RELEASE: Athene Watershed26 Convenes More Than 250 Attendees at Inaugural Conference
Great Outdoors Foundation invests $65,000 in conservation ag solutions, unveils Shared Action Plan
The Great Outdoors Foundation is pleased to announce that more than 250 attendees representing a wide spectrum of disciplines and expertise participated in the inaugural Athene Watershed26 last week. Individuals and organizations representing 20 different states and territories convened to collaborate on solutions with a multi-lens approach, layering insights from the conservation, agribusiness, academic, NGO, and public sectors. The conference included keynote addresses, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and a site visit, all geared toward highlighting diverse perspectives and impactful work at the intersection of conservation and agriculture.
Additionally, Convergence: The Conservation Ag Accelerator, a live pitch competition, showcased three innovative water quality solutions during day two of the conference. Watershed26 attendees had the opportunity to vote, contributing to the final competitor placement and award grant selection:
- First place, $50,000 award: Upside Robotics, Inc.
- Second Place, $10,000 award: SoilSerdem, LLC
- Third Place, $5,000 award: N-Sense, Inc.
In the closing session of the conference, Great Outdoors Foundation CEO, Hannah Inman, unveiled the Watershed26 Shared Action Plan, a strategic framework designed to accelerate conservation agriculture adoption, improve watershed health, strengthen rural economies, and align public-private investment across the Upper Mississippi River Watershed.
“The Watershed26 Shared Action Plan is not an attempt to reinvent the wheel. It is an effort to align the many people, organizations, investments, and ideas already working toward the same destination. Because no single farmer, nonprofit, business, agency, or philanthropist can solve these challenges alone,” Hannah Inman, Great Outdoors Foundation CEO, said. “This plan is not the finish line. It is the starting point. Its value will not be measured by the pages it contains. It will be measured by the actions it inspires, the partnerships it strengthens, the investments it attracts, the innovations it accelerates, and ultimately, the outcomes it helps deliver on the ground.”
The Shared Action Plan was developed by the Watershed26 advisory committee and content track subcommittees, comprised of 30 practitioners with a variety of expertise. Recommendations from the Shared Action Plan will be used as a roadmap for implementation between now and Watershed27.
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About the Great Outdoors Foundation
The Great Outdoors Foundation exists to advance conservation through innovation, collaboration, and stewardship. We are the foremost fundraising professionals in the conservation and outdoor recreation sector. Together, we activate meaningful, accessible initiatives that enhance our environment and improve quality of life. Over the last few years, we have invested more than $250 million in conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives, and we’re just getting started.
