Leadership insights from Billi Hunt, executive director of America's Cultivation Corridor.
July is always a good time to pause and reflect. We're halfway through the year, and at America’s Cultivation Corridor, we're also halfway through the first cohort of our Cultivate 360 program for Iowa's food and agriculture professionals.
One of the biggest takeaways so far isn't just what the 42 cohort members are learning. It's who they are connecting with.
In today's world, it's easy to stay in our own lanes. We head to the office, log in from home or travel from meeting to meeting. Outside of work, family, volunteer commitments and daily responsibilities quickly fill the calendar. Building relationships beyond our immediate circles doesn't happen by accident. It takes intention.
That's exactly what Cultivate 360 is designed to do. Hear from cohort member Katie Blomme, business consultant, Chevron, about the value of the program and connecting across the industry.
During our June session, Jason Henderson, vice president, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, challenged participants to think differently about the forces reshaping agriculture. More importantly, he encouraged them to examine their own assumptions and identify the skills, partnerships and capacity they'll need to remain resilient as our industry evolves.
Next week, our cohort will hear directly from business leaders, educators and elected officials who are working together to strengthen the workforce in rural Iowa. Their stories reinforce an important lesson: the biggest opportunities often come from collaboration.
The same philosophy drives our Cultivo Virtual Academy for international scaleup companies planning their U.S. market entry. Instead of navigating that journey alone, participants spend six weeks connecting with experts who can help them understand taxes, regulations, employment and market strategy and more — all for less than the cost of an international flight. They are also introduced to Iowa's unique network of researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs and industry leaders who are committed to bringing the next generation of food and agriculture innovations to market.
Applications are now open for the sixth cohort of Cultivo, with a focus on India, where we see tremendous innovation and entrepreneurial activity.
Whether we're connecting leaders across Iowa or innovators from around the world, one thing remains true: meaningful relationships create opportunities that no one can build alone.
Published July 2026.