create the HPF and make it the connected community space that it is today. Onsite partners consist of these existing community organizations that have a land connection to the Historic Poor Farm, whether through onsite research, land access for farming, or site-specific programming. Scroll down to learn more about the role of each onsite partner at the farm.​​
Johnson County Local Food and Farm Team
Farm Manager · Project Development · Partner Coordination
The Local Food and Farm Team is tasked with carrying out the Historic Poor Farm's 10-year plan following the farm's mission statement. The team's work looks different from day to day, whether they're managing construction projects, partnering with community organizations to put on events, or developing and enacting long term plans for the site. The Local Food and Farm Manager and the Event and Program Assistant are the site's primary touchpoints for the public.​
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Iowa Valley
Resource Conservation & Development
Farm Manager · Community Food Access · Farmer Education
Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development (Iowa Valley RC&D) oversees farm operations and activities at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, managing the farm’s master plan, training facilities, educational programs for students and the community, land contracts for land access growers, utility management, and the Grower Advisory Committee. Iowa Valley’s RC&D’s program, Grow: Johnson County, provides hands-on training and learning opportunities while cultivating fresh vegetables, which are donated to local community organizations to support food access efforts.
Johnson County Historical Society
Historical Preservation · Research · Education · Tours
The Johnson County Historical Society (JCHS) is a non-profit dedicated to furthering an appreciation of the historical and cultural heritage of the Johnson County community through education, preservation, and interpretation. JCHS acts as the site’s historian, consulting on all historic aspects of the farm. JCHS collects, curates, and interprets historic documents and artifacts relevant to the HPF. JCHS also provides tours of the full farm with an emphasis on the site's history, and has done so for over 20 years. JCHS convenes and leads our Historical Resources Group to increase community expert input into decisions made at the Historic Poor Farm. JCHS leads our volunteer docent training program and provides both general and genealogical research services.
Global Food Project
Local Food Production · Land Access for New Iowans
The Global Food Project (GFP) is a community food production organization that provides garden space to Johnson County residents, prioritizing newer Iowans and focusing on the production of culturally-relevant foods. Housed under the nonprofit IC Compassion, the organization was originally started in 2016 by a group of dedicated community members. GFP connects gardeners to the broader community through educational workshops focused on adapting the existing skills of gardeners to Iowa’s climate. The program also provides toolshare and skillshare resources, and supports nearly 100 plots on 2.5 acres of land.
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Eocene Environmental Group
Natural Areas Plan Creation and Implementation · Education
Eocene Environmental Group, formerly Impact7G, has been integral in promoting the stability and diversity of flora and fauna onsite. Responsible for the creation and implementation of the Historic Poor Farm’s 7-Year Natural Areas Plan, Eocene's work onsite has included prairie reconstruction and maintenance, invasive species removal and maintenance, native plant reintroduction, controlled burns, and timber stand improvement.​​​
IIHR - Hydroscience & Engineering
Research · Education · Watershed Analysis
IIHR — Hydroscience and Engineering is a world renowned research institute with over 100 years of experience in hydraulic engineering. Located within the University of Iowa’s College of Engineering, IIHR houses the Iowa Geological Survey and the Iowa Flood Center and uses the HPF as a conservation demonstration grounds and to advance research.. Participating students conduct research at the farm with real-time water quality and groundwater monitoring locations through twelve groundwater wells and a hydrologic monitoring station that collects real-time data on rainfall, wind speed and direction, soil temperature and moisture at depths of two, four, six, eight, and 20 inches. With this data collected at the farm, students and researchers are able to study changes in our watershed. ​​​