ATLANTIC, IA — The Nishnabotna Water Defenders will hold their first annual meeting on Sunday, March 15, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at The Venue, located at 307 Walnut St., Atlantic, Iowa.

The Nishnabotna Water Defenders formed as a non-profit organization to address the March 2025 fertilizer spill in Red Oak, Iowa. As a group of citizens in Southwest Iowa, the organization is dedicated to one primary goal: keeping water clean. The group focuses on organizing, advocating, and educating to improve water quality throughout the region and the state of Iowa.

This year’s guest speaker is Liz Garst. Ms. Garst manages a family farm near Coon Rapids, Iowa, and oversees two family-owned community banks. Her extensive background includes service in the Peace Corps and roles with the World Bank, her family’s seed company, and as a bank president. She holds a BA from Stanford, an MS in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State, and an MBA from Harvard.

A founder of the Whiterock Conservancy, Ms. Garst has a long career in civic engagement supporting agriculture, the environment, rural development, and civil liberties. In 2023, she was inducted into the Iowa Business Hall of Fame. Her current work focuses on the importance of soil health.

For more information, please visit the Water Defenders website at https://nishnabotnawaterdefenders.org or email nishh2odefenders@email.com.