December 4, 2025
Senator Tom Harkin accepts the National Farmers Union Award for Meritorious Service to American Agriculture earlier this year at the NFU Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Senator Tom Harkin to Speak at Iowa Farmers Union Annual Convention as IFU Honors Agricultural Leaders, December 5–6
Ames, Iowa — The Iowa Farmers Union (IFU) will recognize a group of agricultural, community, and policy leaders during its Annual Convention on December 5–6 in Ames. IFU is honored to welcome U.S. Senator Tom Harkin as a featured speaker at this year’s convention. Senator Harkin will address members on Saturday, December 6. Earlier this year, the National Farmers Union recognized him with the Award for Meritorious Service to American Agriculture, underscoring his decades of leadership on behalf of family farmers and rural communities.
“Senator Harkin has been a tireless champion for family farmers throughout his career,” said Aaron Lehman, Iowa Farmers Union President. “We are honored to welcome him to this year’s convention, and our members are eager to hear from someone whose leadership has shaped agricultural fairness and opportunity for decades.”
The 2025 IFU awards celebrate individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to family farm agriculture, rural communities, and policies that strengthen independent family farmers across the state and nation.
“We are honored to present awards to these champions for family farm agriculture,” said Lehman. “They have each courageously displayed devotion and dedication to values that move our communities to brighter futures. This set of awardees demonstrates a wide impact across our state, our country, and the entire agricultural spectrum. Starting from our fields and pastures and extending all the way to the halls of Congress, their influence is to be celebrated, and their example is ours to follow.”
2025 IFU Award Honorees
- Journalist of the Year — Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
- Policy Priorities Champion of the Year — Dr. Megan Srinivas, Iowa State Representative
- Advocate of the Year — Deborah Bunka, Iowa Farmers Union
- Education Leader of the Year — Adam Shriver, Harkin Institute at Drake University
- Lifetime Service Award — Chris Petersen, former IFU President and Clear Lake farmer
- Rising IFU Leader of the Year — Anna Pesek, Over the Moon Farm
To read honoree bios, visit pages 9–10 in the program.
Chris Petersen will accept the Lifetime Service Award in person and speak to IFU members during the Candidate Forum and Reception on Friday, December 5, from 3–7 p.m.
The IFU Annual Convention brings together farmers, advocates, policymakers, and partners from across Iowa to strengthen grassroots engagement, advance policy priorities, and celebrate leaders working to build a resilient, fair, and sustainable agricultural future.
For more information or to register for the convention, visit www.iowafarmersunion.org/110th-annual-ifu-convention/
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