2026 ISPC Speakers

Jason Haglund, Rural Policy Partners

Jason Haglund, a seasoned behavioral health leader and fifth-generation farmer, combines expertise in mental health, public policy, and rural resilience to address critical challenges in diverse settings. As a founding member of Rural Policy Partners and co-host of the Stepping In It podcast, Jason specializes in system design, behavioral healthcare integration, and strategic planning in rural and frontier communities. Known for his engaging presentation style, Jason draws on his rich professional and agrarian background to deliver practical, relatable insights that empower cross-sector collaboration and measurable system change

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig grew up on his family’s Century Farm in northwest Iowa near Cylinder. He continues to be involved in the family’s operation today working alongside his father and uncle. A graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, he has spent his entire career working in the agriculture industry. Mike and his wife, Jaime, have three boys. 

Mike was elected as the 15th Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in November 2018 and reelected in 2022. He provides leadership for the Department, which provides programs and services to Iowans and the ag community in the areas of consumer protection, food safety, animal industry, water quality, soil conservation and more. 

In a state where agriculture is a leading economic driver, Mike knows that a strong Iowa relies on strong Iowa agriculture, and he strives each day to ensure the future of Iowa agriculture remains bright for the next generation.

As Secretary, he is committed to: expanding markets; protecting Iowa’s natural resources; advocating for Iowa’s youth; and making Iowa an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

Mike works tirelessly to expand economic opportunities for Iowa farmers, livestock producers, agribusinesses and all the hard-working men and women who provide food, feed, fiber and fuel to consumers here and around the world. He leads efforts to grow local, domestic and international markets and to expand trade opportunities.

Under Mike’s leadership, the Department leads the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy by working with more than 350 public and private partners on conservation initiatives designed to improve water quality, enhance soil health and protect Iowa’s natural resources. Mike will continue to push for acceleration of the state’s conservation efforts to get more conservation practices on the ground across Iowa.

Mike is a strong advocate for the next generation of leaders and actively supports youth education and leadership programs, which prepare them for rewarding careers in agriculture and encourages them to call Iowa home.

Choose Iowa Program Director, Beth Romer

Beth Romer’s passion for agriculture propagated and grew on her family’s Century Farm where she learned firsthand the value of hard work and respect for stewarding the land for future generations. Beth’s marketing and communications expertise in agribusiness and production agriculture, forestry and conservation education strategically align with promoting and supporting Iowa’s farmers and the foods they raise through the Choose Iowa Marketing Promotion and Grant Program. Beth most recently enjoyed collaborating on a promotional cookbook project including developing recipes, food styling and food photography and videography for another state’s branded marketing program. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Wayne State College and a master’s in business administration from Iowa State University. When not helping on her family’s farm or exploring farmers markets, fairs and agritourism destinations, Beth and her husband, James, enjoy their flourishing garden and menagerie of farm animals near Altoona, Iowa.

State Climatologist of Iowa, Justin Glisan

Dr. Glisan has an extensive background in atmospheric and climatological research, with expertise in the analysis of extreme temperature and precipitation events. He earned his B.S. (2005) and M.S. (2007) in meteorology at the University of Missouri, where he concentrated on droughts and heat waves. In 2012, he completed his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences at Iowa State University with a research concentration on the dynamical causal mechanisms of precipitation and temperature extremes. While at Iowa State University, his research had a strong academic collaboration across a broad range of federally funded projects. His work experience includes advanced atmospheric research techniques, large data machine learning, and statistical analysis.

As State Climatologist of Iowa, his responsibilities include quality control of Iowa weather observations, weekly recommendations to the U.S. Drought Monitor, and weekly and monthly climate summaries for state stakeholders. Iowa weather and climate observations go back to 1872 and represent the history of weather across the state. These observations help tell the story of Iowa agriculture and how resilient and innovative the state’s farmers are and have been. Looking at how trends in precipitation and temperature are changing and applying this climatological analyses through the lens of agriculture is also a very important part of the position. Dr. Glisan advises the Secretary of Agriculture on climatological matters impacting the agricultural sector.

Fred Howell

Fred Howell started Howell’s with just $500, a garden tiller, and four varieties of annual statice. Over the next four decades, he diversified that small beginning into a full agritainment operation built around flowers, dried florals, and on-farm experiences.

Erin Conner

Erin Conner helps lead Howell’s, where she brings a modern, trend-focused approach to floriculture, agritourism, and floral retail. She specializes in turning blooms—fresh or dried—into creative, customer-loved products through smart design, merchandising, and storytelling. As the daughter of Howell’s founder, she blends decades of family flower-farm experience with a fresh understanding of what today’s shoppers are looking for.

Allison Dhabalt

Allison is the owner and ‘Chief Flower Fanatic’ at She Blooms Flower Farm.

