Our People
Co-Project Directors
Collaborators
Lucas Borras
Corteva Agrisciences
Sector
Crop Ecology & Management
Project Role
Collaborator
Jane (Jianru) Chen
Iowa State University
Sector
Plant Beeding & Genetics
Project Role
Collaborator
Randy Clark
Corteva Agrisciences
Sector
Ecosystem Services & Modeling
Project Role
Collaborator
El Naz Ebrahimi
Iowa State University
Sector
Plant Beeding & Genetics
Project Role
Collaborator
Maya Hayslett
Iowa State University
Sector
Education – Crop Science & Youth Education
Project Role
Collaborator
Roger Hintz
Iowa State University
Sector
Crop Ecology & Management
Project Role
Collaborator
Gabriel Jezus
The Land Institute
SECTOR
Research & Development: Data Management
PROJECT ROLE
Collaborator
Kyle Kocak
Corteva Agrisciences
SECTOR
Commercialization, Plant Breeding & Genetics
PROJECT ROLE
Collaborator
Austin Landini
University of Missouri, Columbia
SECTOR
Socioeconomic Impacts & Policy
PROJECT ROLE
Collaborator
DENNIS MILLER
SECTOR
Education Theme – FAA
PROJECT ROLE
Collaborator
Richard Roth
Iowa State University
Sector
Soil Health & Nutrient Management
Project Role
Collaborator
Jose Rotundo
Corteva Agrisciences
Sector
Crop Ecology & Management
Project Role
Collaborator
Brent Wilson
Corteva Agrisciences
Sector
Commercialization & Engagement
Project Role
Collaborator
Grad Students, PostDocs & Fellows
Memiş
Bilgici
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Plant Breeding & Genetics
Bandana Bhusal
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Plant Breeding & Genetics
PRATHYUSHA CHEGURI
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Plant Breeding & Genetics
Yu Ru Chen
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Breeding & Genetics (PostDoc)
Ralph Danquah-Acquah
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Ecosystem Services & Modeling
Alioune Diop
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Soil Health & Nutrient Management
Rickiel Franklin
INSTITUTION
Iowa State University
PROJECT ROLE
Crop Ecology & Management
Zoe Gray
INSTITUTION
University of Missouri. Columbia
PROJECT ROLE
Soil Health & Nutrient Management
Cameron Krumm
INSTITUTION
Iowa State University
PROJECT ROLE
Plant Breeding & Genetics
Vipul Kumar
INSTITUTION
Iowa State University
PROJECT ROLE
Plant Breeding & Genetics
Amina Moro
INSTITUTION
Iowa State University
PROJECT ROLE
Philip Rockson
Institution
Kansas State University
Project Role
Stakeholder Advisory Board
Ray Gaesser
Organization
Gaesser Farms
Bio
Ray Gaesser has 54 years of farming experience. Ray and his family farm approximately 5,400 acres in a corn/soybean rotation and grow rye seed for their cover cropping needs, plus they sell rye seed to others. Gaesser Farms plants 2/3 with cover crops each year with the goal of 100% cover. Caring for the land is a priority.
Gaesser Farms has a long history of on-farm research, cooperating with Iowa State University, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, and several agriculture industry partners. Ray has advocated locally, nationally, and globally for Iowa and US agriculture as president of the Iowa Soybean Association and American Soybean Association.
Joe McClure
Organization
Iowa Soybean Association
Bio
Joe McClure is the Chief Officer of the Research Center for Farming Innovation at the Iowa Soybean Association. The Center is focused on providing information to Iowa Farmers increase profitability, production, and sustainability through on-farm research and the implementation of edge-of-field and cropping system techniques in Iowa.
ERIN MEIER
Organization
Green Land Blue Waters
Bio
Erin Meier is the Director of Green Lands Blue Waters, a collaborative initiative focused on shifting the agricultural landscape of the Upper Mississippi River Basin to more acres of marketable continuous living cover to improve water quality, soil health, agricultural and community resilience, and the long-term stability of the Basin to the Gulf of Mexico.
