Stefan Gailans

 Stefan Gailans joined Practical Farmers of Iowa in August 2013. Stefan leads the Cooperators’ Program, Practical Farmers of Iowa’s vehicle for empowering farmers to generate and share knowledge through timely and relevant farmer-led research. He takes satisfaction from conducting scientific inquiry with those who stand to benefit most from the results – farmers.

Stefan earned a doctorate in crop production and physiology and sustainable agriculture from Iowa State University. Since 2011, he has served on the board of directors at Wheatsfield Cooperative Grocery, a community-owned full-service grocery store in Ames, Iowa, offering food, services and education to cultivate a healthy environment and socially just community.

Stefan grew up in southeast Wisconsin, where he gained an appreciation for the outdoors from spending time with his family among the fields, woods, marshes and lakes. He enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening and reading.