News

A veteran helps to unload corn.

A three-year project that sought to connect veterans with agricultural careers and food systems recently wrapped up its initiative, connecting 59 veterans to agricultural careers and reaching more than 1,300 veterans with educational programming.

Penny Brown Huber headshot

Get to know one of the newest additions to our FFED team: Penny L. Brown Huber. Penny shares her professional bio and shares what's she's most looking forward to and which historical figure she would like to meet. 

A vendor at a farmers market hands a customer products

Collaboration is an essential ingredient in assisting communities, farms, and food businesses create thriving local food systems. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Food Systems team has embraced the spirit of collaboration in much of its programming.

A farmer leads a tour and demonstration on a farm

Agritourism can be a fun and rewarding experience for Iowa landowners. With some careful planning and foresight, agritourism can provide supplemental revenue to a farm or become its main source of revenue.

A person holds a chicken in a chicken coop

Are you ready to cultivate your dreams and turn that small plot of land into a thriving and sustainable farm?

Join Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for the Small Farm & Beginning Farmer series, designed exclusively for beginning farmers and small acreage owners.

Image of a meat grinder with raw meat to be processed

Farm, Food and Enterprise Development is hosting a Small Meat Processor Workshop for aspiring entrepreneurs as well as those relatively new to the industry. Workshop speakers will discuss business planning, budgets, and marketing strategies. 

Penny Brown Huber headshot

Brown Huber started a new role with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach on Jan.

School lunch trays

The “Local Food for Schools Progress Report,” released by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, noted that 135 schools in 69 counties received funds from the program in the 2022-23 school year, resulting in $644,931 of food purchases from local farms and businesses. 

Gary Matteson of Farm Credit awards Sommer Sibilly-Brown and Courtney Long the 2023 MarketMaker Innovation Award

Farm, Food and Enterprise Development receives 2023 MarketMaker Innovation Award for collaborative efforts in U.S. Virgin Islands.