News Release
Contact:
Billi Hunt, executive director
bhunt@cultivationcorridor.org
515-294-1127 or 515-480-2394
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AMERICA’S CULTIVATION CORRIDOR ANNOUNCES CULTIVATE 360 PARTICIPANTS
Statewide education and development program for agricultural professionals launches in May
DES MOINES, Iowa – Forty-two Iowa agriculture and food industry professionals will participate in the inaugural cohort of Cultivate 360 program hosted by America’s Cultivation Corridor. The new statewide industry education and professional development program is designed to deepen understanding of Iowa’s food and agriculture sector, polish leadership skills and expand professional networks.
Participants are mid-career professionals representing companies and organizations across the state. They will attend four day-long sessions around the state from May through August with focused, immersive learning opportunities including tours, discussions and workshops. The first session will be held Wednesday, May 13, at Sukup Manufacturing Co. in Sheffield, Iowa.
“We’re excited to launch Cultivate 360 with an impressive group of professionals representing diverse sectors of Iowa’s food and agriculture industries,” said Billi Hunt, executive director of America’s Cultivation Corridor. “Collaboration is at the heart of Iowa’s agricultural leadership; bringing together more than 40 professionals to build networks, strengthen leadership skills and enhance understanding of our industry will pay dividends as these leaders apply what they’ve learned in their communities and organizations.”
The 2026 Cultivate 360 participants include:
• Aaron Anderson, Sukup Manufacturing Co.
• Eric Anderson, Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Nathan Behrends, Corteva
• Kelly Belknap, Grain Processing Corporation
• Katie Blomme, Chevron
• Kristine Bond, Iowa State University Digital Ag Innovation Lab
• Amy Busch, Cutbank Production House
• Katina Busch, John Deere
• Skylar Corporon, Corteva
• Mikayla Dolch, National Pork Producers Council
• Joshua Fausch, John Deere
• Alyson Fendrick, Midwest Dairy
• Amanda Flesher, Corteva
• Brad Frisvold, Iowa Economic Development Authority
• Zeb Gore, John Deere
• Katy Griner, Iowa State University
• Casey Heilskov, Synk™ powered by Sukup®
• Carolyn Hetzel, Aginnovation
• Nathan Kooi, KENT WORLDWIDE
• Ann Krause, Practical Farmers of Iowa
• Andrew Leighton, John Deere
• Rachel Lium, Dragotec USA
• Carter Oliver, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
• Monica Phillips, AgriLuminate
• Ben Potter, John Deere
• Michelle Prichard, Midwest Heritage Bank
• Renee Raap, Nationwide Agribusiness
• Morgan Romoser, Corteva
• Scott Schadler, CNH
• Ann Seda, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
• Troy Shoen, Chevron
• Chris Sievers, John Deere
• Zach Thompson, ISG
• Guy Trimble, Syngenta
• Steve Tritle, Syngenta
• Morgan Vogt, Corteva
• Randall Vos, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
• Aaron Wendel, Marsh McLennan
• Eric Weuve, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
• Sara Wollner, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
• Garren Zanker, Jewell Market
• Stephen Zimmerman, Syngenta
America’s Cultivation Corridor is the premier region for agricultural bioscience research, development and entrepreneurship thanks to world class innovation and global leadership of Iowa’s individuals, organizations and companies. Investors and partners in the Corridor are working together to accelerate the development of new technologies, strengthen Iowa’s ag bioscience workforce, attract economic development, and connect the state’s leadership and resources with the world.
Stakeholder organizations of America’s Cultivation Corridor include Iowa State University, Corteva, Deere & Company, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa Pork Producers, KENT WORLDWIDE, MidAmerican Energy, Ames Regional Economic Alliance, Iowa Corn Promotion Board, Chevron and Sukup Manufacturing Co.
Iowa’s agriculture industry includes global leaders in all sectors — advanced manufacturing, agricultural processing, animal health, biobased processing and fuels, plant sciences, predictive agriculture and more — as well as start-up companies with new technologies that will boost productivity, animal care and sustainability for farmers in Iowa and around the world. More information is available at CultivationCorridor.org, or by following on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
America’s Cultivation Corridor
Focused on further developing and marketing the world-renowned agricultural and bioscience economy in Iowa, America’s Cultivation Corridor is building on a rich history of innovation to accelerate value-added agriculture business development by attracting companies, talent and capital from across the globe to the state. Representing a diverse public-private coalition of stakeholders including the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Ames Regional Economic Alliance, Iowa State University, nonprofits and private sector companies from across the region and state, America’s Cultivation Corridor is one of the nation’s foremost cluster-based economic development organizations. For more information, visit CultivationCorridor.org.