In this episode of Warmly, Iowa, host Sarah Davis asks: Is rural Iowa truly lagging behind? Contrary to the assumption of decline, rural Iowa is undergoing a remarkable transformation. This episode reveals how innovation, technology, and community resilience are redefining the state's rural landscape.

This episode is a tribute to Iowa's heart, determination, and commitment to its land and people. Rural Iowa may be changing, but it’s far from fading. Instead, it’s evolving in ways that honor its past while looking forward to the future.

Links & Resources:

* Iowa’s population growth

* Iowa’s Rank in U.S. Agriculture

Follow us on Substack for updates on future episodes and behind-the-scenes content.

This series is proudly sponsored by Evolution of the Heartland. Explore the innovation happening beyond the cornfields and experience the entrepreneurial spirit of rural Iowa with Evolution of the Heartland's immersive tours. Learn more atEvolutionoftheHeartland.com.

In this episode of Warmly, Iowa, we take inspiration from the famous words in Field of Dreams: "If you build it, he will come." This timeless message resonates in the rural areas of Iowa, where communities are embracing growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Join us as we explore how Iowans are setting the stage for a prosperous future by leveraging natural resources, entrepreneurial spirit, and strategic investment.

Key Guests:

* Kevin Kimle – Teaching Professor, Department of Economics, Iowa State University

* Discusses Iowa’s recent population growth and the importance of creating conditions for further development.

* Bryce Irlbeck – Entrepreneur, Co-Founder, Boasafra Ag LLC

* Shares insights on the future of agriculture and technology in rural Iowa, highlighting the entrepreneurial momentum in the region.

* Shelly Grieving – Owner, Emerge Marketing Solutions

* Describes her efforts in revitalizing rural Iowa communities and spearheading initiatives like Evolution of the Heartland.

Links & Resources:

* Iowa’s population growth

* Center for Rural Revitalization (IEDA)

Follow us on Substack for updates on future episodes and behind-the-scenes content.

The sponsor for this series is Evolution of the Heartland. Experience the innovation beyond the cornfields and discover the entrepreneurial spirit of rural Iowa with the Evolution of the Heartland immersive tours. Find out more at EvolutionoftheHeartland.com.

In this episode, we touch the surface of the complexities and innovations within Iowa’s agricultural sector. Bryce Irlbeck, co-founder of Boasafra Ag LLC, shares his journey from a small family farm to becoming an organic regenerative producer, entrepreneur, and global consultant. We discuss how Iowa’s farming communities are deeply interconnected with the global food system and the challenges that modern farmers face today.

Bryce reflects on his time spent in Brazil and how those experiences shaped his approach to farming. He explains the nuanced reality of agriculture in Iowa, where massive capital investment, sophisticated expertise, and cutting-edge technology are transforming the landscape, far beyond the traditional view of farming. 

We’re also joined by Kevin Kimle, who serves as the Rastetter Chair of Agricultural Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University. Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, not only as a professor but also as a key figure in fostering entrepreneurial development within Iowa's agricultural community. Through his work in the "Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences" program, Kevin helps students and aspiring entrepreneurs navigate the evolving world of agribusiness, encouraging them to think creatively and build innovative farming ventures.

Bryce and Kevin also touch on the entrepreneurial spirit in Iowa, especially in places like Manning and Iowa State University, where innovation and community support foster growth in farming and beyond.

Tune in to learn how agriculture is evolving and what it means for the future of farming, community, and entrepreneurship in Iowa and beyond.

Links & Resources:

* Learn more about Bryce Irlbeck’s work at BoaSafraAg LLC.

* Explore Iowa State University’s Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program, Start Something.

* Learn more about Kevin Kimle.

* Follow us on Substack for updates on future episodes and behind-the-scenes content.

