Agenda

8:00 a.m.

Registration Opens

Light breakfast available and networking among exhibit tables

9:00 a.m.

Welcome

Mashal Husain | Chief Operating Officer, World Food Prize Foundation

9:05 a.m.

From Harvest to Home: Building Communities Through the Power of Food

Felicia Smith-Nalls | Board of Directors Member, Northeast Iowa Food Bank

9:10 a.m.

From Crop to Community: The "Farmer's Almanac" to a Food-Secure Future

Melissa O'Neil | CEO, Central Iowa Shelter and Services
Ray Gaesser | Farmer, Owner and Conservation Advocate, Gaesser Farms
Shaffer Ridgeway | Farmer, Southern Goods Farm and Grazin' Cattle
Aaron Thormodsen | Hydroponic Farmer, WesleyLife Meals on Wheels

9:45 a.m.

Governor's Remarks & Presentation of Iowa Shares Award

Hon. Kim Reynolds | Governor, State of Iowa
Jim Blessman | 2024 Iowa SHARES Award Recipient

10:15 a.m.

From Country to City: Combating Food Desserts Across Iowa

Hon. Brian Lohse | Representative, Iowa House District 45
Teresa Davis | Owner, West Forty Market
Jared DeVries | Owner, Brothers Market
Hon. Chad Ingels | Representative, Iowa House District 68
Hon. Sami Scheetz | Representative, Iowa House District 78

10:50 a.m.

Networking Break & Engagement with Exhibitors

11:00 a.m.

From Surplus to Security: Ensuring Food Reaches Those in Need

11:25 a.m.

Special Announcement

Hon. Mike Naig | Secretary of Agriculture, State of Iowa (Recorded Remarks)

11:30 a.m.

From Farm to Food Bank and Beyond: Collaborations Through Choose Iowa

Hon. Grant Menke | Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Bob Howard | Marketing Directory, Country View Dairy
Michelle Kenyon | Executive Director, Field to Family
Jacob Wanderscheid | Executive Director, Food Bank of Siouxland

12:00 p.m.

Keynote

12:10 p.m.

From Farm to School Fork: Celebrating Local Foods for Schools

12:15 p.m.

Lunch

Ambassador Terry Brandstad | President, World Food Prize Foundation
Steve Van Oort | Polk County Board of Supervisors
Jim Blessman | 2024 Iowa SHARES Award Recipient
Will McIntee | Director of Strategic Engagement, The White House

1:30 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Beyond Empty Plates: Navigating and Resolving Hunger Challenges with a Roadmap for Resilience | Feed Iowa First and Sustainable Iowa Land Trust

Setting the Table for All Iowans: Our Health, Our Future | Food and Health Specialist Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, Community Nutrition for WesleyLife, Heritage Area Agency on Aging, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Division of Aging and Disability Services

Innovative Ways to Fight Rural Hunger | Hawkeye Area Community Action Program Food Reservoir, Food Bank of Iowa, Northeast Iowa Food Bank and River Bend Food Bank

2:45 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Aging in Iowa: Innovations and Opportunities | Iowa Department of Health & Human Services, Community Nutrition for Wesley Life, Heritage Area Agency on Aging, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Division of Aging and Disability Services

Food Systems Advocacy - Creating Change through Citizen and Farmer Voices | Local Food and Farm, Johnson County, Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network, Iowa Hunger Coalition, IFSC Local Food Policy Network Priority Team and Iowa Farmers Union

Central Iowa Food Insecurity Plan | United Way of Central Iowa, Urbandale Food Pantry and United Way OpportUNITY Food Insecurity Work Group

3:45 p.m.

Closing Remarks