20th annual Iowa Women in Ag Conference set for Aug. 6

The 20th annual Iowa Women in Agriculture Conference (IWIA) will take place Aug. 6 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.

This year's conference features speakers including Kelli Wicks Klink of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association, Carrie Seidel and Chloe Van Etten of Hertz Farm Management, Erin Herbold-Swalwell and Amanda Van Steenwyk of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, and Chad Hart of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Topics to be discussed include commodity market scenarios, soil and water quality initiatives, the lenders' outlook on credit challenges, prospects for a new farm bill, tariffs and taxes, the latest on land values, transition planning tips and the dynamic role of women in the agriculture industry.

During a noon luncheon, Iowa Women in Agriculture will honor recipients of the 2026 IWIA Lifetime Achievement in Agriculture and Winds of Change Up-and-Comer Awards. The luncheon will also celebrate IWIA's 20th anniversary and the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer.

The afternoon's choice of breakout sessions will feature:

• Alex Slagle, an Iowa Soybean Association conservation agronomist, will share progress underway on the North Raccoon Farm-to-River Project and moderate a panel with hands-on highlights from a beginning farmer as well as a seasoned landowner.

• Angie Treptow of Farm Credit Services of America will offer her experienced financial perspective, including interest rate trends and the current business climate, as well as key risk management strategies for borrowers.

• Erin Herbold-Swalwell, legal counsel at Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and Farm Bureau Financial Services, and Amanda Van Steenwyk, IFBF farm business manager, will team up to present "From One Generation to the Next: Transition Planning for Success."

The capstone speaker is Tyler Schuster, a multi-generation Texas rancher, storyteller and advocate for women in agriculture.

Early-bird registration is $75 until Aug. 3 and increases to $100 after that date and at the door. You can register on the IWIA website (iowawomeninag.org/ annual-conference/), by mail or the day of the conference.

Prior to the conference, on Aug. 5, attendees can tour the historic Wallace House in Des Moines and learn about Nancy Wallace, the accomplished wife of Henry Wallace and author of the Hearts and Homes column for Wallaces Farmer. The visit will be followed by a luncheon and a private event with guest speaker Shae-Lynn Ramthun, a sixth generation livestock farmer.

The pre-conference tour continues to the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates at 100 Locust St. with a focus on the global contributions of women in agriculture, followed by a tour of the Iowa State Capitol.

An additional $40 fee will be charged for the pre-conference tour.