The Iowa Food Policy Council's purpose is to provide a comprehensive examination of Iowa's food system and makerecommendations for improvement through public policy change.
Created in May of 2000 by Iowa Governor Thomas J. Vilsack through Executive Order 16, and continued through Executive Order 19, Executive Order 29, andExecutive Order 38, the Council consists of 21 citizen members who represent diverse food-related sectors. Seven appointed Ex-Officio state agency advisors also serve on the Council, playing a key role to share information about state agency services, programs, and policies.
This public/private collaboration of food system stakeholders and state government agencies creates a unique form of civic engagement due to it's diversity and non-partisan objectivity. For this reason, the Council is able to develop a wide variety of focused, public policy recommendations to enhance the lives and livelihoods of Iowa’s citizens.
If you would like further information about the Iowa Food Policy Council, please contact us at the Agricultural Law Center at 515.271.2065 to reach the Center's Director Neil D. Hamilton or 515.271.4956 for the Iowa Food PolicyCouncil Coordinator, Matt Russell.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
2005 Iowa Food Policy Council Members and Special Advisors
Appointed Members
Brother David Andrews
Russ Benischek
John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas - FS&H
Dr. Craig A. Chase - PLF
Larry Cleverley - PLF
Karen Ford - FS&H
Rick Forkenbrock
Linda Funk - PLF
Steve Gress - IP & PLF
Jean Groben - PLF
Dr. Neal Kohatsu
Tom Lacina
Dr. Ruth MacDonald - FS&H
Tanya Meyer-Dideriksen
David Miller - PLF
Rich Pirog - PLF & IP
Susan L. Roberts
Ramona Thompson
Steve Williams - PLF
Susan Jutz - IP & PLF
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Ex-Officio State Agency Advisors
Judy Harrison
Gail Kotval - PLF
Carlene Russell - FS&H & IP
Judy Solberg - FS&H
Julia Thorius - FS&H & IP
Ann Wiebers - FS&H
Maury Wills
Special Advisors
John Pederson, Office of the Governor
Alesia Swan, USDA RMA
Agricultural Law Center Staff
Neil D. Hamilton, Council Chairman
Doug O'Brien
Matt Russell, Council Coordinator
Shakti, 2005 Visiting Summer Intern
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Neil D. Hamilton is the Dwight D. Opperman Chair of Law and Director of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. His column "The Food Chain" appears periodically in the Des Moines Register. He lives with his wife Khanh on a 10 acre garden farm, Sunstead, near Waukee, Iowa, where they raise fresh vegetables for several local restaurants.
Neil grew up on a 200 acre family farm in Adams County, Iowa, where his family has farmed since 1872. He has a B.S. from Iowa State Univ., 1976 in Forestry and Economics, and a J.D. from Univ. of Iowa. He has taught agricultural law for 22 years and has written a series of books and articles for farmers and lawyers. He is past-president of the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) and author of the nationally award winning book What Farmers Need to Know About Environmental Law (1990). He also authored A Livestock Producer's Guide to Nuisance, Land Use Control, and Environmental Law (1992) and Iowa Crop Producers Environmental Law Guide (1992 and 1994). In 1995 Top Producer/ Farm Journal published his book, A Farmer's Legal Guide to Production Contracts.
His newest book, The Legal Guide for Direct Farm Marketing (July 1999), was funded by USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development Program. In April 2000 Iowa Governor Thomas J. Vilsack appointed him to chair the newly appointed Iowa Food Policy Council. On October 12, 2003, Neil was awarded the international Local Food Prize Awardfor his work developing local food systems and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Prior to joining the Drake faculty in 1983 to found the Agricultural Law Center, he taught law for two years at the University of Arkansas where he helped create the Agricultural Law masters program. From 1979-81 he was an Assistant Attorney General in the Farm Division of the Iowa Department of Justice. Since 1983 he has been the director of the Agricultural law Center at Drake University Law School, and has helped it establish a national and international reputation for excellence in research, education and public extension on food and agricultural law issues. He serves on numerous boards, including the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the Seeds Savers Exchange, the National Garden Association, and Farmers Legal Action Group (FLAG).