Kevin Morris
Organization
National Turfgrass Evaluation Program
Bio
Kevin Morris joined the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program in 1982 as Technical Coordinator. Mr. Morris was National Program Coordinator before being named Executive Director of the NTEP in July 1998. Also, as President of the National Turfgrass Federation, Inc., Morris interacts with Congress and the federal government, representing the turfgrass industry.
HILARY OLSON
Organization
NRCS
Bio
Hillary Olson was raised on a family grain and farrow-to-finish hog farm in Central Iowa. She has worked for NRCS as a Soil Conservationist in various field offices across the state. She and her husband farm in Central Iowa and have a row crop operation and a cow-calf herd. She started in the State Soil Health Specialist role for Iowa NRCS in 2020.
Andy Vickers
Organization
POET
Bio
Hillary Olson was raised on a family grain and farrow-to-finish hog farm in Central Iowa. She has worked for NRCS as a Soil Conservationist in various field offices across the state. She and her husband farm in Central Iowa and have a row crop operation and a cow-calf herd. She started in the State Soil Health Specialist role for Iowa NRCS in 2020.
Project Management
Project Alumni
Kavi Raj Acharya
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Plant Breeding & Genetics (Grad. Student)
Jamshid Ansari
University of Missouri – Columbia
Sector
Soil Health & Nutrient Management
Project Role
Collaborator
Diego Caixeta
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Breeding & Genetics (Visiting Ph.D Student)
Marina Costa
Institution
Universidade Federal de Lavras
Project Role
Plant Breeding & Genetics (Visiting Ph.D. Student)
Lindsey Diehl
Institution
University of Missouri – Columbia
Project Role
Soil Health & Nutrient Management (Master’s Student)
Brooke Dietsch
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Plant Breeding & Genetics (Grad. Student)
Ty Dittmer
The Land Institute
Project Role
Collaborator
Cole Dutter
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
R&D, Data Management (PostDoc)
Maxwell Eness
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Soil Health & Nutrient Management (Master’s Student)
CORNELIA (NEAL) FLORA
(1943 – 2025)
Institution
Kansas State University
Project Role
Co-Pd Socioeconomic Impacts & Policy
Patrick Galland
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Crop Ecology & Management (Collaborator)
Bo Meyering
Institution
The Land Institute
Project Role
Research & Development (Data Management)
Modestos Modestou
INSTITUTION
Iowa State University
PROJECT ROLE
Soil Health & Nutrient Management (Ph.D. Student)
Jack Moran
INSTITUTION
Iowa State University
PROJECT ROLE
Crop Ecology & Management (Master’s Student)
GABBY MYERS
INSTITUTION
Iowa State University
PROJECT ROLE
Water Quality/Biosystems Engineering (Ph.D. Student)
OLUWATUYI (“TUYI”) OLOWOYEYE
INSTITUTION
Iowa State University
PROJECT ROLE
Ecosystem Services & Modeling (Ph.D. Student)
Leticia Prada de Miranda
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Breeding & Genetics
(Visiting Ph.D. Student)
Matthew R. Sanderson
Institution
Kansas State University
Project Role
Socioeconomic Impacts and Policy
Hallie Sandeen
Institution
University of Kentucky
Project Role
Crop Ecology & Management (Master’s Student)
Kiera Searcy
Institution
University of Kentucky
Project Role
Crop Ecology & Management (Master’s Student)
Yusef M. Mbacke
(Malcolm St Cyr)
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Soil Health & Nutrient Management
Kaila Topping
Institution
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Project Role
Ecosystem Services & Modeling (Master’s Student)
Farmer Landowner Advisory Group (FLAG)
Nathan Albers
Producer
Jim Alwill
Producer
Louis Beck
Producer
Steve Brinkman
Producer
Landon Brown
Producer
Bill Buessing
Producer