Guest Bios:

* Bryce Irlbeck: Bryce Irlbeck is the co-founder of Boasafra Ag LLC and an Iowa State University graduate with degrees in Agronomy and Agriculture Business. He has extensive experience as an organic regenerative producer and entrepreneur, including time spent in Brazil consulting on agricultural production and learning Portuguese. Bryce transitioned his family's 800-acre farm in Western Iowa to organic/regenerative production, which has since grown to 12,000 acres producing multiple crops. He also co-founded AgriSecure, a digital platform simplifying organic certification, raising $2 million in equity and covering 15% of organic acres in the U.S. Bryce's ventures continue to expand, including his work at Boasafra LLC, which helps landowners save on taxes through agriculture land purchases.

* Kevin Kimle: Kevin currently serves as the Rastetter Chair of Agricultural Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University, Director of the Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences program, and Teaching Professor in the Department of Economics.  He is also co-founder and co-director of the Ag Startup Engine, an investment fund and mentoring platform based in the Iowa State University Research Park.  Prior to his appointment at Iowa State University, Kevin worked in a variety of capacities in agriculture ranging from agtech start-ups, the seed industry, venture capital, commodity risk management, and agricultural and trade policy. He also hosts a podcast, The Entrepreneur's Ethic.

What do you think?

How do you see the future of agriculture evolving in Iowa? Share your thoughts with us by emailing warmlyiowa at gmail.com.

The sponsor for this series is Evolution of the Heartland. Experience the innovation beyond the cornfields and discover the entrepreneurial spirit of rural Iowa with the Evolution of the Heartland immersive tours. Find out more at EvolutionoftheHeartland.com.

“Stanton is a small but mighty community of about 700 people. And [Stanton is] really proud of our Swedish heritage.” ~Jenna Ramsey

In this episode of Warmly, Iowa, host Sarah Davis asks Iowa,

“Dear Iowa, is rural Iowa lagging behind?” 

We kick off Season 2 by heading on a journey to Stanton, a small town in Iowa known for its Swedish heritage. 

Sarah meets with Carroll Peterson and Sheila Mainquist, directors at the Swedish Heritage and Cultural Center, where she learns about the town’s rich history, including its claim to roadside attraction fame with the world’s largest Swedish coffee pot and cup. 

Later, Sarah sits down with Jenna Ramsey, Stanton’s Community Development Director, who discusses the town’s infrastructure development. Kevin Cabbage, CEO of Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, FMTC, joins the conversation to address the misperceptions about rural connectivity.

Despite challenges, Stanton’s commitment to progress and its dedication to preserving its cultural heritage make it a unique example of how small towns can thrive in today’s world.

What do you think?

What makes your town special? Have you noticed any unique innovations or traditions in your community? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Email me at warmlyiowa at gmail.com.

Stay tuned for our next episode, where we’ll continue to explore innovation in rural Iowa.

About the Guests:

* Carroll Peterson & Sheila Mainquist: Directors at the Swedish Heritage and Cultural Center, they are dedicated to preserving and celebrating Stanton’s Swedish roots and local history.

* Jenna Ramsey: As the Community Development Director, Jenna is at the forefront of Stanton’s efforts to innovate and grow while maintaining its rich heritage.

* Kevin Cabbage: CEO of Farmers Mutual Telephone Company (FMTC), Kevin is committed to ensuring that rural communities like Stanton stay connected and competitive in the digital age.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

* Stanton, Iowa

* Last year’s Santa Lucia event

* Creative Placemaking in Stanton

* Farmers Mutual Telephone Company

* Federal ReConnect Loan and Grant Program

The sponsor for this series is Evolution of the Heartland. Experience the innovation beyond the cornfields and discover the entrepreneurial spirit of rural Iowa with the Evolution of the Heartland immersive tours. Find out more atEvolutionoftheHeartland.com.

In this podcast, we explore the nuances that rest beyond the stereotypes.

Rural Iowa is often misunderstood, seen potentially as a less innovative place than its urban counterparts. But, what I hope you’ll discover after listening to this series, is rural towns can thrive in the right conditions. In the trailer, you’ll have a preview of what’s to come this season.