Director,Agricultural Law Center Chair, Iowa Food Policy Council
Drake University The Law School Agricultural Law Center
2507 University Avenue Des Moines, IA 50311
515.271.2065
F: 515.271.1965
Drake Agricultural Law Center
Brother David Andrews, CSC is a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He is the Executive Director of the 80 year old National Catholic Rural Life Conference based in Des Moines, Iowa.
Brother David has his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans. He serves as a consultant with the Domestic Policy Committee of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, was accredited NGO representative at the Seattle WTO ministerial meetings and has been a consultant for the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. and at the Vatican on globalization and agriculture. Brother David currently serves as a Board Director for the Organization for Competitive Markets and on the Coordinating Council for the Midwest Sustainable Agriculture Working Group.
For six years, Brother David was the Executive Director of the Edwin Vincent O'Hara Institute for Rural Ministry Education. He has edited two books on rural ministry; Agenda for the Small Church, published by NCRLC and Ministry in the Small Church, published by Sheed and Ward.
Executive Director,
National Catholic Rural
Life Conference
4625 Beaver Avenue Des Moines, IA 50310
515.270.2634
National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Russ Benischek Sodexho Campus Services
Iowa Wesleyan College
601 North Main
Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641
319.385.6493
John Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas, MSW, an immigrant from Guatemala, is the Administrator of the Iowa Division of Latino Affairs and the highest-ranking Latino in Iowa's State Government. Mr. Chaisson-Cárdenas is bilingual in Spanish and English and has over 15 years of experience working in a variety of settings with the Latino/a population. He was also instrumental in passing of the 2004 Iowa Interpreters Bill, which charges the ICLA with establishing the qualification mechanisms for interpreters working in Social Service agencies, Health Organizations and the Judicial System.
Before this appointment, Mr. Chaisson-Cárdenas was the Training and Technical Assistance Director at the National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice (NRC/FCP) and the Executive Director of the Institute for the Support of Latino/a Families and Communities (ISLFC) at the University of Iowa.
Mr. Chaisson-Cárdenas has developed, coordinated, and presented training and technical assistance for educational institutions, governmental agencies, community organizations, businesses, health organizations, and social service systems across the United States, Mexico, Canada and Central America. His areas of expertise are Cultural Competence, Language-Appropriate Services, Community Development, and Strength Based Family Centered Practice.
Mr. Chaisson-Cárdenas is also adjunct faculty at the University of Iowa School of Social Work.
Other government appointments include member of the Statewide Educational Equity Committee for the Iowa Department of Education, Chair of the Governors Task force on Minority Health, the Iowa Food Safety Council, and the Disproportionate Minority Confinement Committee.
Administrator,
Iowa Division of Latino Affairs
Lucas State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50309
515.281.4070
www.state.ia.us/ government/dhr/la
Dr. Craig A. Chase is the Farm and Agricultural Business Management Field Specialist for Iowa State University Extension in Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Butler, Grundy, Bremer, Black Hawk, Buchanan, and Delaware Counties in Northeastern Iowa. He specializes in Business Planning and Business Start-Ups, Insurance and Risk Management Tools and Techniques, Organic and Food-Based Alternative Agricultural Enterprises, Regional Food Systems, Sustainable Agriculture and Water Quality Issues, and Whole Farm and Enterprise Financial Analysis and Decision-Making. His clients include farmers, agribusiness and economic development professionals, Iowa State Extension staff, as well as public and private agencies.
Prior to joining ISU Extension in 2000, he was a Pork Enterprise Consultant/Pork Business Specialist with Land O'Lakes from 1995-2000, Farm Management Field Specialist, Iowa State University, 1993-1995; and Farming Systems Coordinator, Iowa State University, 1988-1992.
Craig received his PhD in Rural Sociology, Iowa State University, 1994, an M.S., Agricultural Economics, Iowa State University, 1980, and a B.A., Economics/Accounting, University of Northern Iowa, 1978. Craig is also a member of the Regional Food System Working Group at the Leopold Center.
Farm & Agricultural Business Management Field Specialist
Iowa State University
Extension Service
3420 University Avenue, Suite B
Waterloo, IA 50701
319.234.6811
F: 319.234.5581
Larry Cleverley operates Cleverley Farms, a 6-acre, diversified, specialty produce farm located 25 miles northeast of Des Moines. They wholesale salad greens, hard-neck garlic, potatoes, basil, green and shell beans, baby carrots, chioggia beets, and other produce to over 20 restaurants in Des Moines, Ames, and Iowa City. They also retails at the downtown Des Moines Farmers Market, 26 Saturdays a year. And the last 2 years, they have been the Niman Ranch Meat Co. distributor for the Upper Midwest.