Dale Buessing
Producer
Mitch Buessing
Producer
Mike Cook
Producer
Bill Dodds
Producer
Jerry Dove
Producer
James Duda
Producer
Brad Feckers
Producer
Wayne Fredericks
Producer
Chris Gaesser
Producer
Ray Gaesser
Producer
Caleb Hamer
Producer
Darrin Johnston
Producer
Clint Kaller
Producer
Bob Liska
Agromonist, Corteva
Marc Peters
Producer
Schaffer Ridgeway
Agronomist, NRCS
Dan Roth
Producer
Rick Rottinghaus
Producer
Joel Thomas
Producer
Todd Western
Producer
Additional Partners
Letters of Support
Brinkman Ag Solutions
Steve Brinkman, Farmer
Sector
Farming
Corteva Agriscience
Sector
Agribusiness
Gaesser Farm
Chris Gaesser, Farmer
Sector
Farming
Gaesser Farm
Ray Gaesser, Farmer
Sector
Farming
Stakeholder Advisory Board
GO Seed
Jerry Hall, President
Sector
Seed Production/Evaluation
Green Cover Seed
Keith Berns, President
Sector
Seed Production/Evaluation
Indigo Ag
Chris Harbourt, Global Head of Carbon
Sector
Biological & digital technologies/inputs
Iowa 4-H
Maya Hayslett
Sector
Education (Crop Science and Youth Education)
Iowa Corn Growers Association
Carl Jardon, President
Sector
Commodity/Farmer led Group
Iowa Soybean Association
Ed Anderson, Sr Director of Research Commodity
Sector
Commodity/Farmer led Group
National Turfgrass Evaluation
Kevin N. Morris, Executive Director
Sector
Seed Production/ Evaluation
Practical Farmers of Iowa
Stefan Gailans, Research & Field Crops Director
Sector
Farmer-led Group
Radix Evergreen, LLC
Chad Miebach, Co-owner
Sector
Seed Production/Evaluation
Crossroads Ag
Joel Thomas
Sector
Farming
Verbio North America
Sector
Agribusiness
Wilmar Fabrication, LLC
Steve Claussen, President
Sector
Input Supplies (non-seed)
Willow Creek Farm
Charles A. Martin, Farmer
Sector
Farming
Winfield Solutions, LLC (Land O’Lakes)
Sector
Input Supplies (non-seed)
2025 Summer Program: teachers & students
Kylie Buckolz
Institution
Wartburg College
Project Role
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Jessica Garland
Institution
Crocker Elementary School
Project Role
Research Experience for Teachers
Alex Haus
Institution
Wartburg College
Project Role
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Apple Khalil
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Denise Rogers
Richmond (VA) City Public Schools
Project Role
Research Experience for Teachers
Elise “Ellie” Soosloff
Creston High School
Project Role
Research Experience for Teachers
Jessica “Jacie” Staedtler
South Dakota State University
Project Role
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Audrey Tucker
Wartburg College
Project Role
Research Experience for Undergraduates
2024 summmer program: teachers and students
Amy Jurasek
INSTITUTION
Dowling Catholic High School
PROJECT ROLE
Research Experience for Teachers
Meggan Lint
INSTITUTION
Clive Learning Academy
PROJECT ROLE
Research Experience for Teachers
Mikayla Sampson-Pagan
INSTITUTION
University of South Florida
PROJECT ROLE
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Candace Schroer
INSTITUTION
Wartburg College
PROJECT ROLE
Research Experience for Undergraduates
James Wenman
Institution
Holy Trinity School
Project Role
Research Experience for Teachers
2023 Summer Program: teachers & students
Joe Carey
Institution
Dowling Catholic High School
Project Role
Research Experience for Teachers
Logan Carlson
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Alyssa Cone
Institution
Iowa State University
Project Role
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Alioune Diop
Institution
Bethel (TN) University
Project Role
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Cameron Krumm
Institution
Southeast Polk High School
Project Role
Research Experience for Teachers
Grace Nelson
Institution
St. Olaf College
Project Role
Research Experience for Undergraduates
Jared Martinsen
Institution
Johnston High School
Project Role
Research Experience for Teachers