the Practical Farmer: Winter 2026
Table of Contents
- From the Executive Director
- Farmland Owner Legacy Award
- Field Crops
- Habitat
- Horticulture
- Field Day Photos
- Beginning Farmers
- Livestock
- Member Photos
- Member Book Review
- PFI News
On the cover:
Field day attendees ask host Daniel Sheetz (second from right) about his field of buckwheat, planted following small-grain harvest during his field day on Sept. 9 in Garwin, Iowa. Turn to page 16 for some highlights from the second half of the 2025 season.
Farmland Owner Legacy Award
Answering a Call to Conservation
For Ruth Rabinowitz, caring for her family’s farmland is an act of meditation, art and tribute to her father’s legacy.
Field Crops
Of Covers and Cowpies
For several farms, grazing cover crops has helped cut costs and expand opportunity. But the practice has also revealed deeper webs of partnership and possibility.
Habitat
A Dream of Beavers
Beavers are ecological engineers par excellence. Landowner Beth Richards and her siblings are working to bring beavers back to several family farm properties to help with their broader restoration goals.
Horticulture
A Taste of the Tropical
With the aid of season extension, some farmers are growing ginger to push boundaries, expand palates and delight customers.
Field Day Photos
2025 Field Day Season
See images of learning, connection, food and fun from the second half of our 2025 field day season.
Beginning Farmers
Flower Farmer Chat
Cath Schut, Cathy Lafrenz and Fred Howell converse about starting their farms, evolving over time, marketing and more.
Livestock
The Gift of Presence
By practicing the art of observation, two farmers solve a practical challenge while improving the lives of their animals.
PFI News
Meet the Newest Members of PFI’s Team
Adam Mason
Senior Policy Coordinator
Read Adam’s bio
Ashly Senske
Horticulture Education Manager
Read Ashly’s bio
Lauren Sloan
Senior Human Resources Assistant
Read Lauren’s bio
It’s Almost Time To Fill Out Your Member Survey
Your responses help us understand and serve you better
Every three years, we ask all PFI members to take a survey telling us about who you are and what your priorities are. Your responses give staff and board a vital snapshot of our membership. They help us:
- Better understand you and your needs
- Design relevant and useful programming
- Identify individuals who want to get more involved with PFI or as a leader in their community
Most importantly, by filling out the member survey, you’re ensuring we remain a strong member-led organization. Please use this opportunity to lend your voice and help guide our future. (In case it matters, the survey will be much shorter this time!)
Look for an email in February 2026 requesting your participation. You’ll receive a link to fill out the survey online. But if you’re unable to do so, our staff would be happy to administer the survey over the phone.
Thank you for your help! Questions about the survey? Please contact Steve Carlson at (515) 232-5661 or steve.carlson@practicalfarmers.org.
We’ve Revamped Our Board Election Process
Practical Farmers of Iowa’s board governance and nominating committees worked together this past year to revamp our board election process. Their aim was to ensure a transparent, equitable process to source, vet and nominate candidates for PFI’s board of directors.
Members are invited to nominate themselves or someone they know to join our board of directors!
Submissions are welcome throughout the year, and the next round of board candidates will be reviewed in the fall of 2026, with the election occurring January 2027.
Labor4Learning Jobs Will Go Live in March
Are you a beginning or aspiring farmer? Do you want to find paid, on-the-job training with experienced farmers in Iowa?
The Labor4Learning program is designed for beginning farmers seeking paid farm work along with additional training in farm management and production skills. Past jobs have covered a range of enterprises and marketing practices in field crops, livestock, dairying, horticulture and orcharding, and have been located all around the state. As a trainee, you’ll get paid at least minimum wage and earn other benefits, including:
- the chance to learn farm business development from an experienced PFI farmer
- paid time off to attend a PFI event during your term of employment
- a discounted rate to attend PFI’s annual conference
- opportunities to connect with other trainees in the program
- a free PFI membership
Halloween Meets Potluck at the PFI Office
In late October, PFI staff took a break from work to enjoy some seasonal festivities – and a little friendly competition – during our annual fall potluck. The event, which has become a yearly tradition, features a costume contest, a variety of tasty foods and ample time for remote and local staff to connect and catch up.
This year, the event also gave staff a chance to show off their creative (and in some cases, diabolical!) talents with a staff team pumpkin decorating contest. Starting in late September, eight staff teams worked together to plan and decorate a pumpkin (provided by PFI member Jeremy Gustafson).
The finished products – ranging from the whimsical to the folksy to the macabre – were displayed during the potluck and voted on afterwards in a digital poll. The winning entries included an eyeball pierced with a fork; a bubbling cauldron tended by grinning PFI finance team members; and a giant wrecking ball.