an Evening of Food, Community, and Change at the Rath Mansion

Author Austin Frerick leading a fireplace conversation at the IFSC fundraiser event.

On December 8th, the Rath Mansion in Waterloo, home of our Executive Director Chris Schwartz, set the stage for an inspiring evening of connection, conversation, and reflection. Surrounded by holiday cheer and a spread of locally sourced Iowa foods, attendees gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities within Iowa’s food system.

We were honored to host Austin Frerick, author of Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry. Austin shared how the industrial food system we know today—a system built on consolidation and corporate power—is not the norm it appears to be. Instead, it’s a relatively new and unsustainable model, far removed from traditional practices that prioritized local farmers, healthy communities, and a thriving environment.

Austin reminded us that the food system is one of the rare bipartisan issues that touches everyone, from farmers striving for fair markets to families working to access fresh, healthy food. That shared experience provides a foundation for meaningful change—change that begins when we come together to reimagine what our food system can be.

Events like this remind us that progress starts in spaces like these: around fireplaces, at kitchen tables, and through collaboration. As we head into 2025 and a new administration, the Iowa Food System Coalition is committed to advancing policies that reflect Iowa’s values and create a stronger, more equitable food system for all.

Explore our 2025 policy priorities here. Together, we can make meaningful change happen.