March 28, 2025
“Fund Iowa Farmers” Day on the Hill April 2
Advocates Call on Lawmakers to Invest in Local Food and Support Iowa Farms
On Wednesday, April 2, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., members of the Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) and Iowa Food System Coalition (IFSC) will gather at the Iowa State Capitol for “Fund Iowa Farmers” Day on the Hill, urging lawmakers to invest in Iowa’s local food system and protect family farms.
This advocacy day comes in response to the recent loss of federal Local Food for Schools (LFS) and Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) program funding, which had provided critical support to Iowa farmers, schools, food banks, and food hubs. With that funding gone, IFU is calling on the state to step up by making the Choose Iowa Purchasing Program permanent and funding it at $3 million per year.
“This is a pivotal moment for Iowa’s local food system,” said Aaron Lehman, President of Iowa Farmers Union. “State investment in local food infrastructure not only keeps family farms viable but also ensures that nutritious, Iowa-grown food reaches our communities. This is about strengthening rural economies and keeping the next generation of farmers on the land.
Key Legislative Priorities:
- Fund and make permanent the Choose Iowa Purchasing Program to connect food banks and schools with Iowa farmers and processors.
- Boost support for rural grocery stores, shared-use kitchens, and processing infrastructure through the Rural Innovation Grant Program.
- Increase funding for the Choose Iowa Value-Added Grant Program to help small-scale farm businesses expand.
- Provide state investment in the Double Up Food Bucks Program to increase access to healthy food for SNAP users.
Advocates from across Iowa will meet with legislators throughout the morning, sharing personal stories and emphasizing how investments in local food create economic and nutritional benefits for communities across the state.
Members of the media are encouraged to attend. Interviews with farmers and legislators, photos, and filming opportunities will be available.
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