What began as a dream, tucked away for nearly 30 years, Allison took a leap to passionately grow fresh cut flowers at her small Iowa farm.  For three successful seasons now, her flowers have brought joy to many through a quaint roadside self-serve flower stand, traveling pop up display at local businesses and summer bouquet workshops.

Allison is passionate about growing not only flowers but growing the drive in others to pursuit their dreams.

Nathan Johanning

Nathan Johanning is a Commercial Agriculture Educator for the University of Illinois Extension in Waterloo, IL in the southern part of the state near St. Louis.  Nathan has a broad background in both row crop and specialty crop production and specializes in weed, soil, & nutrient management, cover crops, & no-till production.  In addition, he is also active in crop production on his family farm where he incorporates cover crops and no-till their crop production and raises a variety of crops including pumpkins.

Brad Paulson

Brad Paulson has been a vegetable consultant for Rupp Seeds for over fifteen years. He brings sound crop management experience to both his customers and the Rupp Seeds team. Brad has been growing and selling vegetables for practically his entire life, and he is happy to share his wealth knowledge and experience with others. Currently, Brad serves growers in his home state of Wisconsin, as well as growers in Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Northern Missouri, and Eastern Iowa. Feel free to contact him at bradp@ruppseeds.com or 608-346-1871.

Dan Fillius

Dan Fillius is the statewide field specialist for commercial vegetables and specialty crops with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Before joining Extension, Fillius grew organic vegetables for 13 years including stints managing the Michigan State University Student Organic Farm and 140 acres of vegetables at Featherstone Farm.

Randall Vos

Randall is the Commercial Fruit Crops Field Specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach where he provides technical assistance to fruit growers throughout the state. He has a wide range of experience in fruit production. Prior to working in Extension, Randall taught production horticulture courses and served as the Coordinator for the Mid-American Wine Competition at Des Moines Area Community College.

Steve & Beth Rachut and Adam Koch

Kittleson Brothers is a grower and packer of potatoes and onions in St. Ansgar, IA. The business has been growing onions for over 100 years and added potatoes in the 1960's. Steve joined the business in 2014, and Adam in 2021. Today, the business is owned and operated by Steve & Beth Rachut and Adam & Rosie Koch. They grow 45 acres of onions and 40 acres of potatoes which are distributed to 30+ grocery stores in Iowa by a weekly delivery route, wholesale to Minnesota/Wisconsin packers, and direct to consumers from their warehouse.  

Eric Rogich

Eric Rogich has been in the Ag Industry for over 40 years. He started working in the green houses and went on to manage two large apple orchards. He has now been a sales representative at Nutrien Ag Solutions for 10 years. Helping growers large and small achieve the best quality fruits and vegetables.

Madeline Wimmer

Madeline Wimmer the Fruit Production Extension Educator for the University of Minnesota Extension. She supports a wide range of fruit growers across Minnesota, from those just getting started to experienced producers looking to refine their practices. Her work emphasizes helping growers adopt sustainable and evidence-based best practices to adopt what truly fits their farm-specific needs for the fruit crops they grow. She also serves on the board of the Organic Fruit Growers Association, supporting collaboration and knowledge-sharing among regional fruit producers. Example programs Madeline runs are winter pruning workshops for woody perennial fruit crops, climate resilience education, and a weekly newsletter that runs throughout the growing season through University of Minnesota's Fruit and Vegetable News (https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu).

Tom O’Brien

Tom O’Brien is the founder and owner of Gardens on Glen, LLC Urban Farm & Garden Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He operates a diversified, sub-acre urban farm focused on specialty crops, value-added products, and agricultural education. Tom combines hands-on production with business planning, cost control, and documentation practices that support long-term farm viability.

In addition to farming, Tom teaches community and continuing-education classes on gardening, food preservation, mushroom cultivation, fruit trees, and small-scale farm skills. His work emphasizes practical solutions for land-limited producers, including diversified income streams, risk reduction, and operating small farms as legitimate businesses rather than hobby enterprises.

Bret and Lorin Fahrmeier

Bret and Lorin Fahrmeier are the husband-and-wife team behind Fahrmeier Farms, a third-generation family farm just outside of Lexington, Missouri. The farm traces its roots back to 1947, when it operated as a traditional diversified crop and livestock operation. Bret grew up farming and, after graduating from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 2004, returned home with a vision to grow food directly for people, not just markets.

With more than two decades of hands-on growing experience, Bret gradually expanded the farm into fresh vegetables, fruits, and greenhouse flowers, learning what works by doing it season after season. Today, Bret and Lorin grow roughly 40 acres of produce and operate a popular u-pick farm, welcoming thousands of customers to the farm each year. Their operation blends practical production, on-farm education, and a strong focus on building meaningful connections between growers and the families they feed.