Conservation EXPO 2026 welcomes landscape and nature enthusiasts, rural and urban landowners, citizens engaged with community conservation initiatives, students and families to Cooper’s Landing on the Missouri River Sept. 12-13.
In connection with the EXPO, Magnificent Missouri and Once Films will present the premier of the film “The Trail State” on Friday, Sept. 11, 5 p.m. reception and a 6 p.m. screening hosted at the state historical society, 605 Elm St. in Columbia.
Among the many activities at the landing are family-oriented activities that will surely please the youngsters. There will be:
– Pony rides for children provided by Blair’s Barn.
– Art activities for children on Saturday morning.
– TREE-MENDOUS Bike Ride on the Katy (8.6 miles – Missouri River Center/Huntsdale to Coopers Landing) hosted by the Forest and Woodland Association on Saturday morning.
– River boat rides hosted by Missouri River Relief on Saturday.
– A working sawmill hosted by the Missouri Department of Conservation with logs representing a diversity of local tree species provided by neighboring BoatHenge Retro Resort.
– KOPN 89.5FM live on-site broadcast featuring interviews with the exhibitors from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
– A diverse menu of popular cuisine offered by food trucks.
– Afternoon music featuring the Linda Bott Experience on Saturday and Molly Healey String Project on Sunday.
Pre-register for TREE-MENDOUS Bike Ride: www.forestandwoodland.org
On-site registration for River Relief family boat rides on the river begins Saturday at 8:45 a.m. with rides every hour starting at 9:30 a.m.
More than 30 non-profit conservation-related organizations will be exhibiting to share useful information, present demonstrations and offer fun activities for children.
Exhibitors for EXPO 2026 include:
Boone County Resource Management/Bonne Femme Water Alliance
Boone County Soil and Water Conservation District
City Garden School
City of Columbia Office of Sustainability/CoMo Canopy
Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture
Conservation Federation of Missouri
Ducks Unlimited
Environmental Echo
Forest and Woodland Association of Missouri
Forest ReLeaf of Missouri
Land Learning Foundation
Legends of Conservation
Lincoln University Native Plant Program
Magnificent Missouri/Katy Trail & Rock Island Trail
Mid Missouri Green Belt Land Trust
Mid Missouri Prescribed Burn Association
Missouri Coalition for the Environment/Known & Grown
Missouri Conservation Corps
Missouri Consulting Foresters Association
Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Natural Resources/Parks
Missouri Department of Natural Resource/Soil and Water Conservation Program
Missouri Department of Transportation
Missouri Environmental Education Association
Missouri Forest Products Association
Missouri Nut Growers Association
Missouri Organic Association
Missouri Prairie Foundation /Grow Native! / Invasive Plant Council
Missouri River Bird Observatory
Missouri River Relief
Missouri Rural Electric Cooperatives/Boone County
Missouri Stream Team
Missouri Walnut Council
Ozark Land Trust
Quail Forever
Scenic Rivers Invasive Species Partnership
Sierra Club
Southern Boone Schools Learning Garden
Stream Teams United
The Nature Conservancy Missouri
The Nature School/Columbia Public Schools
University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture
University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry
University of Missouri Extension/Jefferson Farm
University of Missouri Extension/Master Naturalists
University of Missouri Extension/Natural Resources
University of Missouri Extension/4H
USDA/NRCS
USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center
University of Missouri School of Journalism/Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk
Environmental Echo 