President,
Cleverley Farms
8694 Highway 330 N.
Mingo, IA 50168
641.363.4299
Karen R. Ford is the Executive Director of the Food Bank of Iowa since 1982 and was the initial organizer of a grassroots effort to bring food banking to central Iowa. Between December 1981 and September 1981 the Food Bank was organized and in 1983, became a member of America’s Second Harvest. The Food Bank of Iowa distributes approximately 4,000,000 lbs./year to 265 member agencies.
Karen has been active in the Central Region Association of Food Banks, has testified before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee; speaking about the Child Nutrition Reauthorization and the Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill, and was instrumental in negotiating a contract for the distribution of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) commodities through the Iowa Department of Human Services.
During the Iowa floods of 1993, Karen worked extensively to establish a donation distribution system at the Emergency Operation Center. She received the Dick Goebel Award for Public Service (Advocate of the Year) at the National Public Policy Conference and was recently appointed to America’s Second Harvest’s Public Policy Working Group; a national committee focusing on strategic planning with a view toward public policy.
Two things Karen is most proud of in her professional career include the Food Bank of Iowa distributing 64,000,000 lbs. of grocery product in 20 years and paying off the mortgage acquired in 1999 months ahead of schedule.
Executive Director,
Food Bank of Iowa
2220 E. 17th St.
Des Moines, Iowa 50316
515.564.0330
fax: 515.564.0331
Rick Forkenbrock is the Director of Support Services overseeing the Food Service and Maintenance Departments at the Cherokee Human Resource Center in Cherokee, Iowa. He has 33 years progressive food management experience with 27 being served with the Iowa Department of Human Services.
Rick currently serves on the Advisory Board of the State of Iowa Central Food Distribution Center in Woodward, Iowa and has served on many statewide committees relative to food procurement and food safety education. He has developed a food safety plan for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Corrections facilities. He has also been active in training both managers and other foodservice employees in developing food safety plans in Iowa facilities. He received an industry assistant grant for food safety administered by The Educational Foundation of National Restaurants Association, sponsored by EcoLab. He is co-chair of the Institutional Purchasing Task Force of the Iowa Food Policy Council and is on the advisory board for the Value Chain Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture; a project of the Leopold Center.
Rick is married, has two daughters, and enjoys woodworking, metalworking, and fishing.
Director of Support Services
Iowa Department of Human Services
Cherokee Human Resource Center
1251 West Cedar Loop
Cherokee, IA 51012
712.225.6949
F: 712.225.6966
Linda Funk has chosen a career in food marketing for more than twenty five years. Her professional experience has included extensive management experience with two large food and beverage manufacturers, Ambrosia Chocolate and Pepsi-Cola and one of the largest commodity associations, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB).
The food industry has been a cornerstone in all of Linda’s professional endeavors. During her tenure at Ambrosia Chocolate, she worked with research/development and sales/marketing to develop and introduce appropriate products to this channel and specifically to high profile chefs. She also designed and built their1st test kitchen and developed the test kitchen program.
While at WMMB, Linda was in key leadership positions and was responsible for the development of the channel strategies and many innovative highly visible programs that included consumer, retail and foodservice advertising, public relations, media relationships, research, sponsorship opportunities, new marketing materials, tradeshows, high profile chef and media events, culinary schools events and operator/distributor programs and promotions. Linda also managed the various agencies and consultants that worked on WMMB’s foodservice programs.
Linda’s responsibilities at The Soyfoods Council include creating the organization itself in addition developing and executing the soyfood programs. During the last year food marketing programs for the soyfoods category included working with the national food media, developing chef training and promotional programs, working with manufacturers and their products and food sponsorships for local and national food conferences.
Linda has served on the Boards of- The American Institute of Food and Wine, International Foodservice Editorial Council, Culinary Institute of America and the Stout University Foundation, (Menomonie, WI) where she graduated in 1972 with a BS degree in Home Economics.
Executive Director,
The Soyfoods Council
Iowa Soybean Association
4554 Northwest 114th Street
Urbandale, IA 50322
515.491.8636
F: 515-251-8657
Steven R. Gress, president of SYSCO Food Services of Iowa, Inc., began his SYSCO career as a product specialist in 1978 at Baraboo SYSCO, a SYSCO Corporation subsidiary located in Baraboo, WI. He became district manager in 1879 and general sales manager in 1981. He advanced to director of marketing in 1986, and four years later advanced to vice president of merchandising and marketing. In 1996 he transferred to the newly created SYSCO Food Services of Eastern Wisconsin in Jackson (Milwaukee) as vice president of merchandising/marketing and later that year was promoted to senior vice president.
Mr. Gress was promoted to executive vice president of SYSCO Food Services of Iowa in 1997, and assumed his current position as president of the company in 1999. Prior to his employment at SYSCO, Mr. Gress was the owner/operator of a supper club and also held management positions in other foodservice operations.
Mr. Gress was born and raised in Wisconsin. He and his wife, Laura, are the parents of two grown daughters and live in West Des Moines.
President and CEO,
SYSCO Food Services of Iowa, Inc.
One SYSCO Place
Ankeny, IA 50021
515.289.5322
F: 515.289.5380
Jean Groben is Co-owner and the mastermind behind Jasper Winery. Jean is just as often found untangling her vines, tending her chickens, and being a tireless promoter of the Midwestern wine industry.
Jean has held various chairs on the Iowa Wine Growers Association and lobbied for state bills to facilitate wine production in the state of Iowa.
Owner/Manager,
Jasper Winery
518 West Third Street, North
Newton, IA 50208
641.792.7022
F: 641.791.9747
www.jasperwinery.com
Dr. Kohatsu received his A.B. in Human Biology from Stanford University; his M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh; and M.P.H. from the University of Minnesota. He is board certified in Preventive Medicine and is President-Elect of the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM).
Dr. Kohatsu worked for 12 years in the California Department of Health Services leading chronic disease programs addressing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, and arthritis. In addition, Dr. Kohatsu served as Acting Deputy Director for Prevention Services and State Health Officer while at DHS. His work involved an emphasis on nutrition, physical activity, and clinical preventive services. Dr. Kohatsu also served on the volunteer clinical faculty at U.C. Davis, School of Medicine, Departments of Internal Medicine and Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine. He attended in the preventive cardiology clinic for several years.
Currently, he is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa, having joined the faculty in August 2003. His research interests include nutrition, physical activity, chronic disease epidemiology, and the delivery of clinical preventive services. Dr. Kohatsu has published a number of articles and made numerous presentations in these areas.
Associate Professor,
Department of Epidemiology
College of Public Health
University of Iowa
C21 D General Hospital
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
319.384.5141
F: 319.384.5004
Tom Lacina is President of Wildwood Harvest Foods, Inc. Tom grew up on a family farm north of Grinnell, Iowa, where he lives today with his wife and two children. After receiving his law degree and masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa, he practiced law in Grinnell and farmed. In 1988 he founded an on-the-farm tofu facility called Midwest Harvest and in 2000, merged his company with Wildwood Natural Foods, forming the present company of Wildwood Harvest Foods, Inc.
In his free time he enjoys music, serving on the Grinnell Area Arts Council.
Executive
Vice President, P
MO Wildwood
Wildwood Natural Foods
810 Blakely Circle Grinnell, IA 50112
641.236.5170
F: 641.236.7752
Ruth MacDonald, RD, PhD is Professor and Chair of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University since August 2004. For the previous 17 years, she served on the faculty at the University of Missouri in the Departments of Food Science, and Nutritional Sciences, and was a member of the Food for the 21st Century Nutrition Cluster. She has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in nutritional biochemistry, nutrition and fitness, and food science. Dr. MacDonald’s research focus is diet and cancer risk. In recent work, she has studied the effects of soy components and botanicals on breast, prostate and colon cancer progression in animal models. She has published over 40 manuscripts and 100 abstracts that have been presented at national and international meetings. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Nutrition, the Korean Journal of Nutrition, and has been on grant review panels for the US Army Breast Cancer program, US Dept of Agriculture, National Institutes of Health and other funding groups.
Dr. MacDonald completed an MS in Nutrition with a minor in Physiology from the University of Minnesota in 1981, and has been certified as a Registered Dietician since 1984. She received a PhD in Nutrition with a minor in Food Science from the University of Minnesota in 1985. Between 1985 and 1987 she was an NIH Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School, Joslin Diabetes Center, in Boston MA. She is a member of the American Association for Nutritional Sciences, American Association for Cancer Research, Sigma Xi, and the Institute for Food Technologists.
Ruth was raised in rural New Jersey, and received her BS degree in Biology from Western Maryland College (currently McDaniel College) in Westminster MD. She has been married to Ted MacDonald for 24 years and they have two sons, Neal 17 and Scott 12.
Professor and Chair,
Food Science and Human Nutrition Department
Iowa State University
2312 Food Sciences Building
Ames, IA 50011
515.294.5991
F: 515.294.8181
Tanya A. Meyer-Dideriksen
State Outreach Coordinator
USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service
300 W. Welsh Street
P.O. Box 87
Williamsburg, IA 52361
319.668.8110
F: 319.668.8202
David Miller is director of research and commodity services for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. In that position, he coordinates the research programs of the Federation and the various commodity services offered by the Federation. He oversees the BIC Cattle program, the Carbon Credit Trading program and provides economic analysis of agricultural issues. He is a primary liaison for the Federation with state and national commodity organizations.
Miller joined IFBF on April 15, 1998 as director of commodity services. Prior to working for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Miller served as a commodity policy specialist for the American Farm Bureau.
David and his wife Dianne have been married for 34 years. They live in Ankeny, Iowa with their 8 children (4 girls and 4 boys, ages 32 to 11) and enjoy spending time with their 8 grandchildren.
Director, Commodity Services
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
5400 University Ave
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515.225.5430
F: 515.225.5419
Rich Pirog has coordinated education and outreach programs at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University since 1990, and now leads the Center's marketing/food system initiative.
Rich has been very involved in food system efforts in Iowa, acting as an advisor to the Governor's Food Policy Council, writing several papers on food system pathways and energy use in the food system, and working on numerous projects designed to help open institutional markets for Iowa producers.
Rich is project director of the coordination team for the "Value Chain Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture" project funded by the Kellogg Foundation, and chair of the steering team for the Pork Niche Market Working Group.
Marketing and Food Systems
Program Leader
The Leopold Center
209 Curtiss Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011-3120
515.294.1854
F: 515.294.9696
The Leopold Center
Susan Roberts is committed to developing strategies for healthier, safer, more sustainable food systems catalyzing greater health among individuals, environments, and nations. Ms. Roberts seeks to integrate extensive professional expertise and education of food, agriculture, health, and law through a variety of avenues with institutes, NGO’s, public health and law firms.
Ms. Roberts received her Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics, Food and Nutrition from Iowa State University, her Dietetic Internship and Master of Science degree in Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, and her Juris Doctorate of Law with honors from Drake University School of Law with special certificates in both Food & Agricultural Law and Legislative Practice.
Ms. Roberts is the Director of the Food and Society Policy Fellowship funded by WK Kellogg Foundation through the Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute and Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. The fellowship works to enhance communication regarding food, food systems, agriculture and health to affect national policy. Ms. Roberts also works on staff at the Drake University Law School Agricultural Law Center analyzing food policy as it relates to food security, sustainable agriculture, and health. Ms. Roberts is the principle in Roberts Law Firm, PLC and in Sue Roberts Health Concepts, a health and wellness consulting firm specializing in obesity policy.
Ms. Roberts has worked as a Research Dietitian developing, executing, evaluating and publishing medical research. As the Director of Public Health Nutrition for the Iowa Department of Public Health, Ms. Roberts directed state nutrition programs such as the WIC Program.
Ms. Roberts is the recipient of the 2003 National Environmental Nutrition Award, the 2004 Iowa Public Health Nutrition Advocate Award, and the 2004 Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Director’s National Award for Nutrition Advocacy.
Director,
Food and Society Policy
Fellowship Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Institute
8830 NW 35th Street
Ankeny, IA 50021
515.965.3859
C: 515.480.5898
F: 515.963.0211
www.susan.susan-roberts.net
Ramona Thompson
5073 370th Street
Cylinder, IA
712.242.3460
Steve Williams is a fifth generation farmer from Page County, near Villisca, in Southwest Iowa. His family has a rich tradition in innovative agricultural practices, including a strong emphasis on diversification and soil stewardship. Steve attended Iowa State University and received a B.S. in Management Information Systems in 1988. He then worked for Arthur Andersen in Chicago before returning home to the family farm in 1990.
Upon returning to Iowa Steve immediately became involved with several local groups. He became the President of the MACEP cattle evaluation group in Creston and latter was on the board of directors of Precision Beef Alliance that had upwards of 200 farmer members in several Midwest states. Steve was elected as Secretary and Vice President of the Board before going off the board. Steve was also involved in leadership with the local theater board, Iowa State University Alumni and the Villisca Ambulance Unit.
In 1996 Steve and his wife Wendi decided to go it on their own and started their own hog operation and then added a farm that has been exclusively in organic production since 1998. Steve is now on the State of Iowa’s Organic Association’s Board of Directors as one of only 3 farmers. Steve continues to rent land from his father David, this pasture and cropland is also certified as organic. Steve quickly made the determination, after returning home, that he wanted his farm to produce high quality, specialty products. Steve has been marketing all of his farms hog production to Niman Ranch of Oakland California for 5 years. Niman Ranch is the nation’s largest marketer of naturally produced pork. Steve is one of the initial producers for Niman and has been an active participant in Niman’s growth, including many challenges that Niman has faced. Steve has had a special interest in Dairy production and processing for several years and has been pursuing an organic dairy on his farm.
In 2000 Steve and four other individuals started the Organic Dairy Alliance. This group studied the growing organic dairy market, conducted market research, collected producer data, and sponsored several tours in the U.S. of small dairy processing plants and organic dairy operations. Steve has been on the Iowa Department of Agriculture’s Organic Standards Board, which oversees four staff members that administers Iowa’s Organic Certification Program, which currently certifies 140 producers and 30 processors and manufacturers. Steve has recently been named to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture’s Food Systems committee that is studying the complexities of producing, processing and marketing niche agricultural products.
Steve’s goals and dreams make up much of what has become “Naturally Iowa”. Mr. Williams lifetime of farming and pursuit of developing a social and financially healthy environment for farm families in the Midwest as well as his business background and experience in working with agricultural supply-chains should prove valuable to the future of this project.
President,
Naturally Iowa
2937 102nd Street
Villisca, IA 50864
712.826.2107
Susan Jutz was elected to serve as the Practical Farmers of Iowa President in January 2002, following a unanimous election by the Board of Directors. Susan juggles multiple demands of family and farm, along with PFI leadership.
The Jutz Family has been a vegetable grower for Local Harvest CSA since its inception in 1997. Susan and her four children - Frances, Reuben, David and George - share in the work of their 80 acre farm. Growing vegetables for Local Harvest CSA is only one component of their small, diversified farm, a diversity that is becoming more necessary for the survival of family farms in general. Their pasture-fed lamb and pork are marketed direct to consumers.
The diversity of the ZJ Farm extends beyond the products they sell to the environment they promote and maintain with crop rotations, cover cropping, hedgerows and permanent plantings for beneficial insects, snakes, toads and other 'wild' life. Susan and her family are actively involved in home schooling, on-farm research, church and 4-H.
President,
Practical Farmer’s of Iowa
ZJ Farm/Local Harvest CSA
5025 120th Street, Northeast
Solon, IA 52333
319.624.3052
Ex-Officio State Agency Advisors Judy Harrison is the Food and Consumer Safety Bureau Chief for the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. Her duties include supervision of state food inspectors, establishing and reviewing inspection activities, coordination of food borne illness outbreak reports, and serving as a liaison between federal and local agencies. She has 25 years experience in state and local health and food safety related programs.
Judy is a Certified Environmental Health Technician and has served on various committees throughout the state for food safety and health related issues. Judy is currently a member of the National Environmental Health Association, the Association of Food and Drug Officials, and the Iowa Environmental Health Association.
Her outstanding reputation is demonstrated by being awarded the "Sanitarian of the Year" award from the Iowa Environmental Health Association in 1995, and a "Certificate of Merit" from the National Environmental Health Association. In February 2001, Judy was awarded the Administrator's Recognition Award for Outstanding Service by the Mid-Continental Association of Food and Drug Officials.
Bureau Chief,
Food and Consumer Safety
Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals
Lucas State Office Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
515.281.6538
Gail Kotval joined the Iowa Department Economic Development’s (IDED) Business Development Division in November 2000 as the Marketing Manager for A Taste of Iowa® program. She is responsible for managing this program and assisting Iowa companies maximize their product visibility through promotions, trade shows and special events.
Before joining IDED, Kotval was a marketing specialist for Farmland Insurance/Nationwide Agribusiness a leading commercial agribusiness insurer. At Farmland, she performed customer research and developed and implemented marketing strategies. Kotval’s previous experience includes project coordinator for the Iowa Sesquicentennial Commission where her responsibilities included managing the merchandise and licensing program, event coordination and liaison with county representatives. Ms. Kotval graduated from Buena Vista College, Storm Lake, Iowa with a B.A. in Business.
Marketing Manager,
Taste of Iowa® Program
Iowa Department of Economic Development
200 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
515.242.4731
F: 515-242-4918
Carlene Russell is a registered dietitian specializing in the nutritional needs of older adults. She began working as the nutritionist for the Department of Elder Affairs in 2001. This position is shared between in the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs and Public Health. Carlene works with community nutrition programs including congregate and home delivered meals and food stamp nutrition education under the Iowa Nutrition Network; programs which promote healthy aging with good nutrition.
Nutritionist
Iowa Department of Elder Affairs
200 10th Street STE 300
Des Moines, IA 50309
515.242.3384
Judy Solberg is the Chief of the Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion in the Iowa Department of Public Health. Judy directs the WIC Program, the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program and the Department Health Promotion activities relating to nutrition and physical activity.
Before joining the Department of Public Health in 1989, Judy lived in Papua New Guinea for eleven years and in Zimbabwe, Africa for two years. Judy and her family were missionaries for those eleven years. Judy also worked in basic public health and nutrition in those countries.
Bureau Chief,
Nutrition & Health Promotion
Iowa Department of Public Health
Lucas State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
515.281.3713
Julia Thorius Bureau Chief,
Nutrition Programs and School Transportation
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
515.281.4757
F: 515-281-6548
Ann Wiebers is the Administrator for the Iowa Department of Human Services, Division of Financial, Health and Work Supports. She has been with the Iowa Department of Human Services for 20 years.
Ann began her career with DHS working in a local field office as a secretary and has held various roles within the Department throughout the years. For the past 10 years Ann has held several administrative positions in the state office, doing a broad range of responsibilities, from coordinating welfare reform, assisting in TANF policy development, overseeing contracts, being a legislative liaison, managing system and business issues, coordinating field and policy issues, specializing in TANF fiscal regulations, budget development and oversight, and Deputy Division Administrator.
Ann was appointed Division Administrator in May 2004.
Ann oversees over 20 different programs, ranging from the Family Investment Program (cash grants); Diversion; Iowa’s welfare-to-work programs called, PROMISE JOBS and Family Development and Self-Sufficiency (FaDSS); Food and Nutrition Assistance and Supplemental Food Programs (Commodities); Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP); Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa Program (hawk-i); Medicaid and Child Care Assistance eligibility; State Supplementary Assistance and state and federal welfare reform activities.
Division Administrator,
Iowa Department of Human Services Division of Financial,
Health & Work Supports
Hoover State Office Bldg., 5th Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319-0114
515.281.6080
F: 515-281-7791
Maury Wills began working for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in 1996. Maury is the Bureau Chief of the Agricultural Diversification and Market Development Bureau and Administrator of the Department’s Organic Certification Program. He is past president and current board member of the National Association of State Organic Programs.
Maury owns and operates a certified organic apple orchard, Wills Family Orchard, with his family in Adel, Iowa. He is a member of the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the Iowa Honey Producers Association.
Bureau Chief,
Agricultural Diversification & Marketing Development Bureau
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Wallace State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
515.281.5783
Special Advisors
John Pederson Policy Advisor
Office of the Governor State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
515.281.4495
Alesia Swan USDA Risk Management Agency
RMA Outreach Specialist
Civil Rights and Community Outreach
430 G. Street Suite 168
Davis, CA 95616
530.792.5870
The USDA Risk Management Agency
Drake Agricultural Law Center Staff
Doug O'Brien grew up on a diversified farm in Dubuque County, Iowa. Before coming to the Agricultural Law Center, Doug was counsel on the United States Senate Agricultural Committee.
