Participants attend the Iowa Organic Conference

Organic pioneer Bob Quinn to keynote Nov. 17 conference

Nourishing Community through Organic Agriculture: The 25^th Anniversary” is this year’s theme for the Iowa Organic Conference. The conference will return to Iowa City, Monday, Nov. 17, for a full day of all things organic, headlined by organic pioneer and “king of kamut,” Bob Quinn.

Quinn, a Montana organic farmer and director of the Quinn Institute, will address conference attendees in a talk titled “Nourishing the Organic Community through Enriched Soils, High Biodiversity and Nutritious Crops.” He will highlight the important role small grains play in organic production.

Following the keynote address at 8:30 a.m., breakout sessions will begin at 10:30 a.m. and include information on transitioning to organic farming, weed management, organic livestock production, robotic weeders and specialty crops. Other sessions include marketing, organic vegetable production and tips for the new organic farmer. More than 30 vendors, from organic seed and equipment dealers to certifiers and nonprofits, will fill the vendor hall.

Lunch will be made using local and organic produce, meat and dairy products and crafted into a gourmet meal by Chef Anne Watson and the University of Iowa dining team. A highlight of the conference, lunch is included in conference registration.

“We are thrilled to celebrate 25 years of the Iowa Organic Conference,” said Kathleen Delate, professor and extension organic specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “It is a celebration of organic agriculture in Iowa and a testament to the resilient systems-based approach organic production provides to over 950 farms in Iowa. We look forward to the next 25 years of celebrating organic agriculture in Iowa!” 

The cost to register is $100 through Nov. 2 and $150 after that date. Conference registration is available online. Hotel rooms are available at the Graduate Hotel in Iowa City.

For additional conference information and directions to the conference, visit the 2025 Iowa Organic Conference webpage