ISU Extension to host 2025 urban agriculture field days across Iowa

AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a series of four Urban Agriculture Field Days in 2025, offering community members an opportunity to learn firsthand from local urban farms and agricultural specialists.

Organized in partnership with area farms, the field days aim to promote sustainable urban farming practices and strengthen connections between local growers and their communities.

Each event will feature a tour of the host farm and presentations based on research and on-farm demonstrations conducted during the 2025 growing season.

The events are free to attend and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register online in advance.

“These field days give people a chance to hear directly from farmers about how they built their farms, the decisions they make, and how ISU Extension and Outreach is supporting them,” said Graham Sandersfeld, urban agriculture outreach specialist with ISU Extension. “After formal presentations, we invite attendees to speak with extension specialists and connect with other community members.”

The 2025 Urban Agriculture Field Day schedule includes:

• May 9 – Sweet Tooth Farms, Des Moines, 10 a.m. to noon
• June 9 – ReEvolution Farms, Dubuque, 10 a.m. to noon
• July 9 – Southern Goods, LLC, Waterloo, 10 a.m. to noon
• Sept. 17 – Sinsinawa Mound Collaborative Farm, Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, noon to 2 p.m.

According to Sandersfeld, urban farms play a vital role in improving food security, increasing access to nutritious food, promoting sustainability, and contributing to local economies.

The field day series is part of ISU Extension and Outreach’s broader effort to engage Iowa’s urban communities and support the growth of local food systems.

Click HERE to register online to attend any of the urban agriculture field days.