Midwest Meat Summit
Happening just ahead of Practical Farmers of Iowa's Annual Conference, the inaugural Midwest Meat Summit brings together every part of the meat supply chain to learn, network and build community.
Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Conference
Mark your calendars for the popular annual PFI Conference!
Conference highlights include:
A Saturday keynote by Eric Lee-Mäder, the co-founder and principal at Northwest Meadowscapes. Eric will highlight success stories of conservation farming that sometimes blur the lines between nature and agriculture, and which provide us with clues to what a multi-century vision of Iowa farming could look like.
Session topics that span the agricultural spectrum, including conventional and organic field crops, soil health, pasture-based livestock, crop-livestock systems, fruit and vegetable production, precision conservation, on-farm habitat, landowner resources, farmland access, pest and weed management, farm business basics and more.
A full track of Spanish-language sessions.
An evening of storytelling by PFI farmers sharing skillfully narrated true stories.
Presentation of PFI’s 2025 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award.
Three optional pre-conference short courses: “Charting the Steps of Farm Succession”; “Strawberry Production in Iowa”; and “Extending the Rotation: Finding an Effective Third Crop.” All courses begin Thursday, Jan. 9 in the afternoon and end the morning of Friday, Jan. 10 before the conference starts.
Day on the Hill 2025
Join the Iowa Food System Coalition for our annual Day on the Hill, where farmers, advocates, and community members come together to engage with policymakers and advocate for Iowa’s food system priorities. This is your opportunity to share stories, showcase the importance of local food systems, and directly influence decisions that affect Iowa’s communities.
2025 Public Health Conference of Iowa
The 2025 Public Health Conference of Iowa will be held on April 1-2, 2025 at the Airport Holiday Inn, Des Moines.
IFSC Book Talk & Holiday Party Fundraiser with Austin Frerick
Join the Iowa Food System Coalition for a Book Talk and Holiday Fundraiser featuring Austin Frerick, author of Barons, Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry on Dec 8th, 2024.
Local Food Policy Summit
Please join us in Ames on December 6th from 12pm-3:30pm for an entirely local food meal, followed by conversations and presentations about the 2025 Legislative Session and our goals for continuing to grow Iowa's food system.
Iowa Farmers of Color Conference
The Iowa Farmers of Color will host the 2024 Iowa Farmers of Color Conference on Nov. 16 in Des Moines, Iowa. This gathering is an invaluable opportunity for farmers of color from all enterprises throughout the Midwest. The day will include opportunities to network and connect, enterprise and business planning sessions, chances to learn about programs from service providers and a keynote address from Denise Greer Jameson.
Fall Harvest Gathering for Women in Sustainable Agriculture
WFAN is a community for food growers and land stewards who have been historically excluded from access to education, infrastructure, and support networks in agriculture. Together, we can share the connections and encouragement needed to be effective practitioners and supporters of sustainable agriculture.
RFSWG/IFSC Coalition Meeting
Join us for our next quarterly meeting on Thursday, November 14th. These meetings are invaluable to our statewide efforts. Registration Required.
Southwest Iowa Local Foods Summit
Join CFRA at the Southwest Iowa Local Foods Summit featuring educational sessions from regional speakers, businesses along Malvern’s Main Street, a farm tour, locally sourced food, and networking opportunities.
Meat Processor Business Lifecycle Workshop
Learn the business aspects of local meat processing through our Meat Processor Business Lifecycle Workshop. This workshop focuses on strategies for various stages of business development, including purchase of an existing business, growing the business, and preparing to exit the business.
Great Apple Crunch
Join the Great Apple Crunch to celebrate Iowa farmers, healthy kids, and strong communities this October. Participating in the Crunch is simple: buy, serve, and Crunch into locally grown apples!
Since 2014, we have highlighted National Farm to School Month and our local farmers with MILLIONS of Crunches across the region. Register your Crunch today to add to the Crunch count, get the scoop on purchasing and serving local apples, and get the Crunch Guide. Schools, ECE sites, hospitals, colleges, groups, and families are invited to Crunch to reach our goal of 1 MILLION CRUNCHES!
