The last weekend in March 2025, Audubon'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 Audubon 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 National Audubon Society Board Member Anna Riggs extolled Rowe's role within Audubon 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.

The weekend capped off with a Sunday virtual presentation focused on Rowe Sanctuary's role within Flight Plan, National Audubon Society's ambitious strategic plan to reverse the decline of birds across the hemisphere.