Saturday, January 24, 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.
Already familiar with the basics of drone use in ag? Join Kevin Butt from Ellsworth Community College for a deeper dive into operational best practices, regulatory updates, and strategies for scaling drone applications. This session is designed to help early adopters refine their approach and make informed decisions about expanding drone use on the farm.
Understanding your household expenses is key to building a sustainable farm business. In this session, two experienced loan officers will guide you through how to calculate your cost of living, identify spending patterns, and manage personal finances alongside farm income. Learn practical strategies to strengthen your financial foundation at home and on the farm.
In this session, John explores the mindset strategies and resilience tools that help farmers and ranchers stay grounded through uncertainty and challenge. Drawing from both personal experience and practical frameworks, participants will leave with actionable ways to strengthen their mental fitness and lead with clarity, grit, and purpose.
Long days require more than grit, they need good fuel. This session dives into practical, real-life nutrition tips for young farmers who want to stay energized, focused, and strong. Learn how to make smart food choices that fit your lifestyle, boost performance, and keep you at your best.
Lakaya Tenley, Tenley Farms
Ashley Wenke, Pleasant Grove Homestead
Hear from a panel of innovative young farmers who are building direct-to-consumer businesses across Iowa. From meat, eggs, and milk to skin care products, these producers will share their experiences, challenges, and tips for connecting with customers and growing local markets.
In a world where agriculture is often misunderstood or overlooked, farm families face a unique challenge: raising confident, resilient kids who are proud of their roots and equipped to thrive beyond the farm gate. This session explores practical strategies for empowering farm kids to embrace their identity, advocate for agriculture, and navigate environments where their lifestyle may be unfamiliar or undervalued. Through stories, tools, and discussion, participants will leave with renewed confidence in how to support their children’s growth—whether they choose to stay in ag or forge new paths—with strong values, clear voices, and deep pride in where they come from.
Dr. Chad Hart will provide a timely overview of Iowa’s farm economy, highlighting key market trends, emerging challenges, and opportunities for growth. Gain insights to help guide your farm business decisions in the year ahead.
Ever wonder how Iowa Farm Bureau decides which issues to prioritize? In this interactive session, you’ll step into the process yourself—surfacing real-world issues, discussing priorities, and walking through how grassroots input becomes official policy. Whether you're new to the process or looking to sharpen your impact, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of how your voice helps shape the future of Iowa agriculture.
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1. Drone Technology in Agriculture: Next Steps & Practical Guidance
Kevin Butt, Professor of Agriculture, Ellsworth Community CollegeAlready familiar with the basics of drone use in ag? Join Kevin Butt from Ellsworth Community College for a deeper dive into operational best practices, regulatory updates, and strategies for scaling drone applications. This session is designed to help early adopters refine their approach and make informed decisions about expanding drone use on the farm.
2. Farm Finances at Home: Determining and Managing the Cost of Living
Nate Gebel, Developing Markets Officer, Farm Credit Services of AmericaUnderstanding your household expenses is key to building a sustainable farm business. In this session, two experienced loan officers will guide you through how to calculate your cost of living, identify spending patterns, and manage personal finances alongside farm income. Learn practical strategies to strengthen your financial foundation at home and on the farm.
3. From Stress to Success: Building A Resilient Mindset
John Sachse, Founder and CEO, RanchFitIn this session, John explores the mindset strategies and resilience tools that help farmers and ranchers stay grounded through uncertainty and challenge. Drawing from both personal experience and practical frameworks, participants will leave with actionable ways to strengthen their mental fitness and lead with clarity, grit, and purpose.
4. Fuel Up, Farm On: Nutrition for the Hustle
Kennedy Youngren, MS RDN LD, Registered Dietitian, The Legendary DietitianLong days require more than grit, they need good fuel. This session dives into practical, real-life nutrition tips for young farmers who want to stay energized, focused, and strong. Learn how to make smart food choices that fit your lifestyle, boost performance, and keep you at your best.
5. Selling Local: Young Farmers in Direct Marketing
Annie Palmer, H8er AcresLakaya Tenley, Tenley Farms
Ashley Wenke, Pleasant Grove Homestead
Hear from a panel of innovative young farmers who are building direct-to-consumer businesses across Iowa. From meat, eggs, and milk to skin care products, these producers will share their experiences, challenges, and tips for connecting with customers and growing local markets.
6. Strong Roots, Brave Wings: Empowering the Next Generation of Farm Kids
Sara Mohr, mother, farmer, educator, and rural community advocator, Cornfed Farms, LLCIn a world where agriculture is often misunderstood or overlooked, farm families face a unique challenge: raising confident, resilient kids who are proud of their roots and equipped to thrive beyond the farm gate. This session explores practical strategies for empowering farm kids to embrace their identity, advocate for agriculture, and navigate environments where their lifestyle may be unfamiliar or undervalued. Through stories, tools, and discussion, participants will leave with renewed confidence in how to support their children’s growth—whether they choose to stay in ag or forge new paths—with strong values, clear voices, and deep pride in where they come from.
7. The Iowa Farm Economy: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities Ahead
Chad Hart, Department of Economics Professor, Iowa State UniversityDr. Chad Hart will provide a timely overview of Iowa’s farm economy, highlighting key market trends, emerging challenges, and opportunities for growth. Gain insights to help guide your farm business decisions in the year ahead.
8. Your Voice, Your Policy: How We Prioritize What Matters Most
Jim Heithoff, Regional ManagerEver wonder how Iowa Farm Bureau decides which issues to prioritize? In this interactive session, you’ll step into the process yourself—surfacing real-world issues, discussing priorities, and walking through how grassroots input becomes official policy. Whether you're new to the process or looking to sharpen your impact, you’ll leave with a clear understanding of how your voice helps shape the future of Iowa agriculture.
Return to the agenda