Project Type: Partnership
Funds awarded in 2024: $50,000.00
Projected End Date: 03/31/2026
Grant Recipient:
Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
Region: North Central
State: Iowa
Project Coordinator:
Lori Scovel
Sustainable Iowa Land Trust
Description:
This webinar was designed to provide practical insights and strategies for small and sustainable farmers to market their farm, find reliable labor, and secure funding to grow their operation. The information offered is valuable whether the viewer is just starting or looking to expand their farming.
The session featured three expert speakers:
- Kim Andersen of Blueberry Bottom, who shared her experience with marketing methods and finding labor for her farm
- Beth Romer, a Program Director of Choose Iowa, who discussed funding opportunities available for small farms.
- Teresa Wiemerslage from the Iowa Extension Food Hub Managers Working Group, who shared how to connect to food hubs, what they entail, and other aspects of local supply chain logistics.
Presenter: Kim Andersen (Blueberry Bottom)
Biography: Kim Andersen is a long time educator currently teaching for Southern New Hampshire University online as well as an organic farmer in Southeast Iowa. Kim serves on the board for the Iowa Organic Association. She lives on her grandparents’ Century farm, where heritage and sustainability are always in the forefront. Kim, along with her husband Steve and brother Kevin, grow organic corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, hay, blueberries, chestnuts, hazelnuts, pawpaw, persimmon, pumpkins and strawberries. Every farm and field are unique and their farm goal revolves around doing what is best for each field based on the lay of the land, soil types, feasibility, resources, etc. They put their best ground along the Skunk River into a permanent wetland in 2011. Kim is hopeful that one of her nephews or grandchildren will want to carry on the family farm someday. A great day for Kim is a walk in the timber to revel in the peace!
Presenter: Beth Romer (Program Director - Choose Iowa)
Biography: Beth Romer’s passion for agriculture was kindled on her family’s Century Farm where she learned firsthand the value of hard work and respect for stewarding the land for future generations. Now she is honored to lead the Choose Iowa team in supporting Iowa farms and ag businesses through the Choose Iowa program which identifies and promotes the food, beverages and ag products that are grown, raised and made in Iowa. Beth earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Wayne State College and a master’s in business administration from Iowa State University. When not helping on her family’s farm or exploring farmers markets, fairs and agritourism destinations, Beth and her husband, James, raise specialty cut flowers with a menagerie of farm animals near Altoona, Iowa.
Presenter: Teresa Wiemerslage (Food Hub Managers Working Group - Iowa Extension)
Biography: Teresa Wiemerslage is a field specialist with the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. In her current position, she specializes in food system development, food hubs, Farm to School, and on-farm food safety. She lives on a fourth-generation family farm in the NE corner of the state where they raise cattle, corn and hay.
The session featured three expert speakers:
- Kim Andersen of Blueberry Bottom, who shared her experience with marketing methods and finding labor for her farm
- Beth Romer, a Program Director of Choose Iowa, who discussed funding opportunities available for small farms.
- Teresa Wiemerslage from the Iowa Extension Food Hub Managers Working Group, who shared how to connect to food hubs, what they entail, and other aspects of local supply chain logistics.
Presenter: Kim Andersen (Blueberry Bottom)
Biography: Kim Andersen is a long time educator currently teaching for Southern New Hampshire University online as well as an organic farmer in Southeast Iowa. Kim serves on the board for the Iowa Organic Association. She lives on her grandparents’ Century farm, where heritage and sustainability are always in the forefront. Kim, along with her husband Steve and brother Kevin, grow organic corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, hay, blueberries, chestnuts, hazelnuts, pawpaw, persimmon, pumpkins and strawberries. Every farm and field are unique and their farm goal revolves around doing what is best for each field based on the lay of the land, soil types, feasibility, resources, etc. They put their best ground along the Skunk River into a permanent wetland in 2011. Kim is hopeful that one of her nephews or grandchildren will want to carry on the family farm someday. A great day for Kim is a walk in the timber to revel in the peace!
Presenter: Beth Romer (Program Director - Choose Iowa)
Biography: Beth Romer’s passion for agriculture was kindled on her family’s Century Farm where she learned firsthand the value of hard work and respect for stewarding the land for future generations. Now she is honored to lead the Choose Iowa team in supporting Iowa farms and ag businesses through the Choose Iowa program which identifies and promotes the food, beverages and ag products that are grown, raised and made in Iowa. Beth earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Wayne State College and a master’s in business administration from Iowa State University. When not helping on her family’s farm or exploring farmers markets, fairs and agritourism destinations, Beth and her husband, James, raise specialty cut flowers with a menagerie of farm animals near Altoona, Iowa.
Presenter: Teresa Wiemerslage (Food Hub Managers Working Group - Iowa Extension)
Biography: Teresa Wiemerslage is a field specialist with the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. In her current position, she specializes in food system development, food hubs, Farm to School, and on-farm food safety. She lives on a fourth-generation family farm in the NE corner of the state where they raise cattle, corn and hay.
Type:
Webinar
Transcript:
Target audience:
Farmers/Ranchers
This product is associated with the project "Insight into Action: A Needs-Based Assessment of Four Sustainable Farms in Iowa"
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.