IOWA Division— 2025 Watershed Talks & Farm Field Walks

You’re Invited:  Organic Farming Field Day
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Izaak Walton League – East Fork Algona Chapter House

Join us in person for an inspiring and informative event focused on the transition from conventional farming to organic regenerative practices—and how these methods benefit both farmers and their communities.

Discover how regenerative agriculture can improve farm profitability while enhancing environmental health by building healthy soil, improving water quality, and producing abundant, nutritious food.

Featured Speaker: Dr. Michael McNeill
Dr. McNeill will share compelling success stories from farmers in the Algona area who are currently transitioning thousands of acres to organic production. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear about his recent work in Ukraine, where he has supported farmers determined to continue growing food despite the challenges of war. Dr. McNeill will be returning to Ukraine just days after this event.

What to Expect:

• An engaging talk by Dr. McNeill

• A delicious organic lunch

• A visit to a nearby organic farm field

Hosted by:
The Izaak Walton League’s Iowa Division, East Fork Algona Chapter, the Iowa Farmers Union, and TRIADA (a nonprofit organization).

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired by real-world examples of sustainable agriculture in action!

About Dr. Michael McNeill—

Dr. Michael McNeill is a highly respected research scientist and agricultural consultant with over 50 years of experience. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with farmers across approximately 165,000 acres of cropland in the Midwest, providing expertise in soil health, crop systems, and sustainable practices.

In addition to his domestic work, Dr. McNeill has consulted on regenerative farming systems internationally in Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Canada. Seventeen years ago, he transitioned his own farm to organic production and now dedicates much of his work to helping other farmers adopt regenerative organic methods.

Dr. McNeill is deeply passionate about the critical connection between soil health and human health. He currently serves as chairman of the board of TRIADA, a nonprofit organization focused on research and education in farming and health care systems. TRIADA’s mission centers on improving soil and human health by eliminating heavy metals and petrochemicals from the environment and increasing the nutrient density of the food we eat.

Most recently, Dr. McNeill was a featured panelist at the 2024 Iowa Nature Summit, where he participated in the session Farming, Soil Health, Food and Wellness, moderated by Carole Reichardt of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF).