White River and Ag Mini-Documentaries to Premiere at Minnetrista
©The Nature Conservancy/Flatland Films
Two new mini-documentaries featuring stunning footage of the White River and surrounding agricultural lands in the watershed will premiere on Thursday, August 17 at Minnetrista. Presented in conjunction with Indiana Humanities and The Nature Conservancy, the evening will feature six short films about Indiana’s waterways. The films tell stories from across the state of Hoosiers and their diverse relationships with water.
The two new mini-documentaries to be premiered during the event are the work of Indiana filmmaker Ben Massie of Flatland Films. A grant to The Nature Conservancy of Indiana from Ball Brothers Foundation helped to support the production of the mini-documentaries which shine a light on the White River as a recreational destination and on local farming practices:
White River: Fresh Water, Fresh Perspectives
The West Fork of the White River flows through north central Indiana and supplies drinking water to over 2 million Hoosiers. It is an important ecological resource, yet few take the time to explore its waters. In 2023, The Nature Conservancy led a group of Ball State University student leaders on a two-day river expedition to study the river and its watershed. White River: Freshwater, Fresh Perspectives documents the expedition and what was discovered.
Farming with Nature: Conservation in the Upper White River Watershed
The Nature Conservancy partners with local farmers to implement conservation practices that benefit water quality and biodiversity in the White River watershed. With good planning and support, these practices simultaneously benefit farm sustainability and resiliency. Farming with Nature briefly defines the purpose of this collaboration and why it is important for the future of Indiana’s second largest river system and the only watershed completely enclosed within its state borders.
The event is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is requested. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The grant to The Nature Conservancy for the production of the new mini-documentaries is part of Ball Brothers Foundation’s Project Blueways funding initiative.
SCHEDULE
6:00 PM Doors open
6:30 PM Film screenings begin
8:00 PM Film screenings conclude
The event will include a brief intermission and complimentary snacks and drinks will be offered.