Ag Ventures Alliance

09/04/2026

Join us for the next Countryside Angels Meeting on Tuesday, September 8 at 6:00 PM CT via Zoom.

This month, we’ll hear from three innovative companies:

⚙️ MACH — Colin Hurd
🐓 Poultry Patrol — Jack Kilian
🌐 Gripp — Tracey Wiedmeyer

We’ll also be joined by Megan Brandt for a discussion on the Iowa Seed Investor Tax Credit Program and what investors should know.

The evening will conclude with a Countryside Angels group discussion.

📅 September 8
⏰ 6:00 PM CT
💻 Zoom

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from these founders, learn more about Iowa’s investor tax credit program, and connect with fellow angel investors.

Register here ➡️

Join us for a Countryside Angels meeting on Tuesday, September 8th at 6:00 pm via Zoom. We are excited to have Mach, GRIPP, and Poultry Patrol present at this event. We will also have a representative from the Iowa Seed Investor Tax Credit Program. Don't miss out!

09/03/2026

Innovation in action! 💡

AgVA portfolio company, Invasive Species Corporation, is taking another exciting step forward; filing five new provisional patent applications for discoveries designed to address challenging invasive species—from herbicide-resistant weeds to aquatic pests.

With several of these discoveries already advancing into development and field trials, ISC continues to turn innovative science into solutions with the potential for real-world impact.

We’re excited to follow their progress and proud to have Invasive Species Corporation in the Ag Ventures Alliance portfolio!

Learn more about this milestone ➡️

Targeting herbicide-resistant weeds in agriculture, toxic algae and sea lice of salmon

08/25/2026

Congratulations AgVA President & Member Joe Rowe and AgVA Member Jerry Ouverson are among the 33 Iowa farm families recognized with Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards!

We’re proud to see their commitment to conservation and stewardship recognized across Iowa. Congratulations, Joe and Jerry! 👏

See all 2026 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award recipients➡️ https://iowaagriculture.gov/news/IFELA-awards-ceremony-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawTzB3ZwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMXFFUnhzcVRiZksyWGRxUzlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedlVZpc1tERfA0pZbW2AHmMZ-xkNMI1vZ1QNwkZbNOgbh0mFAFl2IApi3oTA_aem_cK_zl61GdlIXI4rEVle6Zg

Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards Presented to 33 Farm Families at the 2026 Iowa State Fair Prestigious award recognizes Iowa farmers who are leaders in conservation, soil health and water quality

08/24/2026

📅 One week from today!

Farm Progress Show week is almost here, and we’re looking forward to kicking it off with Startup Field Day!

Join Ag Ventures Alliance and Ag Startup Engine at Blomgren Seed for live startup demonstrations, great conversations, networking, and dinner — all centered around the future of agriculture.

🌱 Monday, August 31 | 3–7 PM | Boone, Iowa

We’d love to see you there!

🌱 We’re kicking off Farm Progress Show week in the field!

Ag Ventures Alliance is excited to partner with Ag Startup Engine for Startup Field Day at Blomgren Seed in Boone, Iowa.

Join us for an afternoon of live demonstrations showcasing innovative ag startups and emerging technologies where they matter most — in the field. It’s a great opportunity to connect with founders, investors, industry leaders, and others who share our passion for moving agricultural innovation forward.

After the demonstrations, stick around for dinner, networking, and conversation about what’s next for agriculture.

📅 Monday, August 31
⏰ 3:00–7:00 PM
📍 Blomgren Seed | Boone, Iowa

We hope to see you there

08/20/2026

“...The state of startups and agriculture, it’s never been more exciting than it is today.” — Spencer Stensrude, CEO of Ag Ventures Alliance

And farmers aren’t just watching that innovation happen—they’re helping build it and sharing in its success.

Through our partnership with AgLaunch and the Farmer Innovation Network, farmers can put their real-world experience, data and on-farm trials to work helping promising agtech startups develop and scale. In return, participating farmers have a pathway to equity ownership in the companies they help build.

It’s a different approach to ag innovation—one that puts farmers at the table as collaborators, investors and owners.

👀 Read more about the model and what it could mean for the future of farmer-led innovation:

AgLaunch enables farmers to earn ownership stakes in startups by providing field trials, data and expertise—and it's paying off.

08/19/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday to our Board Member, Mark Edelman! 🎉

Mark brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and perspective to the Ag Ventures Alliance Board, and we’re grateful for the insight he continues to share with our organization and the agricultural community.

Please join us in wishing Mark a very Happy Birthday and a wonderful year ahead! 🎂🌱

08/12/2026

🌱 We’re kicking off Farm Progress Show week in the field!

Ag Ventures Alliance is excited to partner with Ag Startup Engine for Startup Field Day at Blomgren Seed in Boone, Iowa.

Join us for an afternoon of live demonstrations showcasing innovative ag startups and emerging technologies where they matter most — in the field. It’s a great opportunity to connect with founders, investors, industry leaders, and others who share our passion for moving agricultural innovation forward.

After the demonstrations, stick around for dinner, networking, and conversation about what’s next for agriculture.

📅 Monday, August 31
⏰ 3:00–7:00 PM
📍 Blomgren Seed | Boone, Iowa

We hope to see you there

08/07/2026

This month, we’re celebrating someone extra special to Ag Ventures Alliance. 💚

For 15 years, Cathy has been the person behind so much of what keeps Ag Ventures Alliance moving. She keeps the office running, the phones answered, the emails responded to, and is somehow always the one who remembers everyone else’s special occasions.

As our Office Manager & HR Specialist, Cathy has spent the last 15 years taking care of the details — and, more importantly, taking care of the people around her.

And this year, her work anniversary comes with an extra-special reason to celebrate: Cathy has officially completed ALL of her cancer treatments! 🎗️💚

So after 15 years of Cathy making sure everyone else feels remembered, appreciated, and celebrated, we think it’s time to return the favor.

Help us show Cathy the love she deserves as we celebrate 15 incredible years with Ag Ventures Alliance and an even more incredible milestone.

Congratulations, Cathy! We are so grateful for you. 💚

08/06/2026

🚜 Farmers — mark your calendars!

Join Trust In Food on Tuesday, August 11 for a full day focused on Developing Sustainable Fuels Markets Through Conservation and the growing low-carbon intensity opportunity for corn.

Hosted by our very own Loran & Brenda Steinlage, the day will bring together practical information, discussion, and live demonstrations covering sustainable fuel markets, carbon intensity scoring, nitrogen management, conservation programs, producer roundtables, and in-field demonstrations.

📅 Tuesday, August 11, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 12517 220th St | West Union, Iowa
🍴 Lunch provided

08/05/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday to Ag Ventures Alliance Board Member, Dave Nelson! 🎉

Dave embodies the true spirit of Ag Ventures Alliance through his passion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to supporting agriculture and innovation. We're grateful for the energy and perspective he brings to our board and the positive impact he makes on those around him.

Happy Birthday, Dave! We hope your day is as exceptional as you are. 🎂🎈