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The last weekend in March 2025, ̽����ѡ's Rowe Sanctuary marked 50 years of conservation with a weekend filled with celebrations, reflections, and gatherings among supporters.

Activities kicked off on Friday with a panel discussion featuring individuals from Rowe's founding and early days. The presentation and conversation provided a comprehensive look at the circumstances of Rowe's inception, as well as the episodes and eras the organization has navigated over the past half-century. Audience members heard first-hand from those who fought battles about water diversion projects, early crane-viewing experiences, and eventually the construction of the Iain Nicolson ̽����ѡ Center.

After the panel, Rowe hosted a staff and volunteer reunion where guests reconnected and reminisced.

Saturday's focus was Rowe Sanctuary's 50th Anniversary Celebration in the form of a reception and program at Younes North Conference Center in Kearney. Guests perused photographs and artifacts from Rowe's history, added notes of their favorite memories and commemorations at the Celebration Wall, and encapsulated their well-wishes for Rowe at the crane-folding table.Marcos Stoltzfus, Center Director at Rowe Sanctuary, provided opening remarks, and ̽����ѡ Board Member Anna Riggs extolled Rowe's role within ̽����ѡ and then introduced keynote speaker Michael Forsberg.

Forsberg kept the audience of nearly 200 Rowe supporters spellbound with his photographs, videos, and stories centered around his experiences at Rowe Sanctuary and its role in building a conservation community on the Platte. He provided glimpses into his newest work, “Into Whooperland”, chronicling his journey following the migration path and life cycle of the endangered Whooping Cranes. Kristal Stoner, Executive Director, offered closing remarks celebrating the broader community whose collective efforts have helped make Rowe a place where both people and cranes can thrive.

The weekend concluded with a Sunday virtual presentation by Kristal Stoner, highlighting Rowe Sanctuary’s role in Flight Plan—̽����ѡ’s ambitious strategic plan to reverse the decline of birds across the hemisphere.