2025 ISPC Speakers
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.
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.
Choose Iowa Program Director, Beth Romer
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.
State Climatologist of Iowa, Justin Glisan
Andy Farmer
Andy has owned and operated Northeastern Vine Supply with his wife India since 2002. We grow, pack and ship grapevines of cold hardy varieties from our farm in Vermont to commercial and hobby growers around the country. In addition to their grapevine nursery production, we also maintain 8 acres of “mother block” vineyard with over 40 named and un-named varieties of grapes that supplies our nursery with budwood and grapes for wine production, as well as hi tunnel table grapes for the local market. They feel fortunate to have worked with growers from challenging climates as diverse as maritime and mountain areas of the East, the Upper Midwest and Plains, and the high deserts of the Intermountain region, and they apply that experience to helping growers match grape variety, site, and their goals.
Dr. Suzanne Slack joined the Horticulture faculty at Iowa State University in late 2021 specializing in fruit production. She received her PhD from Michigan State in 2020; her dissertation topic was on the tree fruit disease fire blight. Dr. Slack’s new fruit program at Iowa State aims to improve fruit production in Iowa.
Dr. Suzanne Slack
Parker Puchta is the CEO of Adam Puchta Winery, the Oldest Continuously Owned Family Farm winery in the Country. His leadership extends across the industry as the President of the Missouri Vintners Association and Vice President of the Hermann Vintners Association. Parker’s commitment to excellence and community involvement is also reflected in his active participation as a local Jaycee member.
Under Parker's guidance, Adam Puchta Winery has achieved significant recognition, most recently winning the 2024 Husmann Jaeger Award for Best White Wine. Parker's vision for the winery builds on the significant achievements of his late father, Tim Puchta, who laid the roots for the winery's success. Together with his dedicated staff, Parker continues to develop this legacy, ensuring that Adam Puchta Winery remains a pivotal player in the Missouri wine industry.
Parker Puchta
Kristy & Bob Walker
Kristy and Bob Walker are the founders of Walker Homestead Farm and Winery, a thriving and sustainable agricultural operation near Iowa City established in 2020. Their farm features a diverse blend of gardens, orchards, vineyards, pasture, and cropland, along with a charming small venue that seamlessly combines farming and agritourism. Beyond their work on the farm, Kristy and Bob are both professors at the University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business. They bring a shared passion for mentoring and empowering local businesses, leveraging their expertise to foster growth and prosperity within their community.
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.
Randall Vos
Lora Friest is a Tourism Liaison for the Iowa Tourism Office. In her position she engages industry partners in implementation of the Iowa Tourism Office’s innovative Marketing Plan, administers the Iowa Tourism Grant and works one-on-one with tourism partners to increase understanding of ITO programs, branding, marketing, economic impact data and other insightful research. Lora has 25 years of experience in economic development, including over 20 years as Executive Director of NE Iowa RCD where she built a reputation as ‘a systems change expert’ who fostered partnership and ingenuity to implement hundreds of millions of dollars in projects including several projects that helped with winery business start-up, expansion, branding and marketing.
Lora Friest
Anne Zwink
Anne is the winemaker at Soldier Creek Winery in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She's been partnering with CanUp Mobile for 4 years to produce various cider products and has developed experience in the technical, logistical, and marketing aspects of canned wine.
Mason graduated from UCDavis in Viticulture and Enology, and has spent 20 years in the Iowa wine, craft beer, and event industry. He is the owner/winemaker at Jasper Winery in Des Moines.
Mason Groben
Denise Gardner, wine consultant and founder of Denise Gardner Winemaking (DG Winemaking,
https://dgwinemaking.com/) has been integrated in the grape and wine industries for over 20 years with a background in wine production improvement, sensory evaluation, and research. Denise holds a M.S. in Food Science and Technology from Virginia Tech University, and has completed two industry accreditations (the Certified Specialist of Wine, CSW, from the Society of Wine Educators and the Level 3 certification from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, WSET). Having worked in both industry and academia, Denise provides a unique perspective and experience few hold in the wine industry.
Today, DG Winemaking delivers focused consulting and educational services that improve wine production efficiency, quality, and marketability for wineries of all sizes. Denise’s consulting services continue to address common winemaker needs and connect people to build community within a vast, growing industry. By assisting wineries with fermentation and production plans to optimize quality from grapes to package, providing effective wine processing decisions, assisting with compliance, and creating wines with intention to enhance quality, Denise’s clients have improved recognition among peers, competitions, consumers, and wine reviewers. You can learn more from Denise by subscribing to her Winemakers’ Blog newsletter, following her on Instagram (@dgwinemaking), or listening to her podcast “Voices of the Vine” available through most podcast platforms.
Denise Gardner
Sarah Thompson
Sarah Thompson is the Director of Rural Development for Greater Iowa City Inc. In her role, Sarah collaborates with Johnson County and rural communities to streamline the process for businesses looking to start or relocate in the area. She is dedicated to promoting local agriculture-based businesses and enhancing the economic stability of rural communities. Sarah's efforts include initiatives like community branding, which supports rural communities in developing and establishing their unique identities, placemaking, and economic development education for rural areas.
With a passion for development and a commitment to fostering growth, Sarah plays a crucial role in ensuring that the rural areas of Greater Iowa City thrive and maintain their small-town charm while embracing new opportunities.
Tyler Ackerson serves as the Legislative Liaison for the Iowa Department of Revenue, representing the Department on tax, alcohol, and lottery policy matters before the Iowa legislature and with constituent groups, government agencies, and the general public. Mr. Ackerson previously served as an Executive Officer with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, drafting legislation, managing the agency’s administrative rules program, and providing education and outreach to
stakeholders in the areas of alcohol licensing and regulatory policy. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree
from the University of Iowa with a double major in journalism and political science. He is also a graduate of Drake University’s nationally accredited Certified Public Manager program.
Tyler Ackerson
Chuck Crabtree serves as a member of the alcohol licensing leadership team with the Iowa Department of Revenue's Alcohol and Tax Compliance Division. He is the licensing team’s subject matter expert on wineries, breweries, and distilleries, along with all beer and wine wholesalers. Chuck has over 4 years of experience working for the state in alcohol licensing, operations, administrative actions, and education. He comes to the state after 5 years of experience as a Chief Business Officer/Head Brewer for an Iowa brewery and 10 years with Indian Hills Community College as the director of Iowa BioDevelopment and the Regional Entrepreneurship Center.