Registration open for the Farm & Food Celebration

AMES — Food systems practitioners, K-12 school district staff, and early care and education providers may register for the Farm & Food Celebration, set for June 13 in Grinnell.

The Food Systems Team with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development and the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition are hosting the event in partnership with the Iowa Food System Coalition.

This biannual event celebrates local food, farmers and Iowa’s food system. Attendees will learn from local farmers and food businesses, and engage with food system practitioners, early care providers and other food system organizations.

This event is open to the public. Participants should register online. Individuals can select to attend the full-day or the community dinner hosted in the evening.

Registration is open through May 31, but seats are limited. For full details and fees, visit the Farm & Food Celebration event page.

Scholarships are available to help offset the cost of registration. Applications can be submitted by May 16. Funding is provided by the Iowa Food System Coalition.

The Farm & Food Celebration will kickoff at the Rosenfield Campus Center at Grinnell College with welcoming remarks and a farmer roundtable, featuring Pleasant Grove Homestead, B&B Farms, Middle Way Farm, and Tangled Roots Farm.

The day will continue with a catered lunch, followed by a Farm Crawl in the afternoon. Attendees may tour four local farms: Grinnell Farm to Table, Compass Plant CSA, Olson Garden Market and Prairie Produce.

Grinnell Farm to Table connects county residents with over 30 farmers and producers to create a healthier, more environmentally sustainable, regional food system and increase access to local foods.

The day will conclude by celebrating local foods and partnerships over a Community Dinner, catered by The Iowa Kitchen and Hedge Apple Kombucha. The evening program will feature live music, the Iowa Food System Coalition and highlight the recipients of the 2025 Golden Root Award, hosted by the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition and the Iowa Department of Education.

“We’re looking forward to connecting with friends from across the state for this one-day event in Grinnell,” aid Chelsea Krist, community and economic development extension education specialist with the food systems team.

“We’ll all learn about the innovative work, partnerships, and farmers who call Grinnell home as we visit farms and markets, and the local food hub throughout the afternoon.”

Sponsorship opportunities are also available, ranging from Level 1 to Level 3 with varying benefits, including complimentary event tickets and promotion throughout the event. Sponsorship registration can be completed online.

For full event details, visit extension.iastate.edu/ffed/farm-food-celebration, follow the event on Facebook or contact Bre Miller at millerb@iastate.edu.