Noon on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 is the official Crunch date, but we welcome your Crunch any time this October. No event is too small to register! If your Crunch is not hosted by a school or organization, skip any questions that don't apply to you.
Questions?
Teresa Wiemerslage, Food System Specialist
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
563-794-0599
wiemer@iastate.edu
Iowa Nature Summit 2024
The 2024 Iowa Nature Summit – the ultimate gathering of nature advocates and organizations dedicated to preserving and protecting nature's diversity! Register.
Rooted Carrot Co-Op's Fall Food Fest
The 2024 Fall Food Fest will be held on Iowa Local Food Day, Wednesday, September 25 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the Cedar Falls Community Center, adjacent to the Cedar Falls Public Library.
ISU Local Food Festival
Join the 2,500+ students, faculty, and staff in attendance for this free event, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm on ISU Central Campus. The Iowa State University Local Food Festival is an annual celebration of local food and healthy living.
Industrial Farm Animal Production, The Environment, and Public Health Conference
Hosted by the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement with an Introduction from Senator Tom Harkin (retired). in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.
The rapid concentration of farm animal production into factory farms makes meat, dairy, and eggs plentiful and cheap, but this type of agriculture comes at a great cost to human health, communities, and the environment. A new book by Johns Hopkins University Press, Industrial Farm Animal Production, the Environment, and Public Health, brings together public health and other experts to examine some of the most critical topics related to industrial farm animal production. This conference, convened in Des Moines, Iowa - the capital of the state with the greatest density of confined animal feeding operations, will highlight critically important information from the book and provide a forum for expert perspectives on growing threats to public health that are too often overlooked. Registration Required.
Iowa Local Food Day
October is National Farm to School Month and celebrations occur all month throughout the state. The Iowa Farm to School & Early Care Network designated the 4th Wednesday of September as Iowa Local Food Day to kick-off the celebration!.
Iowa Farmers Union Day at the Iowa State Fair
Iowa Farmers Union Day at the Iowa State Fair is a day dedicated to the organization and its mission to educate Iowans about independent family farms.
IFSC Launch Lunch at the Capitol
Join us for the luncheon launch of Setting the Table for All Iowans.
What: The release of the Iowa Food System Coalition’s plan “Setting the Table for All Iowans” for the future of food in Iowa, at an “All Iowa” luncheon at the Capital.
The event will feature a handful of speakers from across the coalition as well as a free lunch featuring burgers, brats, and a vegetarian option, all of which are 100% Iowa grown and produced.
When: July 1, 2024 at 11:30 am
Where: South Side of the Iowa State Capitol Building, near the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial or livestream on Facebook.
Community Food System & Farm to School & Early Care Coalition
Conference - Visit bit.ly/cfs-f2sec-conference or Email Bre Miller at millerb@iastate.edu
*Eligible for equity compensation stipend.
Harkin Symposium
Sign up for the Harkin Symposium Email list HERE
*Eligible for equity compensation stipend.
2024 Public Health Conference of Iowa
2024 Public Health Conference of Iowa --
Click HERE for more information.
Setting the Table for All Iowans will be featured.
*Eligible for equity compensation stipend.
Healthy School Meals for all Day on the Hill
For more information, contact Meg Brink, School Nutrition Association of Iowa
*Eligible for equity compensation stipend.
2024 Public Health Conference of Iowa
Click HERE for more information
*Eligible for equity compensation stipend.
December Coalition meeting
Join us for the December Coalition meeting. Register HERE!
Sign up to join the December 6 Iowa Food System Coalition Virtual meeting and catch the latest news. We'll be reflecting on Coalition progress in 2023 and looking ahead toward 2024. Your voice matters as we continue to advance a thriving, equitable food system in Iowa.
Local Food Summit
Join us on November 10th, in Avoca, Iowa for the Local Food Summit - Center for Rural Affairs & Golden Hills RC&D.
For more information, contact: Angelyn Wang, angelynw@cfra.org
September Coalition meeting
Join us for the September Coalition meeting. Register HERE!