You’ll hear from Jenna Ramsey, Stanton Community Development Director, Kevin Cabbage CEO of Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, Carroll Peterson, President of the Stanton Historical Society and Sheila Mainquist, Vice President of the Stanton Historical Society. You’ll also hear from entrepreneur Bryce Irlbeck and Kevin Kimle, the Rastetter Chair of Agricultural Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University, Director of the Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences program, and Teaching Professor in the Department of Economics. Last, you’ll hear from Shelly Greving, Owner of Emerge Marketing Solutions.

I’d love to hear from you!

Do you feel connected to your rural community in Iowa? How has your rural community thrived in times of change? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Comment here or email me at [email protected].

Thanks for listening to the trailer, and I look forward to staying connected with you through this podcast and newsletter.

The sponsor for this series is Evolution of the Heartland. Experience the innovation beyond the cornfields and discover the entrepreneurial spirit of rural Iowa with the Evolution of the Heartland immersive tours. Find out more atEvolutionoftheHeartland.com.

“Pizza’s the perfect canvas for local food.” 

~Maren Beard

After we released the first season, so many of you expressed a special interest in pizza farms, we wanted to share more of the conversation I had with Maren Beard earlier this year. In this bonus episode, Maren and I discuss Luna Valley Farm’s approach to farming, why Tom and Maren Beard decided to begin a pizza farm and the downstream effects of farming.

We hope you subscribe to our Substack, if you haven’t already, for some behind the scenes notes from the episodes and stories of Iowans we admire. Find us at warmlyia.substack.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

* Decorah, Iowa

* Luna Valley Farm 

* Foot-Notes Band

* NRCS Climate Smart Mitigation Activities

In this season, I asked the question, “Why does everyone think I grew up on a farm?” It was meant to be an inquiry to counter the stereotype, but it took a different direction altogether. The question ended up being rhetorical in nature. This episode is the end of the season, but not the end of the podcast. We hope you subscribe to our Substack, if you haven’t already, for some behind the scenes notes from the episodes and stories of Iowans we admire.

Thank you, Brian R. Johnson, for providing the voice of Iowa in this episode. 

For more Iowa agrotourism farms in operation, search Visit Iowa Farms.

Mentioned in this episode:

* Decorah, Iowa

* Recognizing Challenges to Iowa’s Annual Cropping Systems

* Practical Farmers of Iowa

* Nordic Fest

Support the farms featured in Warmly, IA:

* Land Alliance Folk School and Retreat Center

* Birds & Bees Urban Farm

* Luna Valley Farm

“I like that we're supporting the next generation of farmers who are farming in a way that my great grandparents farmed.”

This episode is our last in the series. We bring it all together by highlighting both a pizza farm, Luna Valley Farm, and an academic’s discussion of agrotourism. 

In this episode, host Sarah Davis speaks with Dr. Brian Rumsey and Maren Beard, of Luna Valley Farm, about their insights on pizza farms. During their conversations, they discussed sustainability, agrotourism, farming, the economics of pizza farming and the community development aspect that can come from opening up farms to tourism.

About Dr. Brian Rumsey

Dr Brian Rumsey is environmental sustainability administrator at Wartburg College. He was born and raised in Iowa City. After stops in New Hampshire, Mississippi, and Kansas, he returned to Iowa in 2016. He lives in Cedar Falls with his wife and two daughters and teaches courses on history and sustainability at the University of Northern Iowa and Wartburg College. He is passionate about producing and preparing good food sustainably. When he's not working on his classes, you're likely to find him out in the garden with his family in the warmer months, or running the wood-fired oven at Basal Pizza in Waterloo on Friday evenings.

About Maren Beard

After a youth spent in rural Wisconsin, Maren Beard attended Luther College in Decorah where she studied Environmental Studies and Spanish. She fell in love with the area and went on to earn a Masters of Science in Sustainable Food Systems and joined the team at Luther College as the Assistant Director for the Center for Sustainable Communities where she worked for ten years on issues related to campus sustainability. These days Maren works full time on the farm!

Maren spends a lot of time in the kitchen during the week, making dough, rolling dough balls and preparing pizza ingredients using our wood-fired oven. You’ll usually spot her behind the bar greeting customers on pizza nights.

Mentioned in this episode

* Field of Dreams

* Luna Valley Farm  

* Dave and Anna Geyer (See previous episode or LandAllianceFolk.com) 

* Italy Agriturismos

“What we do here at this urban farm is to be connected to the earth, but as we've mentioned, it's [also] connected us to so many other people.”

In this episode, host Sarah Davis speaks with lifelong Iowan, Kathy Byrnes, of the Birds & Bees Urban Farm. During their conversation, they discussed community, self-sufficiency and sustainability — all in the setting of a farm in the middle of Des Moines, Iowa.

If you live in an urban area in Iowa, have you considered turning your yard into food? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at [email protected]. For the next episode, we’ll be chatting with Dr. Brian Rumsey about community and sustainable farming practices, in the context of pizza farming.

About Kathy

A lifelong Iowan, and country mouse at heart, Kathy Byrnes always gardened but wasn’t an actual farmer till she moved to the city of Des Moines. She soon discovered that dirt in urban settings is very different from the soil she was used to. With her husband, Ed, she’s learned to build soil with compost and manure from local sources - one being their very own chickens. Now Kathy is using her experience as a teacher, writer, foodie, and climate activist to help others learn to turn their yards into dinner.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

* Birds & Bees Urban Farm  

* The Fallon Forum

* The Fallon Forum Dec. 5 Episode Kathy mentioned (the tomato discussion begins at 54:19):

* Urban Farming Practices (Iowa State Extension)

* Derecho (August 2020)  

* Washington Post article mentioning Iowa as a state with a high quality of life: Which states have the highest living standards? (And more!)

* No Mow May 

* Des Moines Irish Session

“There’s something a little mundane about [farm work], and that mundane work is both beautiful and steadying.”

In this episode, host Sarah Davis speaks with longtime Iowan, Anna Geyer, of the Geyer Family Farm. Anna is an entrepreneur with a vision for sharing her beautiful and sustainable life with other entrepreneurs through her Land Alliance Folk School Entrepreneurship Program. During their conversation, they discussed the Land Alliance Folk School and Retreat Center, shared thoughts on entrepreneurship, and Anna elaborated on the reasons why she is currently focused on farm work.  

If you are a farmer (or an entrepreneur), can you relate to what Anna discusses in this episode? I’d love to hear from you. Email Sarah at [email protected] with your reflections. For the next episode, we’ll be chatting with Kathy Byrnes of Birds and Bees Urban Farm, for more of an urban farm outlook.

About Anna

Anna Geyer farms with her husband Dave on a farm west of Iowa City, IA.  In addition to participating in the general work of the farm, one of Anna’s significant contributions over the years has been to create a series of agritourism enterprises.  Beginning with cut flowers for u-pick and weddings (Anna’s Cutting Garden), then moving into artisan wood-fired bread, (Crust & Crumb), wood-fired pizza events (Geyer’s Oven), a folk school and retreat center (Land Alliance) with lodging, camping and glamping experiences on the farm. Most recently, she has begun working to transition some of their acres to agroforestry, focusing on perennial food, fiber, and natural dyes. Anna also teaches entrepreneurship through the Land Alliance Folk School Entrepreneurship Program.

Resources mentioned in this episode

* Land Alliance Folk School and Retreat Center

* Land Alliance Folk School Entrepreneurship Program

* Wikipedia Entry on Agritourism 

* Practical Farmers of Iowa

* Anna’s recorded talk for Practical Farmers of Iowa

* The Artists’ Way