Wednesday, December 03, 2025 at 12:00 PM
ZoomIOA Webinar: Record Keeping for the Organic Farmer
The Iowa Organic Association is excited to host a webinar with Big Data in a Box and two of it's founders, Dr. Sree Nilakanta and Dr. Srini Reddy. Big Data in a Box has created a web app based program named SPIDER to help organic farmers with their record keeping. By using SPIDER farmers are able to collect data for better decision making and prepare reports for their Organic Certification. Dr.'s Nilakanta and Reddy will share their program and how farmers can best use the data that they are able to collect.Webinar Topics:
- Data collection with the SPIDER platform
- The importance of record keeping for making farm decisions
- Using SPIDER for organic certification reporting
- And more!
About Big Data in a BoxBig Data in a Box (BDiB), a rising new agtech startup based in Ames, Iowa, aims to help small and midsize organic farmers simplify the process of achieving compliance and acquiring certification with the help of innovative technologies.
The idea for BDiB came about by chance. It originated from an interview with an organic farmer on National Public Radio (NPR) that BDiB’s CEO and President Dr. Sree Nilakanta happened to listen to. He could sense the farmer’s frustration with the daily logs required for compliance and certification. This meticulous tracking, from seed to sale, was not only time-consuming but also reduced the farmer's productivity.
How to attend
This webinar is free to attend. Simply register below and a link to the Zoom meeting will be emailed with your registration confirmation.
Tuesday, December 09, 2025 at 02:00 PM · $60.00 USD
Backcountry Winery in Stratford, IA2025 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 2025 Iowa Organic Association Annual Meeting will feature Kamyar Enshayan leading a conversation on how organic farmers are supporting Iowa’s water quality and how to better share these solutions with the public.
2025 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 28th OR WHEN TICKETS RUN OUT
GET TICKETS
Photos from the 2024 Annual Meeting
2 p.m. - Doors open
2:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Presentations
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Networking & Dinner
6:00 - 7:15 p.m. - Presentations
Event is held at Backcountry Winery
at 3533 Fenton Avenue, Stratford, IA 50249Just 40 minutes north of Ames
"Solving for Pattern: Organic Farming Builds Land Health, Protects Public Health"
Presented by Kamyar Enshayan
Former Director of the UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education
The 2025 Iowa Organic Association Annual Meeting will feature a dynamic discussion led by Kamyar Enshayan, exploring how organic agriculture can be a practical and scalable solution to Iowa’s water quality and public health challenges, with a focus on generating strategies to better communicate these benefits to the broader public, water professionals, and policymakers.
Farmer Panel - From Soil to Stream: Communicating Organic Farming Benefits
Including Dr. Sabrina Ruis (USDA NLAE), Dr. Margaret Smith (Farmer/Agronomist), Aaron Lehman (Farmer/IFU Board President), Aidan Struve (Farmer).
TOPP Organic Mentorship Panel: Transitioning to Organic in 2025
with Amber & Preston Gable (Stratford, IA), Mike & Janine Robertson (Webster City, IA), and Michael McNeil (Algona, IA)
Iowa Organic Association Update
with Ethan Book, IOA Education & Outreach Coordinator
About the Keynote Presenter
Kamyar Enshayan, Former Director of the University of Northern Iowa CEEE
Kamyar Enshayan is the former Director of the Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). Dr. Enshayan taught environmental studies beginning in 1993 and founded the University of Northern Iowa’s Local Food Program in 1997. He received the 2008 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award from Practical Farmers of Iowa.
About the Organic Agriculture and Water Quality Panel
Dr. Sabrina Ruis, USDA National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment
Dr. Sabrina Ruis grew up on a strawberry, squash, and pumpkin farm in central Minnesota, sparking a lifelong interest in plants and soils. She earned a B.Sc. in Horticulture and Biology from UW–River Falls (2008), followed by a Master’s in Horticulture (2012) and a Ph.D. in Soil Science (2015) from UW–Madison. After a postdoctoral position at the University of Nebraska, she became a Research Assistant Professor in 2020, focusing on how soil management practices—such as cover crops, tillage, and residue management—affect soil health. In 2023, she joined the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment (NLAE) in Ames as a Research Soil Scientist, continuing research on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two cats, crocheting, cross-stitching, photography, hiking, reading, and growing houseplants.
Dr. Margaret Smith, Farmer/Agronomist/IOA Board President
Margaret co-manages a 600 acre organic grain, forage, and livestock farm near Hampton with her husband, Doug. She also works as an agronomist for Albert Lea Seed to market organic and non-GMO seed. Prior to moving to Albert Lea Seed in 2018, she worked for Iowa State University as a Value Added Agriculture Extension Specialist for over 25 years. Her education includes a Masters from Iowa State in Crop Production & Physiology and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Crop Ecology & Production. Margaret has been involved in a variety of projects from working with African farmers in Uganda and Swaziland, Annie's project, course development and on-farm research. Dr. Smith currently serves as the Iowa Organic Association's board president.
Aaron Lehman, Farmer/Iowa Farmer's Union Board President
Aaron is a fifth-generation family farmer from rural Polk County, where he and his family raise corn, soybeans, oats, and hay in both organic and conventional rotations. Aaron was elected to serve as the IFU president in 2016 and had served as the IFU vice president immediately prior to his election. He also has served as the executive director and legislative director for IFU and on the National Farmers Union Policy Committee. Aaron’s father Phil is a past IFU vice president and board member, and Aaron was active in Farmers Union youth programs growing up. Aaron is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University and Treasurer of the North Polk School Foundation. He is a graduate of North Polk High School in Alleman, Iowa and earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Aaron has previously served on the North Polk School District Board of Directors, the Iowa Citizen Action Network Board of Directors, and various school and church communities. He is a member of the Iowa Organic Association, Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Iowa chapter of the National Farmers Organization. Aaron and his wife Nicole have two children, Jordan and Benjamin.
Aidan Struve, Farmer
About the TOPP Organic Transition Mentorship Panel
Amber & Preston Gable
Preston and Amber both grew up on farms in Northwest Iowa. They share a passion for the outdoors and enjoy taking on new projects to see what adventures will be discovered. As high school sweethearts, they attended Iowa State University together, and now are continuing to pursue their farming dreams.
Mike & Janine Robertson
Mike and Janine both come from deep-rooted agricultural backgrounds, with multi-generational farming heritage on both sides of their families. After moving to Knob Hill in 2013, they began transforming the property to reflect their values—building fences for draft horses, restoring historic-style hog buildings, and transitioning the land to Organic. By 2016, they were selling USDA Certified Organic Berkshire-cross pork and have since expanded to include laying hens and a vibrant market garden. Together with their three adopted children—Carlie, Michael, and Oliver—they are committed to raising food with integrity, sustainability, and a love for the land.
Michael McNeil
Michael McNeill is a PhD agronomist trained at Iowa State University. His work following graduation included working as a plant pathologist with the U.S. Army and later managing a corn breeding research station for Funks Seeds International. In 1983 he started Ag Advisory Ltd. as an independent agricultural consulting service providing genetic, agronomic and economic consultation for farmers.
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
In-Kind Sponsors
Venue Sponsor
Webster City, IA
This event is based upon work that is supported by the USDA's Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the TOPP and U.S. Department of Agriculture.