Beth Waage

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Field Crops Education Coordinator

beth.waage(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org

Beth Waage joined the Practical Farmers of Iowa team in August 2024 as a field crops education coordinator. In this role, she works with the farmer-led education and field crops departments to engage farmers and coordinate educational programs, both virtual and in the field.

Beth grew up in north-central Iowa, where in cross-country meets they never ran hills because there weren’t any. She went to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, and graduated with a degree in environmental science. From there, Beth served two AmeriCorps terms, one in Montana and one in Oregon, before returning to her home state of Iowa.

Conservation and education have always been at the core of Beth’s values. This led her to become a county naturalist (environmental educator, interpreter) in the central Iowa area, most recently for Story County Conservation based at McFarland Park in Ames.

Outside of work, Beth enjoys all things outdoors. This includes gardening, hiking, running, photography, walking her dogs and biking. When she is stuck inside, she enjoys reading, knitting and trying out new recipes using her gluten-free sourdough starter named Bertha. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and two children on their small acreage north of Ames.