Greg Judy farms with his wife, Jan Judy, at Green Pastures Farm, the grazing operation they run on 1,900 acres of leased and owned land near Clark, Missouri. Greg has written three books on grazing and shares his knowledge across the world via YouTube, in-person talks and a grazing school he hosts on his farm. 

Tom Cotter is a fourth-generation farmer from Austin, Minnesota. He uses diverse multi-species cover crop cocktails after canning crops; interseeds four to eight species into his organic and conventional corn in mid-June; and grazes every acre, leading to an explosion of soil health. 

Scott Shriver and his family operate a 2,000-acre organic farm near Jefferson, Iowa. They raise corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and alfalfa. Scott also uses cover crops and no-tills on soybean acres. He is a member of PFI’s Cooperators’ Program and is working on a number of on-farm trials. 

Paul Mugge, a lifelong environmentalist, farms on 300 acres near Sutherland, Iowa, with his wife, Karen. The Mugges have been certified organic for over 20 years and raise corn, soybeans and small grains. They also dedicate portions of their land to pollinator and wildlife habitat. Paul also sits on the board for the Iowa Organic Association. 

Bryce Irlbeck owns and operates B&B Irlbeck Farms near Manning, Iowa, where he and his family grow 4,000 acres of organic corn, soybeans, peas, barley, canola, rye and alfalfa. Bryce is also the founder of AgriSecure, a platform that aims to support other farmers interested in organic transition. 

Jamey Meyer is an organic inspector with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. In this role, he inspects organic producers of crops and livestock across Iowa. IDALS is accredited with the National Organic Program and is the only public certifier in the state. IDALS certifies 350 operations each year, and anticipates expanding in 2024. 

Noah Wendt and Caleb Akin started A & W Farms near Cambridge, Iowa, in 2006. Together, they feed cattle and grow conventional and organic corn and soybeans, in addition to a variety of organic grain. 

Tom Cotter is a fourth-generation farmer from Austin, Minnesota. He uses diverse multi-species cover crop cocktails after canning crops; interseeds four to eight species into his organic and conventional corn in mid-June; and grazes every acre, leading to an explosion of soil health. 

Scott Shriver and his family operate a 2,000-acre organic farm near Jefferson, Iowa. They raise corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and alfalfa. Scott also uses cover crops and no-tills on soybean acres. He is a member of PFI’s Cooperators’ Program and is working on a number of on-farm trials. 

Daniel Sheetz and his family live and work on their organic farm north of Toledo, Iowa. Daniel and his father-in-law, Alan Kouba, began transitioning to organic farming in 2008. In 2016, Daniel took over operation of the farm full-time. He currently farms a rotation of organic corn, soybeans, oats, wheat and alfalfa on approximately 600 acres of organic ground, as well as 350 acres of conventional corn and soybeans. 

Matt Liebman is a professor emeritus of agronomy and the former Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. Though his professional work has focused on sustainable farming practices for agronomic crops, he has produced vegetables for home consumption for more than 40 years. 

Ajay Nair is an assistant professor at ISU working on sustainable vegetable production. His lab focuses on developing strategies that enhance crop production, soil health and profitability in vegetable cropping systems in Iowa. 

Deal’s Orchard first began planting apple trees in 1917 and continues to operate as a family farm today. The family grows 25 varieties of apples, along with a range of other fruits and vegetables, and they create value-added apple products. As part of the fourth generation, Benji Deal began producing hard cider in 2011, which can now be found in stores throughout the Des Moines metro area.,  

Chris Deal farms with his family at Deal’s Orchard, an apple orchard, cidery, tree farm and agritourism center near Jefferson, Iowa. Chris is helping implement Greene County’s Vision 2020, a bold economic development plan that is adding businesses and residents to the community. 

Hannah Breckbill has been farming since 2009 and started Humble Hands Harvest in Decorah, Iowa, in 2013. In 2018, Emily Fagan joined as a partner. The farm sells primarily at farmers markets and through a CSA. Hannah and Emily are developing a perennial polyculture system and incorporating livestock. 

Jordan Clasen started Grade A Gardens in 2009, and was joined by Whitney Clasen in 2016. Today, the Earlham, Iowa, farm includes 8 acres of certified organic fruits and vegetables, 300 egg-laying chickens and bees. Gourmet garlic remains a farm specialty – 2 acres of the farm are devoted to the crop. Jordan and Whitney market through a CSA, the Des Moines Downtown Farmers’ Market, Des Moines restaurants and specialty grocers. 

Carly Strauser is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in sustainable agriculture and horticulture at ISU. Her research with Ajay Nair looks at tarping efficacy in direct-seeded vegetable crops. The aim of this research, which uses a silage tarp material to heat the soil and suppress weeds prior to planting, is to examine the type and length of weed suppression, along with the effect tarping has on soil health and microbiology.

Hannah Voye is a graduate research assistant in South Dakota State University’s Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science, where she works under the direction of Kristine Lang. 

John Wesselius and his wife, Janna Wesselius, own and operate The Cornucopia, a 9-acre vegetable farm raising Certified Naturally Grown produce near Sioux Center, Iowa. Since 2005, the couple has marketed through a CSA and by selling produce at farmers markets in Falls Park, South Dakota, Sioux City, Iowa, and Sioux Center. They also raise pastured poultry and partner with a neighbor to sell pork from purebred Berkshire pigs. 

Having discovered agriculture in their respective colleges, Dirk and Kjersten Oudman both their ways to a training farm in Texas where they met and fell in love. After managing farms in Michigan and Wisconsin, they decided it was time to put down roots in South Dakota, Kjersten’s home state. 

Alexis Barnes is a graduate research assistant at South Dakota State University pursuing a Master of Science in plant science. Her thesis research analyzes clover cover crops as a living mulch in sustainable and organic vegetable production. 

Anne Carey is a doctoral candidate in sustainable agriculture and horticulture at ISU. Her background includes working on an organic farm, and her future work is directed toward combining research skills and practical farming experience to help encourage and develop more sustainable regional food systems. 

Ajay Nair is an assistant professor at ISU working on sustainable vegetable production. His lab focuses on developing strategies that enhance crop production, soil health and profitability in vegetable cropping systems in Iowa. 

Robyn Calvey has been involved with Park Ridge Organics, a vegetable farm near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, since its inception in 2003. She purchased the farm from her parents in 2015 and has grown it into a reputable market farm. Robyn sells primarily through a CSA, but has also added local wholesale accounts and she continues to maintain a strong customer base at her on-farm store. 

Kate Edwards began Wild Woods Farm in 2010. On her farm near Iowa City, Iowa, she raises vegetables for a 200-family CSA, delivering to Iowa City and the nearby communities of Coralville and Solon.