Monday, December 07, 2026 at 02:00 PM · $60.00 USD
Story City Community Center in Story City , IA2026 IOA Annual Meeting
SCHEDULE PRESENTATIONS DINNER BE AN EXHIBITOR OUR SPONSORS LODGINGEach year, Iowa's organic community gathers to celebrate the growing organic movement in Iowa with presentations that highlight new and emerging issues within the organic industry. The Annual Meeting also features a uniquely-curated dinner and networking with presenters, exhibitors, and other Iowa Organic Association members.
The 2026 Iowa Organic Association Annual Meeting will bring Iowa’s organic community together to celebrate 20 years of the IOA. Iowa organic farmer and author Ron Rosmann will lead a conversation exploring the history of organic agriculture in Iowa, where we are today, and what the future may hold.
2026 Tickets
$60 for IOA Members and $75 for Non-Members
Become a member or sponsor today to receive member pricing!
LAST DAY TO PURCHASE TICKETS IS FRI. NOVEMBER 27th OR WHEN TICKETS RUN OUT
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Photos from the 2025 Annual Meeting
2 p.m. - Doors open
2:30 - 3:15 p.m. - Presentations
3:15 - 4:00 p.m. - Networking & Social Break
4:00 - 4:45 p.m. - Panel Discussion
4:45 - 6:00 p.m. - Locally Sourced Meal & Social Hour
6:00 - 6:30 p.m. - Keynote Presentation: Ron Rossman
6:30 - 7:15 p.m. - Panel Discussion
Event is held at the Story City Community Center
at 503 Elm Avenue, Story City, IA 50248Just 20 minutes north of Ames
"Planting the Future: Lessons from Iowa’s Organic Roots"
Presented by Ron Rosmann
Organic Farmer & Author of A Practical Farmer’s Journey: A History of Community, Stewardship and Resilience
The 2026 Iowa Organic Association Annual Meeting will bring Iowa’s organic community together to celebrate 20 years of the IOA. Iowa organic farmer and author Ron Rosmann will lead a conversation exploring the history of organic agriculture in Iowa, where we are today, and what the future may hold.
Discussion Panel - Expanding Opportunities for Organic Producers
Presented by BLUE STEM ORGANIC FEED MILL (Webster City, IA)
Including Dr. Sean Stokes (Rodale), Noah Wendt (Farmer), and Greg Lickteig (Omaha Grain).
Discussion Panel - Growing Forward: The Next 20 Years of Organic Agriculture in Iowa
Presented by ALBERT LEA SEED
with Lonica Kufner (Fairfield, IA), Brandon Gutzmann (The Gutzmann Company), and more.
Iowa Organic Association Update
with Ethan Book, IOA Education & Outreach Coordinator and Dr. Ai Wen, IOA Board President
About the Keynote Presenter
Ron Rosmann, Iowa Farmer and Author
Ron Rosmann is a fourth-generation farmer from Harlan, Iowa, who has farmed for more than 50 years. After returning to his family’s farm in 1973, Ron began moving away from chemical inputs and eventually transitioned the farm to certified organic production. Today, Rosmann Family Farms is a diversified organic operation raising grains, livestock and other farm products.
Ron is also a founding member of Practical Farmers of Iowa and has spent decades promoting farmer-led research, sustainable agriculture and knowledge-sharing among farmers. Along with his wife, Maria, Ron has hosted field days, mentored farmers and helped advance organic and sustainable agriculture in Iowa. He is the author of A Practical Farmer’s Journey: A History of Community, Stewardship and Resilience, which reflects on his family’s farming journey and the development of Iowa’s sustainable agriculture movement.
About the "Expanding Opportunities for Organic Producers" Panel
Presented by BLUE STEM ORGANIC FEED MILL
Dr. Sean Stokes, Research Director - Rodale Midwest Organic Center
Sean is the Research Director at Rodale Institute’s Midwest Organic Center, a 30-acre certified organic research farm just north of Cedar Rapids. Research there primarily focuses on diversifying corn-soybean rotations with livestock integration, small grains, or pulses and analyzing the impact this has on soil health and farm profitability. He also oversees research on organic vegetable production that utilizes different tillage practices in combination with a biochar soil amendment. He earned a PhD in Soil & Crop Science and a MS in Environmental Toxicology from Colorado State University and his research career has focused on topics related to agricultural production, soil health, and water quality.
Noah Wendt, Farmer
Noah and his farm partner, Caleb Akin, started A&W Farms in 2006. Their farm is located near Cambridge, IA. As a farm team, they feed cattle, produce conventional corn and soybeans on 1,100 acres and also grow a variety of organic grain on 1,800 acres. Noah has been active in organizations such as IOA, PFI, Rodale Institute and OFA. He is also part owner of an organic grain elevator in Altoona, IA. Noah owns a farm real estate brokerage and crop insurance agency in Huxley, IA, where he resides with his wife, Erin, and their two children, Harper and Daphne. In his spare time, Noah enjoys working out, attending kid's events, fishing, gardening and boating.
Greg Lickteig, Omaha Grain
About the "Growing Forward: The Next 20 Years of Organic Agriculture in Iowa" Panel
Presented by ALBERT LEA SEED
Lonica Kufner, IOA Vice President
Lonica has 25+ years of experience working with clients from the USA and, internationally, including CPG food companies, co-manufacturers, brokers, grocery retail stores, e-commerce, technical scientists, farmers and consumers. Having started one of the first organic stores in the country, Lonica's passion has led her to enjoy working with entrepreneurs to help bring more organic products to the market. As a consultant, Lonica's focus is on the area of sustainable business development strategy including organic and non-GMO certification, product development, private label, sourcing, manufacturing, pricing, branding, marketing, retail and food service. Lonica is an avid organic gardener, baker and mother of four.
Brandon Gutzmann, The Gutzmann Company
A Uniquely-Curated Dinner by Hoffmann Farm & Forage
The dinner features a menu that's designed with ingredients sourced exclusively from Iowa farmers and producers-- down to the flour and spices.
Andrew of Hoffmann Farm and Forage is a professionally trained chef, licensed forager, and diverse produce farmer. With over 15 years in the restaurant industry he possesses a deep passion for locally sourced, sustainable, and in season Iowa ingredients. His focus is on cultivating a strong community of local farmers, chefs, and beverage makers with a desire to build connections to further develop the local food movement. He and his wife, Sarah, operate a produce farm on his family farm just outside of story city where he is the 4th generation to tend the land.
This year's Annual Meeting will also feature an extended opportunity for attendees to connect with a variety of IOA Sponsor Exhibitors within the Iowa Organic Association network.
Click Here to Become an Exhibitor
Sponsor a Discussion Panel
Sponsor the Annual Meeting Keynote
Sponsor the Annual Meeting Meal
Story City, IA