Ash Grove Cement Co. confirmed its commitment to Nebraska conservation again with a $20,000 donation to The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska’s Niobrara Valley Preserve, located in the north central region of the state, reported the Fremont Tribune. The donation will be used to help fund construction of a workshop/laboratory that will house a research facility and support conservation and ranching operations.
“Ash Grove Cement Co. is delighted to support The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska and its important project, Niobrara Valley Preserve,” said John Dale, plant manager of Ash Grove Cement in Louisville. “We believe conservation is vital to the future of the state which is why we’ve contributed to The Nature Conservancy throughout the Plains states for the past 20 years.”
The 60,000-acre Niobrara Valley Preserve is one of the largest conservancy preserves in the world. The complex of protected prairies, forests, streams, wetlands and riverfront has attracted researchers, ecology students, naturalists and enthusiasts from around the world for the past three decades. Its open, flexible space has made it a highly sought after venue for research and teaching. Employees are working to ensure the best problem-solvers in the Plains have an adequate facility to tackle issues facing the grasslands, and the new workshop/laboratory is vital to achieving that goal.
“The Nature Conservancy is grateful for the support of the Ash Grove Charitable Foundation to help build a new workshop/laboratory at our Niobrara Valley Preserve,” said Dr. Mace Hack, state director. “This is a part of a comprehensive plan to transform this special place into the world-class home for teaching and learning that today’s conservation challenges demand.”