Beyond work on the 2002 Farm Bill, Doug focused on livestock marketing, concentration, agricultural credit, and cooperative issues for the Committee. He has also served Congress Leonard Boswell (IA) in Washington D.C. as Legislative Assistant, focusing primarily on the Congressman's work on the House Agriculture Committee. Doug was the first Legal Specialist in the USDA-GIPSA, Packers and Stockyard's Program's National Hog Office in Des Moines, Iowa and also worked on livestock marketing and concentration issues with the Organization for Competitive Markets.
In addition to his work with the Drake Agricultural Law Center, he is also associated with the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas Law School and teaches classes at both law schools. Doug received his B.A. from Loras College in Dubuque, J.D. from University of Iowa School of Law, and LL.M. from the University of Arkansas Graduate Program in Agricultural Law.
Senior Staff Attorney
Drake University
The Law School
Agricultural Law Center
2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
515.271.4956
F: 515.271.1965
Matt Russell is State Food Policy Project Coordinator at Drake Agricultural Law Center where he is responsible for projects relating to improving the opportunities in Iowa's food system and rural economy.
He joined the Center staff in April 2006 and spent the first six months working as the Iowa Food Products Coordinator under a public-private partnership between Drake University and the office of Governor Tom Vilsack.His study of the State of Iowa's food purchasing practices is the basis for a set of recommendations for creating new opportunities in Iowa's food economy. Before coming to Drake, Matt worked as an organizer for Iowa Citizen Action Network, a statewide consumer advocacy non-profit and for the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, an advocacy and educational organization promoting sustainable food systems and vibrant rural communities across Iowa and the nation, and around the world. Matt grew up on a family farm near Anita in Cass County, received his B.A. from Loras College in Dubuque, and studied for the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary in Illinois.In 2003 he earned an M.S. in Rural Sociology from Iowa State University, with a concentration on communityfood systems. In addition to his work at Drake, Matt and a partner operate Coyote Run Farm, a 110 acre farm in rural Lacona and markets fresh produce, eggs and meat at farmers markets and other local outlets.He also serves as the board chair for the Iowa Network for Community Agriculture.
Prior to returning to Iowa in 1999, he taught morality, social justice, and journalism at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has also taught Sociology at Des Moines Area Community College.His work on food and agriculture, has taken him to 21 states, the District of Columbia, Scotland, and Italy.
Co-Director,
The State & Local Food Policy Project Coordinator, IFPC
Drake University
The Law School
Agricultural Law Center
2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
515.271.4956
F: 515.271.1965
Shakti is the 2005 visiting summer intern at the Agricultural Law Center.
She is also currently completing her JD at Northeastern School of Law. Previously Shakti worked as an intern at the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, as a consultant for American Farmland Trust, and as the pesticide consultant for the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. Shakti spent summers throughout her childhood on a family farm in Quebec, Canada. In addition to working towards her JD, she also has an MS in nutrition from Tufts University and a BA in Environmental Studies. Her CV is available here.
2005 Visiting Summer Intern
Drake University
The Law School
Agricultural Law Center
2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
515.271.4823
Reports from the Iowa Food Policy Council: 2001-2004
Report from the Chair: 2004 Iowa Food Policy Council Final Report, November 2004.
Response to 2003 Iowa Food Policy Council Food Security Task Force Recommendations Letter to the Congressional Delegation in Support of Federal Child Nutrition Program Reauthorization Governor Thomas J. Vilsack and Lt. Governor Sally Pederson, February 2004.
Response to 2003 Iowa Food Policy Council Interim Report, February, 2004
Governor Thomas J. Vilsack, February 2004
The Iowa Food Policy Council Interim Report, December 2003.
The 2002-2003 Iowa Food Policy Council Final Report
The 2001-2002 Iowa Food Policy Council Final Report
Information for Heartland Governors on forming State Food Policy Councils A Memo to Governor Thomas J. Vilsack from Neil D. Hamilton
Press Releases and Other Council Related News
Summary of the 2003-2004 State and Local Food Policy Project Drake Announces Agreement with USDA to Support Food Policy Councils Governor Extends Iowa Food Policy Council, 2001
